also affect the extent of these irregularities. As a result, these factors must be carefully controlled.
Components Of Surface Finishes
Surface finishes can essentially be classified into 3 segments:
 - Roughness: Roughness stems from the usage of cutting tool that leaves a mark with a distinct depth and width. Also, in the cases of grinding, the abrasive granules on the wheel can also leave a groove on the surface of the component that is being produced.
 - Form: Form can be attributed to a lack of straightness or flatness in the machine's cutting tool, resulting in the component's surface finish being affected. This results in a systemic deviation from the specified requirements whenever the machine is being used.
 - Waviness: Waviness of a component is defined as small variations in the length between the cutting tool and the produced component during the manufacturing process. These variations are caused by the instability of a cutting tool due to vibrations. The source of vibrations can be internal such as the motor of the machine or even externally induced due to the operations of other machines nearby. The waviness of the component can be measured by a contour measurement device.
How To Measure Surface Finishes
All of the above-mentioned surface finish components exist simultaneously and each condition is checked
separately. By measuring these components, the search for the origins of the error can be narrowed, allowing its effects to be reduced or eliminated. There are many instruments available in the market that would enable you to measure these 3 components, such as a pocket-sized, battery-powered gages. Its low price allows for the measurement of a small number of roughness parameters at an affordable cost. Furthermore, these instruments are also very flexible and are very easy to use. If you require more complex parameters to be measured, more precise equipment but expensive that involves powerful computers would be required!
At Willrich Precision Instrument, we provide a large selection of surface roughness testers and form measurement that would definitely meet the rigorous needs of your business! Browse through our exciting inventory and shop for quality surface roughness testers today. If you need assistance with any product purchase, call us at _PHONE_ or email us at today.
Top Tips To Facilitate Rockwell Hardness Tests
hardness test
Hardness is defined as the measure of resistance that a material has when force is applied to it. Others may refer to hardness as the ability of a substance to resist scratching, cutting or abrasions. There is a direct relationship between the level of hardness of an object and the level of its resistance. The greater the hardness, the greater the resistance. Hardness is largely determined by a substance's microstructure. Hardness matters because it gives us an indication of how the material will stand up against pressure. This has implications on how the material can be used and what kind of pressure it can withstand. For this reason, measuring hardness is a routine procedure in most quality control processes. Here are some of the ways of facilitating Rockwell hardness tests.
Check Indenter
Before carrying out a Rockwell hardness test, it is critical to ensure that there is no chipped or cracked diamonds on the indenter. This is because any of such anomalies are likely to lead to errors in the readings. Experts recommend checking the indenter every week with a magnifying device (such as a Jeweler's eye loop). However, it might be hard to tell if the indenter is damaged. For this reason, if you notice consistent erroneous readings, this might be another clue that there is a problem with the indenter.
Verify Hardness Readings
Before performing a test, experts recommend that you test the hardness of a test block. This is a block with a hardness that is already known and thus the idea is to check if the reading from the tool is consistent with the known hardness. It is usually standard to do at least three tests in order to establish a consistent reading. It is also standard to discard the first reading after an indenter or an anvil change.
Keep the Rockwell Hardness Tester Clean
Debris, dirt and other contaminants can affect readings. It is important to remove and clean the indenter and anvil before you start testing. It is also critical to do this at every break between the shifts so that all parts of the tester stay clean throughout the day.
 Smoothen Surfaces
When testing objects that are rough or that have textured surfaces, it is important to be aware that these kinds of surfaces can affect the readings obtained from the tester. To help overcome these kinds of problems, ensure that you lightly sand the surface to reduce the roughness.
Watch out For Movement
If you get any movement of the part while doing a test, you should discard the reading and perform another test. You should also avoid including these readings in your final average. This is because the movement of the part can affect the accuracy of the test.
Watch out for the Edge
When you take readings very close to the edge, it might cause problems with the reading and might even damage the indenter. Ensure that all readings are made at least 2.5 times the diameter of the indenter from the edge. The key to note is that if the metal buckles outward, then you have positioned the indenter too close to the edge.
Top Tips To Choose A Film Thickness Gage
thickness gage performance
A film thickness gage is one of the most essential instruments used in the coatings industry today. Errors in film thickness estimates lead to a significant waste of money, material and time. If a coating application makes a dry film excessively thick, this leads to failures such as flaking, cracking or excessive drying time. In the event that a film is excessively thin, its protective capabilities and hiding power become inadequate and time is lost by having to recoat the entire surface.
For these reasons, it is important you know how to properly select a film thickness gage. Below are some key factors you can consider when choosing a film thickness gage:
Film Thickness Gage Performance
When choosing this type of thickness gage, always keep in mind its level of performance. A good question to ask yourself is how precise or accurate you need it to be. A high performance gage is needed if you are applying less than 1.0 mil of dry paint film. If you want to further improve your accuracy, choose one which has single or a two point calibration feature. Remember, the gage can be calibrated in line with certified film thickness standards.
Always consider the substrate the coating is being applied to when choosing a thickness gage. Is the substrate metal or non-metal? If it is metallic, the metal is either ferrous, such as steel, or non-ferrous, such as aluminum. It is worth noting that ferrous metals have magnetic properties, unlike their counterparts, the non-ferrous metals.
ISO Compliance
You might be required to document your measurements for ISO compliance. In this case, a film thickness gage with computer interface capabilities and memory is your best choice.
Measurement Area
Another important factor to consider when choosing a film thickness gage is the measurement area location. You will need an exterior probe sensor when measuring inside corners, pipes, and very small surfaces. Unfortunately, when external probe sensors come into play, the choice of film thickness gage models becomes quite limited.
Certified Thickness Standards
It is recommended you get a certified thickness standard to check if the gage is performing as required.
Bottom Line
Before choosing a film thickness gage, there are some important factors you should have in mind. For effective coating to take place, you need a well measured film thickness gage.
Willrich Precision Instrument offers a wide range of film thickness gages that can meet all your gaging and inspection needs. We are an ISO certified company and have been the premier provider of precision measurement systems for over four decades. Our staff is knowledgeable and ready to help you with any questions you may have regarding your metrology needs. Feel free to contact us to discover more about the products and services we offer.
Understanding Height Gage Measurement Procedures
Height Gage Measurement Procedures
Height gages are useful instruments when one needs to measure the height of an object. They come in many different forms and modern height gages can also be used to measure internal diameters among other things. Electronic height gages can be very precise and often claim a consistency of ±0.0001in. Height gage measurement typically involves a moving arm with a pointed end that is usually in contact with the object that is being measured. In the old gages, readings were taken off a vertical and calibrated shaft. Modern height gages have a digital display where readings are displayed.
In recent
years, digital height gages have become the preferred choice in many machining
shops. They are made with hardened stainless steel and a heavy base. This makes
the instrument stable and ensures that any reading made are accurate. Digital
height gages also come with data ports that allow the machine operator to
transfer data from the gage to a computer. From there, the data can be printed
or stored for later use.
the Gage for Use
It is
wise to start the process by cleaning the bench from which you are working. Any
objects or particles on the surface can affect the stability of the height gage
and in turn affect the accuracy of the readings. To get the best results from
your height gage, always ensure that the base of the gage is resting flat on
the surface of the workbench.
that is done, dry the sticker on the digital height gage and fix the measuring
arm on the gage after cleaning it. At this point, ensure that all the LCD displays
and controls of the height g


Home | Avoiding Illness | Cancer | Garlic prevents gastric cancer
Garlic prevents gastric cancer
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Tuesday March 31, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published this year in Nutrition and Cancer suggests that eating garlic may reduce the risk of gastric cancer or stomach cancer.
Epidemiological studies performed in the past two decades indicated that garlic may positively modify the risk of gastric cancer. This may not be surprising considering that some compounds in garlic such as diallyl trisulfide are known to have anticarcinogenic properties.
The new meta-analysis of data from 14 case control studies and two randomized controlled studies and 1 cohort study showed that garlic consumption was associated with reduced risk of gastric cancer.
The highest intake of garlic was found associated with 50% reduction in the risk of gastric cancer, compared to lower intake, and consumption of any amount was linked to about 25% reduced risk, compared to non-consumption.
About 60% of gastric cancer cases are caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Nearly 50% Asians carry the bacteria. Pickled vegetables, salted or preserved fish and smoking can also increase the risk of the cancer. Eating red meat has also been associated with increased risk of gastric cancer.
H. Pylori can be eliminated by antibiotics. Low intake of salt is another effective preventative against the development of gastric cancer. Studies show that the bacteria produce carcinogens only in a high-salt environment which also explains why pickled vegetables and salted fish (high salt foods) increase the risk.
In addition to garlic, soy, mushroom, Mediterranean diet, and phytochemicals found in fruit and vegetables can also reduce the risk of gastric cancer. (David Liu, Ph.D.)
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Alternate name: Northern Red-bellied Turtle, Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle
Family: Emydidae, Pond and Box Turtles view all from this family
Description Brown/black carapace, concave scutes. Each scute has red bar. Stripe on head. Red plastron, scutes lightly marked. Straight claws on front feet of males.
Dimensions 24.4-40cm. (10-15 3/4")
Endangered Status The Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle, a population of the Eastern Red-bellied Turtle (sometimes known as P. r. bangsi), is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as endangered throughout its range in Massachusetts. Plymouth Red-bellied Turtles are very vulnerable to predation when young. Skunks, raccoons, birds, and fish eat the eggs and/or the hatchlings. The population of these turtles was reduced to between 200 and 300 individuals in the 1980s. Currently, measures are being taken to preserve the turtle's habitat and protect the nests. Several "head start" programs are in place in Massachusetts to help raise hatchlings until they are big enough to survive on their own.
Breeding June/July. 8-20 eggs in a clutch, eggs 35mm (1 3/8") long. Laid in 4" cavity. Hatch after 10-15 weeks. Sometimes don't hatch till following year.
Habitat Lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, marshes. Deep water in New England.
Range New Jersey to North Carolina coastal plan. Potomac river. Also Massachusets Plymouth County and Naushon Island.
Discussion Bask near deep water. Dive in if threatened. Diet includes snails, crayfish, underwater vegetation and tadpoles of frogs. Habitat threatened by draining of wetlands.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Exercise your brain to improve your balance. Multiple sensory systems contribute to your ability to maintain balance and move safely. Age-related changes affect these systems. Learn exercises that target and challenge the brain and body to improve motor skills, agility, coordination, posture, balance and reduce your risk of falling.
Brain and Balance Training - 6 Week Series
Cost (includes tax):
$45.00 (Meets 1x/week)
Please call Hawaii Pacific Health Contact Center at _PHONE_:
- To check on other dates if class is full.
- To reschedule or cancel your class.
- To request a refund. Minimum 3 day notice for cancellations (prior to the start of a class) is required for refunds.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Remodeled Basement Pictures Before After - If you live in the Tampa Bay region, you might not be used to seeing many houses with basements; however, think it or not, there are several homes throughout the region that do in fact have basements. Most houses in Florida are constructed without cellar because of hurricane related difficulties. Construction codes insist that dwelling floors be constructed above storm surge elevation. If a basement is allowed to be constructed, it usually is constructed as a "non-livable" space, therefore, in other words, homeowners can possess the basement for additional storage minus bedrooms.
In regards to basement problems, moisture is the most common issue in the cellar. The moisture most commonly enters from outside sources though can also be produced inside also. Frequently, most homeowners are unaware that the soil around the basement walls can have a large amount of moisture.
The cause of high moisture content in the soil could incorporate surface water that's seeping into the soil or even from a high water table. A high water table could be explained by heavy rains which cause the water to rise higher than the cellar floor. Frequently, water can find its way inside a cellar by gravity or through a crack or defect in the water protection layer of the base.
At the summer, warm moist air from outside could enter the house and lead to condensation on the cool basement walls or flooring. With every cold season, the crack will gradually get larger due to the expansive properties of the frozen water.


AIG Tuning
Periodic optimization of the ammonia-to-NOx distribution through AIG tuning is helpful for reducing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs as well as ensuring the long-term optimal performance of an SCR catalyst system. Backed by extensive field experience on over 800 SCR systems, CORMETECH provides state-of-the-art AIG tuning and optimization services to enhance the performance of the reagent distribution system. The purpose of AIG tuning is to ensure an even ammonia-NOx molar ratio distribution to the catalyst. Proper AIG tuning ensures maximum system performance, reduced ammonia slip, and can effectively extend the SCR catalyst life. The optimization process may also eliminate localized regions of high ammonia slip, which can lead to air preheater fouling.
The Multipoint Sampling System is capable of quickly and accurately performing AIG tuning to allow your system to operate at peak performance. The frequency of tuning is dictated by unit-specific conditions, including NOx distribution from the boiler and the style of AIG/mixer system in use. An annual check of the AIG distribution is recommended to maintain optimal SCR performance.
Before AIG Tuning
After AIG Tuning


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Beyond Surviving™ Workshop
Recovering from Childhood Sexual Abuse
July 21st, 9a-5p, $35
1748 Market Street, San Francisco
If you are an adult survivor of sexual abuse and are no longer satisfied with simply understanding the impact of the abuse or the connections between your past experience and your present day life but are instead asking, "What do I do about it?" then this workshop is for you.
The Beyond Surviving Workshop was created for survivors of sexual abuse who are ready to challenge the thoughts and behaviors that result from abuse and want to bring about real change in their lives that is measurable and sustainable.
By participating in this workshop, you will:
- Explore the effects of the abuse as they show up in your present day experiences
- Learn techniques and strategies for breaking free of patterns of thought or behavior
- Participate in experiential exercises and receive personalized coaching
Topics we will explore in the workshop include:
- Obstacles that Keep Us from Believing that Healing is Possible
- Identify What You Hope to Gain from the Journey of Recovery
- Authentic Communication
- Setting & Keeping Boundaries
- Techniques for Challenging False Beliefs: Learn to Rewire Your Brain
Space is limited!
Not ready to register? CLICK HERE to receive a FREE download of Parts 1 & 2 of my guidebook: Beyond Surviving: The Final Stage in Recovery from Sexual Abuse
Meeting room located conveniently on Market at Octavia. Accessible by the MUNI F-Line, Van Ness BART Station, and various bus routes. Street parking available.


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This project provides a multi-mission operations and planning software framework. Apogy uses Eclipse Modeling Framework models to define the systems being controlled, the environment in which these systems are operated, the operations being carried out and the corresponding data produced during operations.
Integrating a rover in Apogy is as simple as creating an EMF model that represent its interface and telemetry) and defined its topology (i.e. how the physical components are attached together and how the degrees-of-freedom are mapped to the telemetry). Once these two steps are completed, one can visualize the rover in 3D in its environment (showing cameras field of view in 3D, using the generic 3D tools to measure distance, record trajectory, measure sun angle, etc), create commands and display telemetry (camera views with overlays, filters and tools, recording and playback of data, etc) without having to write a single line of code! This means that the operator can already start configuring his/her control station, even if there is no real rover to command at that point. Implementing the necessary interface between the generated EMF classes and the hardware (which is usually straightforward) is all that remain to complete the integration and benefit from the many tools already available in Apogy


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Seaparating Elliptical and Sprial Galaxies
In the paper, SDSS astronomers found a line that separates
galaxies into early (elliptical) and late (spiral) types. That line
corresponds to a u-r value of 2.2. You are now going to add that
line to your graph. Unfortunately, this is tedious to do in Excel,
so this page will show you how to add the line by hand.
Exercise 6: Print a copy of the more detailed
you made in Exercise 5. Use a ruler and a pencil to sketch a line with
the equation y = -x + 2.2 onto your graph. This line will
separate elliptical and spiral galaxies.
In the observable universe, 77% of galaxies are spiral (late)
and 20% of galaxies are elliptical (early). How does your
percentage of early and late galaxies compare to the universe?
Would you say the galaxies in the vicinity of Abell 2255 are
representative of the universe as a whole?


FFX TRAVELER'S CHECK: TIPS AND HINTS Version 1.0 (09/29/01) Written by Henry H. Jerng E-mail: _EMAIL_ Website: _URL_ **For the latest web version of this FAQ (with appropriate images), please go to _URL_ and proceed directly to the FAQs/Guides page.** TRANSLATOR'S NOTES: Just when you think that you have discovered everything there is to know about FFX, then you come across some really cool information. Below you'll find some stuff translated from Famitsu PS2's May issue, covering 8/10 to 8/24, on pages 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31. Famitsu PS2 is copyrighted by Susumu Matsushita Company/ Master Licensor Dream Ranch Inc. Enjoy. Henry =============================================================================== TRAVELER'S CHECK =============================================================================== 1. Receive Potions to Your Heart's Content (Salvage Ship) I have good news for players who remember uneasiness in the fight against Toros (a squid-like monster you encounter when you return to the ruin's entrance after activating the equipment), without only a few potions on hand. If you return to the salvage ship from the ruin on the ocean floor and speak to a man on the left side of the ship, you will receive a potion again even after you've received it once. If you repeat this, you can acquire unlimited number of potions. 2. Something Important (Beside Beach) On a hidden part of the Beside Beach, there is a strongbox where the moon seal is kept. Beside the moon seal, there are six other seals in the entire Spira: Fire, Water, Wood, Gold, and Sun (representing the seven days of the week for the Japanese). The effects of these seals are realized only after the game has gone past certain stage. In the mean time, try to acquire them without fail. 3. Before Setting Out... (Beside Village) If you search inside the village one more time before leaving Beside Village behind, you will see that the sales clerk at the secondhand furniture dealer changed. According to what she says, it seems that a kid in the store found something. This something precious has been buried, and this kid will dig it up. I wonder what it is? 4. Do You Like the Pretty Girl? (Evening Celebration at Beside Village Public Square) In an event at Beside Village's public square, Wakka asks you about your impression of Yuna. Try to select your option cautiously. To tell you the truth, your choice deeply affects the occurrence condition for events that happen during the game. Importantly, Lulu fans should say, "I don't like her." 5. Solve the Mystery of the Magic Trunk! (Riki, the Ferryboat Connecting Beside and Keerika) If you kick a trunk located in the ferryboat's cabin, potions will come out. In fact, the number of potions that come out is the number you get if you subtract the number of potions you have then from twenty (20). So, if you have 20 potions, you will not get any. If you have 7 potions, you will get 13 potions. In short, you don't need to have more than 20 potions at this stage in the game. 6. What's the Advantage of Investing in Ooaka Store? (Riki, the Ferryboat) The Ooaka store (Ooakaya) is managed by a trader found in the cabin. If you invest in Ooakaya, the price of merchandises will decrease in proportion to the investment amount for the Ooakaya located in the street at Kinoko Reef, just before Mihen Session. Because you cannot yet buy any precious items, there is no need to invest too unreasonably. If you don't invest a single gil and move on to the street at Kinoko Reef, the price of merchandises at Ooakaya feels a bit high. If you invest 2000 gils, compared to not investing at all, you can buy at considerably discounted prices. (For example, Magical Ring for Lulu drops from 2430 gils to 1417 gils). 7. Overkill the Ochu!! (Keerika Forest) The Lost Ochu found here is tough and strong. If you decide to fight it, this is a place where you will want to acquire lots of AP by defeating it with an overkill. However, this cannot be done with the muscles of mere humans. Therefore, what I recommend is this. First clear the trial room at the Keerika shrine up ahead, then come back to destroy it using Ifrit. Because Ifrit can give Lost Ochu damage of more than 1700 with flames of Hell, this will be an easy victory. 8. Try Not to Miss These Events! (Wino, the Ferryboat) Let me introduce to you an event that you may miss on Wino. It is the event where you hear a conversation between Lulu and Wakka on the upper floor of Wino. In fact, this conversation does not end in just one hearing; it continues for 4 hearings. Furthermore, before heading on to the 'Jecto Shoot Challenge', an event with Yuna is also a must-see. Here, becoming quite passionate, Yuna makes objections to the Luca Goers. It is an event where you can see an unexpected, different side of her. It is priceless. 9. Get Trained in Jecto Shoot. (The deck of Wino) After you have heard the conversation between Lulu and Wakka on the upper floor, if you go to the forward deck, a mini-game called 'Jecto Shoot Challenge' will begin. This is a game where you make Jecto's words (which pop up on the screen) disappear by using the left stick/directional keys and the circle button. In this game, success comes after how many words are made to disappear? The result of my investigation confirms that you will successfully train in Jecto Shoot after making 11 of them disappear. That is the number of times you must stay calm and clear those words to clear the shoot. 10. Useless Check (Port of Luca) In the town of Luca, there is mother who walks along the ferryboat passageway. Out of concern, I tried to find her son, but that was useless. Then, I somehow tried to destroy the crane that appeared in a later boss fight, and that too turned out to be useless. Jeez. 11. Knockout the Goers! The Way to Certain Victory in the Finals! (Luca) If you start the finals by taking things easy,...... you will never win! Yes, sir. This final game is extremely difficult. After all, your opponents are the Luca Goers. And you're the miserable Beside Oaraka. On top of your lack of familiarity, it's too much that there's also the corresponding handicap. But, I want to win, you say!! Well, this is the strategy column just for you and your will power. Ready to be instructed on the way to certain victory!! Although it's the finals, the first half of the game is designed for practice. As for formation, use the right side. At about the first minute, it's best for you to align your players like in panel 2. If you get used to the situation with panel 2, the enemy can quickly attack and take a point. And if it becomes a situation like panel 3, where the enemy does not attack, then confine yourself to exclusively playing catch ball. For three (3) minutes, repeatedly pass the ball from Tidus to Letty, to Tidus, then to Joshu. Then with the remaining time, pass from Letty to Botsu. This way, at the minimum, Tidus and Letty will reach level 3, where Joshu and Botsu will be at level 2. (1) Attract the Enemy If the very first ball is passed to Letty, he will superficially cut into the enemy position. If the ball is passed to the enemy, you shall be giving them one (1) point because it's hard to steal it back. (2) Long Pass from the Enemy Territory Once you've entered enemy territory, pass the ball to LD before you get surrounded by two enemy players like in panel 2. If you mess up and the enemy attacks MF, it's possible to just (scream?) and reset to start over. (3) Devote Time to Pass Work You've succeeded if the Goers do not leave their territory! As mentioned earlier, try to concentrate on some pass work (or work on passing the ball to raise levels). By doing so, the first half of the game can be used to gain the strength needed to counteract the Goers. What you want to watch out for is battle with the enemy. If you give the Goers experience points, they too will level up. In particular, it's trouble later if you allow the Goer's goalkeeper to raise his level. So, try to refrain from shooting in the first half. When your level is three (3) or above, you can use abilities. At the beginning, Tidus and Letty have Sphere Shoot and Venom Pass, respectively. After being sure to equip these


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Andrés Bello
Bello, Andrés (ändrāsˈ bāˈyō) [key], 1781–1865, South American intellectual leader, b. Venezuela. In 1810 he was sent with Bolívar on a mission to London, where he remained for 19 years as a diplomat, teacher, and writer. He reflected a new attitude in Hispanic-American letters, initiating the movement for intellectual independence from Europe. Called to a governmental post in Chile, he soon became a leader in Chilean education and reorganized the university at Santiago, becoming (1843) its rector. Many of his learned works, such as Gramática de la lengua castellana (1847) and Principios de derecho internacional (1844; revised from an earlier work), became textbooks, and he was author of a code of civil law for Chile. He wrote many poems in the neoclassical style.
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A Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture and Its Performance
Source: Iowa State University
The use of wireless sensor networks is essential for implementation of information and control technologies in precision agriculture. The authors present their design of network stack for such an application where sensor nodes periodically collect data from fixed locations in a field. Their design of the PHYsical (PHY) layer consists of multiple power modes in both the receive and transmit operations for the purpose of achieving energy savings. In addition, they design their MAC layer to use these multiple power modes to improve the energy efficiency of wake-up synchronization phase. Their MAC protocol also organizes all the sender nodes to be synchronized with the receiver simultaneously and transmit their data in a time scheduled manner.


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After getting many five-star reviews on Amazon Japan, the highly praised educational picture book by Yoko Imoto finally lands to iPad. In addition to Imoto's heart warming illustrations, the iPad app's built-in interactivity brings many parents and kids to have fun while learning elementary Japanese.
Touch-enabled illustrations from letter "あ" to letter "ん" are provied so your kids can touch and memorize each Hiragana characters while listening to its pronunciation. Learn interactively, master 72 basic Japanese vocabularies and have fun with built-in games.
[About the original picture book]
The picture book is designed specifically for kids and toddlers who just began learning Hiragana characters. Carefully designed to also provide some level of mental development in addition to basic linguistics, every page is filled with its own story to make learning a joy. From letter "あ" in "ありがとう" to letter "ん" in "ごめんなさい", kids will dive into the beautiful world of Japanese language.
[Different modes in app]
(1)HAVING FUN WITH "あいうえお"
This part introduces Hiragana letters and vocabularies with actual pronunciation. Touch the illustrations and speech balloon will be displayed while sample sentences are also provided. Just touch'em!
Learn to write not only Hiraganas, but also Katanas and Romaji characters. Even some of you parents might've forgotten these stuff! Kids may try and erase, as many times as they like.
(3) QUIZ CHALLENGE
Two modes are provided. In Easy mode, 72 vocabularies from the (1)HAVING FUN WITH "あいうえお" will be randomly pronounced, as kids need to answer them by choosing the correct starting Hiragana character. Expert mode is simililar except that kids need to choose correct chacters sequentialy, from start to end. If it's too hard just touch the speech balloon and the whole letter sequence will be shown. Get 5 of them correct and win!
Any inquiries and questions are welcomed. Please email to _EMAIL_


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Awareness of oncologic emergencies is raised through education program
In an oncologic emergency, nurses must intervene quickly to prevent life-threatening complications and save lives. This is especially important given that the incidence of oncologic emergencies increases along with the number of people diagnosed with cancer.
According to Suzanne Brady, RN, BSN, CCRN, the Nursing Staff Executive Council at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, determined the need existed to provide nurses with the most current information available regarding emergencies in cancer patients. To address that need, a day-long oncologic emergencies educational program was held to provide registered nurses in a comprehensive cancer center and the surrounding community with an overview of the signs, symptoms, and nursing management of the following oncologic emergencies: malignant pleural effusions, tumor lysis syndrome, sepsis, increased intracranial pressure, and superior vena cava syndrome, Brady noted in a presentation at the Oncology Nursing Society 36th Annual Congress.
Speakers at the oncologic emergencies educational program included three doctors, a staff development instructor, and a nurse practitioner. The program offered 5.25 continuing nursing education credits. Members of the Nursing Staff Executive Council were involved in planning, advertising, and hosting the event, which was attended by 59 nurses.
Attendee evaluation of the program revealed the goal of increasing awareness of oncologic emergencies had been met. Comments about the program included, "good presentation," and "very informative."
"By providing education to nurses and the community we can recognize and intervene in these emergencies earlier and may even save a life," the researchers concluded.


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Let's start with the understanding that the Federal Trade Commission states that if scrap generated in the manufacturing process is reused for manufacturing new product, it can not be calculated as post-industrial recycled content, as this reuse of scrap is a part of the typical manufacturing process. So your first question when receiving post-industrial recycled content data should be, "How did you make this calculation, and where did the recycled waste come from?"
Stakeholder demand for recycled content in building products has been largely driven by the LEED® rating system, and the points gained by contributing to the recycled content credit. Now, since scrap reused in the manufacturing process can not be calculated, many manufactures play a form of the "shell game".
If a manufacturer has multiple facilities making products that generate scrap which can be reused in all the manufacturing processes then, to calculate post-industrial recycled content, the scrap is just moved between facilities. Now the scrap is claimed to be diverted from landfill and calculated as recycled content.
Please understand that for a recycling program to work, a manufacturer needs a continuous feedstock of waste material, so some of this moving around of scrap is legitimate. If the manufacturer is playing the shell game just "for the points," then all that is being done is increased energy use and CO2 emissions... how sustainable is that?


text: A challenge for future deep-ice coring in central Antarctica is to identify an appropriate inert drilling fluid with no undesirable physical or chemical characteristics. The drilling fluids currently in use (kerosene-based fluids with density-increasing additives, ethanol and n-butyl acetate) are not intelligent choices for the future from safety, environmental and some technological standpoints. Recently proposed drilling fluids based upon ESTISOL™ have high viscosity at low temperatures, which severely limits their application in cold environments. This paper presents our research into the application of low-molecular-weight, fatty-acid esters (FAEs), substances commonly used in the fragrance and flavoring industries. According to available data, selected FAEs are not hazardous to human health. Considering density requirements alone, ethyl butyrate and n-propyl propionate best meet our present needs. The viscosities of these two chemicals are also the lowest among studied FAEs, not exceeding 4 mPas at temperatures down to −60°C. Both compounds are highly volatile, and insoluble in water. Such properties are attractive, but the applicability of FAEs to deep, cold, ice drilling can be evaluated only after field-based, practical experiments in test boreholes.


Cornish & Welsh Languages – Are They Similar?
Did you know that the people of Cornwall (the Cornish) once had their own language? Many believe that Cornish is similar to Welsh, so today we will be looking to answer the question:
Is the Cornish Language similar to Welsh?
While Cornish as a spoken or community language is pretty much extinct, a conscious decision was made to revitalise it based on the surviving historical and medieval written texts from Cornwall that used it.
As there were no surviving speakers of the language, modern Cornish is based upon what we have written down and therefore any nuances in pronunciation are unknown.
The Cornish language is known as Kernewek or Kernowek and is broken down into Revived Middle Cornish and Revived Late Cornish based upon the periods in which the texts it is based upon were written.
Unfortunately, the surviving texts are not enough to form a whole, complete language with spelling, grammar and punctuation rounded out, so it is doubtful that Cornish will ever be spoken again.
As a result of the holes in the language, scholars of Kernewek attempted to fill in the blanks with words from Welsh and other Brittonic languages, going some way to explaining the perceived similarity between the two.
These days it is currently possible to study and take exams in Revived Cornish.
The restoration of Kernewek as language is a relatively new thing and is thought to have begun in earnest in 1904 when a scholar named Henry Jenner wrote the Handbook to the Cornish Language.
Since then work has been done to standardise the language and invent new words for modern use, all of which can now be learned again.
Since then, there have been various versions of Cornish, that ultimately resulted in the 2005 creation of the Cornish Language Partnership which promotes the adoption of Cornish and has created (and regulates) the Standard Written Form of Cornish.
The University of Exeter's Institute of Cornish Studies have been working with the Cornish Language Partnership to understand the amount of (and growth of) Cornish speakers and are undertaking a project named Celtic Revival which you can read more about here:
In 2017, the Office of National Statistics published findings that there are over 500 self-declared speakers of Cornish, of which over 400 reside in Cornwall.
Other articles you may find of interest:
Much like Cornish, the Welsh language has also evolved and changed over time and is also identified as having "middle" and "late" versions of the language.
It is believed that the middle and late versions of both Welsh and Cornish evolved and grew together, explaining the similarities between the different languages, and the differences between versions of the same languages.
As Welsh and Cornish are both derived from Brythonic language, many words are the same. For instance: numbers, colours, animals and the weather.
A Welsh speaker with some understanding of Brythonic language would most likely be able to work out and understand Cornish (from whatever period) in much the same way ancient Latin is thought to help people understand European languages.
You could compare Welsh and Cornish the way you might compare Spanish and French. In modern society, Welsh is typically taught in Welsh schools.
Brythonic, Brittonic and British Celtic:
Forming one half of the Celtic language family alongside Gaelic (from Anglo-Saxon origins and consisting of Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic).
British Celtic was thought to have been spoken by the indigenous peoples of Britain here before the invading and occupying Roman soldiers arrived in Britain during the Roman period and influenced much of Cornwall and Wales with their own language and included Welsh, Cornish and Breton.
Of these languages, Welsh and Breton are the most common by far. Cornish, despite enjoying an increase in popularity, still has a tiny number of speakers.
Comparing the languages:
While there are differences in the spelling and sound of each of the Celtic languages, they are often comprised of the same roots as each other, and those with an understanding of all should be able to grasp them quickly.
An excellent example of where you might see this would be in the names of places, some of which are archaic, and some of which are modern.
The word 'name' is another good example of similarities between the languages, as demonstrated below:
 - Irish: ainm
 - Scottish Gaelic: ainm
 - Manx: ennym
 - Breton: anv
 - Cornish: hanow
 - Welsh: enw
The word 'what' is a good example of how different these languages can be:
 - Irish: cen
 - Scottish Gaelic: de
 - Manx: cre
 - Breton: petra
 - Cornish: pyth
 - Welsh: beth
Is the Cornish Language similar to Welsh?
We can see from above that there are many logical reasons as to why Cornish might be seen to be similar to Welsh, but now it is time to look at how and why they became different by examining the history of the languages.
It is thought that Cornish was originally very similar to Welsh, but that the people of Cornwall began to develop their own language in the 7th and 8th centuries, before producing the first written texts in the 9th.
Old Cornish was first discovered scribbled on Latin texts (explaining the Roman connection) and was originally believed to have been Old Breton. These two languages also bear similarities.
However, a scholar by the name of Professor J Loth was able to point out that it was actually Cornish in 1907 (perhaps he had read the 1904 Handbook to Cornish Language by Henry Jenner that we talked about earlier).
Handbook of Cornish language
It is thought to have grown in use and popularity between the 1200s and 1500s as this was when the majority of the surviving texts were written.
The literature from this period is known as Middle Cornish and is mostly made up of plays and sermons, much of which can still be read today.
Late Cornish, which arose in the 1550s and beyond was more mature and included songs along with Cornish translations of the Bible.
As late as 1776, letters were being written in Great Britain in Cornish, referencing other speakers of Cornish thought to have died before the 1800s.
Finding the last speaker of the Cornish Language was the aim of many academics who in the following centuries concluded that John Mann, who died in 1914, was this speaker.
You can read a great deal about this in the Wikipedia entry here:
In 2019, Cornish names are popular for children and pets in Cornwall, and there are a number of Radio and print publications that broadcast in Cornish, including BBC Radio Cornwall.
It is interesting to note that while the Cornish Language uses the English alphabet, it is missing a few characters, see if you can spot them:
In popular culture, the Cornish Language appears in the film and book versions of Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison.
If you would like to hear what the Cornish Language sounds like, we suggest that you visit Cornwall Council, where staff are encouraged to greet visitors in Cornish.
The Cornwall Council have even employed a Cornish Language Lead to encourage the use and adoption of the language and you can read their strategy and programs here:
So is the Cornish Language similar to Welsh?:
In summary, we can see from the above information that there are several reasons to believe that Welsh and Cornish are similar:
 - They share an alphabet
 - They are part of the same parent language
 - They began the same
However, there are more reasons why they are different:
 - The people of Cornwall clearly felt a need for their own language
 - It is debated if Cornish ever really died out
 - National interest in Cornish remains high
We would suggest that there are more differences than similarities, and it is worth looking at Cornish and Welsh in the same way as you might look at Spanish and French.
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Enjoy Amazing Posts and information about the beautiful place that is cornwall!


New Jersey Employment Lawyer Blog
Published on:
New York Passes Wage Theft Protection Act
On December 13, 2010, New York State Governor David A. Paterson signed the Wage Theft Prevention Act ("WTPA") into law. The WTPA is intended to help protect employees working in New York against violations of their wage and hour law rights.
The WTPA requires employers to provide information to employees about how they are being paid. For example, employers must notify employees, in writing, of:
 1. Their rate and basis for their pay, such as whether they are paid by the hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or otherwise;
 2. Any allowances the employer claims as part of the employee's minimum wage, such as tip, meal, or lodging allowances; and
 3. Their overtime rate, number of regular hours worked, and number of overtime hours worked for employees who are not exempt from overtime.
Thumbnail image for Workplace Theft Protection Act Signed Into Law By Governor Paterson.jpgemployment law rights.
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Is Connect 4 Considered a Board Game? (Let's see…)
Hasbro Connect 4 - Board game
Eric Glenn /
What makes a board game an actual board game in your mind? This is something I have been thinking about lately.
In my family childhood home, there stands a wooden kist packed to the brim with much-loved board games. Over the years, we have collected quite a selection of games, and Connect 4 is one of my personal favorites. While I was enthusiastically hauling the Connect 4 game pack out of the kist the other evening at a family gathering, someone suggested that Connect 4 is actually not a board game. I must be honest; I did not really know how to respond! Is it or is it not a board game – I had to know.
Is Connect 4 considered a board game? Connect 4 is not a board game by definition. Connect 4 is actually an abstract strategy game that is both entertaining and educational. While Connect 4 does not strictly fit in with the definition of the term "board game", players still consider it a board game as do retailers of the game.
With that being said, I think the definition of the term board game is somewhat loose.
Board games are a staple part of most people's childhoods, but when we say "board game", we are not specifically referring to games that fit in strictly with the definition of the term, are we? That would exclude a wide variety of more modern board games that do not include a specific playing board or include playing cards, wouldn't it? That is what I thought!
After taking a look at all of the selection of board games at my childhood home, I came to the conclusion that many of our more modern games do not fit in with the strict definition of the term "board game", but we still consider them much-loved board games in our selection.
If you want to learn more about how Connect 4 is not a board game, but also is a board game, read on!
What is the Definition of a Board Game? Does Connect 4 Fit That Definition?
Board games concept
Before we can determine if Connect 4 is a board game or not, we need to take a closer look at the definition of the term "board game". I decided this was necessary to aid in my research into Connect 4 worthiness of being called a board game and so I headed off to the Oxford English dictionary ("the definitive record of the English language").
I found that the Oxford English dictionary defines a board game as follows:
"a game that involves the movement of counters or other objects round a board".
Paperback Oxford English Dictionary (2012) – Page 72
That is a fairly clear and strict definition. I found that it totally excludes many of the board games that I have in my collection. Perhaps it is time we changed how we define games!
I had to ask myself if Connect 4 fits in with that description, and I found that it does not quite. Why not? Well, to help us understand things a bit better, let us take a look at the details.
Yes, Connect 4 has a playing board, which makes you immediately think that it fits the definition, but does it really? However, the playing board is not just laid flat on the table like a regular game board, but still, it could be argued that Connect 4 has a board, regardless of its format.
Where it does not fit in with the definition, in my opinion, is the actual style of gameplay referred to in the definition: "movement of counters or other objects round a board". I had to think about how Connect 4 is played, and there is no actual moving of the discs around the board.
Playing connect 4 or 4 in a row
Once the disc is slotted into the rack (or onto the board) that is it…it does not move anywhere. So, to play Connect 4, players must use discs, but they are not moved round the board – they remain fixed once played and then a new disc is used for the next move. There are 42 game discs included in a Connect 4 game pack.
The game "board" of Connect 4 is an actual rack that consists of 7 columns by 6 rows and stands vertically instead of lying flat on the table. The discs are not moved round the board but rather dropped down into the columns.
I did a bit of reading on a variety of online forums and found that several people find it worth arguing over the status of Connect 4. Is it a board game or is it not a board game – it seems a lot of people want to know! The discussions can get quite heated on the likes of Reddit and other forums that focus specifically on board games.
But Maybe Connect 4 is a Board Game
It seems to me as if the definition of board games is based on old fashioned and traditional versions of board games that followed a very specific format.
I could argue that Connect 4 is, in fact, a board game because the rack is a board. The definition does not strictly say that the board has to be in a flat position on the table. The discs used are game pieces that are moved around the board, just not in a specific clock-wise motion actually around the board. That settles it for me; Connect 4 is a board game (in my opinion at least).
How Do Stores & Online Sites Classify Connect 4?
While I had pretty much made up my mind at this point that Connect 4 is a board game, I wanted to know how others viewed it. Other than the forums and blogs I had been reading, of course. I decided to take a look at how online game stores and even physical stores are classifying Connect 4. Is it featured alongside other board games, or is there another category that Connect 4 is listed under? I set out to find out.
Classic board games on a store shelf, Operation, Twister and connect 4 amongst others
ZikG /
While scrolling around the Board Game Geek website, I found that they had listed Connect 4 as an abstract strategy game. Of course, most people head to their favorite online stores to buy their games, and so I headed off to Amazon next. After clicking through to the Games & Accessories section, I discovered that they, too, have Connect 4 listed under board gamesFor all intents and purposes, for me, this truly confirmed that Connect 4 is, in fact, a board game and worth of being called one.
How Connect 4 and Traditional Board Games (by definition) are Similar
I still wanted to find out how Connect 4 can fit in with the definition of the term "board game", so I took a look into the various similarities between traditional board games (by definition) and Connect 4. What makes a board game actually a board game to you? What are your personal features or characteristics of a board game? I have a loose understanding of what a board game is and has/includes in my mind. Here they are:
There's a playing board.
Board games and Connect 4 both make use of a board, except the Connect 4 board is in a rack format that is clipped into a stand and stood up vertically.
There are equipment and playing tokens.
Board games involve the use of playing discs or tokens, and so does Connect 4. Connect 4 includes 42 discs in total, which are divided between the 2 players (21 each). The discs are red and yellow (or black).
Puzzle game, Connect 4, with red and yellow discs
They involved a healthy dose of competition.
Board games are competitive and involve either 2 people or 2 teams/groups playing against each other. Connect 4 is designed for 2 players who play against each other.
There are rules.
I find that all board games have a set of rules that must be followed. Connect 4 also has a set of rules that players have to follow.
They focus on entertainment and education.
Board games are designed to entertain and educate. Connect 4 is also designed to entertain and educate. People who play Connect 4 can learn to plan ahead and detect patterns. It also teaches basic mathematics and problem-solving skills.
Last Word
When it comes to classifying games, I find that it is quite difficult to fit more modern innovative games in with the old, traditional definitions of board games. Does that mean that they are not actually board games? No, it does not. Connect 4 is most certainly a board game in my home.
With that being said, the next time someone suggests that Connect 4 is not actually a board game; I will be able to argue the point with them, because I believe that it most certainly is!


text:
What is a Europe Direct Information Centre?
The Europe Direct Centre (EDIC) at Sligo Library is your starting point for finding information about the EU. The centre provides access to material covering a wide variety of topics, including:
- General information about how the EU works.
- Information about the various EU institutions and agencies.
- The latest news about EU affairs and events.
- Information about citizen rights in the EU.
The Europe Direct Centre at Sligo Library is part of a network of similar centres across the European Union, including 8 more across the Republic of Ireland. The Sligo centre is located with the Local Studies Library towards the rear of the building as you come in the main entrance of the Library


Case Number 14310
Criterion // 1954 // 156 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Dylan Charles (Retired) // August 19th, 2008
The Charge
The color of the sea
And the silhouette of the mountains
Remained the same as day followed upon day?
Opening Statement
Based on a novel by Sakae Tsuboi, Twenty-Four Eyes takes the road less traveled to show a country in wartime. Rather than the brutality of the battlefield, the atrocities, the bloodshed, and the bombs, Twenty-Four Eyes shows the small effects in the day-to-day lives of the common folk.
Facts of the Case
Hisako Oishi (Hideko Takamine) is a schoolteacher in a small rural town in Japan in 1928. For the next eighteen years, through the beginning and end of World War II, she watches her twelve students deal with poverty, war, and growing up and does what she can to help them along.
The Evidence
When boiled down to its very basic premise, Twenty-Four Eyes sounds like a very simple movie that can be summed up in two sentences. That's where the beauty of the whole thing comes into play. From this very simple premise, Keisuke Kinoshita weaves a very complex, emotional story that paints an accurate portrayal of the effects of a history shattering event on a small, rural town.
This complexity is slow to bloom. The story introduces Oishi as a bright spark in a close-knit town, a little too modern and a little too wild for the tastes of the parents. She deals with their idle gossip and the pranks and gibes of her students, but her energy and love for the students lets them bloom in a time of abject poverty.
As the movie progresses and her students get older, the problems they all face become more and more complex. Oishi must face claims that she's a communist, a Red spreading left leaning teachings to her students, while her students must face the looming problems of adulthood. Some must give up their education, others think of joining the army to fight in the war.
At all times, the war is at an arm's length, a distant black cloud that impacts their lives on a minor level, but is omnipresent. It's a strange way to depict the bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century. War is heard about, but never seen. It touches their lives, but only by proxy. Friends are killed and family lost, but Oishi is the single bright thread through all of her students' lives, there to love and care for them, even when no one else does.
Hideko Takamine ages gracefully as Oishi. Her young woman is as believable as her middle-aged woman. Through it all, she manages to maintain her spark in spite of the hardships that befall her. Kinoshita handled the casting of the children in a novel way. Knowing that he'd need characters to age five years at one point, he only cast actors who had siblings five or six years older and then used those siblings after the time shift, thus allowing for a more fluid change through the shifts in time and allowing the audience to maintain a grip on who was who.
There are a few problems with the pacing of the film, however. One is the abundant deluge of songs. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a song sung by the children. It just about drove me wild, but perhaps there are those who actually have an attention span and won't be bothered. Toward the end, after a fairly restful first and second act, the third act comes at a breakneck pace, with large shifts in time happening every ten minutes or so. It's a bit jarring, and after the languid pace of the first two thirds, I felt hard-pressed to keep up.
Criterion has packaged up a few decent extras. The interview with Tadao Sato helps to place Twenty-Four Eyes into its larger context, which is always a good thing. Criterion has let me down though, with only a smattering of extras this time around, although this might be because I just hold Criterion to the very high standards it has set for itself. I expect them to offer sixteen audio tracks, interviews with men that have been dead for years, and a mime who visits my house to act out the whole film.
The video quality is also not quite up to snuff. While it's very clean, it's also a bit washed out, with an absence of true blacks.
Closing Statement
Twenty-Four Eyes is a beautiful film with a power that rests in the basic simplicity of the story. It's driven by the lives of the characters rather than basic plot contrivances and Criterion has done well to bring it to a larger audience.
The Verdict
While Judge Charles dislikes children in his courtroom, he finds the defendant not guilty.
Scales of Justice
Video: 90
Audio: 100
Extras: 90
Acting: 95
Story: 95
Judgment: 95
Perp Profile
Studio: Criterion
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (Japanese)
* English
Running Time: 156 Minutes
Release Year: 1954
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* New Interview with Japanese Cinema Historian and Critic Tadao Sato about the Film and its Director
* Theatrical Teasers
* IMDb


Embassy Series Brings Iraqi Music to D.C. Audiences
The sounds of the great Western composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Bach, performed by internationally acclaimed musicians. The food, the socializing and networking, the kibitzing, the receptions at embassies, ambassadorial residences and international cultural centers. They're all perfectly good reasons to check out the Embassy Series, Washington's unique musical series.
But Embassy Series founder Jerome Barry had something additional in mind when he began and developed the series. It's called cultural diplomacy by way of musical diplomacy, a vision which has allowed him to enlarge the series to embrace a truly international vista.
The Iraqi Cultural Center at 1630 Connecticut Ave., N.W., in Dupont Circle provides an ideal setting and example for conducting that sort of cultural diplomacy Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when the Two Rivers Eastern Ensemble, a six-piece group of Middle Eastern and Western artists combine their talents to produce an evening of jazz fused with Maqam, a 400-year-old genre of Arab music which originated in ancient Iraq. The Two Rivers Eastern Ensemble will perform using both folkloric (the santour) and modern (the trumpet) instruments, singing in Arabic, and dressed in traditional ethnic outfits.
"Many instruments such as al-oud, a-santur and the tambourine were invented in ancient Mesopotamia," said Jabir Habeb, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States. "The Sumerians were the first to compose the musical system. This ancient music was shared by many ethnic groups who lived in this region including Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds, Armenians and Turks. The Maqams were considered by many to be the foundation of Eastern music."
"These unique artists are meant to emphasize Iraq's music, history and cultural influence," Barry said. The artists are unique to the American scene while many are of Iraqi origin. In terms of the Embassy Series, "this is what we mean when we talk about uniting people through musical diplomacy," Barry said. "We provide a forum--through concerts--that combines music with information about a country's culture and history."
In 2010, with the long, grinding effects of the war in Iraq still being felt by both nations, the first such concert at the Iraqi Cultural Center provided an electric evening of different cultures meeting--and often whistling with approval--on a musical playing field. Audiences used to the rapt listening atmosphere of classical music concerts also provided by the Embassy Series soon joined in the more participatory atmosphere of the concert of Iraq music using ancient musical instruments which created rhythmic, soulful sounds and songs.
In its 18-year history, the Embassy Series has performed in more than 60 embassies, residences, chanceries, diplomatic chanceries and cultural institutions, opening up the world of countries and cultures not encountered on such an intimate level. The series was the first to perform at the newly opened embassies of many former Soviet-bloc, Eastern European countries in the 1990s, and performed at the Cuban Interests Section, the Vietnamese Embassy and the opening of the new (and huge) Chinese Embassy in 2010.
Tickets are $80, which includes a post-concert reception. For more information, visit _URL_.
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text:
The intergovernmental convention aims to combat the "increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds," and "wise use" of wetlands for the "benefit of humankind."
But Bundala is now losing a war against invasive plant species and the very nature of its water, which made it a haven for migrating water fowl, has changed.
"You cannot just declare a site as Ramsar and go to sleep," says Sarath Kotagama, a academic from Sri Lanka's Colombo University who is president of the Field Ornithological Group of Sri Lanka, a bird conservation group.
"A unique site has certain characteristics. If you want to preserve them you have prevent successional change.
"If you do not do something, a wetland will fill up and be reduced to a narrow area where water will drain."
Kotagama says wetlands are under constant'seral' stage change. In a wetland, putrefying vegetation will settle at the bottom, create peat and eventually fill up.Bundala is in Sri Lanka's lowland dry zone, and is subject to flooding in the wet season. As the water dries up gradually, salinity increases, allowing a unique eco-system to grow around it.
Unlike forests, which also change, but much more slowly, a seasonal flooding and drying up cycle makes quick and visible changes in a wetland like Bundala.
But other forces are also at work in Bundala.
Drainage water from a large irrigation project in Lunugamvehera, which started in the 1980s, has flowed across the Bundala's Ambilikala lagoon into the sea, gradually taking the salt with it over the years.
Now in the rainy season, the already water-logged wetland gets flooded very quickly. New bird species that do not inhabit brackish water are now found in Bundala.
These include Purple coot and Moorhens. But the number of other waterfowl, including migrant ducks, terns and gulls may be falling.
"There are very little birds, more marshy-ness," says Kotagama. "Bundala was declared a Ramsar site with flamingoes. There were about 3,000 flamingoes visiting each year."
"We have made its water fresh and we have lost flamingoes," he says.
Only a handful of flamingoes are sighted or just heard in the night now.
Kotagama, a former head of Sri Lanka's wildlife agency, says when the site comes up for renewal under the Ramsar convention at the expiry of 20 years next year, the diminishing bird life will be a challenge for authorities.
Brackish water allows crustaceans that various waders consume - including flamingoes - to flourish.
"Years ago, kirri isso (a white hued shrimp) used to grow in the lagoon in the season when the lagoon opens to the sea," recalls Tissakuttiarachchige Ariyadasa, a villager who still herds buffaloes in the wetland.
"People from Malala village used to collect the shrimp and earn a good income. Now the price of a kilo of kiri isso (white shrimp) is about 500 rupees. But people can now catch only fish."
Ariyadasa cannot accurately recall when villagers last collected shrimp.
"By the time President Chandrika Kumaratunga came (in 1994) there were no shrimp," he says thoughtfully, as his buffaloes go splashing into the wetland leaving the tarred road.
"It was probably during president Premadasa's time that we last saw shrimp."
Kotagama says an attempt was made several years ago to dam the incoming fresh water and divert it for cultivation and then run off direct to the sea under a project supervised by the University of Colombo.
But the project fell through when an environmental organization went to court against the move.
Kotagama says Sri Lanka's authorities and conservationists have a heavily 'protection' oriented or 'hands off' approach, where an area is left undisturbed and without human intervention rather than active management.
Bundala was a'sanctuary' when it was originally declared a Ramsar site. At the time Kotagama headed Sri Lanka's wildlife agency.
It is now a 'national park' and under tight protection. Parts of the original sanctuary which included inhabited areas, were dropped when the Ramsar designated area of the wetland was made into a national park, subject to stricter 'do not touch' laws.
But authorities have so far not tried to prevent villages like Ariyadasa herding buffaloes in the park.
The nation park is half of the original Ramsar declared area of the sanctuary.
"Conservation does not mean no human activity," says Kotagama. "Many Ramsar wetlands are teeming with human activity."
These include Lake Geneva in Switzerland which has ship traffic, and a salt pan in the middle of Tokyo which attracts an estimated 200,000 thousand birds.
Bundala village dates back to the time of Sri Lanka's ancient kings and the wetlands have survived with villagers' interaction until the ambitious irrigation works started up under then Sri Lanka president J R Jayewardene.
A key thrust of the programs at the time was to grow rice, a water intensive crop that grows under full inundation, which has irrigation run-off saturated in fertilizer and is close to the heart of Sri Lanka's politicians.
Other threats to the wetland are also literally growing each day.
All over Bundala national park as well as the Hambantota district in general, a species of mesquite (Prosepis juliflora), a native from the American continent is thriving and taking over arid land.
"Mesquite takes salinity from the soil," says Kotagama. "It was an introduced plant."
A species of cactus, Opuntia dillenii is taking over the rest of the terrestrial area of the park.
An attempt to destroy invasive plants in a section of Bundala's terrestrial area, with has not worked, with the plants coming back again as there has been no follow up work, says Kotagama. But physically destroying the plants is an expensive business.
There have no concerted efforts to commercialize the use of mequite which has found to be useful as a source of fuelwood and charcoal in other countries, including India.
"For years we had a protection regime," says Kotagama. "Now we have to re-think."
Unless active management comes, with invasive species on one side and fresh water contamination on the other, the Bundala national park, and its birds as well as its status as a Ramsar site, is facing an uncertain future.


text:
During one workshop at the 2015 Conference, the young people attending developed a Trans Charter For Education, for schools and other educational organisations to use:
- All teachers to receive a minimum of 1 hrs training on trans awareness per year.
- There should be an annual National Student Survey (anonymous) to monitor gender inclusivity.
- No-gendered uniform – Have one single uniform or more than two options for uniform.
- All people should have access to gender neutral bathrooms & changing facilities in all education establishments.
- Whole school commitment to avoid gendered language e.g. 'ladies' or 'guys', and a culture where gendered language is challenged.
- Non-gendered activities/sports MUST be an option in P.E and don't gender sports e.g. all genders should be allowed to play football, all should be allowed to play netball.
- Everywhere should have a comprehensive policy on transphobic bullying.
- Every establishment should have a named person responsible for trans support, and they must have links with relevant local/national trans organisations. (BUT, supporting trans students is everybody's job).
- There must be a commitment to not assume gender &/or trans status, which includes a culture of asking people's pronouns, and a culture of accepting the name people tell you they are (which might not be the same as is on the register).


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New interactive video offers training for students borrowing to pay for their education
Most people claim student loan debt is the best type to accrue. But, as unemployment looms, school enrollment increases and loan amounts increase, so do default rates. People are beginning to question the value of a high-priced education.
The Imagine America Foundation, a career education scholarship provider and research organization, seeks to decrease the student loan default rate by educating students about responsible borrowing. In March, the Foundation released a new interactive video tutorial, "Financial Planning Made Simple (FPMS)," for career college students. Colleges that participate in the Imagine America scholarship and award programs will be required to use it as an online training tool.
The easy-to-use interactive video will allow students to choose between either a male or female avatar to walk them through a variety of important educational financial decisions. The 18-minute tutorial will discuss aspects such as budgeting, borrowing and repayment.
IAF President Robert L. Martin said, "We knew in order to get students' attention we needed to create something that would grab their attention and keep it."
The avatars are shown calculating their budgets by displaying the amount and location of their spending. The avatars also are shown meeting with a financial aid advisor. Students can follow along and learn about different terms by clicking on words linking them to further information regarding consolidation, forbearance, deferment and default. IAF tested the video and the calculator features with career college students to assess whether they found it helpful.
"Both had a very positive response to the video and calculator," Martin said. Of the students surveyed, 86 percent said the FPMS tool would definitely or very probably help them to make responsible financial decisions. When asked how helpful the tool might be to their students, 59 percent of financial aid administrators said a great deal, while the other 41 percent said very much, according to Jenny Faubert, IAF Director of Communications.
The video gives students the opportunity to calculate their own budgets by using the FPMS Student Financial Planning Tool. It allows users to visually see exactly where their money is being spent in hopes of helping students decrease overspending and increase their savings.
"The Student Financial Planning Tool is different because it includes two tabs, one to create your monthly budget and school expenses and the second tab calculates the different repayment options," said Faubert. "By watching the video and using the Student Financial Planning Tool, students can make more informed financial decisions."
While gainful employment regulation is awaiting approval, IAF is taking these proactive steps toward minimizing excessive borrowing. Potential legislation changes threaten students' ability to access much-needed funding. The IAF hopes the new tool will give students a head start on understanding the real cost of an education and will decrease the student loan defaulters. IAF understands career college students have different financial responsibilities.
"Many students attending career colleges are older adult students. In the video, the student is able to choose from two different budgeting scenarios: one, if they live with their parents who pay the rent and utilities or two, if they live on their own and pay their own rent and utilities," Faubert said.
As more and more students' loans are facing default, it's important to understand the severity of not being able to pay back loans. According to the Federal Student Aid website, once a student loan is declared in default, students are no longer able to apply for deferment or forbearance, which allows students to postpone or stop making payments for a set amount of time. Additional steps to collect the defaulted loan can impose extreme hardships for the student, such as wage garnishment, collection costs, legal action and a lowered credit rating. The financial woes of not paying back student loans could also jeopardize students' ability to obtain employment.


9 Essentials You Have to Pack for Your Next Mountain Vacation
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Whether you live in a cosmopolitan city or a tiny town, sometimes you need to get away from other people and the craziness of life. In times like those, there's nothing like a trip to the mountains. Nature, fresh air, and solitude do wonders for the soul.
However, there are some different mountain trip essentials you need to remember to bring. Packing them will ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.
Keep reading for a list of nine things you need to bring along on any mountain vacation.
 1. The Right Pair of Shoes
Bringing along the right pair of shoes or boots may seem obvious, but many people don't do it. This can lead to soreness, blisters, and a number of other foot-related problems.
Make sure that you bring a pair of shoes with good traction, regardless of the environment that you'll be hiking or walking in. This will ensure that you keep your grip on different surfaces. You should also make sure that your shoes are comfortable. This will help prevent soreness, no matter how much you walk or climb.
 1. Weather-Resistant Clothing
When the weather is unpredictable, it's best to bring layers and clothing that can handle sudden changes. The same holds true when packing for a mountain or hiking trip.
Try to find jackets and outerwear pieces that are windproof and waterproof. Any articles of clothing you bring should be able to breathe, and shouldn't hold things such as water and sweat.
When packing your bag, roll your clothes as opposed to folding them. This will take up less space and also prevent them from getting as wrinkled.
 1. Good Socks
A good pair of socks is as important as a reliable pair of hiking boots. They can make the difference between a comfortable hiking experience and a terrible one.
Avoid materials such as cotton and polyester, as they absorb sweat and water. If your feet get wet, you want them to be able to dry in a short amount of time. Certain materials such as wool will keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable. Some socks also come with padding, preventing strain on your feet.
 1. A Hat
Whether you'll be hiking in the middle of winter, the height of summer, or sometime in between, it's a good idea to bring a hat.
In the summer, a hat can help keep the sun from beaming down on your face and body. It'll also keep you dry during any rainstorms. In winter, hats will keep your head warm and toasty, preventing body heat from leaving you. A good hat is as essential as your hiking shoes and socks.
 1. Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is something that most people know that they should be doing, but often forget to do. However, not applying sunscreen can have serious effects on both your short-term and long-term health.
The majority of UV rays from the sun come in two forms: UVA and UVB. Most people are familiar with UVB rays, as these are the ones that cause burns and discoloration. However, UVA rays can cause premature aging, as well as skin cancer. Wear sunscreen to prevent both of these rays from damaging your skin.
 1. A First Aid Kit
When you're far away from civilization, you need to make sure that you're prepared to tackle any sort of emergency. Bringing a first aid kit ensures that you and the people you travel with stay safe. Bring any prescription medicine you need, OTC pain removers, bandages, and other essentials.
You should also be familiar with any of the nearby mountain towns. In case of emergency, you should have an escape plan back to a point of safety.
 1. A Hiking Pole
If you'll be traversing areas of different elevations, it can be a good idea to bring along a hiking pole.
Hiking poles improve your balance and also help to take some of the pressure off of legs and spine. Many of them are also affordable and collapsable, letting you store them until you need them.
 1. Bug Spray
Summer hiking is wonderful, but the one downside is the number of bugs. Mosquitoes, flies, and other insects can take away from an otherwise fantastic experience. Bringing along a bottle of bug spray can help keep them in check.
If you don't like using harsh, store-bought products, you can look into crafting your own DIY spray. Oils such as lavender, citronella, and tea tree all repel bugs. Experiment with different concoctions until you find one that works for you.
 1. Activity Specific Gear
If you plan on doing any specific activities while in the mountains, make sure that you bring the required gear to enjoy them and stay safe.
If you plan on recording videos and documenting your trip, make sure that you bring a good camera, as well as all required mounts. You also need to bring along memory cards and charging equipment.
If you'll be participating in winter activities, such as skiing or snowing, don't forget to pack the required gear. In some cases, you may be able to rent certain pieces in nearby towns.
Planning a Mountain Vacation? Don't Forget These Nine Items
Mountain vacations can be great, but you need to make sure that you and the people you travel with can handle anything. By following this guide and bringing some of the nine items mentioned, you'll be certain to have a safe and unforgettable mountain vacation.
Do you have any other tips on what to add to a mountain vacation packing list? Make sure to let us know in a comment!
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Thelema forms the core guiding principle for the OAV. Thelema is a philosophy put forth in The Book of Law by Aleister Crowley in 1904. The Book of Law was dictated to Crowley by a being called Aiwass and was described as the Law of the New Aeon.
Initiates read the Book of Law and through meditation and the practice of Magick determine what it means to them individually. It is regarded as forbidden to interpret the book for others. Thelema is generally regarded as a spiritual philosophy that emphasizes personal choice and personal responsibility.
One of the core concepts of Thelema is that each man or woman has a divine Will which they work to discover and accomplish. Thelema as a basis for ethical behavior is based on performing one's Will while not infringing upon anyone's right to do their Will. This is a sharp contrast to religions in which ethical behavior is defined by a series of rules and dogmas.
Generally, the Law of Thelema is summarized in the phrases:
Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the LawLove is the Law, Love Under Will


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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
A COMPELLING VOICE FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS, INSPIRING MILLIONS
"30 RIGHTS, 30 ADS"
The increasing interest of young people in learning their human rights generated by the What are Human Rights? booklet led to the creation of 30 educational public service announcements (PSAs), each depicting one of the human rights laid out in the Universal Declaration.
The award-winning "30 Rights, 30 Ads" PSAs, available in 17 languages, have aired in more than 100 countries on CNN International, Sky News and National Geographic Channel. They are screened on buses, in malls, theaters, sports stadiums, train stations and airports, and are used to introduce human rights lessons and lectures in schools, community centers and other educational settings.
Numerous educators and officials responsible for teaching human rights to young people enthusiastically endorse this educational tool:
"We've shown the public service announcements in our Human Rights Institute gallery. Almost every student who goes by stops at that screen and spends more time watching the public service ads than any of the written material." —Educator, Network of International Studies
"The videos and booklets put out by Youth for Human Rights International and United for Human Rights can be useful in public and private schools, as they simplify the Universal Declaration so that this vital document can be understood by children of middle school and high school age. I commend these organizations for the work they are doing to bring these resources to educational institutions." —Representative, Coalition for a Strong United Nations
"By your remarkable learning tools—including the video portrayals of all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration and accompanying human rights education materials—and by your challenging student projects designed to place youth in leadership roles within their communities, Youth for Human Rights International and its Liberia chapter are important voices in Liberia's human rights education process." —Vice president, Republic of Liberia
Because "30 Rights, 30 Ads" provides a meaningful and readily available presentation that raises awareness, the PSAs are used in a variety of settings in many countries.
In South Africa, they air on national television. Youth for Human Rights volunteers screen them to thousands of students in workshops. The city of Johannesburg partners with Youth for Human Rights to further utilize these and other materials to raise human rights awareness among youth.
In Ecuador, the Youth for Human Rights chapter aired the public service messages to 4.5 million television viewers, while concurrently delivering seminars to thousands of teachers and students. So effective was this nationwide campaign in raising awareness that the Ecuador Ministry of Heritage officially adopted the Youth for Human Rights program.
In Russia, "30 Rights, 30 Ads" has played to 10 million viewers in megamalls, Moscow airports, St. Petersburg trade centers, cineplexes and train stations. The president of Russia's Interregional Association of Ombudsmen, responsible for defending citizens against government abuse, likewise formally adopted the program to train human rights commissioners.
MATTER WHERE YOU GO 7 WE ARE ALL EQUAL
BEFORE THE LAW 8 YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS
ARE PROTECTED BY LAW
DETAINMENT 10 THE RIGHT TO TRIAL 11 WE'RE ALWAYS INNOCENT
TILL PROVEN GUILTY 12 THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY
SEEK A SAFE PLACE
TO LIVE 15 THE RIGHT TO
A NATIONALITY 16 MARRIAGE AND
FAMILY 17 THE RIGHT TO
YOUR OWN THINGS
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY 21 THE RIGHT TO
RIGHTS 24 THE RIGHT
TO PLAY 25 FOOD AND
SHELTER FOR ALL 26 THE RIGHT TO


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First Nations Information Governance Centre (n.d.). The First Nations Principles of OCAP®: Understanding OCAP®. _URL_
The OCAP® principles are a set of standards developed to protect First Nations' control, access, and possession of information about their communities. To be OCAP® compliant, each of the four main components (ownership, control, access, and possession) must be respected and fulfilled.
Anyone who is planning on conducting research with Canadian First Nations should familiarize themselves with OCAP® principles.


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Dr. Onya McCausland is a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. This research involves collaborating with the Coal Authority - a non-departmental public body of the UK government - to generate new uses for mine water waste 'ochres' as usable coloured pigment for paint. The research repositions 'waste' ochre as significant cultural material that can be used to change perceptions of the 'post-industrial' landscape sites they belong to.
In 2014, between 4 and 5 thousand tones of ochre were being sent to landfill every year because an economically viable use could not be found and landfill was the cheapest option. By reusing this otherwise redundant material in her work McCausland has demonstrated the uniqueness and cultural value of these colours and their landscape contexts.
The Landscape is read through physical (and digital) interactions with each Place, the coloured earth minerals they form have unique characteristics that are expressed through various physical processes. The work draws on the history of landart, minimalist and post-minimalist aesthetics as well as using analytical techniques to explore colour as material and the proximities between ground and surface, where surface is used to join geographic, geological and painterly realms.
In collaboration with the Coal Authority, McCausland is working to designate five selected Mine Water Treatment Schemes as public spaces that perform the production of ochre, producing high-quality pigment for paint while generating an income for the local economy.


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(NewsUSA) - Thanks to the outrage of one tenacious Detroit prosecutor, 21 serial rapists were identified -- rapists whose DNA sat untested in a police warehouse for years. Prosecutor Kym Worthy shined an unforgiving light on the gratuitously inefficient process of testing rape kits, in fact she's pronounced a national pandemic.
There's an estimated backlog of 400,000 untested rape kits in the U.S. -- bags of evidence collecting dust in storage lockers and labs.
Detroit alone had 11,303 unprocessed rape kits, each containing semen, saliva, hair or other evidence of rape. Out of the first 153 kits entered into the national database called CODIS, Worthy found 20 serial rapists.
Part of the problem is the lack of resources, from funding to staff. But the laborious process of extracting and separating two sets of DNA (the rape victim's and the perpetrator's) from one swab sample is time-consuming and tedious.
However, Dr. Bruce McCord, associate director of the International Forensic Research Institute at Florida International University (FIU), is applying new technology from Pressure BioSciences Inc. to improve the quality and speed of processing rape kits. Improving testing methods is so important that the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice awarded a $349,000 grant to support further development of the new technique, known as pressure cycling technology (PCT), at FIU.
PCT could expedite rape kit testing by avoiding the complex extraction of both male and female cells from the swab, to collect the assailant's DNA.
"Our goal is to develop a PCT-based method that can selectively disrupt sperm cells in mixtures containing female cells, without the need to first separate the cells," explains McCord. "This unique approach has the potential to significantly decrease costs and improve results."
"We're impressed with Dr. McCord's findings on the potential of PCT to enhance rape kit processing," says Dr. Henry Lee, one of the world's leading forensic scientists. "We are excited to examine the potential of PCT in improving forensic evidence, particularly DNA."
PCT's "unique approach," which uses cycled pressure to exquisitely control molecules in biological samples, extends well beyond forensics. PCT could help develop better prescription drugs, improve vaccines and enable more accurate research into diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Despite such promise, many circles remain unaware of PCT. But as PBI continues to progress and succeed, that is apt to change.


Documents from Club 100 Files
Several documents were found in the office files that provide additional information about the early days of the Club.
Dr. Katsumi Komentani, a dentist and the 100th's Morale Officer, was considered the key person in purposing and planning a postwar organization for the veterans. His son, Franklin, brought the following document and other items to the clubhouse years after Dr. Kometani had passed away. This preliminary "Charter and By-Laws" looks like it may have been drafted in late 1944 or in 1945:
Preliminary Summary of Charter and By-laws
The success of the Blood Bank Project was summarized in the following article:
Blood Bank Project
The guidelines for the Loan Fund Program appeared in the November 1947 Puka Puka Parade:
Mutual Loan Fund Program
The Objects and Purposes of the Club were included in the program for the 10th anniversary celebration of the battalion's formation.
Purpose of Club 100
Veteran Ben Tamashiro was assigned the task of writing the postwar history of the Club for the 30th Anniversary brochure. His list of the Club's projects and activities illustrate what a dynamic organization had evolved. Each chapter held family nights at the clubhouse. As the veterans retired, more annual events were added to the calendar such as a golf club banquet in January, bonsai show in July, a bowling league party in August, and a green thumb orchid show in November.
Club Activities


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An Internet of Food
March 03, 2006
Innovation Lab coordinates a new pilot demonstrating future uses of RFID in the prepared food sector. RFID tags are poised to replace the traditional bar code, not least because the tags allow producers and retailers to manage inventory and the supply chain more efficiently. But what might this technology mean for consumers? The project, which is funded by the Danish Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, will explore how RFID tagging of ordinary supermarket purchases will affect how ordinary families experience their food, all the way from the shopping cart to the frying pan.
The project will trial a wide range of the new services which RFID tagging of food products will make possible:
- Expiry management: the refrigerator monitors product expiry dates, helping consumers avoid waste.
- Dietary and nutritional guidance.
- Food safety: direct information to consumers in case of product recall.
- Inspiration: Recipes and suggestions based on actual contents of refrigerator/cupboard.
- Inventory management: the contents of the refrigerator can be 'seen' without opening the door, even from the local supermarket.
- Marketing of related and/or complementary producter.
Each of the 20 participating families will be given a 'kitchen console' and RFID reader through which the digital product information linked to the RFID tags can be accessed. The console can also be used as an internet terminal (for recipe surfing and downloading, watching movies, playing video games, planning of family activities). Every week each family will receive a shopping basket of groceries in which each item is marked with an RFID 'bar code'.
The project is a collaboration between Denmark's leading packaged food producers and both public and private information and communications technology specialists.
RFID takes the Internet-based dialogue that has revolutionized marketing and product information to a new level of honesty, detail, and accessibility. Simply put, RFID tags make it possible to paste an entire homepage/website on the side of a milk carton or bunch of broccoli. Because the amount of information that can be shared isn't limited by the physical boundaries of a product's packaging, producers can communicate much more detailed and varied messages to consumers.
- The RFID tag links to a database on the internet. By pointing a reader at the tag, a user can download the information linked to that specific tag. The product's label is in fact virtual, consisting of the information that appears on the display connected to the reader.
- The virtual product label can contain sound and video as well as text, which allows producers to experiment with multimedia content for different audiences and situations.
- The virtual product label isn't static – it can be changed by updating the database on the net. This enables producers to update information even after the consumer has purchased the product.
The project ends in November 2006.
Posted by joakim-ditlev


What Does a Catalyst Do in a Chemical Reaction?
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When you use laundry detergent to get rid of a stain on a shirt, you are watching a catalyst in action during a chemical reaction. Detergents have enzymes, which are catalysts that break up dirt and other stains on clothing. Although they help clean people's favorite outfits, they are not the only examples of powerful catalysts.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
A catalyst accelerates a chemical reaction. The catalyst remains unchanged after the reaction.
The Effect of a Catalyst on a Chemical Reaction
A catalyst affects a chemical reaction by accelerating it. It also offers an alternative way for the reaction to happen that lowers the amount of energy needed. Reactions require activation energy to start, and catalysts can help. However, catalysts survive the reactions unchanged.
Two Ways Catalysts Affect a Chemical Reaction
The two main ways catalysts affect chemical reactions are by creating a way to lower activation energy or by changing how the reaction happens. They can lower the energy of the transition state, so the overall activation energy needed for the reaction decreases, or they can alter the mechanisms of a reaction and thus change the transition state.
Catalysts do their jobs in different ways. One option is for these substances to allow the reactant molecules to break their bonds and form new ones with the catalysts. These bonds are not permanent, so the catalysts can survive the reactions unchanged. Another way catalysts work is by changing the configuration of the reactants and weakening their bonds.
Examples of Catalysts in Chemical Reactions
Two types of catalysts are homogeneous and heterogeneous. Homogeneous catalysts exist in the same phase as the reactants in the chemical reaction. For example, if the reactants are gases, then the catalyst is also a gas. Heterogeneous catalysts are in a different phase than the reactants. For example, the reactants may be solid, but the catalyst is a liquid.
Enzymes are a typical example of a biological catalyst. These proteins can fold in different ways to help reactions by binding reactants. Catalysts can help hydrolyze sucrose or table sugar. Invertase is an enzyme that helps break down sucrose: sucrose + H2O yields glucose + fructose.
Catalytic converters in cars are another common example of how catalysts work. The catalysts inside the converters tend to be precious metals such as platinum or rhodium. Gases enter the converter and come into contact with the catalysts. Then, harmful pollutants react with the metals and become less toxic.
About the Author


_USER_ {export:69136, abstract = {
The design of existing mobile phone technology has emphasised the primacy of person-to-person communication for voice, SMS and image-based communication. It may be contrasted with place-to-place communication, the key property of fixed line telephony. However, other forms of communication may mix these two approaches: these include place-to-person or person-to-place for example. These patterns may afford different values to users. This reports a field study of a prototype person-to-place SMS communications device, 'TxtBoard'. This is a small, fixed display appliance for home settings. It displays text messages sent to it from any standard mobile phone. The study highlights how the person-to-place character of the device, combined with the 'public' or situated characteristics of its placement within home settings in particular, create new opportunities for use of SMS.
}, author = {Richard Harper}, month = {March}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery, Inc.}, title = {TxtBoard: From text-to-person to text-to-home'}, url = {_URL_ year = {2005}, }


How can I check if a candidate has cheated?
We use various methods to determine if a candidate has potentially cheated and will show you alerts on the candidate's individual results page.
Since your candidates will be completing your assessment online, in a non-controlled environment, it's important to make sure none of them are using outside assistance for an unfair advantage.
You can find anti-cheating alerts on each individual candidate's results page. We track your candidates' actions during the assessment in four key ways.
 1. Filled out only once from IP address: Using the IP address, we check if candidates fill out the assessment only once (with a public link to the assessment, candidates could use multiple email addresses to take repeated attempts at the assessment).
 2. Webcam enabled: we take a snapshot of the candidate every 30 seconds using their camera or webcam. We do this to verify that your candidate is the only one taking the assessment. You can review these pictures with the slider on the results page.
 3. Full-screen mode always active: this ensures a candidate does not exit the test to find answers or help online.
 4. Mouse always in assessment window: this ensures a candidate does not use a second screen to find answers or help.
Note that this example shows a candidate with a high indication of cheating behavior.
We ask the permission of candidates to take these pictures before they start the assessment. For privacy reasons, the webcam snapshots are removed from our servers 6 months after they have been recorded. Read this article and our Privacy Policy to learn about how we deal with privacy and GDPR.