text:
One of my jobs as founder of HICCup, the organization supporting Wellville, is speaking to the press and at industry events about our work – its importance and potential to produce health in a sustainable way for so many people and communities. Usually there's some paperwork I have to complete for event organizers, so they can let people attending know what to expect. Here's how I answered questions the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians asked about my "Continuing Medical Education Lecture" (i.e., a talk!) at their Michigan Family Medicine Annual Conference & Expo in Bay City, MI, July 11 to 14. Every time I'm asked questions like these, it gives a chance to think a little more deeply about how to explain what we do to outsiders — and why it's so important.
You are scheduled to present the following session(s):
Social Determinants of Health [Wednesday, July 13 | 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.] Keynote/General Session
REQUIRED CME INFORMATION FOR EACH SESSION
To obtain continuing medical education (CME) credit for your session(s), the MAFP Foundation MUST have the following information on file for each session you are presenting.
- Identify the professional practice gap(s), explaining the difference between the actual and ideal performance and/or patient outcomes: My mission is to reduce the gap between general intentions to make people healthy, and actually doing so. The gap comprises lack of clear goals, plus effective tools/programs to deliver them, effective measurement, and accountability for the results. All in all, that requires people willing to put themselves at rick of NOT achieving the goals.
- Based on the gap described in question #1, what are the expected results for the learners who will participate in your session? How does it relate to the scope of practice of the learners who will participate in your session? The expected results is that some subset of the learners will go back to their jobs with renewed energy and courage to do what is right, and with some arguments and examples to persuade their colleagues to work with them on achieving specific goals in their area of work.
- What anticipated barriers may block implementation of achieving the session's expected results? The learners are busy, have day jobs, don't want to disrupt things, etc. They have fixed budgets with no funds for new projects…even for projects that will save money in the long run.
- What issues of patient safety may need to be addressed during this session? None. The learners are being asked to apply known and proved processes and approaches to produce health in their populations.
- What are the learner objectives for your session? [A minimum of three is required.]
- Objective #1: Understand how to define and measure goals
- Objective #2: Understand the importance of accountability
- Objective #3: Learn to perceive (some) mistakes as the cost of education
- Objective #4: Have courage!


When Cycling Becomes a Drag: The Aerodynamics of Cycling
Cycling, like other modes of transport, has its fair share of aerodynamic drag.
Cycling, like all other modes of transport, is not immune from the effects of drag. But there are a few things cyclists can do to reduce aerodynamic drag and save precious time, and energy, while in the saddle.
How does aerodynamics affect cyclists?
Apart from gravity, and perhaps an odd aggressive dog here and there, air resistance is the main issue cyclists face when traveling at speed — at least on a flat road, at low altitude, and with little wind. Even on a perfectly calm day, it is impossible for a cyclist to avoid the effects of aerodynamics — especially when traveling fast.
In fact, above speeds of around 10 mph (16 km/h), air resistance (drag) is the dominant force a cyclist needs to overcome. When speeds reach in excess of 30 mph (48.2 km/h), somewhere in the region of 90% of a cyclist's muscle power is used to blow through this invisible force.
Doubling your speed from say 20 to 40 mph (32 to 64 km/h) actually increases drag considerably more than you might expect — by around 8 times.
aerodynamics of cycling gear
Sourcechelsom tsai/Flickr
But even at lower speeds, air resistance consumes a fair amount of the energy a cyclist uses to keep moving. At around 10 mph (16 km/h) somewhere in the region of 50% of their power is used to overcome air resistance.
This phenomenon is called aerodynamic drag, it is a very interesting subject in its own right. Aerodynamics, in case you are not aware, is the study of properties of moving air and its interactions with solids moving through it.
By understanding the principles of aerodynamics, cyclists, and bicycle designers can help to make cycling that little bit more fun.
Cyclists tend to face two main types of drag when on the saddle. These are air pressure drag and direct friction, or skin friction drag.
The former is the result of a cyclist, and their bicycle, slamming into air particles as they travel forward. These particles become compressed towards the front and then become more spaced out as they flow over and around the cyclist.
This creates a pressure differential between the front and back of the cyclist, which imparts a drag force, or coefficient. This can be reduced by using aerodynamical shapes which minimizes the difference in pressure. This allows air to move more smoothly over, and around, cyclists at speed.
aerodynamics of cycling road
Source: Zachary Long/Flickr
The clothes cyclists wear, and their very skin, traps a layer of still air close to the body at all times. When on the move, the air they push through is moving relatively free and fast in comparison.
Any transition between these two bodies of air imparts another kind of friction that also creates a drag coefficient — direct, or skin, friction. Texturized suits that act much like the dimples on a golf ball can be utilized to counteract this. Rough surfaces like these increase the skin friction effect and make the air more turbulent near its surface.
This enables air particle transfer between the two layers to be more efficient which allows the flow of air to remain attached longer over the surface, thereby reducing drag pressure overall.
How is aerodynamic drag calculated?
To get a fuller appreciation of the topic, it might be useful to briefly explain how aerodynamic drag is calculated.
Drag is calculated using the following equation:
drag equation
FD = Drag force
 \rho = The density of air
A = Frontal area of the cyclist on a bike
CD = Drag coefficient
V = Velocity
The first component, FD, represents the force of drag that a cyclist experiences when moving themselves and their bike through a body of air at speed. To calculate this, we need to know a few things like the density of air (which decreases with altitude), the area of the bike and cyclist presented to the air, the drag coefficient, and, of course, the speed of travel.
As the density of air decreases at higher elevations, cyclists will experience less drag at the top of a mountain when compared to sea level. With regards to the area of the bike and cyclist, the smaller this is, the smaller the drag force — for obvious reasons.
The drag coefficient will depend on a variety of factors like the speed and surface roughness of the bike and cyclist and needs to be measured directly.
As you can see from the equation, aerodynamic drag increases as the square of the velocity. This means that if you double your speed, you will need four times the energy to overcome the drag.
Expressed another way, for every increment of extra power you apply to the pedals, your increase in speed becomes progressively smaller.
For this reason, finding ways to reduce drag is as important for cyclists as it is for aircraft or race cars.
What are some things cyclists do to reduce friction?
As you can see, drag can significantly influence the amount of energy consumed, and time on the saddle for any cyclist. While this might not be a problem for those cycling for fun, for professional or racing cyclists, every second and every calorie matters.
aerodynamics of cycling graphic
For this reason, there are a few things cyclists can do to help reduce the impact of aerodynamic drag.
1. Get yourself an aerodynamic bike
One of the best ways to reduce drag when cycling is to grab yourself a well designed, air-cutting bicycle. Bikes account for somewhere in the region of 30-40% of a cyclist's total drag.
Specially designed "aero" bikes can provide a cyclist with considerable drag reduction. For example, Cannondale's SystemSix has been found to save an amazing 2 minutes in time over a 40K time trial compared to a non-aerodynamically adapted bicycle.
Low profile wheels, using brake discs instead of pads, and specially designed handlebars, all provide modest, yet important, reductions in drag.
2. Aerodynamic cycling helmets also help
Another way cyclists can reduce air drag is by using aerodynamically designed helmets. These are streamlined, backward-pointing helmets that you've probably seen in competitive cycling before.
aerodynamics of cycling helmet
Source: Frank Steele/Wikimedia Commons
Aero helmets are excellent at reducing drag but are often not the most comfortable of things to wear.
They also tend to act like a large sail when a cyclist looks down due to the "spoiler" at the rear of the helmet. More modern aero helmets, like the Giro Vanquish and the Specialized S-Works Evade II, are excellent choices for those cyclists looking to reduce drag to a bare minimum.
3. Cyclists can even wear aerodynamically designed clothing
Yet another way cyclists can reduce drag is through specially designed clothing. Full-body skinsuits, akin to those worn by track-running sprinters, can help save cyclists a lot of effort, and time, when cycling at speed.
In some circumstances, this kind of clothing can reduce drag by as much as 10%. Some modern improvements include something called vortex generators, which are a series of tiny wings in strategic places like the shoulders, upper arms, and elbows, as well as thighs.
These tiny wings help mix the air as it flows over a cyclist's body and keeps it closer to the body to reduce drag. Other adaptations include aligning the seams of such clothing with the airflow, as well as, ensuring a skin-tight fit and smooth surface texture.
4. The wheels of a bike can also be designed to reduce drag
Well designed aerodynamically designed wheels are another way that cyclists can reduce air resistance. However, the savings made are only as good as the choice of tires too.
aerodynamics of cycling racing
Source: Tejvan Pettinger/Flickr
Some research has found that the best choice is 60 mm to 90 mm rim depth.
5. Cycling posture is one of the best ways to reduce drag on a bicycle
The cyclist, taking up a fairly large area relative to the bicycle, is the major reason for aerodynamic drag. By some estimates as much as 60 or 70% of it.
By lowering your posture while cycling, drag can be drastically reduced, as the amount of frontal area presented to oncoming air is reduced. However, there is a trade-off with this strategy -- there is such a thing as too low.
Some studies have shown that compared to the classic upright cycling position (back straight with your hands on the handlebars), putting a cyclist's hands lower on the handlebars of the bicycle and pushing their body close to the bike can make significant savings in drag.
However, there is a "sweet spot" for drag reduction that involves having your hands on the hods, with your arms bent and forearms parallel to the ground. This posture creates around a 13-14% reduction in drag compared to the classic riding posture.
aerodynamic posture cycling
Source: Dave Wilson Cumbria/Flickr
However, lowering the body like this does have an effect on the cyclist's physical performance too. Breathing and power production can be reduced to such a degree that the savings in drag can be canceled out.
Finding the right position is, therefore, something of a trade-off.
And that, bike-fans is a wrap. We hope your know have a basic appreciation for how aerodynamics, and drag, affect cyclists, and how to overcome it.
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Assessing your environmental impact
Measuring the amount of emissions relating to energy use is relatively straightforward. As with all emissions recording you should specify reporting periods and measure accurately for that period, the period usually being each calendar month.
Taking meter readings on a regular basis should only take a few moments each month. Electricity may be partly or fully renewable. You will know this from your bill. Even if fully renewable we recommend that you include 10% of emissions which allows for inefficiencies in the distribution system and emissions related to manufacture and installation of generators, turbines and solar panel. Recording 10% rather than zero also means that profligate use is avoided.
The only point to note regarding gas usage is to ensure you are working with the correct units of measure. This can be established by reference to your gas meter or bill.
The conversion factors from meter readings to emissions are:
 - Electricity 0.43 CO2 kg / kWh
 - Natural Gas 0.19 CO2 kg / kWh
 - Butane 1.51 CO2 kg / litre
 - Propane 1.51 CO2 kg / litre
 - Oil 2.69 CO2 kg / litre
 - Coal 2.548 CO2 kg / kg
 - Wood 1.035 CO2 kg / kg
Converting other units of gas to kWh requires one of these factors:
 - 1 Therm = 29.31 kWh
 - 1 Cubic m = 10.67 kWh
Recording should include total kWh and CO2 kg. These may also be expressed as kWh and CO2 kg per square meter of floor area (1 square meter = 10.764 square foot).
Deciding on your targets
Electricity usage best practice depends on sector and on the type of building you are in. Examples of targets for electricity usage are 44 kWh per square meter per year for standard offices, add 40 kWh / m2 pa for air conditioning and a further 66kWh/m2 pa for a building with night storage heaters and no gas heating.
An example of a gas heating target is 59 kWh per year per square meter.
All energy usage will vary depending on temperature. For those that are particularly keen there is a concept known as degree days that enables adjustment for the average temperature during the month. We recommend that totals are simply recorded and then year on year averages are targeted for reduction.
Reducing your impacts
Electricity supplied with a valid Climate Change Levy Exemption Certificate should be counted as Certified Renewable. Your supplier will be able to tell you the percentage of renewable energy used.
To reduce the amount of electricity there are some immediate steps such as turning computer equipment off at night and turning monitors off at lunch time. No equipment should be left on standby when not in use. Energy efficient light bulbs are an obvious next step. Many actions will be longer term and are centred on buying equipment that is energy efficient.
It should be remembered that air conditioning is a relatively new fad in this country and many millions of workers manage perfectly well without it. There is no legal maximum, although the TUC have called for an upper limit of 30C for non-strenuous work. A far better solution to overheated work areas in summer is to effectively insulate your building and implement natural air cooling and shading systems.
Gas usage can often be considerably reduced by installation of more efficient boilers. Heating controls should be temperature, time and day of week dependent. The law on minimum temperatures is clear and unambiguous – 13C for strenuous work and 16C generally; certainly thermostats should be set at less than 20C.
Contractors and very small businesses may be able to consider wood burning to heat the workplace. Wood is effectively a battery for solar power. If trees are considered a temporary store of carbon (compared to fossil fuels) and your wood is from a renewable source or saved from landfill then burning wood is effectively carbon free. However, in line with best practice we recommend accounting for 50% of emissions caused by wood burning (rather than zero) to allow for the time delay in new trees reabsorbing the carbon.
Solar panels are a cost effective way of reducing energy related emissions. There are two main types of solar systems: water heating collectors and photovoltaic solar electric panels. In financial terms both types offer an annual saving of approximately 3% of the investment. In terms of environmental impacts, solar can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 200kg per year for every £1,000 investment.
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text:
Mark Meisner "Knowing Nature Through The Media: An Examination of Mainstream Print and Television Representations of the Non-human World," in Proceedings of the 7th Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment, eds. Greg Walker and William Kinsella. Corvalis: Department of Speech Communication, Oregon State University, 2005.
This work is premised on the idea that the mainstream mass media are the primary sources of meanings about non-human Nature in contemporary North American society. This project considers the meanings of Nature and human relations with it that are produced by the overall media landscape. To explore this, a qualitative analysis using original methods and grounded theory was conducted on a representative sample of 350 media texts from Canadian newspapers, magazines, and television. All of the texts contained references to either environmental issues or aspects of Nature and so formed a sample of the 'discourse of Nature.' Texts were coded for such things as how they valued and characterized Nature, what role Nature played in the texts' narratives, how Nature was related to both humans and technology, what issues in relation to Nature were present in the texts, how the problems underlying those issues were defined, and what actions in relation to Nature were suggested. Following a multi-layered analysis, numerous competing and complementary ideas of Nature and agendas for action vis-à-vis Nature were identified in the discourse. It is argued that in this case the mass media present a coherent ideology which amounts to the "symbolic domestication of Nature."
Click the image to read the PDF.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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For a function that I am writing, the output is a dataframe. But how do i assign the values that are in one of the columns of my dataframe to objects?
For example, if I have 2 vectors that I cbind into a dataframe
>numbers<-c(33, 44, 55, 66)
>names<-c("A", "B", "C", "D")
>MYdataframe<-data.frame(cbind(names, numbers))
I will get this:
 names numbers
1 A 33
2 B 44
3 C 55
4 D 66
But how do I assign the numbers (e.g. 33) to objects (e.g. A)
share|improve this question
What programming language are you writing in? Please tag the question accordingly. – Matt Ball Feb 3 '12 at 1:13
2 Answers 2
It does not look like a very good idea: your function would be assigning variables in the global environment, or in its parent environment, instead of returning something. If you want to return several values, you can put them in a named list, e.g., list(A=3.14, B=2.71), or a vector if they all have the same type (they do, if you can put them in a data.frame).
In addition, in your example, cbind converts the numbers into factors: I am not sure this is intentional.
However, if you really insist, this can be done with assign.
d_ply( MYdataframe, "names", function(u)
 assign( as.character(u$names[1]), u$numbers, envir=.GlobalEnv)
share|improve this answer
+1 Caution is very strongly encouraged. R has no serious checking for whether or not the user is going to do something bad with an assignment. – Iterator Feb 3 '12 at 3:39
If you really wanted to use the character values as names and the numeric values as "names' for a numeric vector then this would do it:
names(numbers) <- names
# A B C D
#33 44 55 66
# A
# 33
Maybe you should say what you really want, as well as choosing names for your objects that are not function names (names is a function) will help us keep things sorted out in our heads.
share|improve this answer
Your Answer


text:
A comparison between radio loud and quiet gamma-ray bursts, and evidence for a potential correlation between intrinsic duration and redshift in the radio loud population
Lloyd-Ronning, Nicole M.
Dainotti, M. G.
Fruchter, Andrew S.
IOP Publishing; American Astronomical Society
We extend our study of energetic radio-loud and -quiet gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), suggesting these GRBs potentially come from two separate progenitor systems. We expand the sample from our previous paper and find that our results are strengthened—radio-quiet GRBs have significantly shorter intrinsic prompt duration, and are also less energetic on average. However, the tenuous correlation between isotropic energy and intrinsic duration in the radio dark sample remains tenuous and is slightly weakened by adding more bursts. Interestingly, we find an anticorrelation between the intrinsic duration and redshift in the radio bright sample but not the radio dark sample, further supporting that these two samples may come from separate progenitors. We also find that very high energy (0.1–100 GeV) extended emission is only present in the radio-loud sample. There is no significant difference between the presence of X-ray/optical plateaus or the average jet opening angles between the two samples. We explore the interpretation of these results in the context of different progenitor models. The data are consistent with the radio-loud GRBs coming from a helium merger system and the radio-quiet GRBs coming from a collapsar system, but may also reflect other dichotomies in the inner engine such as a neutron star versus black hole core.
Gamma-ray bursts: general, Stars: general, Gamma rays
Lloyd-Ronning, N. M., Gompertz, B., Pe'er, A., Dainotti, M. and Fruchter, A. (2019) 'A Comparison between Radio Loud and Quiet Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Evidence for a Potential Correlation between Intrinsic Duration and Redshift in the Radio Loud Population', The Astrophysical Journal, 871(1), 118 (8 pp). doi: 10.3847/_PHONE_/aaf6ac
© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.


07 July 2009
Required Medical Leave PT 2
Adelaide Dupont:
Required Medical Leave
This is a proposed new rule for my college (may have already gone through, my e-mail went on the fritz at about the worst time). It came, interestingly enough, after a proposal for the police to acquire rifles to deal with an active shooter failed, and during that discourse, many of the people against the proposal said that there should be preventive measures such as counseling instead, and in the listserv I warned of the potential for us to become overly vigilant for anyone who looks to be outside of the norm, to overly screen if prevention is our only means of addressing such a rare yet devastating situation (not that prevention would be 100% anyway, even if the schools excluded everyone who ever had a psych diagnosis before).
While this rule does not appear to be related (it includes physical disabilities as well), I cannot help but wonder how the culture will continue to evolve, here and elsewhere:
Issuing a required medical leave of absence.
(1) The dean of student and academic support services, or the dean's designee, (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "dean") may require a student to take a medical leave of absence if a student has a physical illness or a mental, emotional or psychological condition and as a result of the condition: (a) Is engaging in, or is threatening to engage in, behavior that poses a significant danger of causing substantial harm to the health, safety or welfare of the student or others; or (b) The student's behavior has resulted in substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student, or others and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, posing a significant danger of causing substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student or others; or (c) The student's behavior has resulted in significant disruption of the teaching, learning or administrative activities of other members of the campus community and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, with the likely result of such behavior substantially impeding the education processes or proper activities or functions of the college and its personnel.
(2) In determining whether to require a student to take a medical leave of absence, the dean shall consult with the director of health and counseling services, or the director's designee (hereinafter collectively referred to as "director of health and counseling services") and, where possible, other persons who can provide relevant information about a student's condition.
(3) Prior to the dean requiring a student to take a medical leave of absence, the student shall be provided an opportunity to present information about his or her circumstances, where reasonably possible, to the dean. A student waives their opportunity to provide information if he or she is unwilling or unable to meet with the dean in a timely manner.
(4) The dean shall issue the required medical leave of absence in writing to the student. The written notice shall include the effective date of the leave, the reasons for requiring the leave, the conditions for reenrollment, and any restrictions imposed on the student's access to the campus or college-sponsored activities.
(5) The required medical leave of absence shall be effective twenty-one days after it is served on the student, unless the student files a timely written appeal of the dean's decision as set forth in these rules. Service of the dean's decision shall be complete upon deposit in the United States mail to the student, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the student at the last known address on file with the registrar's office, or by personal service on the student.
Note that "danger of causing substantial harm to" is delineated as separate from "behavior has resulted in substantial harm to", and is a criterion for required medical leave as well. While I think it is the best course of action for a college to put students in touch with resources in the community if they are posing a danger to their health and safety (but not to anyone else) rather than to boot them off campus, it is the "welfare" criterion that seems widest and most vulnerable to abuse.
I think the main flaws in it is that it doesn't distinguish between procedures for requiring a student to leave who is posing risk to only themselves or to others as well. For instance, someone who has difficulty keeping their room clean and so it is a fire hazard, poses a (small) danger to themselves. But in this, they would be treated with the same procedures as someone who is violent in classes and has suicidal thoughts expressed.
It is also made clear that it may be difficult to reenroll:
Returning from a required medical leave of absence.
(1) A student wishing to be considered for reenrollment to the college shall submit an application for reenrollment to the dean at least one month prior to the start of the quarter in which the student wishes to reenroll. The student shall provide appropriate documentation with any conditions for reenrollment set forth in the dean's decision. If a student files an appeal of the dean's decision, and the conditions for reenrollment are modified by the review board, the student shall provide evidence that the conditions set forth in the review board's order have been met. A student must also meet all other admission or enrollment requirements of the college for reenrollment.
(2) The dean shall consult with the director of health and counseling prior to determining if the student may reenroll.
(3) The dean shall notify the student in writing of the decision and the conditions associated with the approval or denial for reenrollment. (c) Washington State Code Reviser's Office
So one has to re-apply to the college, and then after that, the dean meets with the counselor and health people to see if they approve. In addition to meeting the normal requirements to admission. Unless someone is posing a danger to the community, I don't see how this can be construed as right. As an optional procedure to assist a student in determining preparedness, yes, great, I'm all for it. But what if external observations have enough distortion to put a decision out of your favor?
I was reading through an evaluation of me that was very detailed (some tests and interviews to ascertain dx and functioning), and while it captured the state of living and my general appearance and public approach to strangers, it was full of half-truths (not to imply deception, as in addition to being based on only a glimpse of my life and on the notes that were written down rather than on an amazing memory, but also that my approach to strangers is vastly different to how I am with others, mostly consisting of common stock pleasantries, echolalia, stimming, and stronger sensory experiences).
(In a further confirmation of this fact of life, they even wrote a half-truth that is concretely, verifiably false: that I'd never had an IEP based on a misunderstanding of my interview statements about how the high school delayed my IEP and never gave transition services other than a short paper detailing my strengths and weaknesses, which, while admittedly could have been clearer, were very detailed and repeated often enough. While this could just as well have been due to ambiguity in my account I gave - I do not recall such large extent of ambiguity as to grant such large discrepancies of accounts, but memory is fallible and it is quite possible - psychological consultations consist largely, almost entirely of statements of the individual and the interpretations made of them, so a clumsily constructed explanation should not be relied on, and hopefully such reports would be taken with large hills of salt).
Oddly enough, it was another half-truth, though one much more reflective of reality, when it was noted that I had never received transition services yet received some form of special education services.
Come to think of it, I have no idea what she thought I was trying to say based off what came out in that weird report! Just got back the report, GAF 40-45 and autism confirmed via ABAS and ADOS; WASI 3 in similarities, 17 vocab, 14 block design, 12 matrix reasoning; apparently they say I have a disability called chemical sensitivity when I referred to my being overstimulated by certain smells - yet another half-truth finding its way into report, my facts, perspectives on them, mixing with their interpretations and vantage points, this climate seems optimized to highlight the biases in human perspectives and reporting which makes a real problem when one person's report is seen as less valuable or reliable a contribution.
20 January 2009
No Shirt, No Speech, No Service?
Well...I was wearing a shirt. It was pretty chilly that night after all.
In the recent times at the cafeteria, I have had difficulty with telling what's what on the menu. Given that I am vegan with a probable dairy allergy or intolerance, this can delay me a bit.
So we, as part of the student disability organization, put in a request for individual labelling of all the items.
Which has not come to pass. So I will put in another request of this.
But in the meantime, what was supposed to happen if I was confused about
what an item was, is I was supposed to get help from someone there.
Since I often can't talk in there, I go near to somebody and point to
the location, and use body language and such. Which usually takes a long
time because I have a hard time identifying somebody who works there,
but once I see them then they see me and help me and no problem.
However, today right from the start I was in front of somebody working
there (who was the cashier working, so busy I understand, but still
there were several times when there was a


The association Sportegration organises a range of different projects for refugees in and around Zurich. The main focus is the enjoyment of sports played together.
We are locals, refugees and expats and together we are working out daily through a variety of sports such as fixboxing, running, Yoga and swimming. Dance classes and ballsports are also offered.
At Sportegration, sports provides a path to a successful social integration. No matter your age, gender or origin - everybody is welcome to join!
"Children and adolescents have a great need for motor activity. Just sitting around makes them depressed. For this they need appropriate space and freedom, such as that offered by Sportegration. Because there are no refugees or asylum seekers. These are all individuals who come to us. Each person is unique because of his/her biography and cultural background. It is about human dignity and it depends to a large extent on how well refugees and asylum seekers can meet their basic individual needs. Ensuring this is associated with considerable costs, for example for accommodation that enables people to live together in community. We need to raise these necessary finances. On top of that, the most important thing we can provide to these people are trustful relationships."
Remo Largo | pediatrician and author
Auf Instagram folgen 💙
Sie wollen sich bei SPORTEGRATION engagieren, haben ein Feedback oder eine Frage?
Kontaktieren Sie uns, wir freuen uns auf Ihre Nachricht!


Pocillopora coral
Most often referred to by the common names cauliflower coral and brush coral, species of the genus Pocillopora are very small and have a fuzzy appearance.
These popular corals are typically fast growers. They come in a wide variety of colors including deep pinks, pale purples, blues and startling purples.
Pocillopora corals rank second only to those of the genus Acropora for their contribution to reef structures.


text:
Recipes: Level 3
Level 3 (for advanced students) looks at further developments in the arrangement of music. Most of the recipes use the seven-point plan from composing in a harmonic style. To remind pupils of this, you may wish to display or distribute the following poster:
At this level, the music generally requires the use of traditional notation and a greater awareness of all the parts at one time. A greater degree of skill needs to be exercised in the arrangement of the music. Full guidance is provided for this. Some recipes are easier to follow, and the music is more successful, if pupils are using computers to compose. It is assumed that pupils use manuscript paper for these recipes, although grids are provided if required.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Things to Do in China
Want to know some of the standout things to do in China? Then have a look through our handpicked suggestions below...
1. The Great Wall of China
The only manmade landmark that can be seen from space, the Great Wall was constructed to protect the Chinese Dynasties from outside attack during the 14th and 15th centuries. Badaling is probably the best preserved stretch, and also houses the Great Wall Museum.
2. The Forbidden City, Beijing
The 980 buildings of the Forbidden City were the home of various Emperors throughout its 500 year history. It's now partly given over to the Palace Museum, where it's thought that over one million items are in regular rotation.
3. Tiananmen Square, Beijing
This huge square at the heart of Beijing has been the site of many historically important events over the years. Today it contains a Monument to the People's Heroes, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, where the embalmed body of the dictator is displayed.
4. The Great Buddha, Leshan
Situated just outside Leshan, the construction of this stone Buddha is thought to have commenced in 713 AD. Standing 71 meters tall, it's the largest of its kind to be found anywhere in the world.
5. Terracotta Army, Xian
8,099 life-size army figures made from terracotta are stored in a huge warehouse hanger just outside Xi'an. Discovered in 1974, they now display varying degrees of damage and renovation, but remain a truly daunting spectacle.
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text:
Value Driven Purpose - The Lean Transformation Framework
posted on August 25, 2015
Many organisations and business leaders that practice Lean thinking make the mistake that Lean transformation and business improvement is all about running training sessions and improvement projects / events. If this was the case, we should be seeing many more world class businesses by now that always delivered exactly what the customer wanted when they wanted.
Instead most businesses still face a number of common challenges. Familiar examples include:
- Making time for improvement
- Sustaining improvement
- Patchy activity or pockets of improvement throughout the business
- Management support to improving the business
- Low overall business impact from improvement activity
To address these and a number of other common issues, we've developed a series of workshops around the Lean Transformation Framework (click here for the video).
The first of our 5 sessions explores how organisations can define purpose – and align their organisational improvement efforts to their purpose. A key part of this approach involves understanding the business problem(s) we are trying to solve and defining purpose in two dimensions: Firstly, customer purpose – by asking "What do your customers want that you are not currently able to supply?" And secondly organisational purpose – by asking "What does your organisation need to survive and even to prosper?"
As each company's circumstances are unique we need a situational approach to Lean transformation. However the distinctive feature about Lean is that implementation begins by thinking back from the perspective of value to the customer. Our first session called "Value Driven Purpose" (about the roof of the house in John Shook's Lean Transformation Framework) helps us to identify and address the real gaps within our purpose, capability, performance and our ability to manage change.
This aspect is key as the effectiveness of your Lean transformation approach is critical as it impacts: speed of change, achieving our goals and objectives, sustaining improvement and developing long term improvement capability.
Further details of the workshop are outlined below.
Workshop Title: Lean Transformation Framework
The workshop is designed for: leaders, managers, supervisor or Lean practitioners wanting to start or enhance their Lean journeys. The public workshop will be run over 5 Days and will be run at our office in Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye.
Dates: 28th September to the 2nd October & 14th to 18th December (early booking is highly recommended)
The purpose of this workshop is:
- To provide a framework for Lean Transformation
- To explore the five areas of the Lean Transformation Framework
- To develop organisational / team purpose
- To define the problem we are trying to solve and how it links to organisational purpose
- To develop personal and team action plans
Topics that will be examined include:
- Developing organizational purpose and defining the Problem
- Steps and activities organizations can take to improve the actual work
- Building organizational capability for Lean
- Understanding the leadership behaviours required to lead and support Lean transformation
- The basic thinking, mind-set and assumptions comprising culture
Through instruction, small group discussions, exercises and video workshop participants will:
- Learn about the key elements of a successful Lean transformation
- Learn how to develop organisational purpose
- Learn how to define the gaps and the business problems that impede Lean Transformation and Developing Capability to Improve the Work
- Discuss and reflect on how to go beyond where they are now – to close the next set of gaps in the organization
Join us in exploring what additional actions you can take to navigate your own Lean Transformation and deliver improved business performance and long-term improvement capability. More details and to register can be found here.


Why was clemency trending last week?
tire chain
a chain fitting over the tire of a car, truck, or other vehicle, to increase traction and prevent skidding on roads covered with ice or snow.
Also called skid chain. Unabridged
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Examples from the web for tire chain
 - They are resistant to thermal stresses created by wide temperature variations and to tire chain wear.
 - Any tire chain, bar grip, or other device affixed to a tire in any way would be prohibited.
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Researchers have identified a key enzyme in the fertilization process of sea urchin eggs, which represent a common model for animal fertilization, according to a study (Dev Cell 2004, 7:801-814) published in the December 7 issue of Developmental Cell.
Working on two species of urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus variegatus, biologists at Brown University identified a dual oxidase, "Urchin Dual Oxidase" (Udx1), as the enzyme responsible for the typical "respiratory burst" observed at fertilization. During this burst, extracellular oxygen is turned into hydrogen peroxide, which is released into the perivitelline space around the egg.
"This respiratory burst has been a puzzle since the beginning of the century," Victor Vacquier from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., who did not participate in the study, told us. "Then 20 years ago, we realized that the oxygen was actually being used to produce peroxide, but the mechanism still remained unclear."
During fertilization, the entry of the sperm into the egg immediately triggers a series of metabolic reactions to avoid polyspermy and protect the fragile embryo.
The major factor blocking other male gametes from entering the zygote is the depolarization of the membrane. That is followed by the transformation of the vitelline layer around the embryo into a hardened fertilization envelope, which insulates the egg in a more general manner from its environment. The polymerization of this matrix is catalyzed by the enzyme ovoperoxidase, whose indispensable substrate is peroxide.
"Disruption of any of these activities, which more or less happen in concert, results in compromised fertilization," said study co-author Gary Wessel.
To quantify when and how much peroxide is synthesized at fertilization, the researchers used an imaging photon detector. After discovering the oxidative burst activity is located at the cell surface, they set out to identify the enzymes involved.
While other cells known to produce peroxide - such as neutrophils, which release peroxide to kill invading organisms - usually do not survive this synthesis, the embryo remains immune to peroxidase. Until now, how this protection occurs remained unclear.
"The pharmacology of white blood cells is pretty well known, and there are many drug inhibitors of that oxidase," Wessel told us. "When using such inhibitors, our results showed that, indeed, an oxidase is in play, but not the type that blood cells use.
The team then identified the dual oxidase sequence in the sea urchin's genome, and polymerase chain reaction tests revealed the enzyme is expressed especially in developing oocytes. With the use of anti-Udx1 polyclonal antibodies, the team localized the specific enzyme in the cell membrane and verified it is, alone, responsible for peroxide synthesis.
"Neutrophils are disposable cells. The egg isn't, and it has to be protected," said David Epel from Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, who did not participate in the study. "The enzyme they discovered in the egg has a dual role: At one end it's making peroxide, and at the other it's destroying it. So it pours the peroxide outside of the cell but also doesn't let it get inside the cell."
While evidence shows that Udx1 activation is calcium dependent, the team is now trying to understand how the enzyme shuts off after fertilization. "Clearly, if the embryo was producing peroxide for long periods of time, the embryo would be compromised," said Wessel, who suggested that Udx1 might also have a role in further development stages of the embryo.
A similar peroxidase activity can be found in a variety of animal eggs, such as those of mice, amphibians, and mosquitoes, according to the study. "This suggests this activity - making hydrogen peroxide a component of the block to polyspermy - could be evolutionarily very old and very widespread," said Vacquier.
Holding C: Sperm mRNA found in eggs The Scientist, May 13, 2004.


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Ah, the intriguing world of canine quirks! One such curious behavior is caching – the act of hiding prized possessions like toys, bones, and even food.
Dogs usually cache due to their ancestral instincts to store food for lean times, as well as to create a sense of security and comfort. In multi-dog households, caching may also occur due to resource guarding or territoriality.
In this article, we'll dig deep into the mysteries of caching behavior in dogs, and help you understand why dogs cache and how to deal with it. So, if you've ever caught Fido burying a treasure in the backyard, read on to discover what's really going on in that furry little head of his!
The Hows and Whys of Dog Caching Behavior
An Age-Old Instinct
Caching behavior in dogs can be traced back to their wild ancestors. Canines in the wild would cache their food to ensure they had a steady supply during lean times.
So, when you see your dog attempting to bury a bone or a treat, they're actually tapping into their ancient instincts!
For some dogs, caching can be a way to create a sense of security and comfort.
By hiding their treasured items, they're ensuring that they'll always have something valuable close at hand – sort of like a canine version of a rainy day fund!
Territoriality and Resource Guarding
In multi-dog households, caching behavior can be a sign of resource guarding or territoriality.
Dogs may hide their toys or food to prevent their canine siblings from getting to them first.
This behavior can also be seen in dogs that have experienced scarcity in the past, such as rescues or dogs with a history of neglect.
How To Deal With Caching Behavior in Dogs
Recognize the Behavior
The first step in addressing caching behavior in dogs is to recognize it for what it is.
If your dog is frequently hiding items or digging holes in the yard, there's a good chance they're caching.
Provide a Safe Space
If your dog is caching due to feelings of insecurity or resource guarding, providing them with a safe space can help.
This might include a designated "cache zone" with a soft bed or blankets, and even a special toy box for their most treasured possessions.
Address Resource Guarding
To tackle resource guarding, you'll need to work on building trust and reinforcing positive behaviors. This can include:
- Ensuring each dog has their own space, toys, and food bowls
- Feeding dogs separately to prevent competition
- Practicing "trading up" by exchanging a lower-value item for a higher-value one
- Working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist if needed
Redirect the Energy
If caching behavior in dogs is causing problems, such as digging up the yard, try redirecting their energy into more appropriate activities. This can include:
- Providing interactive toys that engage their natural instincts, like puzzle toys or treat-dispensing balls
- Offering supervised chew time with appropriate chew toys or treats
- Engaging your dog in regular exercise and playtime to help burn off excess energy
Why Do Dogs Hide Their Food
Dogs hide their food for several reasons, all rooted in their natural instincts and behaviors.
One primary reason is their ancestral background, where wild canines would cache food to ensure they had a steady supply during times of scarcity. This behavior has been passed down through generations, even though our domesticated dogs have regular access to food.
Another reason dogs hide their food is to create a sense of security and comfort. By stashing away their prized edibles, they're making sure they have a stash of valuable resources available when needed, similar to a rainy day fund.
In households with multiple dogs, hiding food can be a result of resource guarding or territoriality. Dogs may feel the need to protect their food from their canine siblings, especially if they have experienced scarcity in the past or if there's competition for resources. In such cases, dogs hide their food to prevent others from getting to it first.
Dog Air Caching – What Is That?
Dog air caching, also known as "ghost caching" or "phantom caching," is a peculiar behavior in which a dog appears to be hiding an item but is not actually concealing anything. In essence, the dog goes through the motions of caching without physically burying or hiding an object.
This behavior may be observed when a dog picks up an imaginary item, moves to a location, and then proceeds to "hide" the nonexistent object. They may use their nose or paws to mimic the actions of covering the imaginary item, just as they would if they were genuinely caching something.
The exact reasons behind dog air caching are not well understood, but it is believed to be linked to their natural caching instincts. Some theories suggest that air caching could be a form of play or practice for actual caching behaviors. Alternatively, it might be a compulsive behavior stemming from anxiety, boredom, or stress.
To address air caching, dog owners can provide ample mental and physical stimulation through interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and regular exercise. If the behavior becomes excessive or problematic, consulting with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist may be helpful to identify and address the underlying causes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is caching behavior in dogs a sign of a problem?
Not necessarily. Caching behavior in dogs is a natural instinct, and as long as it's not causing issues, it's generally harmless. However, if it's causing damage or is a result of resource guarding, you'll want to address it.
- Can I train my dog to stop caching?
While you can't completely eliminate caching behavior in dogs, you can manage it by redirecting their energy and providing alternative outlets for their instincts. Working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist can help you develop a plan tailored to your dog's specific needs.
- Is caching behavior in dogs more common in certain breeds?
Caching behavior in dogs can be seen across all breeds, but it may be more prevalent in certain breeds with strong hunting or working instincts, such as terriers, retrievers, and hounds.
- Should I be worried if my dog is caching food?
Caching food isn't inherently worrisome, but it can be a sign that your dog is feeling insecure or experiencing resource-guarding issues. If you're concerned, consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to address the underlying causes.
Why Do Dogs Cache?
Why do dogs cache and how to deal with it?
Caching is a natural canine instinct that can serve various purposes, from tapping into their wild heritage to providing a sense of security.
By understanding and addressing the reasons behind your dog's caching behavior, you can foster a more harmonious relationship with your furry friend, and ensure their instincts don't turn into problematic habits.
So, keep an eye on your dog's caching habits, provide them with a safe space, and remember – a little understanding goes a long way!
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years, I've tried many different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it's products that I use daily myself, and I have the utmost praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I've been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog's specific needs, and as my dogs absolutely love the product, I'm pretty sure I've found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you've ever owned a puppy, you know that it requires a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it's something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you're going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can't beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you're looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I've created to help every dog owner!


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We have to seat 10 people in a row.
Condition: two people always sit together and two people never sit together.
My attempt: Let the two people who always sit together be taken as 1 person for the time being. So, we have nine people.
1) Keep one of two people who never sit together at seat 1. Then, we have $7\cdot8!$ ways to seat others.
2) Keep that person at seat 2. Then, we have $6\cdot8!$ ways to seat others.
3) Adding up the above iterations, we have $8!(7\cdot2+6\cdot7)$ ways.
4) Finally the two pairs can be permutated in 2 ways each.
Hence, the answer should be $4\cdot8!(7\cdot2+6\cdot7)$.
Is this correct?
Is there a better approach to solve this problem? Please advise.


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Cascading StyleSheet (CSS) Link Text Formatting in NetObjects Fusion
When you add a link to some existing CSS-formatted text, you might get unexpected formatting results. For best results, set only color properties for CSS link styles.
Check your CSS link formatting settings in two places:
- Style View, Text tab, and
- Page View, on the Menu select Text, Edit Text Styles.
In each of those areas, set only the desired color. Leave all other settings on "Automatic." Why?
- If you define a font size for link text, the link style font size will override the font size of the page text when you make a link in your page.
- This behavior is probably NOT what you want.
To check your link style settings for each possible CSS style level, in Page View's Text Styles dialog, check all the available Scope settings. If you do that, you will get no odd formatting with text links.
Did you find this tutorial useful?
Do you want to keep this resource online?
Make a donation to keep gotFusion alive


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The effectiveness of peer review relies on the influence and persuasion exercised by the peers during the process. This effect is known as "peer pressure".
The peer review process can give rise to peer pressure through, for example:
a mix of formal recommendations and informal dialogue by the peer countries;
public scrutiny, comparisons, and, in some cases, even ranking among countries;
and the impact of all the above on domestic public opinion, national administrations and policy makers.
The impact will be greatest when the outcome of the peer review is made available to the public, as is usually the case at the OECD. When the press is actively engaged with the story, peer pressure is most effective. Public scrutiny often arises from media involvement.
Peer pressure does not take the form of legally binding acts, as sanctions or other enforcement mechanisms. Instead, it is a means of soft persuasion which can become an important driving force to stimulate the State to change, achieve goals and meet standards.
Peer pressure is particularly effective when it is possible to provide both qualitative and quantitative assessments of performance.
The quantitative assessment might take the form of a ranking of countries according to their performance, and the drawing of real scoreboards reflecting such rankings.
An example is the OECD Jobs Strategy
, a programme which sets out principles and benchmarks, carries out quantitative analysis and ranks country according to their performances in reducing unemployment.
Another example, outside the OECD, of a very effective scoreboard is the Internal Market Scoreboard, maintained by the European Commission, which ranks the EU Members States according to their performance in the completion of the internal market.
A variation of this system is the "naming and shaming" technique, which singles out poor performers. However, these methods are appropriate and produce positive results only when the "rules of the game" are clear and the countries accept them. In other cases, this type of approach could risk shifting the exercise from an open debate to a diplomatic quarrel to gain position on the scoreboard.


Monday, February 4, 2008
Ten Signs You're Addicted to Genealogy...
I've decided to take another stab at coming up with genealogy humor. After reading Chris Durham's post a few times, I could not help but come up with my own humorous post. (Or an attempt at it.)
So here are ten signs you're addicted to genealogy:
10. You have dreams where you see your family tree.
9. You are grumpy for most of the day if you do not get a chance to read articles from genealogy blogs or read about genealogy techniques.
8. You bring notebooks, pencils, and possibly tape recorders or camcorders to family gatherings, even if it is not for a holiday or special event.
7. You can remember what a first cousin five times removed is but you can't remember what you need to buy at the grocery store.
6. Family members run away from you when they see you coming towards them with a notebook and pencil in your hand.
5. You are always finding cousins related to you, no matter how distant, and introducing them to your family members.
4. Local archivists, librarians and county officials know you on a first name basis.
3. You write or speak about your ancestors as if you have known them your whole life.
2. You stop to transcribe the tombstones in every cemetery you drive by.
1. If you did not have to eat, sleep or work, you would spend all of your time at an archive.
1 comment:
Schelly Talalay Dardashti said...
Hi, Jessica,
Never leave home without a pencil, small notebook, digital camera and a copy of the latest tree printout. Of course we should likely also be carrying a spare DNA test kit as well - never know whom you'll meet!
Good list!


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How should a From the Heart Project Story Be Written?
A From the Heart Project story should be written to inspire the reader to help others, provide hope during difficult times, deliver a message of love or simply demonstrate how leading, living and loving From the Heart can make the world a better place. Additional guidance on what makes a good story is as follows:
- Your story should be between 1,000 to 1,500 words.
- Write in the first person, as it provides the reader with a firsthand experience of your story.
- It should have a beginning, middle and end.
- Create a hook/tease in the beginning of the story. This will engage the reader and make them want to read your story through to its conclusion.
- Write your story in a way that creates an emotional connection between you and the reader.
- Write what you are comfortable sharing, but don't be afraid to be open. Remember, someone reeading your story might be in a place in life where hearing about your experience might help them through a difficult time or inspire them to help others.
- Share a picture that captures the essence of your story and the people for whom it has made a difference.
- Your story should be true.
By submitting your story to the From the Heart Project, you are granting us permission to publish your story and/or pictures on the site and share the story on social media.
For questions, please email it to us at _EMAIL_.


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The launch of the fourth Spiderman film on July 3rd marks the perfect time to contemplate --ahem -- spiders. AKA: arachnids, derived from the Greek word meaning "get this creepy thing outta here." Just kidding; it's actually from Arachne, a mythological Greek weaver who was turned into a spider.
The alter ego of Spiderman, Peter Parker, became a superhero when he was bitten by an irradiated spider that injected radioactive chemicals into his body, giving him superhuman strength and agility, the ability to cling to most surfaces and thus run up walls, and a spider-sense that warns him of danger.
We were curious: How do Spiderman's abilities stack up against those of a real spider?
Strength and Agility: Spiderman is famed for his web-suspended swings from building to building over city streets. You can find examples of equally amazing leaps and bounds among real arachnids if you take a look at the jumping spiders. In a single leap a jumping spider can cover as much as 50 times its own length. It does so by using a powerful internal muscle that blasts fluids from the body into the legs, flinging the spider through the air (if the current holder of the world record for the long jump, Norwegian Arne Tvervaag, could make a comparable leap, he'd cover about 300 feet from a standing start; instead his record, set in 1968, is 12 feet 2 inches).
Walking Up Walls: Thanks to a stick-to-almost-anything skin, Spiderman can walk up walls. So can most spiders (if you're a tarantula, do not try this at home — you're too big and meant for burrowing). Each leg of a spider capable of climbing walls ends in a brushy covering of hair, and the end of each hair is in turn covered with microscopic organs that can take hold of small bumps in most surfaces, allowing the spider to go up walls and even across ceilings. This ability may be defeated by very smooth surfaces, such as that of a bathroom sink.
Spider Sense: Spiderman is able to sense danger lurking near, the warning signal coming as a pain in his head that varies with the intensity of the threat. Spiders can detect danger coming their way with an early-warning system called eyes. But that's not all: their most important source of information about the world and its hazards comes from highly sensitive hairs that cover the bodies of most spiders. These hairs perceive even low-level vibrations coming through whatever surface a spider is standing on. Many species also bear hairs that sense vibrations in the air, including sound.
Webs: Spiderman can fire strands of web from his wrists. Early in his career, he invented devices for doing this, but in later incarnations he developed biological adaptations that allowed him to make webs naturally. He can capture villains with the sticky stuff and use it like ropes for swinging from building to building. Real spiders produce several types of webs — some that are not sticky but serve as a superstructure for webs, some that are sticky and capture prey, some used for wrapping up prey in neat little packages (which, in some species, are given as gifts by males to females while courting; whether Spiderman has super gift-giving powers remains unrecorded). Some smaller spiders producer gossamer web, used as a sort of sail that catches the wind and can carry a spider far and wide, which probably explains in part why spiders are found almost everywhere in the world.
Spider silk comes from glands on the arachnid's posterior, with different silks produced by different types of glands. Some silks are comparable in strength to high-grade alloy steel and can stretch up to four times their relaxed length without breaking. Made basically of protein and water, the silk is extremely light weight once it dries. A single strand long enough to encircle the globe would weigh about 1 pound 2 ounces!
Still curious about the creepy-crawlers? Check out How Stuff Works.


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Know someone you really don't like? Bored and out of practical jokes? Really want to tick someone off? This guide shows you through the easy steps of making a sleeping person an angry person.
 1. 1
 Get some speakers and put them right outside of someone's door.
 2. 2
 Plug them in to the nearest wall socket but do not turn them on.
 3. 3
 Take a laptop with "1812 Overture" on it (an MP3 player or iPod will work great too, but a laptop is preferred because it can get insanely loud and it is rather easy to get to the part of 1812 you want). Open your media player of choice. Go to the really loud part of 1812 near the end with the cannons. Stop your music player right before that part.
 - Plug the speakers into your laptop.
 - Turn your music player volume to maximum.
 - Turn your computer volume to maximum.
 - Turn your speaker volume to maximum.
 - Turn on your speakers.
 - Turn on the music and run like heck.
 4. 4
 Making a sleeping person an angry person should not just be limited to the indoors! If you have speakers that are powered off batteries, you can do all this on camping trips or anyplace outdoors where someone is sleeping.
 - Have a good laugh afterwards!
 - If you want to cherish this memory forever, have a friend stand over your shoulder and record the whole incident with a sound-recording video camera. Then, put the video on one of your favorite video-uploading sites!
To make it look like you didn't do this prank, try to get in your bed and "wake up" the same time as everyone else! Then there's an even slighter chance of getting caught! (and it makes everyone confused, a double prank!)
 - Getting to the loud part of "1812 Overture" can sometimes be hard, but be patient! It will be worth it in the end.
 - While "1812 Overture" is a great song to use for this, many other songs can replace it. Heavy rock is preferred for most, but if you know someone has an extremely strong dislike for a certain type of music, use that music! Classical-crossover music from artists like Jackie Evancho will work great on some people, while Heavy Rock or Metal will work great for other people.
 - Again, sleeping people who get woken up by "1812 Overture" will more than likely try to beat you up, so it would be best to wear sneakers and run as soon as you hit play.
 - It is not advisable to try making a sleeping person an angry person.
 - Make sure that the sleeping person does not suffer from any heart problems. If you give this sleeping person a heart attack, severe consequences will most likely follow.
 - Remember that if you have the speakers loud enough, you will probably wake up more than one person. And they'll all want to break your stuff.
 - Sleeping people who get randomly woken up by loud music are very angry! You will likely get beat up by them after they wake up. If they do not after they have been woken up, they will most likely get you up the same way in the near future.
 - If you do manage to escape the angry person, they will more than likely destroy anything you leave behind, including but not limited to: your laptop/MP3 player, speakers, video camera, and extension cord. Try to take these things with you when running away.
 - Loud noises can be a danger to your ears. Try to wear earplugs when making a sleeping person an angry person.
 - And if worse comes to worse, point toward innocent bystander.
Things You'll Need
 - Loud computer speakers
 - A laptop or MP3 player
 - (optional) An extension cord
 - (optional) A video camera with sound recording abilities
 - (optional) Sneakers
 - Sleeping person that you're mad at
Article Info
Categories: Sleeping Pranks
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 37,603 times.
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Flickr as a Paintbrush [cartogrammar.com] reveals the recorded colors of our surrounding landscape, both in a physical and cultural sense. In short, Andy Woodruff created a set of geographic heatmaps that represent the average colors of images taken on locations surrounding a specific landmark. In other words, the resulting maps reveal the colors that people on the ground should be looking at.
Technically, these maps are based on the most recent 2,000 photos uploaded to Flickr that were geotagged within a specified bounding box. These were then averaged by hue. As an emergent result, the color red reveals the dominance of brick, while green/yellow colors naturally denote grass and trees. However, some unexpected patterns appear as well, such as blue/purple in the map of Boston.


Engaging the opportunities and challenges of family money
Cambium: (n) in trees, the layer of generative cells originating all secondary growth
How We Work
Successful engagements are defined by enduring outcomes. Enduring outcomes are realized by both short and long term utility of strategies, education and structures.
Positive results are founded upon the needs, capacities, vision and desires of those involved. Thus, a successful engagement begins with an informed understand of what the client is looking to create or implement, who will be involved and how the outcomes will be realized.
The work proceeds with clarifying needs, defining goals and structuring strategies for attaining a successful outcome. This implementation is built upon the unique composition of the families involved and each process is unique to the individuals engaged. Finally, integrating the changes into family life such that they are enduring is essential to the final phase of our consultations.
Stages of a Typical Engagement
Phase I: Discovery
What are you trying to achieve?
Who will be involved?
A thorough process of discovery illuminates the focal issues the client expects to impact. The "what" of an engagement is shaped by these goals and, importantly, by who will be involved. Each individual and family brings a unique set of values, history, talents, capacity and possibility. Discovery focuses on the issues both at hand and heart, assessing strengths and areas of growth. With a solid grasp of the individuals, relationships, opportunities and challenges, an assessment is made integrating the goals of the engagement with what will work with in this specific situation with these specific people. Recommendations for implementation conclude Phase I.
Phase II: Engaging and Implementing
How are the goals of this engagement going to be realized?
Importantly, why are we committing to this?
For an engagement to be sustained and successful, those involved must feel included, committed and motivated. At the beginning of a consultation, quite often individuals are at different places with regard to their interest and commitment. A thorough process of discovery unearths core interests in each individual such that engaging can become meaningful and powerfully relevant to his or her life. Participants have both "stakes" and "shares" in the process and outcome. These personal and familial interests help shape the common goals for the engagement and standards by which they will be assessed. 'Why' a client engages then becomes the basis for 'how' the engagement moves forward. Phase II involves collaboratively defining structure, process, action, and roles for each participant. The desired outcome is defined both on an individual and group (family, council, board or business) level. Phase II moves from assessment into action, becoming the "working" phase of the engagement. Periodic assessment of progress and satisfaction shape the work and establishes a pattern of recursive learning.
Phase III: Integrating and Enduring
How will the accomplishments be integrated into individual and family life?
What is the measure of an enduring result, and how will it be maintained?
Education, change, communication, growth – these are the indicators of success. There are many opportunities in life to experience an "a ha" moment, but fewer times when these are integrated into an enduring transformation in one's life. Our engagements foster increased awareness, evolving development, and opportunities to put new experiences into practice. The results are metabolized into a new ways of approaching issues and creating solutions. A recursive process evolves with such learning, and new methods, habits and accomplishments build infrastructure to sustain continued progress.
In the process of the collaboration, we develop assessments, tools, and resources that are unique to client needs. Progress and goals are evaluated by standards the clients define, which can be refined throughout the engagement and thereafter. The consultation transitions from a central place in the process to an ancillary one, with increased capacity within the individuals and family becoming the basis for moving forward. The future is met with new capacities, vision, strength, and possibility.


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Costume and Textiles
Man's Hat and Hat BoxMade in China, Asia
or United States, North and Central America
Artist/maker unknown, American or Chinese
Plaited straw. Hat box (not pictured): leather
Currently not on view
1925-28-6a,bGift of Mrs. Edward S. Sayres, 1925
LabelWhile this early nineteenth century example appears extreme, top hats in a tremendous variety of shapes were the headgear of choice for respectable and fashionable men throughout the nineteenth century. The high-crowned, cylindrical style was usually black, although light colors were worn during the day. Silk plush versions were the shiniest, often made of felted beaver fur, rabbit fur, or wool, with a rough or smooth finish. Plaited straw was also used for informal summer wear.


text:
The idea is that the singular value decomposition,
$$\mathbf A=\mathbf U\mathbf \Sigma\mathbf V^\top$$
and the eigendecomposition
$$\mathbf A=\mathbf Q\mathbf D\mathbf Q^\top$$
of a symmetric matrix are one and the same.
Thus, if one wants the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse of $\mathbf A$, either decomposition could be used. (However, an SVD routine generally wouldn't exploit the nice structure of a symmetric matrix, so a bit more computational effort than what is actually needed will be used in that case; thus, use the eigendecomposition.)
The idea is that, letting $\mathbf A^\dagger$ be the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse, we have the property
$$\mathbf A^\dagger=\mathbf Q\mathbf D^\dagger\mathbf Q^\top$$
where $\mathbf D^\dagger$ is (usually) computed via the following procedure: take $d_1$ to be the largest eigenvalue, and let $\varepsilon$ be machine epsilon. Reciprocate any entry of $\mathbf D$ that is greater than $\varepsilon\cdot d_1$, and set all other entries to zero.


text:
Iterative Schemes for the Solution of Systems of Equations arising from the Dual Reciprocity Boundary Integral Method in Multi Domains
Margarita Portapila graduated from the University of Rosario, Argentina and has recently completed her PhD thesis at Wessex Institute of Technology entitled "Iterative Schemes for the Solution of Systems of Equations arising from the Dual Reciprocity Boundary Integral Method in Multi Domains". The research programme was supported by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office under the jointly funded Chevening Scheme. The external examiner of the thesis was Prof Alan Davies from the University of Hertfordshire, with Dr Viktor Popov, head of Environmental and Fluid Mechanics Division at Wessex Institute acting as internal examiner.
Margarita gave a comprehensive presentation on her thesis which was well received by both examiners. In her work the Dual Reciprocity Method (DRM) was implemented in multi-domains (MD), discretizing the domain into smaller sub-domains. This technique, the DRM-MD, proved to be more effective than the DRM applied to the single domain and gave rise to systems of equations which were banded and sparse.
The greater part of her work investigated the sensitivity of different iterative techniques to changes in the discretization of the domain. The study was motivated by the observation that a large condition number occurred in some practical calculations when subsequent divisions of the studied domain took place. Intrinsic properties of the resulting matrices were studied and linked to the performance of the iterative techniques. A code was then developed using quadratic boundary elements to study the behaviour of the DRM-MD, contrasting the results with those obtained for linear boundary elements.
A non-transient convection-diffused boundary valued problem was presented, with variable velocity field. Several numerical examples comprising a set of domain partitions were investigated along with two different radial basis functions. Every example was solved by a series of iterative techniques and the accuracy and efficiency of the iterative method was studied. Efficiency was reported in terms of CPU time and the number of iterations, along with the rate of convergence of the chosen iterative schemes.
The numerical results were in very good agreement with the analytical of the tested problem, finding that the increment of internal points per sub-domain resulted in the regularization of the distribution of the singular values of matrices which arose from the DRM-MD, and consequently improved the accuracy of the solutions.
Margarita is one of the many PhD students to graduate from Wessex Institute since the programme was launched. All the past PhD WIT candidates are now in positions of responsibility in academia and industry throughout the world.


cognitive revised
SEI 103: Instructional Strategies
(SEI 45 District Training)
Language Acquisition Department
Amphitheather High School
Module Description:
Identify and use multiple strategies for creating a successful and inclusive learning environment to improve achievement for English language learners.
The following links include information for SEI 103:
Provides details on pre-class assignments and materials needed for class.
Explains pre-class assignment through a PowerPoint presentation.
Explains pre-class assignment in Word.
Provides an overview of the revised Bloom's Taxonomy.


Natural Solutions Radio header image
Cattail: Learn how to harvest and utilize this wild aquatic plant during the best and worst of times
(NaturalNews) One of the most common wild plants found throughout the world, cattail, is astoundingly versatile. So much so that it can make the difference between life and death if one is lost in the wilderness or when food is in short supply. But this humble plant is also extremely handy in ordinary, day-to-day situations too. If you have access to an area with cattail, an exceptional survival resource is right at your fingertips.
Year-round usefulness
Most of us have come across cattail at one time or another. Distinguished by a brown cigar-shaped head on a hearty stalk, cattail grows in wet areas often close to streams, ponds and lakes. As one of the most functional wild plants, cattail offers different uses during each season.
Early spring - Fresh shoots begin to sprout and can be dug up and (once peeled) eaten raw or sauteed. Additionally, the lower part of the leaves can be added to salads.
Summer - This is the season when the uses for cattail are most abundant. Once a stem is pulled from the ground, you will notice the lower part is white. When eaten raw, it tastes similar to cucumber. Cooked, it tastes like corn. Lower cattail stalks are a good source of vitamins A, B and C along with potassium and phosphorus. During midsummer, a yellow pollen appears that can be used as flour or thickener for soups and stews. To harvest the pollen, bend the cattail head into a paper bag and shake. In late summer, green flower spikes appear and can be eaten like corn on the cob.
Autumn - The root of cattail can now be harvested. Wash thoroughly and submerge in water - let sit until a gel forms. Drain the gel and use for bread making and soups. For a protein-rich flour, dry the roots and grind. It can also be roasted and ground for a healthy coffee substitute.
Winter - In northern climates, cattail root is difficult to collect, but not impossible if you can break through frozen ground and ice. In late winter, new shoots begin to emerge, once again providing a food source.
Cattail also has many other uses. The brown, tight heads are often dry at the core (even after heavy rain) and can be used as survival tinder. Likewise, dipping the head in oil or fat will create a useable torch. Similar to down, the head yields a fluffy wool when broken apart and serves as excellent insulation for pillows, mattresses and clothing. If lost in the wilderness, a makeshift bed made with cattail down will help protect against heat loss, while the long leaves of the plant can be woven into mats and shelters. Medicinally, the gel found within the leaves act as a topical anesthetic. And a poultice made from the roots will soothe stings, burns and cuts.
Before trotting off to reap the benefits of cattail, a word of warning from Kat Morgenstern of Sacred Earth:
"Personally I do not harvest any roots or shoots in order to avoid negatively impacting next year's growth. The pollen and the cobs are by far the safest and easiest parts to collect. Furthermore, it requires some skill to distinguish young cattails from young Yellow Irises - which are poisonous, so unless you are an experienced forager and know how to distinguish these plants before their flowering parts appear, it may be better to leave those young plants alone.
"Last, but not least, cattail is said to have a certain emmenagogue action and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy."
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I followed Mike's solution from my first question:
Roman numeral page numbering
My next question is how to add entries (for the abstract and acknowledgements pages) into the table of contents.
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3 Answers
up vote 5 down vote accepted
Assuming that the abstract and acknowledgement contents is typeset using a \chapter*{...}, you could do the following:
This will add a chapter-level (chapter) entry to the table of contents (toc) without a chapter number (\numberline{}).
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While you can manually add an entry to the TOC by \addtocontents or \addcontentsline, the order of commands can be important, especially
 - if you use hyperref, to get the hyperlink above the heading, not below
 - or if you add a section to the TOC, which is done by a macro but several pages long, such as by \listoffigures, \listoftables or \bibliography. A wrong order would add the last page to the TOC
 - use \addtocontents or \addcontentsline before \chapter* of \listof...
 - ensure the required page break before \addtocontents or \addcontentsline
 - for hyperref, add an anchor for the target
If you need that several times, you could define a macro for it.
Regarding the commands:
 - \cleardoublepage ends the page, prints out remaining floats if necessary, and ensures that the following text starts on a right hand page, as chapters in books commonly do, if in twoside mode. \clearpage, in contrast, would start the new page on a left or a right side.
 - \phantomsection is a command of the hyperref package, which creates an anchor at this location, similar to \hypertarge, which can be referred to - \addcontentsline does it implicitely. Without \phantomsection, \addcontentsline would refer to the previous anchor which could be undesired.
The package tocbibind makes putting commonly added chapters/sections (bibliography, TOC, index) to the TOC easier. It's integrated in the memoir class, while KOMA-Script classes support this purpose by class options such as bibliography=totoc.
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You've used \cleardoublepage, \phantomsection - could you be more specific about those two? – Grzegorz Wierzowiecki Feb 1 '12 at 18:47
_USER_ I updated my answer and explained the commands. – Stefan Kottwitz Feb 1 '12 at 19:04
Thank you, it's educative piece of tex code for learning latex :). – Grzegorz Wierzowiecki Feb 1 '12 at 19:11
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Instead of tinkering with \cleardoublepage, \phantomsection, and \addcontentsline, I suggest to
 - use \chapter (the non-starred version) also for the Abstract and Acknowledgements,
 - set the secnumdepth counter to -2 (i.e., no sectioning level is numbered) before the Abstract,
 - resetsecnumdepth to 2 (default for the report class) before the first proper chapter.
Works also with hyperref.
\setcounter{secnumdepth}{-2}% default for "report" is 2
enter image description here
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text:
It's a gas! It's a liquid! It's a solid?
When a substance reaches its triple point, like the unknown material in this video, it can undergo an identity crisis. In this state of confusion, it coexists as a gas, liquid, and solid at the same time.
In order for this scientific phenomena to happen, a low temperature and pressure must be just right.
The phase diagram above shows the circumstances needed for these states to exist. The solid green line applies to most substances, and the dotted green line represents what is usually expected from water.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.


text:
BIO 512: Limnology
Catalog Description: BIO 512 - LIMNOLOGY
(F) Aquatic biology covering thermal, physical, chemical attributes of fresh water and their effect on composition of an aquatic ecosystem. Prerequisites: BIO 110 and 111 or 201 and 202; CHE 222. Lecture/Lab Hours: Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory. (3 cr. hr.)
Frequency code F = offered in fall
Additional frequency code descriptions can be found in the Terminology Guide.
Additional Information: This course is frequently taught by Dr. Klotz in Bowers Hall 237. Fresh water is expected to be a major environmental concern of the 21st century. As the human requirement for clean fresh water increases with population growth, it is important to understand the aquatic systems which will supply much of this water. In this course, local lakes, streams, and wetlands will be visited and sampled to determine their biological, chemical, and physical characteristics. The data from these collections will be discussed in class and will be used to develop the basic concepts of Limnology. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and practices of limnology by researching and reporting on laboratory investigations and current literature, and by written tests and an interview relating to lectures and text readings.
Classes and Field Trips: Material presented and discussed in class will frequently be based on data collected in the weekly laboratory. Many labs are field trips to local aquatic systems. Two lakes, two streams, a bog, and a beaver pond will be sampled through the semester, with emphasis placed on identification of organisms present and the processes that define each ecosystem. One of the lakes studied is nutrient rich Little York Lake, and it will be compared with the very unique Fayetteville Green Lake. The pristine stream running through the College's Hoxie Gorge property will be contrasted with a stream impacted by erosion. By the end of the semester, students will understand how these ecosystems function and how human perturbations affect aquatic organisms and water quality.


text:
The effect of hypoxia on the production and release of vasoactive substances from endothelial cells of pulmonary artery (PAECs) and aorta (AECs) was studied. The results indicated that the overall effect of tne long half-life vasoactive substances released from PAECs and AECs was vasoconstrictive. The long half-life lipid-soluble substances produced by PAECs and AECs were vasodilative, and did not change in hypoxia. However, the long half-life water-soluble heat-unstable and heat-stable ones were vasoconstrictive. Hypoxia could reduce the release of the former and promote that of the latter which might be peptides. The PAECs could release specific long half-life mediator which was pulmonary artery-constrictive, water-soluble, heat-unstable, and not related to hypoxia. Hypoxia inhibited the production of PGI2, a short half-life vasodilator, in PAECs, but not in AECs.
- endofhelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Management of Technology and Innovation


text:
Smart people don't put their toys away, they build machines to do it for them. Case and point: this NXT project which can sort LEGO pieces. Just dump a bucket of random blocks in a hopper on one end of the machine. One slice at a time, these plastic pieces will be lifted onto a conveyor system made up of several different belts, which allows for separation of the parts. One block at a time, each piece enters a specially lighted chamber where they are visually identified by the NXT brick. Once it identifies the block, a carousel of plastic containers rotates to place the correct home for the block below the output shoot seen above.
So do we now have a completed LEGO circle of life? Not quite. You can build structures automatically using a 3D LEGO printer and this sorter will have no problem organizing the parts for that purpose. But we still need a LEGO machine that can tear assembled bricks apart.


Principal Investigator(s):
The 882 respondents to the Scottish Election Survey are a subset of those surveyed for the BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION CROSS-SECTION SURVEY, 1997 (ICPSR 2615). The aims of the Scottish Election Survey survey were (1) to contribute to the construction of a time series on electoral change at a time when political divergence was one of the key features of political behavior within the United Kingdom (UK), (2) to model political behavior and attitudes in Scotland with regard to Britain as a whole, the nations and regions of the UK, and within Scotland itself, (3) to understand nationalism in Scotland in the wider European context, and (4) to provide a benchmark for assessing the outcomes of Scottish Parliament elections and against which to assess future constitutional change. Respondents were asked for their opinions on the possibility of a separate Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National Party, how the European Union will affect Scotland, the economic benefits to both England and Scotland of Scotland's being part of the UK, social class differences between England and Scotland, the relationship between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland, the importance of a Scottish heritage, and the faith held by the Scottish that British political parties will work in their interest. Additionally, topics repeated from the Cross-Section Survey include the 1997 campaign, participation in 1997 local elections, British political parties, trust in government, images of British leadership, the European Union, Northern Ireland, nuclear weapons, unemployment, inflation, nationalization and privatization of companies, redistribution of income, women's rights, the role of government in social policy, abortion, ethnic minorities, the British economy, political knowledge, and the future of governmental institutions such as the House of Lords. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, marital status, number of members in household, social class, employment history, health insurance status, citizenship, country of birth, voter registration and participation history, household income, education, religion, parents' employment history, parents' voting behavior, spouse's employment history, and union membership.
Series: British General Election Survey Series
Access Notes
Dataset - Download All Files (3.2 MB)
Study Description
McCrone, D., A. Brown, P. Surridge, and K. Thomson. BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION STUDY: SCOTTISH ELECTION SURVEY, 1997. 2nd ICPSR version. London, England: Social and Community Planning Research [producer], 1998. Colchester, England: The Data Archive/Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributors], 2000. _URL_
Persistent URL:
Export Citation:
 - EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: constitutional change, economic conditions, ethnic identity, European unification, European Union, national elections, nationalism, nationalization, parliamentary elections, political attitudes, political change, public opinion, quality of life, religious attitudes, social attitudes, social change, social class, social issues, trust in government, voter attitudes, voting behavior, voting patterns
Geographic Coverage: Great Britain, Scotland, United Kingdom, Global
Data Collection Notes:
Original ICPSR Release:
Version History:
 - 2000-01-18 The principal investigators have supplied a revised data file for this collection. Value labels have been corrected and data coded as system missing have been eliminated. Also, additional checks against the Electoral Register resulted in the addition of new variables and adjustments to the weight variables. In all, 114 variables were removed from the data file and 52 new variables were added. For a complete listing of changes to the file, users may consult the processing note in the codebook. The codebook and user guide for this study were revised accordingly.
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