Being the Boss Isn't Really as Stressful as You Think
Written by DATIS Guest
July 18, 2018
Being the Boss Isn't Really as Stressful as You Think
This DATIS Blog Article, "Being the Boss Isn't Really as Stressful as You Think", was originally posted by Chantal BechervaiseTake It Personel-ly, on May 15th, 2017 and was reposted with permission.
As with any other thing, there are pros and cons to being the boss. While a lot of people think it is a glamorous position, more people are aware of how much stress such position can bring to an individual. This may be accurate in a different perspective, yet a recent study from Stanford University researchers has proved that there is actually less stress on leaders in higher positions than their subordinates. Come to think of it: the senior manager actually faces more stress than the CEO.
Neuroscience Tactic In a couple of research studies, neuroscience has played a part on business-related findings. The researchers have discovered a connection between leadership and the workings of the mind with the help of the SCARF model. In acronym it stands for Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness. These five factors determine which things or areas are threats and which ones are rewards.
Using the SCARF perspective, they've discovered that although leaders in top positions are under so much stress, they are compensated with lots of rewards, which counter this stress. Moreover, senior leaders have a lot more of the five SCARF elements to activate a great reward response and offset the stress.
Taking Over While you are in charge of every workload, you are also in total control of your earnings. Gone are the stresses of waiting until payday or a delayed salary — there's no limit to your pay check! Plus, you are the first to get paid in the company; how does that sound?
On top of financial benefits, being the boss puts you in charge of your decisions. When you own the business, you have the final say to everything, which places your decisions at the highest priority. No one demands from you or schools you on how to perform a certain assignment. Moreover, you will be able to accept and reject the types of jobs you would like to do. Since workload is one the major things that employees get stressed over, this makes being the boss sound less nerve-racking.
To lessen the amount of your worries, there's a need for you to determine whether or not your workers are being productive. One of the things that hinders work progress is if one of your members is abusing an illegal substance. As the boss, it is your responsibility to implement a marijuana urine test to help keep your team on the right track. You have to control how people under you behave, thus, activities like this needs to be applied.
Reaping what you sow One huge advantage that entrepreneurs enjoy is the thought that you cannot simply get fired. Unlike regular employees, who are constantly at their toes to keep their jobs, the boss cannot be unemployed in a snap. Sure, there may come a time when your business will need some overhauling, but you can always decide to keep it together. As a boss, you wouldn't need to worry about suddenly losing your job that could be your only source of income since you will be on top of everything, looking out for the welfare of the company. To keep up what you've planted as a boss, you have to make sure that you retain
Keeping these facts in mind, perhaps being a boss also entails that you constantly look out for every employee under your wing, as they are the ones receiving the blow of a stressful job. They will need relentless support that the boss, of all people, should be able to give. If you start thinking about them, it becomes stress-free for you in the long run.


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Machinability of carbon and alloy steels is a shear process. Working the metal (Shearing to create chip) provides heat. The subsequent sliding of the produced chip on the face of the cutting tool provides heat as well.
Three ways to improve machinability include
Optimizing the chemistry to provide for a minimum shear strength
Adding internally contained lubricants
Adjusting cold work
The steels that we are talking about are in large part composed of the ferrite phase. This is advantageous to us as machinists, because it has a relatively low shear strength.
Because ferrite is also ductile, it does not cut cleanly and tends to tear. Grade 1008 or 1010 are prime examples of how pure ferrite machines. Long stringy, unbroken chips, torn surface finishes and lots of machine down time to clear "birds nests" are typical results.
Adding carbon up to a point improves machinability by adding a second harder phase (pearlite) into the ferrite. The good news is that up to a point, the chip formation is greatly improved, and surface finish improves somewhat. The bad news is that the shear strength of the steel is also increased. This requires more work to be done by the machine tool.
Addition of Nitrogen and Phosphorous can not only increase the shear strength of the ferrite, but also reduce the ductility (embrittle it).This ferrite embrittlement promotes the formation of short chips, very smooth surface finishes, and the ability to hold high dimensional accuracy on the part being produced. The downside is that these additions can make the parts prone to cracking if subsequebnt cold work operations are performed.
The graph below shows how cold work (cold drawing reduction) works in combination to reduce chip toughness, resulting in controlled chip length, improved surface finish, and improved dimensional accuracy of the part. To read the graphs, the Nitrogen content is shown in one of two ranges, and Phosphorous content is varied as is the amount (%) cold work. You can see how the synergistic effects of these two chemical elements when appropriately augmented by cold work, can drop the materials toughness by as much as 80-90%.
Add to that internal lubrication by a separate manganese sulfide phase or a lead addition, and now you can see how these factors can make grade 1215 or 12L14 machinable at speeds far, far, faster than their carbon equivalent _PHONE_. With greater uptime and tool life.
- Internal LubricantManganese Sulfides
And you thought that cold drawing just made the bar surface prettier and held closer in size…

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Two years and 10 days after his election to the presidency, Cornelius Conway Felton lay dead. His determination to do the job was too much for a constitution already weakened by a heart condition. (Ironically, he had once presided over a Boston physical-education society.)
Felton (_PHONE_) was a noted scholar who also found time to share his talents with the Massachusetts Board of Education and the Smithsonian Institution. Despite its brevity, the Felton presidency produced at least one milestone. At Commencement 1860, Felton conferred degrees upon the first Harvard Class of more than 100 graduates.
More ominously, as civil war loomed on the national horizon, most Southern students left Harvard during the winter break of 1860-61, never to return.
Cornelius Conway Felton
President of Harvard University _PHONE_ (died in office on Feb. 26)


The Witch of Blackbird Pond Analysis
Historical Context
Colonial Exploration and Expansion
Rather than being set in a single historical context, The Witch of Blackbird Pond might be better considered in light of several overlapping historical contexts, all of which would have shaped the world and characters of the novel in different ways. The first of these is that of colonial exploration and expansion. The Witch of Blackbird Pond opens in 1687 and is set in Connecticut Colony. This is less than 60 years after the famous landing of the Mayflower in 1620 and roughly 50 years since the River Colony was founded in 1636. The River Colony combined with two other colonies, Saybrook Colony (founded 1644) and New Haven Colony (founded 1662) to become Connecticut Colony. These factors combine to mean that older characters such as Hannah Tupper may well remember the origins of their community. The multiple origins of the colony also meant that though the colony is relatively new and relatively homogeneous in ethnicity and religion, it has known political change and historical diversity; these period farmers and craftsmen are politically savvy in many ways.
Protestant Reformation
However, these northern colonies most often referred to in the novel (Massachusetts and Connecticut) were not just new political entities. They were very deeply devoted to living religious lives and as such should be viewed as one of several ongoing expressions of the Protestant Reformation. While popular unrest regarding the abuses within the Catholic church had existed for decades earlier, the traditional starting date for the Reformation is Martin Luther's dramatic nailing of his 95 theses to the church door in 1517. This started a wave of what was intended to be reform internal to the church and meant to bring decadent existing practices into line with the ideals articulated in the Bible. When this proved impossible, new religious denominations formed: Lutherans, Anabaptists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans all branched off, each making its own interpretation of the Bible and developing worship practices and codes of conduct based on those interpretations.
The Puritans who founded Connecticut had themselves rebelled against the Anglican church in the late sixteenth century. At first they were "merely" dissenters against England's official church and were...
(The entire section is 992 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Topics for Further Study
 - Review any of the available firsthand accounts written by inhabitants of the New England colonies. Examine what they give their attention to, as opposed to where Speare focuses her novel. Consider how closely these align, where and how they differ, and why.
 - Kit is rather relaxed and accepting of slavery, as one might expect her to be, given that she grew up with the practice. Research period arguments against slavery. Which of these would be effective to a young girl like Kit from the seventeenth century?
 - Hannah Tupper's Quaker philosophy is mentioned but not explained in any real detail. Research Quaker history and philosophy until you can explain why it might threaten the Puritan worldview as it did.
 - Several British colonies are mentioned in this novel. Research their origins and the nature of their economies. How differently are they organized, what are they trading, and how will these political and economic factors pull them in different directions? In other words, why wasn't someplace like Barbados, which was very much part of the same trading network and extended British colonial society, part of the United States when the colonies rebelled?
 - The Puritans emphasized a literal interpretation of the Bible and put great energy into reading and understanding it. Research the Puritan view of the world and the perspectives held by contemporary Christian denominations that emphasize strict interpretations of the Bible. How are their worldviews similar, and how do they differ?
 - The Puritans of Wethersfield put a lot of energy and attention into policing the actions of community members. Their efforts ranged from fining Hannah Tupper for not attending worship services to hitting boys whose attention wandered during those services with sticks. Since that time, such an active emphasis on policing community virtue has fallen away. Research and consider that change. When did attitudes toward such activity change? Were they the same at the time of the American Revolution?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Media Adaptations
An audiobook version of The Witch of Blackbird Pond was issued in 2003 by Listening Library/Random House. Mary Beth Hurt reads the novel, and the adaptation takes 6.5 hours.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond What Do I Read Next?
 - Like The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Arthur Miller's play The Crucible (1952) dramatizes the New England witch trials. Also like The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Crucible was written in the 1950s, when the McCarthy anti-Communist "witch hunts" occurred.
 - Calico Captive (1957), another of Elizabeth George Speare's novels for young adults, follows young Miriam Willard and her family when they are captured by Indians.
 - Elizabeth George Speare published The Bronze Bow in 1961, and it won her a second Newbery Award the following year. Like her other historical novels, this features a young protagonist trying to fit into a community in flux. However, this one leaves Speare's favorite setting of early New England behind: it is set in the time and place of Jesus, and deals with the period's religious and political upheaval.
 - John Holbrook reads Anne Bradstreet's poems aloud to the Wood family one evening. Bradstreet was one of the first major American writers and was the first major American poet. Her works will give glimpses into the mind of a Puritan woman from that period.
 - Jerry Spinelli's young adult novel Stargirl (2000) has a contemporary setting, but it also features an unconventional heroine who is shunned by her community. Like Kit, Stargirl is compassionate to those whom the community would have her ignore, has magical powers attributed to her, and is shunned for her actions.
 - If you can find some of them, the works of Cotton Mather will give another useful point of view on the Puritan mind. A major Puritan religious leader, Mather wrote several hundred books and pamphlets, including some against witchcraft, and was friends with some of the judges at the Salem Witch Trials.
 - William Bradford sailed over on the Mayflower and was one of the leaders of the colony at Plymouth. He kept diaries, and his book History of Plymouth Plantation gives a firsthand account of the first decades of life in colonial New England.
 - This New Land by G. Clifton Wisler (1987) is another fictional account written for young adults focusing on a child protagonist (narrator Richard Woodley is 12), and like The Witch of Blackbird Pond, This New Land follows the Pilgrims as they came over on the Mayflower.
 - Beyond the Burning Time (1996) by Katherine Lasky is another novel for young readers about the seventeenth-century witchcraft scares. This one focuses on an even younger protagonist than Kit; Mary, age 12, goes through the witch scare in Massachusetts.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Setting
The events of the tale begin in April 1687 and continue through the following spring. Wethersfield, the principal scene of the action, is...
(The entire section is 202 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Literary Qualities
One of Speare's outstanding achievements as a writer is her ability to create a strong sense of place. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond,...
(The entire section is 284 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Social Sensitivity
There is little in The Witch of Blackbird Pond that is likely to offend readers, though one reviewer has taken issue with the...
(The entire section is 143 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Topics for Discussion
1. Why does Speare load the first chapter with so many important characters? Are all the principal characters well drawn?
2. Does...
(The entire section is 84 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Ideas for Reports and Papers
1. Explain Kit's process of maturation in the novel.
2. Is Speare's description of the Puritan society in New England...
(The entire section is 109 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond For Further Reference
Buskin, Barbara H., and Karen H. Harris. Notes from a Different Drummer: A Guide to Juvenile Fiction Portraying the Handicapped. New...
(The entire section is 226 words.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Bibliography and Further Reading
Apseloff, Marilyn Fain. 1991. Elizabeth George Speare. Twayne's United States Authors Series 541. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International.
Bartlett, Robert M. 1978. The faith of the Pilgrims: An American heritage. New York: United Church Press.
Beetz, Kirk H. 1990. Beacham's guide to literature for young adults. Vol. 3. Washington, DC: Beacham Publishing.
Codgill, Oline H. 2003. Showtime. South Florida Sun-Sentinel, January 17, 35.
Langdon, William Chauncy. 1937. Everyday things in American life, _PHONE_. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Polk, William R. 2006. The birth of America: From before...
(The entire section is 386 words.)


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The following terms are used with respect to the OpenNMS HORIZON provisioning system and are essential for understanding the material presented in this guide.
Entities are managed objects in OpenNMS HORIZON such as Nodes, IP interfaces, SNMP Interfaces, and Services.
The Importer service from 1.6 introduced the idea of foreign sources and foreign IDs. The Foreign Source uniquely identifies a provisioning source and is still a basic attribute of importing node entities into OpenNMS HORIZON. The concept is to provide an external (foreign) system with a way to uniquely identify itself and any node entities that it is requesting (via a requisition) to be provisioned into OpenNMS HORIZON.
The Foreign ID is the unique node ID maintained in foreign system and the foreign source uniquely identifies the external system in OpenNMS HORIZON.
OpenNMS HORIZON uses the combination of the foreign source and foreign ID become the unique foreign key when synchronizing the set of nodes from each source with the nodes in the OpenNMS HORIZON DB. This way the foreign system doesn't have to keep track of the OpenNMS HORIZON node IDs that are assigned when a node is first created. This is how Provisiond can decided if a node entity from an import requisition is new, has been changed, or needs to be deleted.
Additionally, the foreign source has been extended to also contain specifications for how entities should be discovered and managed on the nodes from each foreign source. The name of the foreign source has become pervasive within the provisioning system and is used to simply some of the complexities by weaving this name into:
the name of the provisioning group in the Web-UI
the name of the file containing the persisted requisition (as well as the pending requisition if it is in this state)
the foreign-source attribute value inside the requisition (obviously, but, this is pointed out to indicate that the file name doesn't necessarily have to equal the value of this attribute but is highly recommended as an OpenNMS HORIZON best practice)
the building attribute of the node defined in the requisition (this value is called "site" in the Web-UI and is assigned to the building column of the node's asset record by Provisiond and is the default value used in the Site Status View feature)
Import requisition is the terminology OpenNMS HORIZON uses to represent the set of nodes, specified in XML, to be provisioned from a foreign source into OpenNMS HORIZON. The requisition schema (XSD) can be found at the following location. _URL_
Auto discovery is the term used by OpenNMS HORIZON to characterize the automatic provisioning of nodes entities. Currently, OpenNMS HORIZON uses an ICMP ping sweep to find IP address on the network. For the IPs that respond and that are not currently in the DB, OpenNMS HORIZON generates a new suspect event. When this event is received by Provisiond, it creates a node and it begins a node scan based on the default foreign source definition.
Provisiond takes over for the Model Importer found in version 1.6 which implemented a unique, first of its kind, controlled mechanism for specifying managed entities directly into OpenNMS HORIZON from one or more data sources. These data sources often were in the form of an in-housed developed inventory or stand-alone provisioning system or even a set of element management systems. Using this mechanism, OpenNMS HORIZON is directed to add, update, or delete a node entity exactly as defined by the external source. No discovery process is used for finding more interfaces or services.
Directed discovery is enhanced with the capability to scan nodes that have been directed nodes for entities (interfaces.
The phrase, Policy based Directed Discovery, is a term that represents the latest step in OpenNMS HORIZON provisioning evolution and best describes the new provisioning architecture now in OpenNMS HORIZON for maintaining its inventory of managed entities. This term describes the control that is given over the Provisioning system to OpenNMS HORIZON users for managing the behavior of the NMS with respect to the new entities that are being discovered. Current behaviors include persistence, data collection, service monitoring, and categorization policies.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Hop, skip and jumping robots
February 11, 2013 |
Jumping robots powered by a combustion engine? Sounds like something from 1930s sci-fi.
New leaps and bounds in heat-resistant materials mean soft-bodied silicon robots can now use controlled explosions, like those in car engines, to make them jump really high.
An electrode sparks a reaction in the simple robot's leg. This releases lots of energy downwards, making the robot hop up to 30 cm off the ground.
This jump in innovation could lead to new search-and-rescue robots designed to leap and do cartwheels over obstacles.
This research appears in the 8 February 2013 issue of the journal Nature.
Do you like this story?VN:F [1.9.4_1102]214 people liked this story


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Nowadays, many software developers choose to host their projects in open software repositories. These repositories have become valuable resources of software engineering research. Many emerging software engineering research efforts are based on analyzing and mining these repositories, or are evaluated on the software projects collected from these repositories. However, a major obstacle of effectively leveraging these repositories is that, most of repositories contain only source code, while a large portion of program analysis techniques target at objective code only. Thus, most software engineering researchers have to either manually build a small number of software projects to enable objective-code analysis on them, or use only source-code analysis techniques. In this paper, we propose to bridge this gap by automatic compiling and building software projects in software repositories. Specifically, we present a fully automatic building tool called AutoBuilder, that detects build configuration files, downloads dependencies, and resolves conflicts and incompatibilities. To evaluate our technique, we apply our approach on a randomly collected set of 1,000 software projects with 23 million lines of code from Github. The experimental results show that our approach is able to successfully build 58.0\% of the projects and compile 59.0\% of the code (in lines), compared with building 32.6\% of the projects, and compiling 32.3\% of the code (in lines) by a baseline approach.
xiaoyin.wang AT utsa.edu
Download AutoBuilder 0.1
Automatically bulding software projects to support analysis of software repositories
Preliminary Study Details
Up-to-date Set Evaluation Details
Historical Set Evaluation Details
Study of Build Correctness


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Teaching Science through History
——— a collaborative workshop ———
Univ. of Minnesota, June 15-23, 2009
This 8½-day workshop will assemble high school teachers, historians, philosophers and sociologists of science, and science education researchers to work towards developing a set of instructional case studies combining science, history and inquiry learning. Our goal is to guide students in voyages of discovery while experiencing scientific practice in its full cultural context.
Participating teachers receive:
> $1500 stipend*
> accommodation and travel support*
> $60 books (from the History of Science Society)
*pending grant from the National Science Foundation
Review of applications will begin February 2 and continue until the 32 available positions are filled.
We are aiming to teach the "history and nature of science" by:
We will have historians, philosophers and sociologists of science experienced in science education as collaborators. Our themes include science-in-the-making, biographical, scientific and cultural contexts, alternative scientific approaches & student lab work.
- showing how science actually works in practice,
- engaging students in science-society topics, and
- modeling scientific thinking skills
See SCHEDULE | Sample Module & others
See some case study opportunities.
The workshop will overlap with the 2nd biennial meeting of the
Society for the Philosophy of Science in Practice (SPSP). Joint sessions are planned.
For more information, contact Douglas Allchin, _EMAIL_.


How to Write Acknowledgments in a Report
A brief acknowledgment is like a thank you note to someone who assisted you.
... shironosov/iStock/Getty Images
Completing a project often requires the support of others. Many people may contribute to your success. Acknowledgments provide a way to thank those who supported or encouraged you in your research, writing and other parts of developing your report, paper or other project.
Develop a list of those who helped you to develop your report or who gave you the time and encouragement that you needed to complete the project.
Review the list of names and determine if you want to include the person on the acknowledgments page. Focus on those who really supported, encouraged or helped you. Avoid including all of your friends or relatives, and focus on those who made a significant impact on your report. You may want to limit the list to five to 10 people for the acknowledgments page.
Consider how each person contributed to your project. You can keep the contributions concise with a brief description of how each offered time and energy to your project.
Create an acknowledgments page with the title "Acknowledgments" at the top. Press enter several times and begin typing the acknowledgments that you brainstormed earlier. For instance, you can write "Thanks to Regis for supporting me and giving me the time I needed each day to write" or "Thanks to Kelly for editing this manuscript."
Conclude by thanking everyone and stating, "Without their effort, the completion of the project would not have been possible."


text: In this paper, I explore the first two hundred years of Islam and compare and contrast with Mormonism during a similar time frame. I use three foci of comparison. First, I explore ways Mormonism and early Islam seek to control the telling of history. Second, I will explore similarities in the rift between Sunni and Shi'a playing out today and the more peaceful schism of the Utah Saints and RLDS/Community of Christ. Finally, I focus on the differences between a movement that began in the desert and swiftly moved to take political control of older seats of power, and a movement that was forced from seats of power and sought refuge in the desert.


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Enter the face value, bond yield rate, and time to maturity into the calculator to determine the zero-coupon bond.
- Bond Equivalent Yield Calculator (+ Formula)
- Modified Duration Calculator
- Yield To Maturity Calculator
- Imputed Interest Calculator
Zero Coupon Bond Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the value of a zero-coupon bond.
ZCBV = F / (1+r)^t
- where ZCBV is the zero-coupon bond value
- F is the face value of the bond
- r is the yield/rate
- t is the time to maturity
Zero Coupon Bond Definition
A zero-coupon bond is a security that does not pay interest but trades at a discount and renders a profit at maturity when the bond is redeemed for its face value.
Zero Coupon Bond Example
How to calculate a zero coupon bond value?
- First, determine the face value.
Calculate or determine the face value of the bond.
- Next, determine the yield.
Determine the rate/yield of the bond.
- Next, determine the time to maturity.
Calculate the number of years until maturity.
- Finally, calculate the value.
Calculate the value of the bond using the equation above.
A zero coupon bond is a bond that does not pay interest but can be redeemed from a profit at it's time of maturity.


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Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
The GATE examination acts as the 'great career wall' to any aspiring, dynamic individual!
The GATE is an all India level examination, which is conducted for the admissions to the post graduate degree programs in engineering/architecture/ technology and to the doctoral programs in the relevant branches of science, falling under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
The GATE test is administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) under the supervision of the National Coordination BoardGATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The exam is also conducted for qualifying the students for other governmental scholarships /assistantships. The question pattern differs according to the paper code, i.e. it varies according to the subjects and specifications. The GATE question paper consists of multiple choice questions with an option of four answers, out of which, only one is the right answer.
The GATE plays a vital role in any student's life, if it is chosen by the student. Because, if a student gets qualified in the GATE, then he/she would be eligible for the governmental scholarships for undergoing the master degrees, and doctoral programs… These features have dragged many students towards the preparation of the examination. The most important fact is that the GATE exam bears more significance, i.e. the GATE performance would be given 70% importance in the admission process and the remaining 30% would depend on the student's academic performance records, interview performance, etc… Thus, the fact that the GATE is one of the significant exams in the professional education couldn't be denied!
The question type is typically based on the logics and concepts of the subjects, hence having an in-depth knowledge about the subjects, would fetch more marks. It analyzes the candidates', comprehension ability, subject knowledge, capability to solve quantitative questions, problem solving abilities, data interpretation skills and other related skills... Thus, it involves the questions based on formulae, basic principles, laws, etc. It also comprises of questions based on fundamental ideas, which in turn demands the students to derive the consequences from the basic theories and logics of the subjects. The logical reasoning section consists of questions involving mathematical computation and application-oriented questions, thereby requiring the students to implement their subject knowledge.
The analysis and the interpretation section consists of linked type questions and common data questions. The questions formed would be independent, but the solutions to both the questions could be obtained from the given passage, or data. The linked type comprises problem solving type of questions. The GATE 2011 question paper is said to have 5 different patterns for 5 groups of specifications and these details are clearly stated in the official website for GATE.
Tags: AIPMTForms Application Form Syllabus Date Books 2013, gate test form
- GATE Answer Key
- GATE Bank Branches
- GATE Codes
- GATE Eligibility
- GATE Exam Centres
- GATE Exam Date
- GATE Exam Pattern
- GATE Notification
- GATE Online Application
- GATE Preparation
- GATE Question Papers
- GATE Results
- GATE Score Card
- GATE Solutions
- GATE Syllabus


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Top Stories - Posted by Andy McGlashen-Michigan State on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 12:27 - 0 Comments
We tolerate pain better when doctors listen
MICHIGAN STATE (US) — When a doctor shows empathy for patients, it can change the way the brain responds to stress and pain.
In a recent study, researchers randomly assigned patients to one of two types of interview with a doctor before undergoing an MRI scan. In the patient-centered approach, doctors addressed any concerns participants had about the procedure and asked open-ended questions allowing them to talk freely about their jobs, home life, and other psychological and social factors affecting health.
Doctors who express empathy can help their patients tolerate pain, according to research using MRI brain scans. (Credit: G.L. Kohuth)
Straight from the Source
The other patients were asked only specific questions about clinical information such as their medical history and what drugs they were taking.
As expected, those who had the patient-focused interview reported greater satisfaction and confidence in their doctor in a post interview questionnaire.
The participants then were placed in the MRI scanner and given a series of mild electric shocks, similar to the discomfort of having an IV needle inserted, while looking at a photo of a doctor who they were told was supervising the procedure.
The scans measured activity in the anterior insula—the part of the brain that makes people aware of pain—in anticipation of the shocks and when they actually occurred.
The brain scans revealed those who had the patient-centered interview showed less activity in the anterior insula when they were looking at a photo of the interviewing doctor than when the doctor in the photo was unknown. Those participants also self-reported less pain when the photos showed the known doctor.
"This is the first study that has looked at the patient-centered relationship from a neurobiological point of view," says lead researcher Issidoros Sarinopoulos, professor of radiology at Michigan State University. "It's important for doctors and others who advocate this type of relationship with the patient to show that there is a biological basis."
Sarinopoulos notes that the study had a small sample of just nine women and will need to be replicated on a larger scale.
"We need to do more research to understand this mechanism," he adds, "but this is a good first step that puts some scientific weight behind the case for empathizing with patients, getting to know them and building trust."
"Medicine has for too long focused just on the physical dimensions of the patient," says Robert Smith, professor of medicine, who co-authored the paper. "Those clinical questions are important and necessary, but we're trying to demonstrate that when you let patients tell their story in an unfettered way, you get more satisfied patients who end up healthier."
The findings are published in the journal Patient Education and Counseling.
Source: Michigan State University


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How to wrap jiaozi (1:50)
The Spirit and Symbol of Chinese New Year Foods
By James B. Young
Many cultures eat symbolic foods for the new year. Some foods are chosen because they are reminders of money, abundance, or religious symbols. But the Chinese culture adds another dimension: the way the food's name sounds in the spoken language.
Niangaocantonese_0155Cantonese-style Niangao
Spoken Chinese is filled with what appear to be an exceptional number of homonyms -- words that sound alike but have different written meanings. This explains apparent mysteries, such as: Why do images of bats appear in Chinese works of art? And why is the character for luck hung upside down in Chinese homes?
The answers lie in the sound of the language. In some Chinese dialects the spoken word for "bat" sounds like the spoken word for "luck." So bats are considered good luck. Similarly, the spoken word for "upside down" can sound like the spoken word for "arrive," so "luck" turned upside down means luck has arrived. This kind of symbolism appears throughout Chinese culture and especially for the Lunar New Year feast. (Note: Chinese dialects are tonal languages and sometimes the tone is ignored in the interest of making the association.)
For the feast, some Chinese families serve eight or nine dishes because these are "lucky numbers." The word for "eight" can sound like the word for "prosperity." The word for "nine" can sound like the word for "long-lasting."
Foods on the Chinese New Year table
Food aficionados are no doubt familiar with the Chinese dumplings known as "jiaozi."
Jiaozi_0207-2Wrapped jiaozi ready for cooking
For the uninitiated, jiaozi are made from a circle of flour wrapped around a morsel of meat and vegetables and either steamed, boiled or fried. Jiaozi are an integral part of new years celebrations for many Chinese families -- especially the North. Their shape resembles that of ancient gold and silver ingots known as "yuan bao," and this may be reason enough to include them in new years celebration. But "jiao zi" was also the name of the first Chinese paper money. And "jiao" can sound like "to hand over" – as in handing one year over to the next.
The Chinese word for "fish" can sound like the word for "abundance" or "surplus." So the phrase "abundance every year" sounds like the phrase "fish every year." To drive the symbolic point home some families cook a whole fish on new-years eve, eat half, and finish the rest on new years day.
Niangao_0172Shanghai-style Niangao
In Eastern China another popular new years delicacy is "niangao" or glutinous rice cake. Niangao literally means "year cake," but it can also sound like "year elevated" – implying that the new year will be better than the old.
People living near Chinese communities are probably familiar with the Cantonese saying "Kung Hei Fat Choy" (Gong Xi Fa Cai, in Mandarin). It means, "congratulations and be prosperous." But fat choy (fa cai) also sounds like the name for black hair moss, which makes black hair moss a treasured ingredient in Chinese new years dishes. A word of caution, though, in 2007 biochemists in Hong Kong discovered that black hair moss contains the toxic amino acid BNAA, which is linked to degenerative nerve diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia. They have called for a total ban on the sale of black hair moss in China. For those seeking an alternative, one scientist suggests using lettuce. Its name, sounds like "creating prosperity" in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
Moss_0220-1Chinese scientists suggest substituting lettuce for black hair moss (fat choy / fa cai)
The list of auspicious sounding (or shaped, or colored) Chinese foods goes on and on. They are all candidates for a Chinese New Years feast. Different parts of China pronounce words differently and have different customs, which leads to favoring different foods. But the result is the same: Whether it is shape, color, or sound, the foods selected represent the wish for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.
Comments from Readers
 1. 31bc18b6032074d0fb8a49fb47ee8889
 Roy Okano on 2/4/2010 at 11:09pm
 Wow! First class job; the sights, the sounds and the photos. Beautifully balanced. I especially liked the recipes and stories. A site to visit often.
 2. A58efe614b36f47c3b14e41ed0ec6b0b
 Marty Nikou on 2/7/2010 at 12:09pm
 Your food story makes my mouth water! Thank you for sharing this awesome Chinese food review.
 Keep us posted.
 One down, ten thousands more to go...
 "koon-hee fat-chooy:)"
 3. Ac3be85254e5bd62e786daac10ae84f4
 Aaron on 2/10/2010 at 9:33pm
 I love Chinese New Year food!!
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Lunatic States
Last Updated: 2012.01.30
Download Link
Github Link
This script provides the base setup for state lunatic effects. These effects will occur under certain conditions, which can include when a state is applied, erased, leaves naturally, before taking damage, after taking damage, at the start of a turn, while an action finishes, and at the end of a turn.
Lunatic States allow allow states to trigger various scripted functions throughout certain set periods of times or when certain conditions trigger. These effects can occur when a state is applied, when a state is erased, when a state leaves naturally, before damage is taken, after damage is taken, at the beginning of a turn, while the turn is occuring, and at the closing of a turn. These effects are separated by these eight different notetags.
 - Occurs when state is applied.
 - Occurs when state is removed.
 - Occurs when state timer hits 0.
 - Occurs before taking damage.
 - Occurs after taking damage.
 - Occurs at the start of each turn.
 - Occurs after performing an action.
 - Occurs at the end of a turn.
If multiple tags of the same type are used in the same skill/item's notebox, then the effects will occur in that order. Replace "string" in the tags with the appropriate flag for the method below to search for. Note that unlike the previous versions, these are all upcase.
Should you choose to use multiple lunatic effects for a single state, you may use these notetags in place of the ones shown above.
 - Punishment Package
 - Undead HP, Undead MP, Backfire Physical, Backfire Magical, Stat Slip Damage, Stat Slip Healing, Drain HP, Drain MP
 - Protection Package
 - Damage Cut, Damage Barrier, Damage Shelter, Damage Block, Heal Boost, Heal Bonus, Persist
Use your Lunatic Effects wisely!
And that's all, folks!
64 comments on "Lunatic States
 1. Pingback: YSA Battle Add-on – Party Combo Counter « Yami World
 2. Is it possible to deal unhealable damage? For example, by decreasing HP as well as maximum HP at the same time by the amount of damage dealt? I mean, you can have MORE damage, you can have FAST damage and you can have CERTAIN damage with your skill, but what about UNHEALABLE damage? :)
 3. I have a question. There are states that are removed when the battle ends. Does the "erase" effect covers that too?
 From my experiments the answer should be "No" as the effect I want doesn't gappen after the battle ends (though it works fine if the state is removed during battle), but maybe I'm just doing something wrong…?
 - Well, no idea.
 The "erase effect" still doesn't work upon battle end for some reason, even though I fail to detect anything wrong with the script…
 - That's because when they're removed at the end of battle, it's no longer considered in-battle. Lunatic State effects only occur in-battle.
 4. Pingback: XP Battlebacks «.:: Tieris Illia ::.
 5. Pingback: Ramiro + RMVXA = ♥
 6. I'm sorry that I need to ask this and it might be a stupid question, but for some reason I don't really understand what I need to replace "string" with. If I want to make a "death sentence"-state for example, the owner of the state should die after a set number of turns, which could be achieved by using the ""-command. The problem that I have is that even after hours of trial and error, I still don't know what I need to write instead of "string" in that case. Is there a list of commands that I didn't see for some reason or does the sentence "but the users must be able to add them in themselves" mean that I need to edit the script with my own commands? Maybe I'm just thinking too complicated…
 I would really appreciate any kind of help, since I'm kind of desperate trying to find out what to do.
 7. Well i want to increase a variable x while being attacked if stat is on.
 thougth it would work like this :
 But basicly nothing happens. what is wrong about the string? When i do "$game_variables[x] += 1" to an events comment it counts the variable correctly.
 8. Does anyone know how to make a state deal a precise amount of elemental damage? I hate working with the health slip % and want to make it a static number.
 9. I think I'm pretty much at the level where I can use the Lunatic stuff now. =O Looking at what you can do with this, I'm just so happy to see this now.
 Oh Yanfly, how I love your specific preferences for setting up scripts to make battles more unique and interesting instead of just visually appealing~ <3
 10. Is it possible to use this script to create doom and auto-life states using a script call in the notetag? I'm no scripter by any means, but here is an example of what I was thinking.
 add_new_state(state ID)
 Something like this would be placed in the note box of the doom state so that after the set number of turns were up and the doom state is removed, it will then add the state associated to state ID.
 remove_state(state ID)
 actor_MHP = x%
 Something like this could be used to make an auto-life state. The character has auto-life on, when said character dies the state is erased which triggers the specified state (which would be Death) to be removed, and the player to have x% of max HP restored.
 As I said, I am definitely not a scripter, but if there is a way to do this, or some other method in existence, could you help me get on the right track? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 I have looked into the add-ons developed by pillanious, but they do not work.
 11. Sorry for the double post. My examples were supposed to contain the "" tags like this:
 add_new_state(state ID)
 remove_state(state ID)
 actor_MHP = x%
 12. I'm having the same problem as Skywad for playing an animation for the state, have tried both
 _USER_ = 7
 could you tell me what I'm doing wrong?
 13. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it,
 your great posts, have a nice weekend!
 14. Could one use this script to create a two-turn skill, like Jump from the Final Fantasy games or Dig and Fly from Pokemon?
 Eg: use the skill Jump, which adds the Airborne state to the user, and when the user leaves the state on the next turn, they automatically attack an enemy.
 Is this doable?
 15. I'm thinking it should be possible to set up an entire party as the state origin (so for example an attacker could inflict an HP drain that heals her entire party instead of just herself) but I'm unsure how to implement it. I'm looking in
 # new method: change_state_origin
 # new method: state_origin?
 and pretty certain that is where it would need to be added (plus I made up a new Party Drain effect in the Punishment Package, "when /PDRAIN HP").
 ATM it works, but still only heals the caster.
 - _USER_: I have been working on something similar, the concept being this:
 An actor has a shield which lets you, when attacked, have a chance at activating an ability, which would restore every party member's HP by a small amount. I have tried with equipment that, when attacked, has a chance to cast a state on the targeted actor themself, but I can't seem to be getting those to work. I'm using the Passive States script in conjunction with Lunatic States for this:
 if c>=10
 I couldn't be assed to write it all in one line, and I don't know how Ruby's Syntax works THAT well. Can anyone with experience tell me what I am doing wrong, with this effect? ( … The state_id there is purely coincidential. I swear. D: )
 16. Yanfly, I don't know if you still monitor this, but there are two major bugs in this script that you might want to be aware of:
 1) On line 505 you have for state in states, then it calls the extension, which then also has a for state in states! What this does is it loops through the states n^2 times, where n is the number of states present! This causes weird effects with your other scripts, which you can


Ways of Removing Carpet Glue from Plywood
The term plywood refers to a whole family of engineered wood products, largely used in the construction of homes and buildings. However, the various types of plywood have found their way into many other products, including furniture, handicrafts and industrial uses. Specialized plywood products have been developed for a wide variety of applications.
One of the ways that plywood is used in architecture is for subflooring. Per building code, most residences have ¾" thick plywood or OSB installed as the subfloor. While both have a similar overall strength, OSB is more prone to absorbing moisture along the edges and can be more easily broken by impact. Nevertheless, OSB is commonly used for flooring and sheathing on homes, due to its lower cost, when compared to construction-grade softwood plywood.
When plywood is used for subflooring, most people cover the plywood floor with carpet or vinyl flooring (linoleum). Ceramic tile can be used as well, although that is not our concern at this moment. Wall to wall carpet or flooring on plywood is often installed using glue or some adhesive to ensure that it remains in its place. The glue does its job pretty well but when it is time to replace the carpet or change the type of flooring, the task of removing carpet glue from plywood becomes a nightmare.
The first difficult task in this whole exercise is removing the carpet or flooring. If it is carpeting, it can usually be ripped out, peeling it from the plywood floor. Once you have completely removed the carpet from the floor, there will still be remnants of glue remaining. If it is yellow colored glue, it is the more traditional type. But if it is brown or tan colored glue, it is tar based glue.
Removing vinyl flooring can be more challenging, as the flooring will not peel off, like carpeting will. Rather, it will have to be scraped off the floor. This can be good, with self-stick vinyl tiles, which tend to peel off intact, complete with their adhesive. But in the case of roll flooring, chances are highly likely that it will come off in a lot of small pieces and may not bring the glue up with it.
The big question is how important it is that the floor be smooth before new flooring is installed. If carpeting over the pad is being installed without adhesive, it may not be necessary to remove all the adhesive. But just about any other type of flooring will require a smooth surface.
Scrape the Glue
Scraping of the glue is the least costly method of removing carpet glue, as you can do it without having to rent any expensive equipment. However, it is also the hardest way of removing the adhesive and making the floor smooth again.
The first step of this method is to make the glue softer so it can be easily worked around with. A number of solvents can do the job of softening the glue including paint thinnersturpentinewater and mineral spirits. All these chemicals work by tearing down the enzymes found in the glue, easing the task of removing the glue from the plywood subfloor. Different solvents work better on different types of glues so if you know the type of glue on your floor you can do the task much more easily.
While using these solvents, you should use the appropriate personal safety equipment, to include gloves and goggles. All of them are capable of causing skin irritations, but are even more dangerous if they get in the eye.
These solvents should only be applied once the carpeting or vinyl has been removed. Carpeting will soak up the solvents and vinyl flooring will resist it. In both cases, that prevents the solvent from reaching the adhesive it needs to soften.
Once you have ensured that the entire surface of the glue has been sprayed with the solvent, wait about half an hour, allowing the solvent to soften the glue, making it ready to remove. Once softened, you can use a hand scraper, a putty knife or a floor scraper to tear away and wipe off all the glue from the floor. Make sure that you are thorough so that no glue is left on the floor.
Please note that you may have to reapply solvent on the floor, if it evaporates before you can get to all areas. The purpose of the solvent is to soften the glue; but it will only remain soft as long as it is wet. Should the glue begin to dry, you'll want to apply more solvent.
Sanding Glue from Plywood Floors
The use of mineral spirits and thinners to remove glue from plywood works best for floors which are smaller in size, due to the problem of the solvent drying before the scraping is done. If you have to remove glue from a larger area, sanding is a more preferable option. Sanding requires less time and labor in comparison to scraping.
The process of sanding generates heat, which helps by making the glue softer, as well as the abrasive action of the sandpaper scraping the glue and breaking it down. However, too much heat can be a problem, as it will gum up the sandpaper. Ideally, you don't want that, because it will add to your cost.
Unless you are sanding a very small area, you're going to want to rent a flooring sander for this project. These come in two types, belt sanders and vibratory sanders. The belt type is much faster to use, but carries the risk of oversanding. It's very easy to gouge your plywood subfloor, creating areas that will need to be puttied and sanded in order to have a smooth floor once again.
In addition to whatever flooring sander you use, you will probably also want a smaller sander for working around edges and in difficult to reach areas. A handheld belt sander is usually the best for this, as it will remove the glue faster than either a disk sander or palm sander. While those other types of sanders can be used, they are best left for finishing work.
Before sanding, inspect the floor for nails or screws which are sticking out above the floor surface. Drive them in, if possible or remove and replace them. You should never remove flooring nails or screws without replacing them, as it can leave the floor loose in that spot, leading to squeaky floors.
As you are sanding the floor, stop from time to time to sweep up or vacuum up the sanding dust. When too much dust builds up, it's hard to tell what parts are sanded and what parts still need work. It can also be helpful to work in sections, dividing the floor up and finishing one area, before moving on to the next.
men, carpet, glue, removal, machine, workers, floor, sanding
Two men removing carpet glue, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
Covering the Subfloor with Underlayment
Removing the glue from a floor may not be the best option for you, especially if doing so will cause damage to the subfloor. Rather than risk that, you may want to consider installing underlayment over the existing subfloor and glue, to provide you with a smooth surface for your new flooring. This is a more expensive, but quicker option, especially when there is a lot of glue to deal with.
This is not to say that you won't have to deal with any glue whatsoever, if you use underlayment. But the only glue you will need to deal with are high points, where there was too much glue applied. In those cases, a quick hit with a belt sander, bringing that high point down to the level of the rest of the glue, is usually sufficient.
Luan plywood is normally used for underlayment, due to it being thin and providing a smooth finish. Before attaching your underlayment, lay the individual pieces out on the subfloor and check to see that adjacent edges are level. If not, you may need to sand off some high points under one of the sheets.
It is a good idea to use construction adhesive, as well as flooring nails, for installing the underlayment. The addition of a thin layer of construction adhesive helps to reduce the risk of the new underlayment squeaking from movement. It essentially ensures that the underlayment and the subfloor stay in the same place, as compared to one another. However, never try using just construction adhesive, without flooring nails, for installing underlayment.
Depending on the condition of your subfloor, how well you install your underlayment and the type of flooring you're going to put on top of it, you may need to putty the seams and sand them. This is especially true if you are installing any sort of vinyl flooring. High edges or gaps between sheets can cause serious damage to vinyl flooring, eventually causing it to crack. Always be sure to sand these puttied edges smooth, so as to not create another problem. But this sanding can be done with a simple palm sander.
/* */


The main difference between the two solvents may be the concentration, however, that is true only to some extent. The two solvents have completely different applications and environments in which they could be effectively utilized.
NEW YORK, NY, March 30, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ — The main difference between the two solvents may be the concentration, however, that is true only to some extent. The two solvents have completely different applications and environments in which they could be effectively utilized. There is much more to it than simply a different concentration of two.
The solvents are alcohol-based, they are manufactured for industrial and home usages, and they both effectively eliminate the bacteria. Both of which can be purchased from our website TaigaFreshness. There are certainly similarities between the two fluids but there are key differences that make them both unique, compared to each other.
Isopropyl Alcohol 70%:
A unique solvent as a concentration of it speaks for itself. Not only there is much less isopropanol within the solvent, which means that the solvent is much less flammable but also it is concentrated for long-term disinfection purposes.
The concentration of 70% makes it less flammable compared to the concentration of 99%, the solvent reduces the risks of toxic fumes and combustions. Regardless of less concentration, the solvent is still highly dryable, as it dries within seconds of application.
The solvent is highly dryable but at the same time, it takes much more time for a solvent to eliminate harmful bacteria on the various surfaces It may take about 5-10 minutes for Isopropyl Alcohol 70% to fully eliminate the harmful microorganisms. However, this characteristic does not make a solvent less effective.
Moreover, because the solvent has a higher application time it is considered much more effective at eliminating harmful bacteria and viruses. Isopropyl Alcohol 99% takes much less time to be fully applied; however, the less concentrated alcohols had better eliminate most of the bacteria and viruses.
The Isopropyl Alcohol 70% is highly recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as it is highly effective in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19; it is widely considered a better chemical than the Isopropyl Alcohol 99% in prevention of COVID19 spreading within the office facilities or homes.
The Isopropyl Alcohol 70% is widely used in medical and laboratory fields, as it easily removes all of the bacteria found on the surfaces and removes dirt and dust. In addition, the solvent can be used as an antiseptic in case of small wounds or scrapes. The solvent evaporates with no residues on the surfaces it is being applied to.
It effectively sanitizes any type of equipment and frequently touched areas, making it a perfect solvent for walk-in centers, hospitals, dentist offices, laboratories, and emergency rooms. It is also used in professional cleaning services, as it easily removes any type of dirt or dust found on the hardly reachable surfaces.
The isopropyl Alcohol 70% concentrated is a perfect solution for deep disinfection of the facility, it may take a longer time for full application but it gives significantly effective results. It is perfect for both home and industrial usage. However, it is not always a perfect solution for fast application; the solution is perfect if you want to disinfect a facility or a surface within a long period.
Isopropyl Alcohol 99%:
The concentration of this solvent is much higher, as it contains around 99% percent of alcohol. Which makes this solvent perfect for fast application and sanitizing of various surfaces.
While the solution is much more flammable, it has a higher concentration, which allows the solvent to be applied much faster than the Isopropyl Alcohol 70%. It is the perfect solvent to sanitize and clean on the go. It is beneficial to household usage and commercial applications.
The fluid is often used to sanitize and clean dust out of various machinery and electronic parts. Its concentration causes no harm to liquid-sensitive parts of the electronics. Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is a perfect solution for your cellular or electronic devices, as many harmful microorganisms are located on frequently used keyboards or touchable screens. A mobile-friendly solution does not harm the internals of your devices and ensures your safety.
Most wide usage of Isopropyl Alcohol 99% involves the nail industry. Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is used heavily in the nail industry for cleaning the surface of the client's nails and producing maximum nail shine.
Isopropyl Alcohol 99% has a variety of uses as it is used by doctors, lab technicians, and even travelers. This solution is perfect for commercial, industrial, and personal usage. Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is unquestionably a solution that will improve all aspects of your hygienic life. Thus, there are innumerable places where this disinfectant can be applied, with its instant effectiveness; it ensures your everyday safety.
Both of the solvents are perfect for disinfection and sanitizing purposes. Both solvents can be used for home and industrial uses. The solvents do contain alcohol that helps them eliminate various harmful particles within seconds of application. The solvents are perfect for cleaning dust and dirt.
The solvents can be equally used for medical and laboratory purposes and as both effectively eliminate harmful COVID19, particles within the surfaces they are being applied to.
The difference between the two solvents lies within the concentration. While the concentration of 99% is perfect for quick and easy disinfection purposes on the go. The concentration of 70% is much more efficient when it is given more time for application, it is highly more effective at fully eliminating harmful bacteria than the concentration of 99%, and thus it stays much longer on the surfaces.
Besides, the application of these solvents differs, 70% concentration is often used for overnight sanitizing purposes, while 99% is used during the day, for quick sanitizing.
The concentration of the solvents makes them differently flammable, 99% tends to be much more flammable, while 70% is less, due to the less alcohol concentration with the solvent.
Which One To Choose:
If you are looking for a solvent that will quickly and effectively eliminate the harmful bacteria on the surfaces, you are applying it to, the Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is a perfect choice. Especially if you are looking for quick results. The solvent is also perfect for many usages, making it ideal for different tasks.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a solution that will fully eliminate harmful particles and will fully ensure the safety of your facility, the Isopropyl Alcohol 70% is perfect for you. It will successfully eliminate bad bacteria; however, it will take time for the solvent to be fully applied. Many harmful particles including the COVID19 viruses are better eliminated with less concentration of alcohol.
About Us:
Come check out our store for these products and many more! As a chemical distributor across the United States, we provide not only these chemicals but also a variety of others. TaigaFreshness is a licensed supplier of professional quality chemicals and disinfectant products located in South Florida.
The products available for purchase include but are not limited to Isopropyl Alcohol 70%, 99%, Hand Sanitizer Liquid (Non-gel), Propylene Glycol USP PG Kosher PG 99.9%, Vegetable Glycerin USP VG Kosher VG 99.9%, and D-Limonene 100% FOOD GRADE Citrus Solvent.
You can purchase the chemicals for both industrial and home usage as we have appropriate volume options that will satisfy your needs. Products can be purchased in Gallons and Quarts! Our superior products, competitive pricing, and outstanding customer service have earned our reputation as the leader in the chemical disinfectant industry. Let us satisfy your needs for disinfectant and health care products!
For the original version of this press release, please visit here


Thermotreated Wood
For making thermotreated wood, we are heating the wood over 170°C. For cooling is used pure water steam. During the process there will be used no addatives. Thermotreated wood is 100% natural.
Continue Reading
Thermotreated wood. What is Thermotreated wood?
Thermotreated wood. What is Thermotreated wood?
Heat-treated wood or wood thermotreated wood processed to over 170 ° C temperature. The heat treatment improves the wood rotting – and weather resistance, and thermal insulation and reduces the accumulation of water timber. At high temperature, the resin was released from wood. Continue Reading
Thermotreated wood. Thermotreatment
Thermotreated wood is manufactured under controlled heating conditions at temperatures of 170…230 degrees C. The degree of heat depends on what type of wood is being processed and what type of characteristics are desired. The process involves no chemicals or addatives. Since the only outside agent used is moisture, we can proudly claim this to be natural product. During the thermotreatment process, the cellular structure changes. The hemicellulose starts to break down and pitch in coniferous woods evaporate.
During the thermo treatment, the following changes occur:
 1. Colour changes from light to dark brown
 2. Deformation due to moisture variations decreases by 50-90%
 3. Equilibrium moisture content lowers
 4. Thermal conductivity decreases by 0-30%
 5. Overall heat-transfer coefficient k improves
 6. Bending strength decreases by 0-30%
 7. Elasticity decreases, but rigidity increases
 8. Wear resistance improves
 9. Wood becomes lighter in weight
 10. Biological durability improves
 11. Pitch evaporates
 12. Dead knots fall out
 13. Cellular structure changeswood „ages" structurally
As it appears from above, thermotreatment offers a quite good opportunity e.g. for the carpentry industry to produce environment-friendly wood products of a new kind of structure.


text:
If the V.ALRT will not stay connected or continuously blinks, you may need to restart the V.ALRT device. You can do this by following the steps below.
- Power off the V.ALRT by pressing and holding the button for 30 seconds. Once you hear two beeps and two flashing red lights the device will be turned off. (Tip: Wait the full 30 seconds until you hear the two beeps before releasing)
- Open the V.ALRT application on the phone and go to device manager.
- Click on the minus sign to remove the device from the application.
- Restart the V.ALRT device by pressing and holding the button for ~10 seconds or until you hear a beep followed by a flashing green light.
- Once the device has been put in pairing mode you can select it in the application. (Tip: The app may take 10-20 seconds to complete the pairing process.)


The Argument for More Effective Short-Form Ads
The Argument for More Effective Short-Form Ads
By Blake Burrus, Senior Vice President of Client Services, Nielsen Neuro
The 15-second TV ad is already "the new black," but it has yet to achieve the same level of audience engagement as its 30-second and one-minute predecessors.
Advertisers must now explore this new frontier further to make short-form ads more effective, regardless of the platform.
According to Nielsen, the number of 15-second television commercials jumped more than 80 percent between 2008 and 2012.
And the numbers continue to grow for ads 15 seconds or less, partially due to the proliferation of mobile technologies and new platforms for watching pithy online videos.
Contrary to what many advertisers think, these new platforms are providing more opportunities for existing content. TV ads and mobile ads can be complementary, if advertisers can master the short-form video.
Perfecting the 15-second ad won't be an easy task.
As advertisers' attentions (and budgets) are increasingly divided among new and traditional platforms, many have turned to new tools like consumer neuroscience to boost their efficiency and effectiveness in the face of rapid change.
As ad lengths are shrinking, ad budgets are shifting. Many advertisers don't have the resources to create entirely new ad concepts customized for each channel, and they must repurpose 30-second ads for each of the short-form spots.
Industry creatives typically rely on their "gut" – experience and personal judgment – to repurpose traditional ads by trimming the storyline and reducing repetition. This can result in a significantly less-effective 15-second version of a 30-second commercial.
Neuroscience is changing the art of "cut downs" by creating the science of "neurological ad compression," which uses cutting-edge, moment-by-moment analysis of how consumers react to what they watch.
Whereas traditional methods require consumers to reflect honestly and accurately about their reactions (often an unrealistic task), consumer neuroscience adds more precise measures of engagement to current gauges of effectiveness.
Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements can track the exact moments an ad activates memory, draws attention or prompts emotional response, and can determine on an instant-by-instant basis which parts are and are not effective in engaging viewers.
Consumer neuroscience gives advertisers new insights into viewers' emotional engagement, something creative teams have always considered important but were never able to measure. The technology can confirm, for example, if moments of humor have real impact.
Once crucial moments that maximize key neurological responses are identified, algorithms create a rough edit between 10 and 14 seconds (typically one-third the length of the original spot).
The re-cut commercial is then edited by agency creatives for story flow, continuity and visual seamlessness into a final spot that can be used for TV or alternative video platforms.
Simply put: It uses only the most vital moments and transitions – minimizing spend and maximizing impact.
This mix of art and science is effective and cost effective. Based on Nielsen Neuro's testing of original 30-second TV spots and the EEG-optimized 15-second spots, approximately 90 percent of neuroscience-optimized 15-second ads test just as well as their 30-second counterparts, and a majority actually tests better.
The neurological ad compression approach helps advertisers increase the reach and resonance of campaigns for the same level of spending, or even considerably less, with no loss in effectiveness.
Neuroscience not only helps maximize the impact of 15-second ads (a relatively modern challenge), it also resolves a historical problem for advertisers, who for decades have wasted a significant portion of production costs and ad spend because of their limited ability to understand consumers' emotional responses.
Now, with creative teams spread increasingly thin, this scientific process can boost efficiency by providing instant feedback on what works and what doesn't, making the ad team's job easier and helping advertising evolve at the pace of technology.
This article originally appeared on


text:
Proceedings PaperText characterization by connected component transformations
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Worldwide there are many different scripts and languages in common use. Finding text lines and character and word boundaries, where present, are necessary primitive operations for most document processing applications. We have developed a method of handling text lines from several different languages that is robust in the presence of common printing and scanning artifacts. A technique is described by which information about the characteristics of a text line can be determined from a list of the connected pixel components that comprise the image. This technique applies across many languages and scripts that are laid out horizontally. For text comprising Roman type, the location and dimensions of each text line are augmented with positions of the baseline and x-height. Where appropriate, coordinates of space-delimited words and individual character cells are determined. This technique incorporates a computationally inexpensive method for straightening curved lines and segmenting kerned characters and a novel method based on font weight and stress for locating the boundaries of individual characters, even if their images touch.


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The overall aim of the IC3 Programme is to improve Punjab Police's operational efficiency by deploying new hardware using up-to-date technology that will enable the Police to adopt more efficient working practices and new operating concepts. The role of the Police will not fundamentally change by the introduction of the IC3; the efficiencies relate to how that role is carried out from both process and performance perspectives. In progressing towards greater efficiencies, one of the IC3 aims is to bring together various elements of Punjab Police operation to work as a more unified team.
The IC3 operations will integrate the Command, Control, and Communication functions through 5 Services areas:
- Emergency Call Centre (ECC) – ECC will be handling all incoming and outgoing public trunk calls in wake of emergency.
- Dispatching Centre (DC) – DC will dispatch, monitor and support operational resources efficiently and timely manner.
- Strategic Operations & Monitoring Suite (SOMS) – SOMS will proactively and intelligently monitor the public spaces and will include:
- Video Management System is responsible for displaying video streams Video-Based Incident Detection system based on intelligent analysis of the video streams of the CCTV Cameras
- Video Wall Management System (and video wall) to display video streams on the video wall
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Control System to control all ANPR equipment and archiving/retrieving recognized license plates
- CCTV Control – CCTV Control will operate as a receiving and recording point for CCTV images that are available to the CCTV matrix for IC3 Centre. Images can be displayed and, where appropriate, passed into the SOMS and CMC at that Centre for viewing at work-stations and/or for display on the video-wall.
- Crisis Management Centre (CMC) – CMC will plan and manage all the pre-planned and spontaneous major events through a defined escalation process to contain and manage a situation or an event through a clearly defined command structure. It will contain integrated tools that merge information in an environment that provides leadership quick and accurate data to evaluate situations.
These services will generate a level of required support that in some cases will be new work but in others will call upon existing support organizations and processes. In particular these existing organizations will include database management, human resources, finance and facilities management. When completed, the new build IC3 Centre will become integral part of the technology infrastructure, allowing seamless access between the IC3 Centre and the wider Punjab Police (PP) and other agencies. The diagram below outlines the operational scope for the IC3 Programme.
- Command and Control System – including Command and Control Incident Management,
- Geographic Information System (GIS), Resource Management System, Integrated Automatic
- Resource Location System (ARLS), and Mobile Data Terminals
- Integrated Video Management System (IVMS) – including System Control and Management, Digital Recording and Archiving, Specific Analysis Tools, Video Walls and Control Systems, and In-Vehicle Video Systems
- Field Equipment – including Strategic Surveillance Locations, Surveillance of Public Places, Surveillance of Intersections, Surveillance of roads, Surveillance of Iconic Buildings Locations, Camera installation and Security and power and connectivity.
- Implementation and Fit-out – including Data Centre fit-out, structured cabling, furniture and desktop as well as system integration and testing.
Brief Scope of Work
The scope of work is limited to area under the jurisdiction of Lahore City. The key components of the scope for the System Integrator (SI) are provided below. The components may be added or deleted based on the design proposed by various bidders.
- Video surveillance
- Video analytics
- Installation of cameras
- Set up of Command and Control Centre and live feed of:
- Ariel Surveillance – Quad Copters
- Specialized Vehicles equipped with wireless video feed mechanism to IC3
- Integrated Communication Platform to Voice Communication System to provide User Interface for telephone and radio communications.
- Traffic management
- E-Ticketing against traffic violations
- Handheld devices
- Demand Management
- Telephony demand via the ECC
- Social Media
- CCTV surveillance
- Response management
- GPS enabled vehicles/ Automatic Vehicle Location System
- Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
- Resource Management
- Operational planning for pre-planned and spontaneous events
- Dispatching mechanism to relevant agencies
- Data Centre (DC) and Disaster Recovery Centre
- Design and setup of primary DC and requisite hardware (computing) for Disaster Recovery Centre.
- Deployment and Installation of hardware including servers, storage, racks etc.
- Detailed solution architecture
- Applicants are required to determine the computing requirements as per proposed solution
- Providing redundant connectivity through reliable media from cameras to Command and Control Centre; Command and Control Centre to DC; DC to DR; from handheld devices/ mobile vehicles to Command and Control Centre.
- Detail network diagram with network architecture
- Provide all network components including all active and passive equipment.
- Command & Control Centre hardware
- Video Wall with allied accessories, Data center, LAN, PC, printers, scanners, switch/router, building security equipment etc.
- Provisioning and Integration of the Security and Surveillance system with existing databases as per industry standards.
- Command and Control, GIS, Resource Management System, Computer Telephony Integration Applications, Integrated desktop, crime and intelligence Systems
- GIS and location services
- Key element and is critical components for the success of IC3 Centre
- Comprehensive training program for management, operational, maintenance, and support personnel


Finding Work-Life Balance: How Au Pairs Can Help
/Finding Work-Life Balance: How Au Pairs Can Help
At times, finding work-life balance can seem like a far-fetched dream. Working, commuting, caring for kids, finding time to work out and practice self-care, and managing a household can take its toll.
Finding work-life balance can be a struggle.
If you sometimes feel like there isn't enough time in the day for everything, you aren't alone. Many parents struggle with finding work-life balance in their busy lives.
5 Ways Parents Are Finding Work-Life Balance By Hosting an Au Pair
A good work-life balance is vital to self-esteem, the ability to focus at work, and your family's well-being. Children can sense their parents' stress, so a poor work-life balance can even contribute to child behavior issues. It can also impact your sleep schedule and exacerbate the feeling of imbalance.
Possibly one of the fastest ways to improve work-life balance is by hosting an Au Pair. Because Au Pairs can take on many childcare-related duties, they can significantly reduce the number of things parents have to do. Here are some common ways Au Pairs help restore the balance.
1. Driving the Kids Around
Do you sometimes feel like a taxi service for your kids? If so, you'll be relieved to hear that Au Pairs can take on the task of driving the kids to and from school and activities.
For instance, if you have one kid at soccer practice and another in ballet at the same time, it feel impossible to get everyone where they need to be. You might feel guilty that you can't attend both practices, or you might stress over finding a carpool for one child. But with an Au Pair, you can divide and conquer (the next best thing to being in two places at once).
Au Pairs provide fantastic childcare with after school pick up
Even if you aren't being pulled in all directions, it's nice to have someone around who can drop the kids off in the morning or pick them up in the afternoon so you don't have to rush home from work.
2. Kids' Laundry & Relevant Childcare-Related Chores
It's hard enough staying on top of chores as a single adult or a young couple with no kids. But once you add in chores for the entire household, it can become a never-ending struggle to keep up.
Au Pairs can assist with childcare-related chores throughout the day. They can help wash and put away your kids' laundry while they're home alone with the kids (0r while everyone is away at school and work). If you have younger children, Au Pairs can keep toys picked up and enforce having the children clean up after themselves throughout the day.
Au Pairs can help with the kids' laundry and other child-related tasks.
It's also common for families to ask their Au Pair to vacuum the kids' bedroom or playroom, wash any dishes they use during the day, and help the kids make their beds.
3. Packing Lunches or Managing Breakfast
If mornings are a struggle for you, having someone around to manage feeding the kids and getting them ready for the day can be a huge relief. Not only does this give you time to get yourself ready without the stress, but it ensures your kids are actually eating their breakfast.
Our evening routines are much easier now that we're hosting an Au Pair.
Many Au Pairs love to cook. If this is the case with your Au Pair, you might find your children getting more hot breakfasts than before. Au Pairs can also help prepare school lunches or after-school snacks.
4. Keeping You Connected While You're Away
A big contributor to "working mom guilt" is the feeling that you're disconnected from your kids throughout the day. You might worry that you're missing milestones, or that your child is growing up without you while you're away.
Au Pairs help parents stay connected with the kids while they're away.
Au Pairs can alleviate some of this guilt. Often, Au Pairs send their Host Parents photos and videos of the kids. Because they love your kids like their own family, Au Pairs are more likely to want to share funny moments and celebrate your children's achievements with you.
5. Homework Help for School-Aged Kids
Get home. Rush to make dinner. Argue and plead with kids to do their homework. Hold your head in your hands and say a prayer. Try not to do half their homework for them. Force feed them dinner and hurry them to bed. Late (again). Dread the grouchy morning you know will follow. Rinse. Repeat.
Good study habits are learned behaviors
Sound familiar? It's a struggle many of us are all too familiar with. But it doesn't have to be this way! Au Pairs can supervise homework time so you can come home to a more relaxed household. Imagine spending quality time with your kids instead of fighting with them all night. (Plus, since Au Pairs can pack school lunches and help with child-related chores, you won't have to rush as much to get things done).
6. Helping You Find More "Me" Time
Allowing your Au Pair to take on some of the above tasks means you'll have more time for yourself. By hosting an Au Pair, you can find time to meal prep and eat healthier, achieve your fitness goals, and practice self-care.
Au Pairs can help you find more "me" time.
Finding work-life balance starts with the little things. Take a bubble bath. Read a book. Have a grown-up conversation with your Au Pair (anything that doesn't revolve around Paw Patrol).
You can even ask your Au Pair to watch the kids on an evening or weekend so you can go on a much-needed date night!
7. Take a (Relaxing) Family Vacation
All too often, family vacations aren't that relaxing. You spend most of the time managing everyone's whereabouts and taking care of your kids. By the time it's over, you realize traveling is way more stressful than staying home (plus all the work that's piling up for you while you're gone).
Restore work-life balance by bringing your Au Pair on vacation with you.
Having a relaxing family vacation goes a long way toward finding work-life balance again. So instead of stressing, bring your Au Pair on vacation with you. Not only is this a wonderful way to contribute to your Au Pair's cultural exchange experience and enable her to travel, but it allows you to schedule some overdue time for yourself during your vacation.
Interested in Hosting an Au Pair?
Ready to start finding work-life balance again? Au Pairs can work up to 45 hours a week, at a max of 10 hours a day. Often, depending on your location and the ages of your kids, Au Pair childcare is equivalent or cheaper than regular daycare. The best part is that the cost remains the same no matter how many children you need childcare for.
There are many things to consider before hosting an Au Pair. This includes the fact that they live in your home and need a private bedroom. If Au Pair Childcare sounds like the right solution for your family, you can register on our website now and start searching for Au Pairs as early as today!
By |2019-10-07T15:09:58+00:00October 24th, 2019|Childcare Advice|
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Reinventing the Republic 1st edition
Gender, Migration, and Citizenship in France
Reinventing the Republic 0 9780804757621 _PHONE_
Details about this item
Reinventing the Republic: Early one morning in 1996, the sanctuary of a Parisian church was suddenly disrupted by a police raid. A group of undocumented immigrant families had taken refuge in the church under threat of deportation due to the French state's increasingly restrictive immigration policies. Rather than disperse and hide, these sans-papiers—people literally without papers— came together to bring to light the deep contradictions in the French state's immigration policies and practices.
Reinventing the Republic chronicles the struggle of the sans-papiers to become rights-bearing citizens, and links different social movements to reveal the many ways in which concepts of citizenship and nationality intersect with debates over gender, sexuality, and immigration. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a variety of texts, this disquieting book provides new insights into how exclusion and discrimination operate and influence each other in the world today.
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Introduction Lung function testing by spirometry has remained unchanged for over 50 years, despite limitations including patient technique, discomfort, cost and training. Non-invasive, remote lung volume measurement is an alternative approach. This has been explored in the past using structured light, accelerometers and impedance pneumography, but these have often been costly and of limited validity.
We use a novel approach to remote assessment (~2 metres) using a 3D time-of-flight depth camera – similar to those found in many home gaming consoles. This pilot developmental data was generated from patients in a clinical setting.
Methods Patients were recruited from a general respiratory physiology laboratory. Spirometry was performed according to ATS/ERS standards using an unmodified pneumotachograph (nSpire Health, Longmont, CO, USA). A Kinect V2 time-of-flight depth sensor (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) was used to reconstruct 3D models of the subject's thorax to estimate volume-time and flow-time curves for both Forced and Slow Vital Capacity and their associated measurements (Figure 1, technical details in1).
These results were correlated with simultaneous recordings from the pneumotachograph, and error values calculated to assess the accuracy of the technique.
Results Data were available from 53 patients, with 40 having usable data. Mean age 62.8 yrs (SD 16.2), BMI of 26.8 (SD 5.5). 41.5% male. 54.7% of patients had obstructive lung diseases, and 28.4% fibrotic lung disease. Mean FVC was 91.3% predicted (SD 26.4%), Mean FEV1 83.1% (SD 28.9%).
The model estimates were highly correlated with spirometric values for FVC (λ = 0.999), FEV1 (λ = 0.947), VC (λ = 0.999), IC (λ = 0.997) and TV (λ = 0.962).
Univariate analysis demonstrated no patient characteristics predictive of discrepancy from spirometric values for FVC or VC.
Conclusions We describe a pilot data from the initial development of a new technique for non-invasively assessing lung volume and pulmonary function measurements. It correlates to within 30 ml for FVC and 10 ml for VC. This has a wide range of potential applications, including screening, home monitoring of respiratory disease, assessment of lung function in those unable to complete pneumotachygraphy and gating controls for radiological imaging techniques.
Reference 1 Soleimani V, Mirmehdi M, Damen D, et al. Remote pulmonary function testing using a depth sensor. Biocas 2015


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Why is it called a tablespoon?
why is it called a tablespoon? - cookthink
A spoon used at the table to serve or to eat soup is referred to as a tablespoon. But the tablespoon is also a measure of volume (roughly equal to 1/2 fluid ounce) that first appeared as a word in the middle of the 18th century.
As recipes began to be written down with greater frequency, the unit of a tablespoon may have been used as a measurement simply because it was a utensil that was already there (like the teaspoon). Today, most people use specially made measuring spoons when following recipes rather than dipping into their own silverware drawers.
In French, the tablespoon is called a cuillière à soupe, or soup spoon; the teaspoon is called a cuillière à café.
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Who Lives Here? Polar Animals
The polar regions are home to amazing animals whose bodies are built for living in the extreme cold. Emperor penguins, snowy owls and beluga whales all have special ways of staying warm, finding food and raising their young in a polar habitat of thick ice and snow. The Who Lives Here? series looks at animals in their natural habitats - rain forests, polar regions, deserts and wetlands - and explains how the body and habits of each animal are suited to the place it lives. Charming, realistic illustrations, playful language and intriguing facts make these books a perfect read for young children.


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Popplet is a free online tool which lets you create a visual mindmap with ease, combining text, images, links and videos. This could be useful as a tool to use collaboratively with a class to outline planning together for a new topic, perhaps using the interactive whiteboard. Or it could be a way to record learning as pupils research about a topic. The simplicity of adding images, text links and videos is coupled with the ease with which any part can be re-ordered or moved to suit the visual presentation style desired.
Popplet can also be used as an alternative to Powerpoint in delivering presentations, well suited to the needs of a primary school.
Watch the video introduction to Popplet below:
Mark Bromley has created a video which serves as an introduction and short tutorial to using Popplet in the primary classroom.
Miss Noor has provided several suggestions for the use of Popplet in various curricular areas in the classroom, along with an example Popplet presentation.
So whether as a visual planning tool, for note-taking, for creating a slideshow of images or delivering presentations combining text, weblinks, videos and images in an animated way then Popplet is an easy to use tool useful for the primary classroom.
For other tools which can be used to create mind-maps or to display information in a visual way then look at the mind-mapping tools at webtools4u2use.
For further tools which can be used to as presentation tools have a look at the presentation tools page of webtools4u2use.


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What does ICJ mean in Ocean Science?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand ICJ in the Academic & Science field in general and in the Ocean Science terminology in particular.
Find a translation for ICJ in other languages:
Select another language:
What does ICJ mean?
- International Court of Justice, World Court(noun)
- a court established to settle disputes between members of the United Nations


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Horticultural Crop Research & Development Institute
| Main | Services | Programme | Staff | Organogram | News & Events | Divisions |
The Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute (HORDI) is vested with the responsibility of technology development concerning vegetables, fruits, root and tuber crops and floriculture. The research programme focuses on the development of improved crop varieties, new propagation methods, post harvest and food processing methods, the use of protected culture and ensuring better plant health with fewer defendants on chemicals.
Achieve excellence through development of horticultural crops for prosperity of the nation.
Function as the national centre for research and development of sustainable and productive technologies for horticultural crops to ensure economic and social development ofthe farmers, and other stakeholders.
The aim of HORDI is to generate and disseminate cost effective, eco-friendly and sustainable technologies that will increase productivity, improve quality, reduce post harvest losses and add value to the products of mandated horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, root and tubers and ornamental crops while ensuring sustainable use of natural resources.
History of HORDI
The Department of Agriculture was established in 1912 and the Division of Research was one of its important sections that provide scientific information for establishment of major plantation crops, tea, rubber coconut and other plants of economic and ornamental importance.
Three separate institutions for tea, rubber and coconut were established and thereafter the Division of Research in the Department of agriculture placed the emphasis on peasant agriculture and established the Central Agricultural Research Institute.
The foundation stone for new laboratories of the Central Agricultural Research Institute was laid in Gannoruwa on 21 June 1958 by the Honorable S.W.R.D Bandranayake. Honorable Dudley Senanayaka, late Prime Minister of Ceylon, formally declared the Institute open on 6th August 1967. Apart from the administrative Headquarters housed in the institute, there were Research divisions of Agricultural Botany, Agricultural Chemistry, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Horticulture, Food technology, Minor plantation crops, Tobacco & soil conservation and Statistics.
With re-structure of the Department of Agriculture, three national Institutes were formed in 1994 to conduct research and development activities on horticulture, rice & field crops. The Central Agriculture Research Institute at Gannoruwa was renamed as Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute to carryout efficient and intensive research & development work on horticulture.
© 2006 Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka (DOASL), All rights reserved-Developed in association with ICTA.


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Learn something new every day More Info... by email
A metabolic cart is an electronic medical tool to measure the body's metabolism through the amount of heat produced when the body is at rest. The metabolic cart uses a process called calorimetry to get this measurement. The result can help tell medical workers more about a person's overall health condition.
The various components of the device, which include a computer system, monitor, and breathing tubes, are typically mounted together on mobile push cart, hence the name, so that it can easily be moved from one examining room to another. It uses two factors to calculate the final heat production. One is the intake of oxygen for the body. The other is the output of carbon dioxide. These two figures will provide the result for the metabolic cart, which is generally measured as REE, or Resting Energy Expenditure.
The REE for a patient can vary quite a bit. Different instances of measuring it may vary over the same day or over different days. The results can also change according to a range of conditions.
Between individuals, the REE changes with regard to the person's overall weight or height/weight ratio. Age and gender can also influence the result of this test. In addition, the chemistry of the body in response to various drugs will change the outcome.
The metabolic cart has many different uses within the medical community. This tool may be used in an Intensive care unit or emergency room in order to deduce more about the immediate condition of a patient who may not be able to respond to simple questions. The metabolic cart is also frequently used in sports medicine.
Sometimes, doctors using the metabolic cart will check for conditions like metabolic acidosis where the results of extreme energy expenditure can threaten the overall health of the body. Doctors might also check glucose levels in a greater examination of the blood. Exercise related conditions also affect the REE and the RQ, or Respiratory Quotient, that medical workers use as a common indicator.
The medical community also looks at the overall success of the test in maintaining accuracy. Reports show that the results of this tool can be more effective for people in certain conditions. For example, obesity or dire health conditions may affect the accuracy rate for finding out the actual REE.
Using a metabolic cart and looking at the body's metabolism helps medical staff understand an immediate medical condition better. Lots of vitamin deficiencies and other illnesses will have a dramatic effect on the metabolism. In addition to metabolic blood testing, this kind of tool is a useful part of what the modern medical community offers to patients.


Commonly found fossils
'If you find a bullet-shaped fossil you could well have found the remnants of an ancient squid. These fossils are called belemnites.'
-Peter Brash, animal ecologist
'Ammonites can be found in Dorset and other places. These are spiral shaped and are from an animal that looked similar to nautilus.'
-Peter Brash, animal ecologist
'Ammonites look a lot like coiled snail shells, but they were actually sea predators. They became extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs. You tend to find them in sedimentary rock, which is rock that has been laid down in layers underwater. Quarries and cliffs where this rock is being exposed can be good places to find them.'
- Rod Hebden
You can see two polished ammonites at Arlington Court, in Devon. In some rare cases these fossils are even found coated in fool's gold.
Devil's Toenails (Gryphaea)
Although these commonly found fossils do look like the claw of an ancient animal or, indeed, a devil, they were created from oysters that once lived on shallow sea beds.
Sea sponges and sea urchins
'We get a lot of fossilised sea sponges and sea urchins along the South Downs. The sea urchins can be as small as a Brussel sprout or as big as a grapefruit.'
- Nick Walford, assistant ranger
Along the pathway near the wild garden at Bateman's, Sussex, you can see fossilised sea urchins.
Shark's teeth
'A lot of people find fossilised shark's teeth and some of these can be as large as your hand.'
-Peter Brash, animal ecologist
Places to go fossil hunting
Discover indoor and outdoor places where fossil-hunters can uncover ancient treasures.
Find a fossil near you
A beginner's guide to fossil hunting
Top tips to help families and fully-grown fossil enthusiasts get started.
Fossil collecting guide
More about fossils
Find out more about fossil types on the National History Museum website.