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When gonorrhoea is resistant to one of two antibiotics recommended to treat it, it is known as super gonorrhoea.
All types of gonorrhoea – historically called ‘the clap’ – are caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
The sexually transmitted infection (STI) is becoming increasing difficult to treat, able to fight off three common drugs.
It comes amid a soar in cases – there were almost 45,000 diagnoses in England in 2017, a rise of 22 per cent in one year, figures show.
There is a rise from 33.7 per cent in 2016.
In March last year, the ‘worst case ever’ of super-gonorrhoea was detected in a British man after he had sex with a south-eastern Asian woman.
Laboratory tests revealed the Brit had high resistance to both ceftriaxone and azithromycin. He was eventually treated with ertapenem.
Analysis of STI data around the world previously revealed 97 per cent of countries have reported strains of gonorrhoea that are resistant to ciprofloxacin.
Since then, health officials have urged people to remember to use condoms.
But in recent years, it has been revealed that throats act as a ‘silent reservoir’ for gonorrhoea.
The number of gonnorrhoea cases has risen alongside other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and chlamydia. | http://haleplushearty.org/2019/01/07/super-gonorrhea-is-becoming-more-resistant-to-antibiotics/ | 317 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999987 |
On a sunny morning in November, 2018, twelve men and two women gathered in a lavishly furnished living room in Oguta, a town in southeastern Nigeria, with the air-conditioning at full blast. They had come to discuss the caste system that persists among the Igbo people in the region. The group’s host, Ignatius Uchechukwu Okororie, a short, sixty-two-year-old retired civil servant, split open a kola nut with his fingernails and ate its flesh; he then passed a metal tray of nuts around the room, for the others to taste. “He who brings kola nut brings life,” he said. The breaking of kola nut, known as iwa oji, is an important Igbo ritual traditionally performed to welcome guests to a gathering. The group in Okororie’s living room were members of a caste called ohu: descendants of slaves who, almost a century ago, were owned by townspeople. They are typically restricted from presiding over such ceremonies. In Okororie’s house, the iwa oji was a small rebellion.
Slavery existed among the Igbo long before colonization, but it accelerated in the sixteenth century, when the transatlantic trade began and demand for slaves increased. Under slavery, Igbo society was divided into three main categories: diala, ohu, and osu. The diala were the freeborn, and enjoyed full status as members of the human race. The ohu were taken as captives from distant communities or else enslaved in payment of debts or as punishment for crimes; the diala kept them as domestic servants, sold them to white merchants, and occasionally sacrificed them in religious ceremonies or buried them alive at their masters’ funerals. (A popular Igbo proverb goes, “A slave who looks on while a fellow-slave is tied up and thrown into the grave should realize that it could also be his turn someday.”) The osu were slaves owned by traditional deities. A diala who wanted a blessing, such as a male child, or who was trying to avoid tribulation, such as a poor harvest or an epidemic, could give a slave or a family member to a shrine as an offering; a criminal could also seek refuge from punishment by offering himself to a deity. This person then became osu, and lived near the shrine, tending to its grounds and rarely mingling with the larger community. “He was a person dedicated to a god, a thing set apart—a taboo forever, and his children after him,” Chinua Achebe wrote of the osu, in “Things Fall Apart.” (The ume, a fourth caste, was comprised of the slaves who were dedicated to the most vicious deities.)
This piece was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
In the nineteenth century, the abolition of slavery in the West inadvertently led to a glut of slaves in the Igbo markets, causing the number of ohu and osu to skyrocket. “Those families which were really rich competed with one another in the number of slaves each killed for its dead or used to placate the gods,” Adiele Afigbo, an Igbo historian, wrote in “The Abolition of the Slave Trade in Southeastern Nigeria, 1885–1950.” The British formally abolished slavery in Nigeria in the early twentieth century, and finally eradicated it in the late nineteen-forties, but the descendants of slaves—who are also called ohu and osu—retained the stigma of their ancestors. They are often forbidden from speaking during community meetings and are not allowed to intermarry with the freeborn. In Oguta, they can’t take traditional titles, such as Ogbuagu, which is conferred upon the most accomplished men, and they can’t join the Oriri Nzere, an important social organization.
Westerners trying to understand the Igbo system often reach for its similarities with the oppression of black Americans. This analogy is helpful but imperfect. Igbo discrimination is not based on race, and there are no visual markers to differentiate slave descendants from freeborn. Instead, it trades on cultural beliefs about lineage and spirituality. The ohu were originally brought to their towns from distant villages. Community ties are very important in Igbo culture, and so, while the descendants of, say, American immigrants are encouraged to assimilate, the ohu have never lost their outsider status. With the osu, the diala originally believed that mixing with a deity’s slaves would earn them divine punishment. (In its spiritual aspect, the plight of the osu is similar to that of dalits in India or of burakumin in Japan, whose ancestors are believed to have done “polluting” work as butchers or tanners, and who are therefore thought to be impure.) With Christianization, the conscious aspect of this belief dissipated, but not without leaving traces. “The fear people have is: before long, our children and children’s children will be bastardized,” Okoro Ijoma, a professor of Igbo history at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told me. “It is about keeping their lineage pure.”
Perhaps the most important difference is that, though abolition in the West was preceded by centuries of activism that slowly (and imperfectly) changed popular attitudes, abolition in southeastern Nigeria was accomplished by colonial fiat—and only after the British no longer had an economic stake in the trade. It therefore seemed to many diala to be as arbitrary and self-serving as when the British pushed the Igbo, in the nineteenth century, to abandon subsistence farming in favor of cultivating cash crops, such as palm oil. The institution of slavery ended, but the underlying prejudices remained. In 1956, the legislature in southeastern Nigeria passed a statute outlawing the caste system, which then simply went underground. “Legal proscriptions are not enough to abolish certain primordial customs,” Anthony Obinna, a Catholic archbishop who advocates for the end of the system, told me. “You need more grassroots engagement.”
No data exist on the number of slave descendants in southeastern Nigeria today; it is rarely studied, and the stigma often compels people to keep silent about their status. (Ugo Nwokeji, a professor at Berkeley who studies the issue, estimates that five to ten per cent of Igbos, which would mean millions of people in Nigeria, are osu, and likely an equivalent number are ohu.) Recently, slave descendants have begun agitating for equality, staging protests and pressuring politicians. In 2017, the governor of Enugu State spoke out against the discrimination, saying that it violated the country’s constitution. In Oguta, ohu have distributed pamphlets and sued diala family members who tried to block them from receiving what they considered to be their inheritances, including access to communal farm land. Two years ago, when an elderly ohu man was snubbed for a seat on the village council, the ohu held a parallel ceremony to install him in the position. The ceremony was invaded by diala, who caused a brawl that the police had to break up. “Their population is much higher than ours,” Okororie said. “That is our only handicap.”
The ohu in Okororie’s living room were there to meet with Ogechukwu Maduagwu, the founder of the Initiative for the Eradication of Traditional and Cultural Stigmatisation in Our Society, or Ifetacsious. “It’s a divine calling,” Maduagwu, who is diala, told me. “We are not blaming or judging our ancestors as evil, but we must accept our new world of freedom and equality.” Maduagwu is forty-three, with thick braids held up in a pompadour. Since August, she had been travelling to each of the five Igbo states to sit down with slave descendants and traditional rulers for “reorientation and reconciliation” meetings. In Nigeria, traditional rulers (such as Igwes and Ezes) form a parallel system of government; though they have no formal role in the state, they have considerable political and economic influence, and preside over aspects of traditional culture, including matters of caste. Maduagwu was hoping to convince the rulers to abolish the system in their regions, a strategy she thought would be more effective than legislation. “It is the responsibility of the traditional rulers and their people to come together and say, ‘We don’t want to continue with this,’ ” she said.
She urged the ohu to avoid violent protest, which she felt was counterproductive. “I plead and implore everyone to rid his heart of vengeance,” she said. At the mention of reconciliation, several ohu smiled skeptically, and, when she finished, almost everyone raised his hand to comment. Afam Oririeze, a retired teacher, pointed out the difficulty of changing not just policy but people’s beliefs. “What is important is us being accepted as human beings,” he said. Okororie commended Maduagwu’s vision but expressed doubt about how much of an impact she could have. “The situation in Oguta is so bad that children in primary schools know and talk about who is ohu and who is not,” he said. “Can you imagine that even children as young as five years old see me and call me ohu?”
The stigmas of the Igbo caste system exist all over southeastern Nigeria, but they are especially salient within small rural communities, where a family’s lineage is impossible to hide. Joseph Agbo, a fifty-two-year-old philosophy professor, grew up in the outermost of the eight or nine wards that make up the town of Isi Enu. Everyone in the ward, which is called Isi Enu-Isi, is ohu; their ancestors, being slaves, were allocated the territory on the town’s outskirts, so that they would bear the brunt of raids from neighboring villages. Growing up, Agbo was often ridiculed by other children. “When we go to the disco, or when we go to fetch water in the stream, they’ll just call you ohu, and there will be fights,” he told me. “We would fight at the stream, fight at the disco hall. . . . It was a battle all year round.”
A year before Agbo was born, his village held a funeral for one of its oldest men. Traditionally, when a respected man in Isi Enu dies, the townspeople honor him by playing an igede—a percussion instrument made from wood and animal skin. The people of Isi Enu-Isi made an igede for the man’s funeral, which infuriated their neighbors, who felt that the ohu could never be distinguished enough to deserve the instrument’s music. On the day of the funeral, men from the other four villages stormed Isi Enu-Isi, destroyed the igede, and razed the buildings and farms. Agbo’s father, a soldier, was away on duty when his village was destroyed. When he returned home after his service—emboldened by his battlefield experience and by the possession of a gun—he made another igede and kept armed watch as another ohu man played it on the hill. This was the first act of open defiance in the community. In the nineteen-eighties, Agbo’s aunt, Margaret Nnaji, got a grant to set up a vocational center in Isi Enu, where women could learn skills like hairdressing and tailoring. Townspeople protested that a major municipal project shouldn’t be spearheaded by an ohu. “They started one propaganda, saying, ‘How can the heel go ahead of the toes?’ ” Agbo told me. Officials shut down the center and took away its equipment.
Agbo was the first ohu from his town to marry a diala woman. In 2016, on the fiftieth anniversary of the attack on Isi Enu-Isi, he campaigned, unsuccessfully, for the other four villages to issue an apology. Agbo typically responds with humor when people call him a slave, asking them to show him their proof of purchase. “If you go to buy a car, before you leave the place, you should come out with a receipt,” he told me, laughing. “If anyone says they bought me, that I’m a slave, I am not disputing it—just produce a receipt.” He went on a popular radio show with a friend, a traditional ruler from another community, to raise awareness of his campaign, and was alarmed by the responses from listeners. “People were calling and abusing us, and saying that we were going against Igbo culture and tradition,” he said. “I shuddered.”
One of the main complaints among the ohu in Isi Enu is that they have no representatives on the town’s council of elders. Some towns have set up separate municipalities where the ohu have their own governments. In 2016, violence broke out in Alor Uno, a village in Enugu State, when descendants of the local deity’s slaves (known as ugbene, instead of osu) took to the streets, demanding their own autonomous community; protests turned into riots, and a young man died in the chaos. Aloysius Agbo, an Anglican bishop who worked to end the crisis (and who is unrelated to Joseph Agbo), supported the osu, but worried that segregation would only reinforce the enmity. “If they did that, the division would be there eternally,” he told me. Last year, Joseph Agbo wrote a petition to have ohu included on his town’s council, the result of which is still pending. “Sometimes, ohu take issues to court, and you can tell that the judge is a supporter of the discrimination, so the case ends up being ‘Come today, come tomorrow’—it drags on for so long that you grow tired or run out of money, then withdraw,” Agbo said. “If you ask them, they may not admit that it is the ohu thing. But we know.”
Maduagwu, the founder of Ifetacsious, was not always conscious of caste discrimination. She grew up in a diala family in Oguta; her father worked in a health center and her mother traded goods in the market. As a child, she observed that a woman who lived on a farm belonging to the family, and whom she called Auntie Maria, always spoke meekly with her parents and brought gifts of fresh fruit and vegetables whenever she visited. Her mother told her that it was because of Maria’s caste. “Her father bought Auntie Maria’s father, and so both the father and daughter are ohu,” Maduagwu told me. She learned that her family had owned slaves for generations; in the early twentieth century, her paternal great-great-grandfather had murdered his most prosperous slave and her children, fearing that they would outshine his children and someday take over leadership of the family. “The freeborn people always discussed them behind their backs, and referred to them as ‘bushmeat,’ ” Maduagwu said. Her mother warned her that she was “not allowed to date or marry any of them, because it was forbidden.”
Two years ago, Maduagwu was working as a makeup artist in Lagos. A friend of hers had been engaged for two years; then her friend’s family found out that her fiancé was osu, and forced her to break it off. This friend spent two weeks in Maduagwu’s apartment, inconsolable. Maduagwu decided she would work to end the caste system. “The humanity and activism in me came alive,” she said. She started sending out group messages on WhatsApp, urging people to stop discriminating. She argued that the taboo of mixing with the osu had already been breached. “Today, we are tenants in their houses. We are on their payroll. We go to borrow money from them. You walk into a restaurant and you eat and you don’t know who made the food,” she said, in a video that she posted on YouTube. “Since we all have broken the rules and there was no disaster, it means that the gods are innocent and we are ignorant.” She received threatening messages from other Igbos; one told her that if she set foot in his village she wouldn’t go home alive. “I told them that I understand, because I was once in their position,” she said.
In April, 2017, she started Ifetacsious, which now has ten workers and meets in Lagos. Getting funding has been difficult: most international aid groups are aware of discrimination based on race, gender, or sexuality, but the situation among the Igbo is hard to explain. One of Maduagwu’s goals is to end the taboo of intermarriage, which will prove challenging. Anthony Obinna, a Catholic archbishop in the city of Owerri, first officiated a mixed wedding—between a diala man and an osu woman, without the consent of their parents—a decade ago, and has handled about eleven more in the years since. “Families usually don’t attend,” he told me. “Only friends and well-wishers.” He is currently facing a lawsuit from the family of a mixed couple that he married in 2017. “In some ways it is even worse than the black-white divide in America,” he told me. “We speak the same language, eat the same food. There is no facial or cultural difference—but this is happening.”
Maduagwu also hopes to convince traditional governments to include ohu. “It is not possible,” Dennis Nnamani, who works in the cabinet of the Igwe, or traditional ruler, in Apaugo, told me. “This is not a question of fundamental human rights.” Two years ago, Apaugo’s Igwe died, and, since then, the community has been searching for a new ruler. Candidates usually make their interest known through their families; a kingmakers’ committee, composed of members of the Igwe’s cabinet, chooses finalists, and the state governor makes the final selection. In 2017, some ohu put their names forward for the position. But Nnamani believes that, because the ohu came to the community as slaves, and therefore were not originally from the town, it would be inappropriate to select one as the Igwe. He likened it to choosing a recent immigrant to the U.K. as the next King of England. “Those who settled much later . . . they don’t have the right to ask for certain positions,” he said.
Maduagwu has gained the support of the Obi of Onitsha, the head of the council of traditional rulers in Anambra State. After meeting with Maduagwu in October, he said publicly that he believed it was time to abolish the caste system in Igboland. A local newspaper erroneously reported that the Obi was “abolishing” the caste system, and the news went viral. In December, a Nollywood actor, collaborating with a traditional ruler in Nri, organized a ceremony to abolish the system, during which a few osu shook hands with the traditional leaders present. The event was widely publicized on social media. Activists worry that this might create an impression that the issue is resolved. “It’s not a Facebook thing,” Jedidiah Onuoha, a member of Ifetacsious, told me. “It requires hard work, engaging communities one by one, not accumulating likes. . . . There won’t be any instant results.”
For slave descendants who live in Nigeria’s cosmopolitan centers, or who grew up abroad, the stigma is not a daily reality, but it can arise unexpectedly. In November, I visited Ogadinma, a former government official who is in her seventies, at her mansion in one of Nigeria’s major cities. (Ogadinma asked to be identified by one of her middle names, to shield her family from caste stigma.) Her house is decorated with photographs of her with dignitaries from around the world. Ogadinma’s father, who was osu, grew up in a small village near Owerri. His brilliance in school earned him a scholarship to the University of London. When he returned to his village, in 1949, the townspeople composed songs to welcome him, despite his caste. “They respected him because of his success, his education,” Ogadinma told me. He held prominent positions in the regional government. “We lived in a big house, with stewards, cooks,” she added, “so there was no room to feel inferior to anybody. At all.”
Centuries ago, Ogadinma’s great-great-great-grandmother fell out with her brothers, stormed out of their home in anger, and took refuge with osu in another village, becoming one of them. One of Ogadinma’s sisters was believed to have been the reincarnation of that great-great-great-grandmother, and, each time she threw a tantrum, their mother warned her to be careful of her temper, which had, in her past life, led the family to become osu. It wasn’t until the issue came up in preparations for family weddings that Ogadinma realized the importance of this bit of family lore. Before a marriage takes place, Igbo families embark on iju ajuju, or “asking questions,” during which they send emissaries to investigate whether the families are related, or whether one has a history of mental illness that would jeopardize the lineage. Ogadinma was one of more than twenty children in her family’s home, and she saw some of her siblings’ marriage prospects ruined because of their caste. “That’s when I became conscious of osu,” she said. In 1970, she avoided this fate by marrying a successful businessman who is also osu.
Ogadinma followed her father into a career in public service, holding several appointed positions. In 2007, she ran for political office, and petitions poured in from local politicians arguing that she was “not suitable” for election. They didn’t say why, but it was obvious to Ogadinma, and she lost the primaries. “When people want to have an edge over you, they rake up those issues,” she said. During a meeting of key members of a national political party, in 2016, she got into an argument with a senator, and he brought up her osu status. “He said that, under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have any business with me,” Ogadinma said. “I told him that his grandparents would not have been able to get jobs as servants in my father’s house, even if they had applied, because they were uneducated.”
Charity Obilor, a fifty-eight-year-old osu businesswoman, was outraged by some of the remarks that she heard each time an osu campaigned for elections. In 2007, she co-founded a regional osu association, called Nneji—or “people from the same womb”—which now has more than three thousand members. The group has lawyers who represent osu in court cases about caste discrimination, and it whips up support for osu running for political office. In 2004, Obilor was elected to local government in Owerri. Members also encourage romantic relationships between their children, and Obilor is aware of several such marriages that have taken place. “That’s my specialty, and, so far, I haven’t received any disappointment,” she told me.
Two days after meeting with the ohu in Oguta, Maduagwu returned to meet with the town’s Eze. He sat in a large parlor, before a tray of broken kola nuts and half-empty glasses of alcohol, surrounded by the Okpara—the oldest men from Oguta’s twenty-seven villages. Local custom forbids a woman from standing in the presence of the Eze in his parlor, so Maduagwu sat to address her audience. She argued that it was unfitting, in the modern world, to judge people by their birth, and urged the rulers not to feel bound by tradition. “Men sat down to make these rules,” she said. “We can also sit down and remake the rules.”
One by one, the Okpara stood to respond. They seemed baffled by the recent agitation among the ohu. They felt that they had always welcomed them, and considered it a betrayal; one compared the situation to unknowingly cuddling a bomb. “There has never been any difference between us and the ohu in Oguta,” Samuel Uzoma, the chairman of the Okpara, said. “We treat them like brothers and sisters. They eat with us, we drink from the same water, our children mix—we do everything together.” One man, who appeared younger than the rest, stood up to express his sympathy for Maduagwu’s cause. “We may have been living in peace with the ohu, but there was always something that they were being deprived of,” he said. “They bottled up their bitterness, and it has exploded.” The men agreed to hold meetings with the ohu to discuss possible changes they could make—a partial victory. “You don’t pull out a bad tooth with great force. Otherwise, blood will spill everywhere,” Uzoma said. “You tug at it slowly, slowly, until it finally comes out.”
Later that week, Maduagwu attended a meeting with eight of the twelve Igwes of Ogbaru, a nearby town. The Igwes sat in grand armchairs and dressed in traditional Igbo dress—loose tops patterned with the head of a lion, ankle-length cloth tied at the waist, and coral beads around the neck. Again, she laid out her case. Afterward, the men told her in a mix of English and Igbo that they had deliberated and agreed that it was time to abolish the ohu caste in their domains. (There are no osu in Ogbaru.) They would meet with the ohu and the families that had owned slaves to work out the more contentious details of the transition. They proposed, for example, that the ohu pay a token sum to the families that bought their ancestors, to symbolically buy back their freedom. (There is a grim precedent for such a payment: in 1833, when slavery was abolished in the British colonies, the Crown paid the equivalent of more than sixteen billion pounds to former slaveholders, as reparation for their lost property.) In this case, the diala would likely donate the money they receive to the church. Some ohu are keen for anything that would bring an end to the discrimination, but others feel that it would be ridiculous for them to pay for something—equality—that should be rightfully theirs. “Nobody owns me,” Okororie, who hosted the meeting of ohu in Oguta, in November, told me. “How can I pay money to people who don’t accept me?”
Maduagwu thought that it made sense to use the same principle of exchange that led to the ohu’s enslavement to “rewind the process.” “Money changed hands when the slaves were bought,” she said. “Money also needs to change hands for abolition to take place.” This kind of transaction is important in local custom. She likened it to the fact that, when an Igbo couple gets married, the bride’s family receives a “bride price” from the groom’s family—in money or gifts—and, if the marriage ends, they must refund it before she can remarry. (Until then, any children resulting from a new union are considered to belong to the previous husband.) After the slave payment changes hands, the diala families would publicly apologize on behalf of their ancestors, and the ohu would accept the apology. Then the head of each slave-owning family would strike his ofo—a staff that represents authority—and declare the ohu free. The Igwes would write a joint declaration abolishing the caste system in their town, and, Maduagwu suggested, announce “a curse on anyone who will afterwards practice it at any level.” This would be followed by a celebratory feast. The Igwes hoped to accomplish all of this within a year.
There were still hundreds of towns across southeastern Nigeria to visit, but Maduagwu was excited about the Igwes’ decision. “No traditional ruler has the power to impose on another,” she said. “It has to be done community by community.” She had begun to imagine a future in which the result in Ogbaru was replicated across the region. “It’s going to be a homecoming and historic event, whereby the chairmen of the traditional rulers’ council of the five southeastern states, with the approval of all other traditional rulers of the five southeastern states, will come together and abolish osu, ohu, ume, and diala,” she said. “All the other traditional rulers will simultaneously abolish it in their communities, and there will be merriment and celebration all over Igboland. How glorious that will be!” | https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-descendants-of-slaves-in-nigeria-fight-for-equality | 6,395 | Politics | 3 | en | 0.999855 |
Parenting is a complex and fulfilling adventure that brings both joys and challenges along the way. While there is no instruction manual for raising children, it’s important to be aware of common parenting mistakes and learn how to avoid them. In this article, we will explore five of the most common parenting mistakes and provide strategies for overcoming them.
Overprotective parenting is a common mistake that many parents make. While it is natural for parents to want to shield their children from harm, excessive protection can hinder their development and hinder their ability to become independent and resilient individuals. Children need opportunities to take risks, face challenges, and learn from their experiences in order to grow and develop.
To avoid overprotecting your child, it is important to find a balance between keeping them safe and allowing them to explore and learn from their environment. Encouraging independence is key. Let your child make age-appropriate decisions and take on responsibilities. This will assist them with creating critical thinking abilities and construct trust in their capacities. It is important to provide support and guidance when needed, but also allow them to make mistakes and learn from them.
Promoting a sense of adventure and curiosity in your child is important. Encourage them to try new activities, explore their interests, and step out of their comfort zone. This will help them develop important life skills such as decision-making, adaptability, and resilience. Being overly protective can deprive them of these valuable learning experiences.
It is important to assess the risks involved in different situations and make informed decisions. Understand that not all risks are harmful or dangerous. Some risks are necessary for growth and learning. By allowing your child to face challenges, you are helping them develop problem-solving skills, resilience, and self-confidence.
Communication is key in striking a balance between protection and independence. Talk to your child about the importance of taking risks, facing challenges, and learning from experiences. Help them understand that mistakes are a natural part of life and provide them with the necessary support and guidance to navigate through them. Encourage open and honest conversations so that your child feels comfortable discussing their fears, concerns, and aspirations with you.
Recall that each youngster is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Be attentive to your child’s individual needs, strengths, and limitations. Adjust your parenting approach accordingly. Seek opportunities for your child to interact with peers, engage in group activities, and learn from social interactions. This will foster their social skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to collaborate with others.
- Lack of Consistency
A lack of consistency in parenting is a common mistake that can have negative effects on a child’s development. Inconsistency in discipline, routines, or expectations can lead to confusion, frustration, and even a sense of insecurity in children. It undermines parental authority and makes it difficult for children to understand and respect boundaries. To avoid this mistake, it is crucial to establish clear rules and consequences and be consistent in enforcing them.
Children gain a sense of safety and predictability from consistency. When they know what is expected of them and understand the consequences of their actions, they feel more confident and are better able to navigate their world. Consistent discipline helps children develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for their behavior.
To establish consistency, first, take the time to define clear rules and expectations. Sit down with your child and discuss the rules, explaining the reasons behind them. This aids in their comprehension of the goal and significance of following the rules. Make sure the rules are age-appropriate and reasonable, taking into consideration your child’s developmental stage.
Once the rules are established, it is essential to be consistent in enforcing them. This means applying the rules consistently across different situations and not making exceptions based on mood or circumstances. Consistency sends a clear message to your child that rules are important and non-negotiable.
Consistency also applies to daily routines and expectations. Establish consistent routines for meals, bedtime, homework, and other daily activities. Consistent routines help children feel secure and provide structure to their day. Clearly communicate expectations regarding chores, homework, and other responsibilities, and be consistent in following through with them.
It is important to note that consistency does not mean inflexibility. There may be instances where flexibility is warranted, such as during special occasions or unforeseen circumstances. However, it is essential to communicate any deviations from the usual rules or routines and explain the reasons behind them to avoid confusion.
Consistency is a joint effort between both parents if applicable. It is crucial for parents to be on the same page regarding rules, consequences, and routines. Consistent parenting provides a united front and avoids mixed messages or contradictory expectations for the child.
A lack of consistency in parenting can lead to confusion and frustration for children. To avoid this mistake, establish clear rules and consequences, and be consistent in enforcing them. Consistency provides children with a sense of security, helps them understand expectations, and develop their sense of responsibility. By maintaining consistency in discipline, routines, and expectations, parents can create a supportive and structured environment that promotes healthy development in their children.
- Ignoring Emotional Needs
In the busy and fast-paced nature of daily life, parents often unintentionally overlook their children’s emotional needs. This can have significant consequences as ignoring or dismissing their feelings can make children feel invalidated and insecure. To avoid this common parenting mistake, it is important to prioritize and address your child’s emotional needs.
One of the key ways to address emotional needs is through active listening. When your child expresses their emotions, take the time to truly listen to them without judgment or interruption. Empathize with them and show genuine interest in their feelings. By actively listening, you validate their experiences and let them know that their emotions are important and valued.
Validating your child’s emotions is another essential aspect of meeting their emotional needs. Even if you don’t always agree with their feelings or find them to be rational, it is important to acknowledge and accept their emotions as valid. Avoid dismissing or belittling their feelings, as this can lead to feelings of frustration or being misunderstood. Instead, provide reassurance and support, letting them know that it is okay to feel and express their emotions.
Creating a safe and open space for your child to express their emotions is vital. Encourage open communication and make it clear that you are available to listen and discuss their feelings. Develop an environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment or punishment. This can be achieved through regular conversations, quality time spent together, and creating a non-judgmental atmosphere.
Teaching your child how to identify and regulate their emotions is another important step. Help them recognize different emotions and understand that all emotions are valid. Provide guidance on healthy ways to express and manage their feelings, such as through journaling, art, or engaging in physical activities. Encourage them to communicate their emotions effectively and respect the emotions of others.
Developing empathy is an important aspect of emotional intelligence. Help your child understand and relate to the emotions of others. Teach them to consider different perspectives and practice empathy in their interactions with friends, family, and peers. By developing empathy, you cultivate a sense of compassion and understanding in your child, enabling them to build healthy relationships and navigate social situations with empathy and kindness.
Ignoring a child’s emotional needs is a common parenting mistake that can have long-lasting effects. To avoid this, prioritize active listening and validate your child’s emotions, even if you don’t always agree. Create a safe space for open communication, teach them how to identify and regulate their emotions, and encourage the development of empathy. By addressing your child’s emotional needs, you provide them with the support, understanding, and emotional intelligence necessary for their overall well-being and healthy development.
- Overly Critical or Harsh Discipline
While discipline is a necessary aspect of parenting, being overly critical or resorting to harsh punishments can have negative effects on a child’s self-esteem and overall well-being. Instead of solely focusing on punishment, it is important to approach discipline as an opportunity for teaching and guiding your child.
First and foremost, it is crucial to be firm but fair in your discipline approach. Set clear expectations and boundaries for your child’s behavior, and consistently enforce them. This consistency helps your child understand the importance of following rules and helps establish a sense of structure and stability in their lives. However, it is equally important to be fair in your expectations and punishments, taking into consideration your child’s age, developmental stage, and individual circumstances.
Rather than solely relying on criticism and punishment, emphasize positive reinforcement. When your child behaves in a manner that is appropriate, praise and reward them. This positive reinforcement encourages them to continue making good choices and builds their self-esteem. By focusing on the positive, you create an environment that nurtures and motivates your child to grow and learn.
Using discipline as a teaching opportunity is important. Instead of simply punishing your child for their misbehavior, take the time to explain why their actions were inappropriate and help them understand the consequences of their choices. This helps them develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for their behavior. By teaching appropriate behavior, you empower your child to make better choices in the future.
Setting clear rules and expectations is essential in effective discipline. Clearly communicate the rules and boundaries to your child, and explain the reasons behind them. This helps your child understand the purpose and importance of the rules, making it more likely that they will follow them. When children understand the reasoning behind rules, they are more likely to internalize them and develop a sense of self-discipline.
It is also important to remember that discipline should be age-appropriate. Young children may require more guidance and redirection, while older children may benefit from discussions and logical consequences. Tailor your discipline approach to your child’s developmental stage and individual needs.
Being overly critical or resorting to harsh discipline can have negative effects on a child’s self-esteem and well-being. To avoid this, use discipline as an opportunity for teaching and guiding your child. Be firm but fair, focus on positive reinforcement, and use clear rules and expectations. By taking a constructive and nurturing approach to discipline, you create an environment that encourages your child’s growth, development, and self-esteem.
- Neglecting Self-Care
In the demanding role of parenting, it is all too common for parents to neglect their own self-care. While it may feel natural to prioritize the needs of your children, neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, increased stress levels, and ultimately hinder your ability to parent effectively. It is important to remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish but essential for your own well-being and the well-being of your family.
Making time for yourself is crucial in maintaining a healthy balance between your parental responsibilities and personal needs. Carving out moments to recharge and engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment is essential. This can be as simple as taking a walk, reading a book, pursuing a hobby, or spending time with friends. By nurturing your own well-being, you can approach parenting with increased energy, patience, and resilience.
Seeking support from your partner, family members, or friends is another important aspect of self-care. Communicate your needs and concerns to your loved ones and work together to create a support system. Delegating tasks and responsibilities can help alleviate some of the pressure and allow you to have more time for yourself. Remember that you don’t have to do it all alone and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
Additionally, it is important to prioritize your physical health. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and engaging in regular exercise. Physical well-being plays a significant role in your overall mental and emotional well-being, and taking care of your body will positively impact your ability to handle the challenges of parenting.
Setting boundaries is another essential component of self-care. Learn to say no to additional commitments or responsibilities that may overwhelm you. Recognize your limitations and be realistic about what you can manage. By setting boundaries, you create space for yourself to rest, recharge, and focus on your own needs.
Lastly, consider seeking professional help if you are feeling overwhelmed or experiencing persistent feelings of stress or anxiety. A therapist or counselor can provide valuable guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of parenthood.
Neglecting self-care can have detrimental effects on your well-being and your ability to parent effectively. Remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish but essential for your own health and the well-being of your family. Make time for yourself, seek support from loved ones, prioritize your physical health, set boundaries, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help when needed. By practicing self-care, you are investing in your own well-being and creating a positive and nurturing environment for both yourself and your children.
Parenting is a journey of continuous learning, and it’s natural to make mistakes along the way. By being aware of the most common parenting mistakes and actively working to avoid them, you can cultivate a healthier and more fulfilling parent-child relationship. Remember to strike a balance between protection and independence, be consistent in your approach, prioritize your child’s emotional needs, use discipline as a teaching tool, and prioritize self-care. With a mindful and proactive approach, you can navigate the challenges of parenting and raise happy, confident, and resilient children. | https://childbehavior.com.ng/5-most-common-parenting-mistakes-you-should-avoid/ | 2,811 | Family | 3 | en | 0.999983 |
What does a blood clot in urine look like?
The presence of blood within your urine can be concerning.
While the reason is often innocuous, blood in the urine (hematuria) can signify
a dangerous condition.
Gross hematuria refers to visible blood. Whenever your
doctor checks your urine, he or she will find microscopic hematuria (urine
blood visible only under a microscope). In any case, the cause of the bleeding
must be determined.
Treatment is determined by the underlying cause.
Because of the existence of red blood cells, gross hematuria
causes pink, red, or cola-colored urine. It just takes a small amount of blood
to create red urine, as well as the bleeding is usually not unpleasant.
Nevertheless, passing blood clots in your urine might be painful.
Bloody urine frequently occurs in the absence of other signs
should you see a doctor?
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you find blood
in your urine.
Certain medications, including the laxative Ex-lax, and
foods, such as beets, rhubarb, and berries, might cause your urine to become
red. Urine color changes induced by medicines, diet, or exercise may resolve
within a few days.
Bloody urine has a distinct appearance, but you might not
have been able to tell the difference. It is best to consult your doctor if you
notice red-colored urine.
In hematuria, your kidneys or other components of your
urinary tract enable blood cells to leak into your urine. This leakage can be
caused by a number of issues, including:
of the urinary tract. These develop when germs enter your urine out
of the body and proliferate in your bladder. A constant urge to urinate, pain
and burning when urinating, and exceptionally strong-smelling urine are all
For several people, especially older people, the only
evidence of sickness may be tiny blood in the urine.
of the kidneys (pyelonephritis. These can happen when germs
enter the kidneys from the circulation or travel from the ureters to the kidney
(s). The common symptoms of kidney infections are frequently similar to those
of bladder infections, while kidney infections are much more likely to cause fever and flank pain.
bladder and kidney stone. The minerals in concentrated urine can
sometimes form crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. Crystals can
grow into small, hard stones over time.
Because the stones are often painless, you won't realize you
have these unless they cause a blockage or are being passed. The symptoms are
usually obvious – kidney stones, in particular, can cause agonizing pain.
Bladder or kidney stones could also induce both obvious and microscopic
enlargement as men become older, the prostate gland, which
is located directly below the bladder and surrounds the upper portion of the
urethra, enlarges. This then pinches the urethra, obstructing urine flow
slightly. An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) is
characterized by difficulty urinating, an urgent or persistent desire to
urinate, and visible or microscopic blood in the urine. The very same signs and
symptoms can be caused by a prostate infection (prostatitis).
failure. Microscopic urine bleeding is a classic condition of
glomerulonephritis, which is an inflammation of the filtering mechanism of the
kidneys. Glomerulonephritis can be a complication of another condition, such as
diabetes, or it can occur on its own. Viral or bacterial infections, blood
vessel illnesses (vasculitis), and immunological problems such as IgA
nephropathy, which particularly affects the though only in the kidneys that filter
blood (glomeruli), can all cause glomerulonephritis.
blood may indicate advanced kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer. Unfortunately,
you may not notice any signs or symptoms in the early stages of many tumors,
when they are more treatable.
inherited. Sickle cell anemia, a congenital hemoglobin deficiency in
red blood cells, results in blood in the urine, with both visible and
microscopic hematuria. Alport syndrome, which damages the filtration membranes
in the kidney's glomeruli, can also occur.
disease. A blow to your kidneys or other injuries from an incident or
contact sports can result in noticeable blood in your urine.
Medications. Cyclophosphamide and penicillin, both anti-cancer
medications, can cause urine bleeding. If your take an anticoagulant, such as
aspirin or the blood thinner heparin, when you also have a disease that causes
your bladder to bleed, you may see visible urine blood.
High-intensity exercise. Strenuous activity rarely results in gross
hematuria, and the cause is unknown. It could be caused by bladder damage,
dehydration, or the breakdown of red blood cells caused by prolonged aerobic
Runners are the most commonly affected, although anyone
might develop noticeable urine bleeding after such an intense exertion. If you
notice blood in your urine after exercising, don't assume it's from the activity.
Consult your physician.
Often, the cause of hematuria cannot be determined.
Red blood cells can be found in the urine of almost
everybody, including children and teenagers. The following factors make this
much more likely:
men over the age of 50 get hematuria occasionally as a result of an enlarged
infection. One of the most common causes of visible urine blood in
children is kidney inflammation following viral or bacterial infection
genealogy. If you've had a family history of kidney illness or kidney
stones, you may be more prone to urine bleeding.
medicines. Urinary bleeding is known to be increased by aspirin,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, including antibiotics such as
vigorously. Exercise-induced urine bleeding is notably common in
long-distance runners. In fact, the disorder is also known as jogger's
hematuria. However, anyone else who works out vigorously can acquire symptoms.
Post a Comment | https://www.healthlifekit.com/2022/06/what-causes-small-blood-clots-in-urine.html | 1,330 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999992 |
In a report titled: “Reversing the pandemic’s education losses”, the world bank has predicted that the rampant spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant may lead to governments shutting down schools again, Siggy reports.
In the report released, the worl bank also instated that no fewer than 647 million school children are yet to fully resume for either physical or online learning.
It added that school children in developing nations are the hardest hit regarding the negative effects the pandemic has had on education globally.
“When schools around the world moved online due to COVID-19, children in developing countries suffered the most.
“Even though digital learning does not produce the same outcomes as in-person education, technology used effectively can close educational gaps and prevent learning loss.
“As the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, classrooms remain fully or partially closed for as many as 647 million schoolchildren around the world.
“Even where schools have reopened, many students continue to lag behind. It is now abundantly and painfully clear that children have learned less during the pandemic.”
According to World Bank estimates, pandemic-related school closures could drive up “learning poverty” — the share of 10-year-olds who cannot read a basic text — to around 70% in low- and middle-income countries.
This learning loss could cost an entire generation of schoolchildren $17 trillion in lifetime earnings.
“As the Omicron variant takes hold, more governments may be tempted to close schools. Without the online infrastructure in place to support learning, doing so would extend the educational losses and deny children many other benefits of daily school attendance, like the possibility to connect with classmates and develop social skills for personal growth.
“Interactions with teachers and peers are essential to develop the abilities necessary to work collaboratively. Being part of a class promotes a sense of belonging and helps build self-esteem and empathy.
“Throughout the pandemic, marginalised children have struggled the most. When classrooms around the world reopened this fall, it became clear that these children had fallen even further behind their peers.
“Before the pandemic, gender parity in education was improving. But school closures placed an estimated 10 million more girls at risk of early marriage, which practically guarantees the end of their schooling.
“Unless this regression is reversed, learning poverty and the associated human capital loss will hold economies and societies back for decades. Children must be given a chance to recover the education they have lost.
“They need access to well-designed reading materials, digital learning opportunities, and transformed education systems that help prepare them for future challenges. Well qualified teachers and effective use of technology are fundamental to this process.
“Many countries have deployed massive stimulus packages in response to the health crisis. But, as of June 2021, less than three per cent of these funds was devoted to the education and training sector.
“And most of these resources were spent in advanced economies. For many low-income countries, elevated debt-service payments crowd out essential social spending — including for education.
“The resulting weakness in investments to support education and training threatens to deepen the disparities in learning outcomes that existed prior to the pandemic.
“And while narrowing the education gap will require using resources more efficiently, the bottom line is that more resources are needed.
“For the world’s poorest countries, in particular, an acceleration in debt relief under the G20’s Common Framework, would provide fiscal space to increase support for human capital.
Investment in education must include funding for educational technology, taking into account what has worked well in different contexts around the world,” the report said.
The Bank called for improved investment in infrastructure to move education to the digital level and commended countries such as Uruguay and India for making giant strides in that direction.
“By investing in learning recovery and using technology wisely, it is possible to use the pandemic experience as a catalyst to improve education for all children.
“The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank Group are working together to ensure that all education systems use technology effectively to close gaps and help reverse learning losses.
“Embedding the use of technology within an overall strategy for ending learning poverty can help improve foundational skills, increase instructional time, and make the most efficient use of resources.
“This is particularly critical in low-income countries, where technology can provide teachers with the support they need quickly.
“Digital access can serve as a great equalizer. Resources must be invested wisely, taking into account countries’ electricity infrastructure, internet connectivity, digitally enabled devices for the most disadvantaged students, and data-management and implementation capacity.
“Without a carefully considered process to increase the use of technology, good intentions and well-designed policies will fail to achieve the recovery and acceleration of learning that developing countries need.
Access to quality education was uneven before the pandemic, and now it is even more so.
“By investing in learning recovery and using technology wisely, it is possible to use the pandemic experience as a catalyst to improve education for all children,” the report added. | https://campusnews.medium.com/omicron-outbreak-governments-may-shut-down-schools-soon-db5ab8904115 | 1,093 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999975 |
I am currently engaged in teaching my brother to program. He is a total beginner, but very smart. (And he actually wants to learn). I've noticed that some of our sessions have gotten bogged down in minor details, and I don't feel I've been very organized. (But the answers to this post have helped a lot.)
What can I do better to teach him effectively? Is there a logical order that I can use to run through concept by concept? Are there complexities I should avoid till later?
The language we are working with is Python, but advice in any language is welcome.
How to Help
If you have good ones please add the following in your answer:
- Beginner Exercises and Project Ideas
- Resources for teaching beginners
- Screencasts / blog posts / free e-books
- Print books that are good for beginners
Please describe the resource with a link to it so I can take a look. I want everyone to know that I have definitely been using some of these ideas. Your submissions will be aggregated in this post.
Online Resources for teaching beginners:
- A Gentle Introduction to Programming Using Python
- How to Think Like a Computer Scientist
- Alice: a 3d program for beginners
- Scratch (A system to develop programming skills)
- How To Design Programs
- Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
- Learn To Program
- Robert Read's How To Be a Programmer
- Microsoft XNA
- Spawning the Next Generation of Hackers
- COMP1917 Higher Computing lectures by Richard Buckland (requires iTunes)
- Dive into Python
- Python Wikibook
- Project Euler - sample problems (mostly mathematical)
- pygame - an easy python library for creating games
- Invent Your Own Computer Games With Python
- Foundations of Programming for a next step beyond basics.
- Squeak by Example
- Snake Wrangling For Kids (It's not just for kids!)
Recommended Print Books for teaching beginners | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3088/best-ways-to-teach-a-beginner-to-program | 417 | Programming | 3 | en | 0.999973 |
As kids grow older, it becomes important to provide them with games and activities that not only entertain but also stimulate their minds. That’s why we offer a collection of super fun and meaningful learning games for 4th graders. These games are crafted to encourage kids to think critically, analyze information, and enhance their creativity. By engaging in these games, kids can develop important skills while enjoying themselves. Give your 4th grader an exciting learning experience with our captivating games. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to ignite their curiosity and foster their intellectual growth!
They grow up so fast, don’t they?! One day your kids are in preschool and, before you know it, they’re finishing elementary school. As parents, we try our best to ensure that they get all the learning they need at the right age. We want to keep challenging their minds so that they learn to apply the concepts they have learned themselves to practical learning. We offer educational videos and learning games to support kids in school and social settings. At SKIDOS, we curate games that have various learning concepts hidden in them. While kids have fun playing, they learn important subjects like math, logical reasoning, problem-solving, and more. Here are some of our fun learning games for 4th graders that you should explore.
This is one of the extremely amusing learning games for 4th graders that for both parents and kids. In the game, there’s a cat that’s hungry and is trying to get to the food. However, to get the food to the cat, the player must solve a bunch of physics games. By using analytical thinking, your child must solve the puzzle and get the food to the cat. The landscapes change with every level making it more exciting. Your child can get a glimpse of Paris, New York, Egypt, and many more places. This is an engaging game that teaches the child a number of math concepts along with creative thinking and problem-solving.
This interesting game is set in a faraway universe, making it an outer space adventure for your child. There are characters in the game that are trapped and the player must beat various easy and difficult levels to rescue those adorable characters. It’s a survival game that will help your child work on their reflexes and hand-eye coordination. They must be alert and bypass the obstacles that stand in their path. The player can score extra points/coins by collecting candy and unlocking secret passages. They can also customize their character the way they like. All this, while solving mini math and coding games, which makes it one of the best learning games for 4th graders.
Here’s another game that will make your child apply their minds and get creative. The game has an elephant that’s sleeping and the aim of the game is to wake the elephant. There are various tasks that will come up on the screen explaining to your child how the elephant can be woken up. These tasks or puzzles are primarily physics or math puzzles. After every successful level, there will be a math or coding mini-game that your child has to solve before moving on to the next level. The animations and sounds are hilarious, ensuring that your child will remain engaged in the learning and fun!
Discover a wide range of engaging learning games specifically designed for 9 year olds on the SKIDOS apps. Our extensive collection offers a variety of games with multi-language support and a convenient dashboard for parents to track their child’s progress. We understand the importance of educational activities for children, which is why all our games are carefully curated to meet global learning standards. Give your kid the opportunity to learn while having fun! Explore our games today and experience the exceptional features firsthand. Join us on this educational adventure and watch your kid thrive!
Skidos Labs ApS,
2200 København N | https://skidos.com/learning-games-for-4th-graders/?utm_source=SEO&utm_campaign=OffPagebyKV | 799 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999989 |
Welcome dear reader, do you know that words are building block? (See Morphemes) We classify words that constitute building blocks into discrete classes we refer to as Parts of Speech. Each of these word classes has specific features and descriptions. But we want to focus on What is Interjection? (Meaning and Examples).
Alexis Hall, in his Waiting for the Flood, writes: “I never interrupt people when they’re speaking because I know only too well how annoying it is. But with my every brattish interjection, the dimples deepened at the corner of his lips. And I was half-drunk on his smiling and the power of saying things that made him smile.”
What is an Interjection? (Meaning and Examples)
Interjections are more or less independent element. They are words we use to express conflicts or certain strong emotions and feelings such as surprise, anger, shock, joy, sadness, joy, happiness, pain, relief, excitement, etc. We refer to sentences that contain interjections as exclamatory sentences. Aside the strong emotions interjections express, they have no particular meanings neither do they have a grammatical connection with the sentence in which they appear. Interjections also refer to comments someone makes abruptly or something inserted in text especially that which interrupts a discussion.
Examples of Interjection
As pointed out that interjections are not part of a linguistic structure, let us see some examples of interjection. Consider the following sentences…
- Wow! What an interesting show that was!
- Alas! The company finally folded up due to poor management.
- Heavens! He got away!
- Dear me! Why did I do that?
- Ouch! It hurts so much
Interjections include a cry of an inarticulate utterance such as phooey! Ugh! Whoa! From language to language such cries differ and every language has its own expression. Note that when you write an interjection, it is always with an exclamation mark. Check out the posts on other Parts of Speech. These include: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Pronouns, Prepositions, Conjunctions and Articles.
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I think other site proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and excellent user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic! | https://akademia.com.ng/what-is-interjection-meaning-and-examples/ | 576 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
Like every component of a car, the battery is subject to wearing out over time. Unfortunately, this is inevitable for all battery types. Sooner or later you may have to shop for a new battery. But how do you know the right battery for your car? Batteries are measured in capacities called Ampere Hours (Ah for short) which is a unit related to the energy storage capacity of the battery. Depending on the type of vehicle the battery operates, from modern cars with a number of electronics and on-board computers running on it to heavy duty vehicles, it’s important to know the right battery for your car to ensure optimal functionality.
The easiest way is to flip through your car-owner’s manual. Many car owners often disregard this booklet but it contains useful source of information like the specified battery Ah for your car, always keep it close. In a case you can’t find the owner’s manual, you can:
- You can find it by group size: you must make sure that your car battery fits securely in its battery tray. A car’s battery tray varies in sizes depending on the manufacturer, but most are designed to accommodate batteries of a specific group size. Common group sizes are 75, 65, 35, 34, 34/78
- You can find it through the Battery Reserve Capacity (RC): referred to as its “standing power.” This is the amount of time the battery can continuously supply the minimum voltage necessary to run your car should the alternator or fan belt fail. With an excellent reserve capacity rating, your car can run on its battery alone if the alternator stops working. Consult your owner’s manual to learn the recommended reserve capacity rating for your particular car model.
- Battery’s age: newer batteries tend to perform better and last longer than older batteries. Make sure to check the manufacturing date on any replacement battery. Generally, a battery is considered “fresh” if it is less than 6 months old from the date of manufacture. Unfortunately, manufacturing dates are rarely listed in a way that is simple to understand. Rather 2-character alphanumeric codes are used to express the age of the battery. The first character is a letter from A to L, indicating A-January, B-February, C-March and so forth. The numeric code represents the year of manufacture with number 0 to 9 indicating 0-2010, 1-2011, 2-2012 and so forth. At the end of each decade, the numerical characters used in battery manufacture date codes complete a cycle and reset at zero (e.g. 2020 becomes 0, 2021 is 1, 2022 is 2, and so on).
Looking for good car batteries? You can find some really good one in the store. Follow HERE to see them. | https://www.spotdem.com/2020/09/30/how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car/ | 576 | Car Talk | 3 | en | 0.999985 |
The history of how the Onitsha people got to their present location is in tandem with that of so many other towns that are found west of the Niger river.
Oral and documented historical evidence showed that they migrated from originally from Ile-Ife, with a long sojourn the old Benin Empire. Their migration was stimulated by the early fifteenth, -century* political upheaval in the Empire.
Traditional and cultural affinity shows that the migration took its course through the area much later known as the Mid-West and moved further toward the great River Niger. The exodus was said to have been led by one of the then Benin Empire warlords, Chima. This culminated in the discovery of many settlements and the blue-blood clan of Umuezechima (descendants of King Chima). Chima might have been forced to leave Benin, according to W. R. T. Milne in his intelligence report on Onitsha, because of a dispute over kingship in the year 1468.
Onitsha Migration Map
As a dissident, and apparently out of defeat in the kingship tussle, Chima and his followers ostracized themselves from the empire and moved east towards the River Niger. In the course of the great movement, some of Chima’s loyalists settled in the neighbouring* towns of the present-day Onicha Ugbo, Onicha Olona, Ogwashi, Onicha Ukwu, and Asaba, among others.
All historical accounts of the Onitsha Kingdom showed that Chima, the arrowhead of the Umuezechima, unfortunately only sighted the Promised Land across River Niger, as he died in Obior, near the present-day Asaba town.
Onitsha early 20th Century images by Robert McWhirter
Ndi Onicha early 20th century
Otu Onitsha Waterside early 20th century
Oreze, one of the sons of Chima, apparently driven by his father’s quest to settle across the Niger, led some groups to cross and settle at the present-day Inland Town after defeating the Oze people in a series of communal wars.
Onitsha in the early '60s images by Richard Henderson
Enu Onitsha (Inland town) in the '60s
Otu Onitsha (Waterside) in the '60s
The British government, for the strategic importance of Onitsha in its commercial expedition, including slave trading, entered into an agreement with Onitsha people in 1857 to provide a steamer, a kind of worship, under Dr. Baikie’s supervision for the defense* of the town. Later in the same year, Bishop Ajayi Crowther joined the missionary expedition from Sierra Leone and established the Church Missionary Society in the town.
Present Day Onitsha
Following this and subsequent treaties between Onitsha and Europeans, numerous commercial ventures merged to form the Royal Niger Company in 1879. This prompted a re-invigoration of commercial and missionary activities in the town to the extent that, in 1905, Onitsha was made the political headquarters of the then Central Division, and in 1906, the British government laid the first telephone/telegraph cable across the River Niger to Onitsha.
Bridge Head Upper Iweka
DMGS Roundabout / Zik’s Statue
The then traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Samuel Okosi I, was accorded with a certificate of recognition by the British government as the 17th Obi of Onitsha on the death of Obi Anazonwu in 1899.
Onitsha maintains its status as the commercial nerve center* of the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria and is also a major trading location in West Africa. The Onitsha Main Market is one of the largest markets in West Africa. Most of the major import merchants from Eastern Nigeria have their head offices within the market. Traders from the ECOWAS sub-region, including Accra, Abidjan, Douala, Niamey, and Cotonou, massively patronize* the market.
Onitsha has also transformed into a modern urban society in the present-day Anambra State. It has a federal government college, an army cantonment and a school of metallurgy, to mention a few landmark institutions.
Turning to Christianity, Onitsha is also one of the earliest destinations of the early missionaries in Nigeria. The Anglicans were the first missionaries in Onitsha, in 1857. The Roman Catholics later came, in 1884. Onitsha served as the staging posts for these missionary groups as they spread Christianity among the Igbo-speaking people. Today, Onitsha houses the All Saints’ Cathedral, the headquarters of the Diocese on the Niger of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha.
The Onitsha people were the first to embrace western education in the whole of the South-east of Nigeria. Some of the oldest post-primary educational institutions in the region, such as the Dennis Memorial Grammar School and the Christ the King College, founded in 1925 and 1933 respectively, are located in Onitsha. The town has produced quite a number of notable people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, popularly known as Zik of Africa. He was the first president of the post-independent Nigeria and the Owelle of Onitsha. Other notable indigenes of the town include Sir Louis Mbanefo, the first Igbo- speaking lawyer, Professor Chike Obi, the renowned mathematician, and Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Nigeria’s first Commonwealth Games gold medalist (high jump). | https://imeobionitsha.org/onitsha/history-of-onitsha/ | 1,213 | Politics | 3 | en | 0.999935 |
Out of Many, Many
Whether or not the exposé is accurate that some businesses have expressed to HEART Trust/NTA a preference for trained 'brownings', most of us are prepared to believe it, because of the reality that is Jamaica.
Jamaica was founded on racism, and racism is still very much with us 177 years after Emancipation and 49 years after political Independence.
Jamaican sugar plantations needed labour, and Christian Europe, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, invested heavily in African slaves to enrich their personal and national economies. To keep the slave system going, the Europeans had to convince themselves that black people were not fully human (and, therefore, not deserving of the love their religion demanded for others like themselves). The whites developed the ideology that black people were a different (but related) human species to themselves. Just like horses and donkeys, even though they were different species, could produce offspring (mules), this is why the offspring of whites and blacks were called 'mulattos' (little mules).
The slave system would not work unless the white masters convinced themselves that they were inherently superior to their black slaves.
But there was a major challenge: The ratio of whites to blacks was drastically disproportionate. In 1739, there were 99,000 African slaves in Jamaica, and only 10,000 whites (or approximately 10:1). By 1787, there were 210,894 slaves and only 25,000 whites.
Power of violence
To keep the system from falling apart, to prevent the slaves from rising up and taking over the society, all sorts of methods of control had to be employed. Violence had to be employed locally on the plantation (with the whip and the bilboes) backed up by state violence where necessary (the military, the militia, and the workhouse). But more subtle (and effective) means were soon developed.
The black slaves had to be socialised to believe that they were inherently inferior to their white masters, that resistance was futile, that open resistance would inevitably be detected and punished. White superiority had to go a step further and become white supremacy.
But still, the disproportion in numbers was too great. Active efforts were made to co-opt the browns (offspring of the whites and the slaves) on the side of the whites. A system of skin shade was developed, with a different legal status: (mulatto + black = sambo; mulatto + white = quadroon; quadroon + white = mustee; etc.). Many slave masters freed their brown children, and gave them the plum jobs on the plantations. Brown persons could be bookkeepers on estates, and officers in the militia. Being 'brown', actually a mixture of races, became considered as being a separate race unto itself.
And then the system demanded that brown people be socialised to believe they were superior to blacks, but inferior to whites. And blacks were socialised to believe it too.
Benefits of brownings
But soon the ideology of the supremacy of light skin took on an economic character. The white parent gave their brown children access to education, and then to land and, therefore, to the vote, and eventually to become electoral candidates themselves. Black women realised that their ticket to freedom (and to prosperity) was through the bed of a white (or brown) man; the favoured status of a brown child could redound to the benefit of the black mother. Miscegenation increased.
It was when the browns in Haiti switched allegiance from the whites to the blacks that the Haitian Revolution could succeed.
Despite having the example of Haiti on its doorstep, Jamaica never had a successful slave revolt, because Jamaican brown people continued their alliance with the whites (until now).
The system of social control worked, and its effects are still being felt today. The history of relations been the races in Jamaica has always been exploitative, and continues to be exploitative. The average brown person in Jamaica is usually much better educated than the average black person, is 'better spoken', has access to more resources, and so on. There are few brown persons in government primary and all-age schools. There are few brown people cutting cane and weeding bananas and coffee. Black people have to be kept uneducated, so they can continue to be looked down upon.
We may be 'Out of Many', but we are still 'Many', for the colour and class divisions in Jamaica are real and deep. And there is still deep racial resentment here - brown against black, and black against brown, and black against black, just to name a few of the combinations.
It does not appear to be about to end any time soon.
Peter Espeut is a sociologist and Roman Catholic deacon. Email feedback to [email protected]. | http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110923/cleisure/cleisure2.html | 997 | Culture | 3 | en | 0.999981 |
The Igbo language is the language identified with the southeastern people of Nigeria, it represents the cultural value of the Igbo tribe. It is estimated that over 20 million people speak the language and that it has about 20 dialects.
The variety in their dialects makes the language all the more appealing. For many years, before the inception of the English language, Igbo was the sole means and language of communication between our forefathers.
However, there are many schools of thought that believe this language to be slowly going into extinction. UNESCO stated that in 2050, the language would no longer be in existence.
While this statement spurred many of the people of the tribe to refute such claims and tag them as insults. One does wonder if these claims are true or not.
The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about the extinction of the Igbo language is the British Colonization. It was their coming that changed everything for us and while they did bring a lot of developments, some of our traditions were better left unchanged.
The colonization brought with it the English language, the language was so ingrained in us so much so that a lot of us refused to speak our language but preferred to speak the English language. During the colonization era, the English language was used to separate the wealthy from the poor individuals, it was used as a mark of the learned ones while the people who spoke the Igbo language were regarded as destitute.
Fast forward to many years later and nothing much seems to have changed. In the world of today, if you cannot communicate fluently in the English language, you are regarded as an illiterate. This mindset has made many people abandon the Igbo language and look towards earning the English language.
READ ALSO: Who is Chief Leonard Ndujekwu Nsoedo ( Ide Nnewi)?
Parents and schools have also contributed to this problem in that the parents do not teach their children to speak Igbo. Schools make the Igbo language optional. Now, this could be optional for non-Igbo indigenes but it should be compulsory for the indigenes. If they do not learn their language, who will?
Even though the major cause of this whole problem is colonization, we cannot turn back the hands of time and so we cannot undo colonization but what we can do is to encourage parents to ensure that the Igbo language is ingrained in their kids from home.
When they leave the house, they can always speak the English language with people from different tribes but they should try as much as possible to ensure that Igbo is the central language at home.
The Igbo language has stood the test of time for over 100 years but that does not mean it is impossible for it to go extinct.
We should always keep in mind that even if every one of our cultural values are eradiated by foreigners, the Igbo language should always be at the tips of our tongues for it is our identity and we should always take great pride in speaking it wherever we go!!!
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online. | https://www.anaedoonline.com/2019/10/21/is-igbo-language-going-into-extinction/ | 658 | Culture | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
AP, May 1, 2008
Stark statistics underlie the initiative by the national governing body for swimming. Black children drown at a rate almost three times the overall rate. And less than 2 percent of USA Swimming’s nearly 252,000 members who swim competitively year-round are black.
USA Swimming is teaming with an array of partners—local governments, corporations, youth and ethnic organizations—to expand learn-to-swim programs across the United States, many of them targeted at inner-city minorities. One of the key participants is black freestyle star Cullen Jones, who hopes to boost his role-model status by winning a medal this summer at the Beijing Olympics.
Study surveyed nearly 1,800 children
As part of the initiative, USA Swimming commissioned an ambitious study recently completed by five experts at the University of Memphis’ Department of Health and Sports Sciences. They surveyed 1,772 children aged 6 to 16 in six cities—two-thirds of them black or Hispanic—to gauge what factors contributed most to the minority swimming gap.
The study found that 31 percent of the white respondents could not swim safely, compared to 58 percent of the blacks. The non-swimming rate for Hispanic children was almost as high—56 percent—although more than twice as many Hispanics as blacks are now USA Swimming members.
The lead researcher, Professor Richard Irwin, said one key finding was the influence of parents’ attitudes and abilities. If a parent could not swim, as was far more likely in minority families than white families, or if the parent felt swimming was dangerous, then the child was far less likely to learn how to swim.
Disparity has a long history
The minority swimming gap has deep roots in America’s racial history. For decades during the 20th century, many pools were segregated, and relatively few were built to serve black communities.
John Cruzat, USA Swimming’s diversity specialist, said these inequalities were compounded by a widespread misperception—fueled by flawed academic studies—that blacks’ swimming ability was compromised by an innate deficit of buoyancy. | http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2008/05/60_percent_of_b.php | 436 | Culture | 3 | en | 0.999736 |
Three Urgent Things Every Parent Must Discuss With Their Children About Coronavirus
As the whole world is currently battling the coronavirus pandemic with many countries and cities in total lockdown as a preventive measure to contain the spread of the deadly virus, there some things parents must teach their children.
Just as schools, offices, markets, stores, sports centres are in total lockdown following the directives from health organizations and government in fighting the deadly virus, this is an opportunity for families to spend quality time together.
Parents are expected to educate their children during this period on how to stay safe.
Below are some of the important things to teach your children on how to stay safe during this coronavirus pandemic:
#1 What is coronavirus:
As a parent, you are expected to explain in details what coronavirus is, the symptoms and preventive measures to your children. Tell them it is a highly contagious disease that can easily be passed from an infected person to another. Also, let them know that it is not a death sentence as a victim can be treated and recovered if the case is made known to the appropriate health officials on time.
#2 Tell them the symptoms:
Don’t just tell them the meaning of the virus, also take time to discuss the symptoms with them. This will make them have more knowledge of the virus and make them report any irregularity in their system to you.
Here are some symptoms of COVID-19:
-Difficulty in breathing
People may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms.
#3 Preventive measures:
You must also discuss with them the preventive measures as advised by WHO and supported by government.
Let them know that there is no specific medicine to prevent or treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, there are some precautionary steps one can take to avoid contracting and spreading of coronavirus.
-Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and running water.
-Frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-Use of face mask
-Use hand gloves
-Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
-Practice social distancing
-Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with unwell people
-Self-Isolation: Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Remember, this is not the period to allow them to visit your neighbours or play with other children outside your supervision. Help them to practice social distancing.
Proper monitoring of your children is important at this period.
Stay Safe and Remain a Happy Family. | https://dailyfamily.ng/three-urgent-things-every-parent-must-discuss-with-their-children-about-coronavirus/ | 578 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
Airbags are among the common safety features found in most cars. The airbag technology was developed to reduce the impact of car crashes on drivers and passengers.
If you’re yet to understand how the airbag works, you may wish to read How Airbags Work And Types before you proceed reading what we have for you in this post.
Below are 5 facts you may have not known about airbag
1. Airbags are triggered only when the vehicle’s sensor detects a significantly large negative momentum under impact of collision.
A good example is when you’re driving at 100km/h and hit another vehicle moving at 80km/h in the same direction as you do, the airbag is most likely not to deploy.
On the other hand, when you’re driving slowly at 40km/h and hit a parked trailer, the airbag is most likely to deploy because of the sudden negative momentum created. This momentum triggers the airbag.
2. Every car is not equipped with airbags.
Airbag feature isn’t found in every car; there are cars that don’t come with that very feature. Ensure you check if the next car you want to buy comes with airbag or not in order to evaluate the car’s safety.
3. Airbags may deploy with smoke dust
You may see a lot of smokes and dust in the cabin when an airbag deploys. This is not a defect; it’s as well not harmful to your health. It is a mixture of nitrogen gas and fine dust that are sometimes used by manufacturers to compress the airbag so they deploy faster.
4. If a passenger or driver is not fully restrained they may contact the air bag before it is fully inflated, they may sustain serious or fatal injuries.
5. The air bag is inflated at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. This is faster than the blink of an eye. | https://autojosh.com/5-facts-about-car-airbag/ | 400 | Car Talk | 3 | en | 0.999998 |
An airbag is a nylon or Polyamide material filled with Nitrogen gas that inflates in the event of a sudden collision, protecting passengers from serious injury. Sodium Azide (NaN3) and Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) are the chemicals that react to inflate air bags . These chemicals react very quickly, resulting in a massive burst of heated Nitrogen gas. As the gas fills the bag, it expands and literally explodes out of the steering wheel or dashboard. Following is a simple explanation:
When a car hits something, it starts to decelerate (lose speed) very rapidly. An accelerometer (electronic chip that measures acceleration or force) detects the change of speed.
If the deceleration is great enough, the accelerometer triggers the airbag circuit. Normal braking doesn’t generate enough force to do this.
The airbag circuit passes an electric current through a heating element (a bit like one of the wires in a toaster).
The heating element ignites a chemical explosive. Older airbags used Sodium Azide as their explosive; newer ones use different chemicals.
As the explosive burns, it generates a massive amount of harmless gas (typically either Nitrogen or Argon) that floods into a nylon bag packed behind the steering wheel.
As the bag expands, it blows the plastic cover off the steering wheel and inflates in front of the driver. The bag is coated with a chalky substance such as talcum powder to help it unwrap smoothly.
The driver (moving forward because of the impact) pushes against the bag. This makes the bag deflate as the gas it contains escapes through small holes around its edges. By the time the car stops, the bag should have completely deflated. | https://www.spotdem.com/2022/03/31/how-does-an-airbag-work/ | 358 | Car Talk | 4 | en | 0.99984 |
The Rhesus factor, also known as the Rh factor, is an antigen that exists on the surface of red blood cells in most people. People who have the Rhesus factor are considered to have a "positive" (+) blood type, such as A+ or B+. Those who don't are considered to have a "negative" (-) blood type, such as "O-" or "AB-." The Rhesus factor gets its name from experiments conducted in 1937 by scientists Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Weiner. Their experiments involved rabbits which, when injected with the Rhesus monkey's red blood cells, produced an antigen that is present in the red blood cells of many humans.
The ABO Blood Grouping System
Although there are at least 30 different systems for grouping blood types, most people are familiar with the ABO system, which groups blood into four general types: A, B, O and AB. Each blood type is usually further labeled as positive or negative, which is a reference to the Rhesus factor of the blood. More than 85% of people are Rh+.
The Rh Factor and Antigens
The Rh blood grouping system actually involves more than 50 antigens that are found on the surface of red blood cells. These antigens are proteins that, when introduced into a body that does not have the same type, can cause the person's immune system to respond by producing antibodies that attack the proteins. The Rh factor, Rh+ and Rh-, usually refers specifically to the presence or absence of one of these proteins — the D antigen. The D antigen tends to cause an especially strong immune response in people who do not have it.
There are two alleles, or genetic variants, of this antigen: D and d. A person who is Rh- has two recessive variants, dd. Anyone who has at least one D — DD or Dd — is Rh+. As with most genetic traits, one allele is inherited from each parent.
Rh Type and Pregnancy
A person's Rh type is generally most relevant with respect to pregnancies. During pregnancy, an Rh+ fetus developing in the womb of an Rh- woman runs the risk of developing Rhesus disease, also called Rh disease or hemolytic disease of the newborn. Only Rh- women risk having children with this disease; an Rh+ woman can carry an Rh- child without developing this condition.
For an Rh- woman to have an Rh+ child, the father must have been Rh+. An Rh+ man has at least a 50% chance of passing on the Rhesus factor to the child; a Dd father could pass either the D or d to his child. If the father is DD, there is a 100% chance that the child will be Rh+.
If the mother is Rh- and the child is Rh+, and if the child's blood enters the woman's bloodstream during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, the woman's immune system might respond by producing antibodies to fight off the child's antigens, which are foreign to the woman's system. That is, the woman's body might naturally produce antibodies that attack the baby's blood, causing the baby's red blood cells to break down. The result of this incompatibility will not affect the health of the mother, but it can affect the child's health. Potential health problems include jaundice, anemia, and brain or heart damage. In severe cases, Rh disease can be fatal to the infant.
To protect itself from the rhesus factor, a Rh- woman's body usually first becomes sensitized to the D antigen. This means that her immune system has been exposed to the protein, and has started to produce antibodies to fight it. Rhesus disease is less likely to affect an Rh- woman's first-born Rh+ child, because the mother and child's blood usually does not mix until labor and delivery. At that time, the mother's body may not have had the time to make enough antibodies to cause serious problems.
Once the woman's immune system has responded to a child's antigens by producing antibodies however, those antibodies will be present in the mother's system for the rest of her life. The potential for Rh disease increases with each subsequent pregnancy, because the antibodies will be present throughout the duration of each pregnancy after they are first produced.
Protecting Against Rh Disease
There are preventative measures to protect against Rhesus disease and its effects. Women should be tested early in their first pregnancies to determine if they are Rh- and if they are sensitized. Sensitization might occur not only through normal pregnancies, but any time a woman and her child's or fetus' blood mix, including miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and blood transfusions.
If a pregnant woman is Rh- and has not yet been sensitized, she usually will be given an injection of a blood product known as Rh immunoglobulin about seven months into the pregnancy. This should prevent sensitization for the rest of the pregnancy. The Rh immunoglobulin shot seeks to destroy any Rh+ antigens produced by the baby and present in the mother's bloodstream before the mother is able to create antibodies. Additionally, it generally is recommended that the newborn be tested for his or her Rhesus blood type.
When the child is Rh+, the mother is often given another Rh immunoglobulin shot shortly after birth to prevent her from becoming sensitized. Rh immunoglobulin injections last only for a given pregnancy. Subsequent pregnancies will likely require separate Rh immunoglobulin injections. This treatment works to prevent Rh disease in 99% of cases.
If the woman is Rh- and has been sensitized, the injection will not help. Close monitoring of the baby typically is conducted to ensure that Rh disease is not developing. Blood transfusions to replace the damaged blood with healthy blood might be given during or after delivery, depending on the circumstances.
Although the Rh factor is most often discussed in reference to pregnancy, it does play a role in other health matters. Just as a woman's body can develop antibodies that attack her baby's blood, a patient who is Rh- can have a transfusion reaction — an allergic reaction to the blood — if he or she is given blood from an Rh+ positive donor. Such reactions are relatively uncommon because blood is screened for the Rh factor, and Rh- patients receive Rh- blood during a transfusion whenever possible. | http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-rhesus-factor.htmThe | 1,317 | Health | 4 | en | 0.999985 |
Jesus Christ’s ‘burial slab’ uncovered during restoration
A burial slab believed to have held the body of Jesus Christ before he was resurrected has been uncovered for the first time in centuries by a restoration team in Jerusalem.
The original limestone shelf, known as a “burial bed,” was exposed during the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after being covered by marble since at least 1555 A.D.
“It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid,” Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist involved in the discovery, told National Geographic.
According to scripture, Jesus Christ was laid on the shelf in the tomb after dying at the crucifixion around 33 A.D. After three days his remains were discovered to be missing and Jesus was said to have appeared over a span of 40 days before ascending into heaven.
The discovery was made by a team of scientists from the National Technical University of Athens (NTU) who were making restorations to the Edicule (“little house”), a structure which had been built around the tomb.
Researchers now hope to study the original surface to better understand the original tomb and how it evolved to become one of the most sacred sites in Christendom.
"We are at the critical moment for rehabilitating the Edicule," Chief Scientific Supervisor Professor Antonia Moropoulou told National Geographic. "The techniques we're using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ."
The newly-uncovered surface was described as having a grey-beige stone surface.
Also known as the Church of the Resurrection, its custody is shared between six Christian denominations including the Greek Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church, whom together invited the NTU to undertake the restoration.
At a cost of US$4 million, (€3.7 million) the restoration was not cheap, with major donors including Jordan's King Abdullah II and Mica Ertegun, widow of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun. | https://www.rt.com/viral/364316-jesus-christs-burial-slab/ | 464 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999728 |
A general practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr Bilikisu Odusanya, speaks on the causes and management of tuberculosis in this interview with GODFREY GEORGE
How best can we define tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a chronic disease (i.e. duration of disease usually long) that affects different organs of the body but primarily the lungs, resulting from infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, the proliferation of these organisms in the body, and the body immune response. It is an airborne disease, transmitted as aerosols through the respiratory tract.
When one contracts the infection, what parts of the body are most affected and why?
Tuberculosis, primarily, affects the lungs; however, it can spread through blood or lymphatics to other organs of the body. It can cause TB Meningitis. This means it can affect the meninges (the brain covering). It can also present as abdominal TB, Tuberculosis salpingitis (fallopian tube) in which the patient may be infertile. Patients may also present with back pain (non-responsive to pain relievers), lymphatics (scrofula) seen as neck swelling. I would also like to add that tuberculosis is not a death sentence, although some forms of TB may be life-threatening, it is important the individual starts treatment immediately after diagnosis.
In what ways can a person contract the infection?
It is transmitted by breathing in the air that contains the droplet nuclei of M. tuberculosis of the person that has the active TB (i.e. the individual has the organism in their body and the organism is proliferating) and this can be done through coughing, sneezing, singing and speaking. You cannot contract TB by sharing toiletries, handshakes or sharing the same glasses with an infected person. This droplet – M. bovis – is usually transmitted by ingesting contaminated cattle products, like fura da nono.
How close should one get to a tuberculosis patient?
It is not advisable to stay around someone who has active pulmonary tuberculosis, as this individual can easily spread the organism through speaking, coughing (most common), sneezing, especially, if you are immune-compromised (i.e. have low immunity). However, if it is unavoidable to come in contact with an individual with the disease, both the diseased and the individual must put on a face mask appropriately.
What are the types of tuberculosis and how do they present themselves in their hosts?
There is pulmonary TB. This is the most contagious type. It affects the lungs of the host. The patient would present with cough, weight loss, hemoptysis (coughing of blood), drenching night sweat, amongst others. There is meningeal TB. In this type, the affected individual may present with features of meningitis, such as headache, fever, neck pain, neck stiffness, skin rashes and others. We also have abdominal TB. Here, it affects the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the intestine, abdominal lymph nodes, and hardly, the liver, spleen or pancreas. Patients may present with abdominal swelling, loss of weight, pain in the abdomen, cough, etc. We also have what we call spinal TB. This can be life-threatening, and if not discovered in time, it may cause paralysis which may take years to be cured. Patients here present with lower back pain, stiffness, spasm of muscle, gibbus, and others. There is also TB of the salpinx. This may present with infertility scrofula. This is when there is inflammation of the lymph nodes, especially the cervical lymph nodes.
How do the symptoms start?
Tuberculosis usually starts with a chronic cough (usually more than three weeks), weight loss, drenching night sweat, haemotypsis (coughing blood) and a difficult breathing.
What signs should one look out for to suspect one may have TB?
The signs to look out for depend on the part of the body affected. It is also noteworthy that someone may have TB without coughing.
Are there stages to the condition?
Yes, there are three stages of tuberculosis. We have Stage One called the Infective Stage. Here, one is exposed to the organism which now resides in their body. In Stage Two, known as Active Stage, the organism multiplies in the host. In Stage Three, called the Reactivation, the individual’s immunity is compromised (i.e. .the ability to fight infection is attacked). The TB in the body is then reactivated. In the infective stage, the patient is asymptomatic. In the active stage, the individual may have cough, weight loss, anorexia (loss of appetite) and easy fatigability.
Is TB curable at any of these stages?
Yes, TB can be cured in all stages of the disease.
Is it possible to have the lungs recover completely after TB is cured?
Yes, it is possible. Most patients do recover fully. But it is always good to present to the medical facility on time.
What is the diagnosis like when someone with TB presents at the hospital?
When the individual presents at a clinic, they are required by the health professional to come along with their first sputum which is collected in a sterile bottle provided at the hospital. This may not be the same in children. In children, a gastric lavage (i.e taking sputum directly from the stomach) is usually done as they tend to swallow their sputum. A gene expert or culture test is then carried out on the sputum sample collected. After that, a chest x-ray may be requested and fibrotic lesions are seen on x-ray. This is usually obvious at the upper lobe of the lungs as the organism is an aerobic organism and would proliferate in an aerated environment. When these are done, the health care professional goes on to do a mantoux test – this is a purified protein derivative given intra-dermally and a reaction is expected. The result is determined based on the size of the reaction.
Can one use local herbs to manage the condition?
As a doctor, we do not advise anyone to treat any ailment using local herbs when they can simply just walk into any facility and get help. Like most other diseases, tuberculosis cannot be managed with local herbs, and should never be managed with herbs as this may cause further deterioration of the disease.
How do we differentiate TB from whooping cough or any other cough?
The cough in TB is usually chronic (i.e. has a very long duration), associated with weight loss, night sweats, however, whooping cough is not chronic and associated with post-tussive vomiting.
What are the risk factors for contracting the condition?
Generally, factors that predispose an individual to TB are those that suppresses the immunity, this include diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, radiotherapy, chemotherapy for people on cancer treatment, poor nutrition, cancer, etc.
Is it hereditary?
There is no known proof to say tuberculosis is hereditary, as it cannot be transmitted from generation to generation. However, more studies are ongoing.
What is the prognosis like?
The prognosis depends on the timing of treatment, comorbidities, early treatment and absence of comorbid conditions has good prognosis.
How cheap can one get the treatment for the infection?
The drugs for tuberculosis are available in government hospitals all over Nigeria for free. Once you are diagnosed with the condition and prescriptions are given, approach any government facility nationwide and get the drugs and begin treatment.
Are there nutritional requirements that can aid quick recovery from the condition?
Vitamins are required to strengthen the immunity. It is imperative to know that Vitamin B6 is required especially by the person taking isoniazid as it causes peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation). An individual with tuberculosis can eat any food provided they are not contaminated, and balanced.
Is it safe to kiss someone who has tuberculosis?
Yes, it is safe to kiss someone with tuberculosis, as the organism is transmitted through air and not by direct contact or saliva. | https://punchng.com/though-life-threatening-tuberculosis-not-a-death-sentence-expert/?amp | 1,717 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999992 |
Many of you may have come across this term – Turbo Engine. But what is it? An internal combustion engine known as a turbo engine can be found in a wide range of vehicles. A turbocharger is used to increase the air pressure in the intake manifold. Doing so, thereby allows a more forceful fuel injection into the cylinders. This results in more power and better fuel efficiency. If you’re interested in learning more about how a turbocharged car works and how it can benefit you, keep reading.
The first thing to remember is that a turbocharger is not an engine but a component of an engine. It is used to compress air and force it into cylinders. This allows more fuel to be injected into the mixture, producing more power for the engine.
The typical car engine has a single- or double-overhead camshaft (SOHC or DOHC) that turns the crankshaft. This is done by using connecting rods and pistons to compress air and fuel together. The more they are compressed, the more power is created by burning them together in an explosion.
A turbocharger is a device that enhances the power output of an engine by increasing its air pressure. This can be done through either a compressor or turbine with an intercooler placed in between. When you press the accelerator pedal, more fuel is injected into the cylinders, which causes the cylinders to compress and ignite the air.
How does a turbocharger work? A turbocharger is basically a small turbine that’s attached to an engine. The turbine uses exhaust gases from the engine to spin a shaft, which in turn pressurizes air going into the intake manifold. This allows for more fuel to be injected into each cylinder, leading to increased power and better efficiency.
In other words, a turbocharger is a device that uses the energy of exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which in turn spins an air compressor. The compressor pressurizes the intake air and forces it into the engine’s cylinders.
Benefits of a turbo engine
Turbocharged engines have become increasingly popular in modern cars due to several benefits they offer:
- Improved Power and Performance: One of the main benefits of a turbo engine is increased power and performance. A turbocharger compresses the air flowing into the engine, allowing more air to enter the combustion chamber and mix with more fuel, resulting in more power and better acceleration.
- Better Fuel Efficiency: Despite the increased power, turbocharged engines can also be more fuel-efficient than their naturally aspirated counterparts. By compressing the air, the engine can burn fuel more efficiently, resulting in better fuel economy.
- Lower Emissions: Turbocharging can also help reduce emissions, especially of harmful pollutants like Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides. By burning fuel more efficiently, turbo engines produce less waste and are generally more environmentally friendly.
- Smaller Engine Size: Turbochargers can also allow automakers to use smaller engines without sacrificing power or performance. This can help reduce the weight of the vehicle, improve handling, and increase fuel efficiency.
- Better High-Altitude Performance: Turbocharged engines are particularly well-suited for high-altitude driving since the thinner air at higher elevations can cause naturally aspirated engines to lose power. Turbochargers can help maintain power output at higher altitudes. Simply put, turbo engines still have high performance in environments with low oxygen level.
Overall, turbocharged engines offer several benefits that can improve power, performance, fuel efficiency, and environmental friendliness. However, they can also be more complex and expensive to maintain than naturally aspirated engines, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. | https://www.spotdem.com/2023/02/15/what-is-a-turbo-engine/ | 765 | Car Talk | 4 | en | 0.999985 |
Ever since the camera became one of the biggest selling points on smartphones, a lot of emphases has been placed on the number of megapixels a phone packs in its camera. If you ask people what makes a phone camera great, the majority of them will probably say the number of megapixels it has.
To be fair, they wouldn’t be wrong. Megapixels are one of the things that differentiate a good smartphone camera from a bad one. So, it’s no wonder smartphone manufacturers put so much emphasis on them.
In fact, today we see some big-name smartphone brands revealing mobile cameras with megapixel counts upwards of 40, 60, and even 100!
But, does it really matter how many megapixels a phone camera has? And if so, how much is enough? Before we dive into that, you need to understand what megapixels are.
The term ‘megapixels’ can be confusing because some people use it to refer to the size of a digital image, while others use it when talking about the number of pixels on the camera’s image sensor. These two uses of the term are actually very closely related.
If you breakdown the word ‘megapixel’, the first part (mega-) is a prefix that means ‘one million’ or ‘of one million’. The second part (pixel) is a combination of two words-- picture and element. So, ‘megapixel’ means a million picture elements or pixels.
What are pixels?
On a digital image, a pixel is a very tiny dot or square that contains visual data. Pixels are the tiny building blocks that create an image. The total number of these building blocks is collectively known as megapixels (MP).
A magnified portion of picture that show tiny blocks of colour (pixels) that make up an image.
So, if a smartphone photo is said to be 12MP, it means it is made up of 12 million little dots or squares of different colours. In simple math, the dimensions of the image would be four million pixels wide by three million pixels high.
4 000(w) x 3 000(h) = 12 000 000
This is known as the resolution of an image. It determines detail. The more of these pixels you have, the finer and more detailed your image will be. Therefore, pictures from a camera with 20MP could look more detailed than those from a 12MP camera.
While it is correct to use ‘megapixels’ when referring to the resolution of a digital image, the correct term to use for the “pixels” on the sensor is ‘photosites’.
Image sensor photosites
A photosite is a light-sensitive area found on the surface of every digital camera’s sensor. When light enters the camera and strikes the sensor, it is the photosites that capture the light and generate data to create an image.
Closeup of the surface of a camera image sensor. The red, green, and blue spots are photosites/pixels with a colour filter array places over them.
That’s just putting it in really simple terms. If you want to know exactly how a smartphone camera captures and produces an image, then you should definitely read through this super-informative article.
Photosites are commonly called pixels because, depending on the design of the sensor, a single pixel on a digital photo tends to have a corresponding photosite on the sensor that provides the pixel’s visual data.
For this reason, when referring to the number of photosites on a sensor, manufacturers use the term megapixels because it reveals how many pixels are in an image created by that camera.
Arguably more important than the number of photosites, however, is their size. Pixels/photosites are measured in microns, which is an abbreviation of micrometres. The symbol for this is ‘µm’ or simply ‘µ’.
One micron is a millionth of a metre or about 0.00004 inches. For comparison, the size of a single human red blood cell is typically about 5µm across.
Typical size of a smartphone image sensor photosite
The size of the photosites on smartphone camera sensors differs from phone to phone and from sensor to sensor. And as mobile camera technology improves, so do the pixels, especially in high-end devices.
It’s not uncommon to find high-end smartphone sensors with pixels as large as 1.4µm or even 2.44µm. On the other end of the scale, you can find photosites as small as 0.8µm.
A lot of smartphones that have cameras with 64MP and more have 0.8µm pixels. When pixel binned at a 4:1 ratio, these merge and become a 1.6µm equivalent super-pixel.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra takes things even further. Its main camera has 108MP that are 0.8µm in size. When it pixel bins, it uses a 9:1 ratio (108MP becomes 12MP) which makes each super-pixel about 2.4µm big.
Impressive as that might be, it still pales in comparison to DSLR pixels which can be as big as 8.4µm and more.
Why does the size of the photosites matter?
As already mentioned, photosites are responsible for catching the light that enters the camera. And because photography relies solely on lighting, the more light photons the sensor can capture, the better the images the camera produces will be.
So, in order for a camera to produce quality photos, the sensor should have large pixels to catch as much light as possible. This is especially beneficial when taking photos in low light conditions.
Think of photosites as buckets that catch rainwater. The bigger the bucket, the more water you will get. And that’s what you want-- as much water as you can get.
Small photosites obviously don’t capture as much light as larger ones. As a result, images from image sensors with small photosites often don’t perform well when the lighting conditions are not ideal.
To brighten up the image, you can use a number of proven methods, one of which is to raise the brightness electronically by increasing the ISO.
But as is the case with all electronic equipment, noise can be an issue in mobile photography. When raising the brightness of an image electronically, you also raise the inherent noise floor.
Therefore, there’s a certain threshold up to which you can increase the ISO before the image quality of your photos is degraded by digital noise.
How far you can increase the brightness of an image by raising the ISO before noise is introduced varies from camera to camera.
However, sensors with small photosites are more likely to have problems with digital noise if the lighting conditions are not ideal.
The larger the photosites, the less you have to worry about digital noise.
What determines the size of a photosite?
The size of a photosite is ultimately at the discretion of the manufacturer. However, the size of the sensor itself is one of the biggest determining factors of the size of the photosites.
The physical size of an image sensor is fixed. The number of photosites that can fit on an image sensor can vary. The more photosites on a sensor, the smaller they become in order to occupy less space on the sensor and make room for more. The fewer the photosites on a sensor, the larger they can be.
The reason why the pixel size of smartphone cameras is so small is that the sensor is small. Remember, unlike a dedicated camera, a smartphone has to serve other purposes other than photography.
Therefore, the image sensor can only be a certain size in order to make room for other smartphone components.
How do sensor photosites relate to image pixels?
As previously mentioned, a digital image pixel is created from the data captured by the corresponding photosite on the camera’s image sensor. A smartphone camera sensor with twenty million photosites will produce a 20MP picture.
However, things don’t always have to work that way. An example of this is pixel binning, where several pixels are merged to create one “super-pixel”. The aim of this is to reduce the noise problem common in sensors with small pixels.
This is a common practice found in smartphones with high megapixel cameras. They merge the light information gathered from four photosites to create one digital image pixel. That’s a pixel binning ratio of 4:1, which sees a 64MP sensor capture 16MP images albeit with larger pixels.
So, with all that said…
What are megapixels?
The term ‘megapixels’ refers to the number of tiny picture elements called pixels that make up a digital image. A million pixels are known as a megapixel. Therefore, a 12MP photo is made up of twelve million pixels.
Pixels may also refer to the photosites found on an image sensor, that capture light information to produce the image. It is very likely that a 12MP image would have been captured on a sensor with twelve million photosites or more.
Megapixels and picture quality
It’s a common belief amongst layman mobile photographers that more megapixels mean better picture quality. While there is some truth to that, the reality is they don’t. At least not entirely.
There are other specs of a smartphone camera that contribute to picture quality such as the sensor, pixel size, and the lenses. But they way digital photography devices were marketed in the past, consumers latched on to the idea that more megapixels meant better picture quality.
Perhaps in the smartphone camera sphere, consumers may have held a misguided belief that the higher the smartphone camera megapixel count is, the closer in quality the photos will be to those taken with a DSLR camera.
Before I learned more about cameras, particularly smartphone cameras, I would be disappointed every time my favourite phone company had fewer megapixels than their competitors. Back then, I believed megapixels were everything.
Don’t get me wrong. Megapixels still play an important part.
How the number megapixels affect the picture
Although they aren’t the alpha and omega of image quality, there’s no doubt that the number of megapixels on a smartphone camera greatly impacts the pictures that come out of a camera. This impact can be seen in picture quality and resolution.
A camera that has lots of megapixels will produce high-resolution images. The higher the resolution, the finer the detail of the images. High-resolution photos can be printed in large sizes without worrying about pixelation.
Pixelation is the result of taking an image and enlarging it beyond its maximum size. The image does not look smooth and its pixels are very obvious to spot from a distance.
The lower the megapixel count of an image, the smaller its physical size when printed or displayed at optimum quality. To print or display a large version of it will require you to enlarge the image which will undoubtedly cause pixelation.
On the other hand, you could get better picture quality from cameras with fewer megapixels, provided the pixels are big enough. Some of the determining factors of picture quality are sharpness, brightness, and minimal digital noise. Images made from sensors with large pixels often tick these boxes are more.
So, because bigger pixels capture more light, a camera with fewer megapixels may not produce a large photo but it will most likely perform better in low light conditions.
If you only need to print or display images on a smaller scale, for example when sharing on social media or using a small photo printer, then a phone camera with a modest megapixel count is more than perfect.
And speaking of small printers, in my opinion, the best portable printer is hands down the HP Sprocket Plus. This lightweight pocket-size printer produces crystal clear 3x2” photos directly from your smartphone via Bluetooth. You can even customize the shots in the app before you print them. It’s just brilliant. Check it out at Amazon.
How the sensor affects the megapixels
A big sensor generally means more resolution because you can fit more pixels onto it. Larger sensors also perform better in low lighting with less noise and high dynamic range.
Why? Because large sensors can fit larger pixels. Just like how a large bucket can catch more water in the rain, large pixels are able to capture more light. The more light photons the sensor’s sizeable pixels can capture, the better the camera performs in low lighting conditions.
Obviously, the bigger the size of the pixels, the more space they occupy on the sensor. So instead of 20 million tiny pixels on a 1/2.55” sensor, you’ll end up with 12 million larger pixels on a sensor of the same size.
In other words, if two smartphones with identical sensors were compared, the phone with a 12MP camera could have better light sensitivity and therefore brighter pictures with less noise than a camera with 20MP. However, the 20MP camera will have a larger more defined picture, albeit possibly somewhat noisier.
How many megapixels are enough?
So, how many megapixels are enough for a smartphone camera? This is similar to asking how many bricks are enough to build a house. It depends on the size of the house, the size of the bricks and the design of the house you’re building.
If you’re building a large house with super-fine architectural details, then you’d need a lot of smaller bricks than if you were building a small and simple house.
The same applies to the megapixels on smartphone cameras. It all depends on the size of the sensor (house), the size of the pixels (bricks) and what the manufacturer wants for the camera (design).
For example, if a smartphone company decides that they would like their device’s camera to focus more on light sensitivity than super high-resolution pictures, they would have larger pixels on their sensor. That means fewer pixels than on a camera with a higher resolution.
The number of megapixels that can be considered enough really depends on you and what you wish to do with your photos. If you’re going to keep the photos to yourself or print them and share them with friends and family, then you don’t need to worry about having a camera with lots of megapixels.
All you need is a phone with a good camera and a home photo printer that can give you the best prints. By far, the best printer in this department is the Epson SureColor P400, in my opinion.
Sure, it may be pricey but it’s worth what you get. However, there are some cheaper and pretty decent desktop photo printer options available.
If smartphone photography is nothing more than just an occasional pastime for you and you keep the pictures to yourself or only share them with a few friends and family, you might find that even a decent 8MP phone camera might be all you need.
If you’re going to sell your photos or make large prints and posters, then even a phone camera with 12 or 16 megapixels or more will work well for you.
But these days primary phone cameras generally have more megapixels than that. In my opinion, smartphones don’t need to have 40 or more megapixels.
In fact, some of the flagship smartphones from popular companies hardly go beyond 12 or 16 megapixels and yet they produce incredible photographs.
Why do some smartphone cameras have so many megapixels?
In the past, a reason some smartphone companies padded their cameras with a lot of megapixels was so that the digital zoom wouldn’t degrade the quality of the photo too much when the image was cropped and expanded to fit the frame.
Today, many high-end smartphone cameras have optical zoom and thanks to periscope cameras, some of them can reach up to 5x optical zoom. However, they still do rely on high megapixels for hybrid zoom and digital zoom.
But, to be honest, it’s all a marketing tactic. The idea of having tons of megapixels on their mobile camera is exciting for some people. It gives them something to brag about. Smartphone manufacturers use that to entice people into buying their product.
As proof of this, most mobile cameras with high megapixel counts pixel bin by default. They are set to take pictures at a lower resolution automatically because there is really no need for anybody to take such large-resolution photos with their phones.
Do all the cameras on a phone have the same number of MP?
One would assume that despite having different lenses, the cameras on a phone would at least have the same sensor. But that’s not the case. Not always.
The number of megapixels each camera has on a phone with multiple cameras depends on the manufacturer and the setup of the cameras on the phone. There are smartphones that have dual cameras, both of which are 12MP. The main difference is one camera has a wide-angle lens and the other a telephoto lens.
On other smartphones, there is a huge difference in megapixel count between the different rear cameras. In most cases, the primary rear camera has more megapixels than the secondary cameras.
Because they don’t capture and save photos like other cameras, specialised 3D cameras such as ToF cameras don’t have nearly as many megapixels as other cameras on a smartphone. Their resolution can be around 0.3MP.
If you don’t know what a ToF camera is, then you need to catch up with the times. Learn about ToF cameras here.
Smartphone cameras with monochrome sensors specifically dedicated to depth-sensing can be around 2MP on certain mobile phones.
Mobile camera MP vs. DSLR MP
An ordinary, dedicated camera with a 24MP resolution will produce better quality pictures than any smartphone of the same resolution. Why? Mainly because of the much bigger sensor.
A typical full-frame DSLR sensor is 36mm x 24mm in size, whereas an average smartphone sensor only measures more or less 5.5mm x 4mm depending on the manufacturer. That means a full-frame DSLR camera sensor has an area that is about 40 times bigger than that of a smartphone sensor.
If we look at the 24MP comparison between a digital camera and a smartphone camera, this means that both sensors have 24 000 000 pixels despite the size difference. The obvious deduction from this is that the larger sensor will have larger pixels to fill its surface area.
The smaller sensor, on the other hand, has to cram the same amount of pixels onto a very small area, which means the pixels themselves will have to be super tiny.
Rough size comparison between pixels on a DSLR sensor and pixels on a mobile camera sensor due to sensor size.
Do megapixels really matter then?
Yes, the number of megapixels your smartphone has does matter because it dictates how detailed the pictures from it will be.
However, megapixels are not the only thing that matters as many consumers have been led to believe. Things like sensor size and pixel size have to be considered in a balancing act with megapixels.
Is there anything wrong with wanting a phone with a camera that has a lot of megapixels? Of course not! If you want to buy a phone with a camera that packs an impressive amount of megapixels on its sensor, then be sure to check out these phones with the highest megapixel cameras (to date).
A benefit about that is that a phone camera with many megapixels can take high-resolution photos, which means you can create large prints from them. That’s a potential opportunity to make money with your smartphone photos.
If you have photos that you are really proud of and want to turn them into works of art for your home or to give as a gift, I recommend you check out Pictorem. They can print your photos on canvas, metal, wood, acrylic, and more.
They’ve been around since 2014 and offer top-quality products at unbeatable prices. Their service is amazing and I honestly couldn’t be happier with their prints.
If your photos aren’t yet at the point where you’d want to have them printed and displayed, don’t worry, you can get there, too. All you need to do is learn and practice.
That’s why I’ve put together a simple introductory guide that will help you take beautiful mobile photos that could be good enough for you to print and display in your home or share with family.
If you want to learn about how to improve your smartphone photography, download the 5 Ways To Improve Your Smartphone Photography ebook by clicking on the banner above or by clicking here. There’s a lot to learn in its 22 pages of content and it’s ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
Otherwise, for some quick tips on how to capture great photos with your phone, check out these 15 Tips on How To Take Amazing Photos With Your Phone.
- 4 Ways To Print Photos From Your Smartphone
- Digital Noise- What It Is and How to Fix It
- Is 12MP Better Than 8MP On A Smartphone Camera
- The Importance Of A Smartphone Camera’s Pixel Size
- What Makes A Smartphone Photo Look Good
Its great to learn about photographs
My question is which is the best megapixel,,,for a phone to use not for work,,but for my pictures only | https://thesmartphonephotographer.com/truth-about-phone-megapixels/ | 4,552 | Phones | 3 | en | 0.999977 |
Are all subjects taught in Nigerian schools equally important? Check out the importance of civic education in Nigerian schools and see how to teach your child to be a really decent citizen of the Nigerian nation.
According to a research conducted in 2009, only 34% of 1200 students in Nigeria were aware of civic education, the other 66% didn’t know anything about the subject. So, the problem is clear, not every school provides its students with this crucial subject, or perhaps, teachers just don’t know what to teach their students this topic. It is, however, clear that the importance of civic education in Nigerian schools can’t be understated. Let’s plunge deeper into this topic and see the meaning, definition, and importance of civic education.
What is civic education?
Civic education is bringing awareness about the legal culture, clear civic position, readiness for conscious and voluntary service to our nation’s people. We understand civic education as the tool that helps in the formation of a citizen who is able and willing to live in a civil society and is also aware of the state of law.
Meaning and definition of civic education
The ultimate goal of civic education is the attainment of a level of individual consciousness that can be characterized approximately like this: "The fate of my nation, my state, my own fate, my relatives fate depends on what and how I do, how I behave and what I vote for; I am answerable for everything what I do, I must do everything according to the law and conscience".
Importance of civic education in our society
The main goal of civic education is the formation of citizenship as an integrative quality of any individual, which includes internal freedom and respect for state power, love for Motherland and the desire for peace, self-esteem and discipline, a harmonious manifestation of patriotic feelings and culture of interethnic communication.
READ ALSO: What is youth empowerment in civic education?
Civic education as a person's quality is determined both by subjective efforts of teachers, parents, social organizations, and by objective conditions - state system features and level of legal, political, and moral culture.
The system of methods and forms of Civic education:
- formation of civic consciousness;
- organizing civil activities;
- stimulating civil behavior;
- civil qualities control and self-control.
Dimensions of civic education:
- Civic knowledge;
- Civic skills;
- Civic dispositions.
Why is civic education important?
The life of each family is also a part of the life of a country as a whole. When it comes to citizenship education, it is important that the family lives in the same time rhythm as the nation. So, each family goals, aspirations, and efforts must coincide with the Nigerian nation aspirations, goals, and issues.
Citizenship is a feeling of inseparable connection with the people, state, and responsibility for its safety. To educate a citizen means to prepare the person to participate in the process of solving serious and long-term tasks of the state, to perform the functions of a worker and owner, leader and executor, public figure and defender of his/her country.
In addition, citizenship education for children positively influences a sense of their parents' citizenship. Trying to bring up decent Nigerian citizens, parents are forced to improve constantly as regards to their own civic qualities.
Importance of civic education in Nigerian schools
You can’t do away without civic education because of the fact that a child will be taught how to behave in society in order to become its fully fledged member. Here are main things that you or your child will find out at Civic education lessons.
- Personal rights;
- Political rights;
- Economic rights.
You would be instructed in ways to understand your duties towards the society you live in. They include:
- Personal responsibilities;
- Civic responsibilities.
Now you understand the importance of civic education in Nigerian schools, so we hope that you will try to popularize this subject for school learning and will tell your children about the importance of citizenship education in our modern society.
READ ALSO: Opinion: Education investments paying Off - Semiu Okanlawon | https://www.naij.com/1115202-importance-civic-education-nigerian-schools.html | 860 | Travel | 3 | en | 0.999994 |
The early church did not keep the tithe law but Christians of today are trying to keep it. Did the Lord Jesus command Christians to keep the tithe law? If he did, why did the early church not practice it? What was the tithe law?
The Law on Tithe
The law on tithe was one of the many laws that God gave the Israelites. The books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus record the various laws that were given to the Israelites. In these books we can find the law on tithes as it was given them by God through Moses.
“Every year, you must take a tithe of what your fields produce from what you have sown and, in the presence of Yahweh your God, in the place where he chooses to give his name a home, you must eat the tithe of your wheat, of your new wine and of your oil, and the first-born of your herd and flock: and by so doing, you will learn always to fear Yahweh your God.
If the road is too long for you, if you cannot bring your tithe because the place in which Yahweh chooses to make a home for his name is too far away, when Yahweh your God has blessed you, you must convert into money, and with the money clasped in your hand, you must go to the place chosen by Yahweh your God, there you may spend the money on whatever you like, oxen, sheep, wine, fermented liquor, anything you please. There you must eat in the presence of Yahweh your God and rejoice, you and your household. Do not neglect the Levite living in your community, since he has no share of his own among you” (Deut. 14.22-27 Bible verse)
`In the third year, the tithing year, when you have finished taking the tithe of your whole income and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow so that, in your towns, they may eat to their heart’s content, in the presence of Yahweh your God, you must say: I have cleared my house of what was consecrated… (Deut. 26:12 Bible verse).
In the tithe law, the Lord God instructed his people to tithe in two ways: yearly and every third year.
Every year, they were to present themselves before God with a tithe of their wheat, new wine, oil, & flock. In His presence, they were to eat their tithe produce together with the Levites. If the Lord’s temple is far away, making it difficult to transport the goods, they should convert the goods into money, and then come to the presence of Yahweh and spend the money on whatever their heart desires.
Every third year, the tither is not allowed to eat his tithe. The tither will give his tithe to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. The receivers of the tithe will present themselves before Yahweh and eat the tithe produce in His presence. The tither will then present himself before the Lord God and say that he has cleared his house of what was consecrated.
The Purpose of the Tithe Law
The tithe law was given to the Israelites in the desert, so that they learn to fear the name of Yahweh. They settled in the promised land of Canaan. Some years after they had settled in Canaan, they forsook the laws of God and were taken captive by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. After 70 years of captivity, they returned from the Babylonian exile and rebuilt the destroyed temple but most of them had lost the significance of their customs and laws. Ezra and Nehemiah re-educated the people on God’s laws. The people resumed worship in the temple of God but they still neglected some of the temple practices. One of these temple practices which they neglected was the practice of bringing their tithe before God. God spoke through his prophet Malachi calling on them to bring in their tithes as they did before because the orphans, the strangers, the Levites were suffering from the neglect.
“When I came to you to do justice I shall demand the immediate punishment of the sorcerers and the adulterers, of those who swear false oaths, who oppress the wage-earner, the widow and the orphan, who do not respect the rights of the foreigner. They do all this and have no fear of me, says Yahweh. No, I Yahweh do not change; and you have not ceased to be children of Jacob. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have evaded my statutes and not observed them. Return to me and I will return to you, says Yahweh Sabaoth. You ask, “How do we cheat you?” Over tithes and contributions. A curse lies on you because you, this whole nation, try to cheat me. Bring the tithes in full to the treasury, so that there is food in my house; put me to the test now like this, says Yahweh Sabaoth, and see if I do not open the floodgates of Heaven for you and pour out an abundant blessing for you” (Malachi 3:5-12 Bible verse)
The poor, the stranger, the widow and the Levites were God’s own possession. God identified Himself with them. They are the ones on whom the third year tithes was spent on. If they were cheated, it means God was cheated. The tithe law was meant for the benefit of these unfortunate ones so that the people of Israel will learn to fear the name of Yahweh.
The letter of the Holy Spirit and the apostles, sent to the gentiles, as regards keeping the Old Testament laws.
In the days of Apostle Paul, some of the Hebrew Christians were forcing the gentile Christians to practice circumcision. When Peter and the other Apostles heard of this, they held a meeting to decide the status of the gentile Christians as regards the Law of Moses. In response, the apostles and the Holy Spirit wrote a letter to the gentile believers.
ACTS 15.1-35 (ISV)
The Jerusalem Council
Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can’t be saved.” Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them.
So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question.
They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them.
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The gentiles must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses.”
So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim.
After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.
God, who knows everyone’s heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts.
So why do you test God by putting on the disciples’ neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry?
We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, that we are saved, just as they are.”
The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles.
After Paul and Barnabas had finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me:
Simeon has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name.
This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
‘”After this, I will come back and set up David’s fallen tent again. I will restore its ruined places and set it up again
so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord, including all the gentiles who are called by my name,” declares the Lord. ‘He is the one who has been doing these things
that have been known from long ago.’
Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God.
Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, and from blood.
After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are read aloud in the synagogues.”
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers.
They wrote this letter for them to deliver: “From: The apostles and the elders, your brothers To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings.
We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you.
So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul,
who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements:
to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye.”
So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them.
Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting from the brothers to those who had sent them.
Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others (Bible verse).
Are Christians Obligated to Tithe?
The controversial issue of keeping some of the old laws, be it circumcision or tithes or any other law did not arise just today. This issue was neatly addressed by the Holy Spirit and the apostles. Gentile Christians are not supposed to obey the Law of Moses except for three: to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, to abstain from blood from the meat of strangled animals and from prohibited marriages (as stipulated in Lev 18 Bible verse). The Holy Spirit wrote a letter to Non-Jewish Christians many years ago, addressing this matter.
When you give tithe just because you want to receive back, are you not selfish? If you give all your property away without love you give in vain (1 Corinthians 13.3 Bible verse). All must be done in the spirit of love. Your obedience to the law of Christ is more valuable than any sacrificial offering (1 Samuel 15.22-23 Bible verse).
Even if anyone must follow the law today, there must strict and complete compliance to the law. Modifying the law for whatever reason defeats the purpose of the law.
God no longer dwells in temples made by hands. He now dwells in believers. More so, the tithes were not used to maintain the tabernacle of God rather the tithe was eaten by the tither and the less privileged in the clan. Can the churches practice the tithe law exactly as it was written?
Even if we tithe today, then it should a choice made out of love and generosity (in obedience to the law of Christ), and not because we want to obtain the blessing of keeping the Old Covenant. If we choose to tithe today out of love, then the poor Christians in the house should be the receiver. The pastors and general overseers are not Levites. Under the new covenant, all Christians are called to serve as priests unto God, with Christ Jesus as the High Priest (1 Peter 2.9 Bible verse).
Christians are not under the Old Covenant law. The Old Covenant is obsolete (Hebrews 8.13 Bible verse). Christians are under the new covenant law or new testament. Under the new testament, the letter does not apply, rather the spirit. The tithe law was not the only law that was given to the Israelites. Other laws were given: burnt offering, the cereal offering, the communion sacrifice, the sacrifice for sin, the sacrifice of reparation, voluntary sacrifices, offerings for the purification from contagious skin diseases, the feast of shelters, the feast of weeks, the Sabbath, the feast of the Passover, the first sheaf, the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee, the circumcision etc. The Old Covenant also had many rules: the washing of hands before eating, bathing after a sexual activity, menstruation, etc. If we must follow the tithe law, then we must follow the rest of the laws to be found righteous. If we choose to follow all the Old testament laws but fail in one, we are guilty of breaking all (James 2.10 Bible verse). If you follow the old law, then you have fallen from the grace of the new covenant. Those who operate under the Old Covenant law are under a curse.
On the other hand, all those who depend on the works of the law are under a curse, since scriptures says: Accursed be he who does not make what is written in the book of the law effective, by putting it into practice.’ Now it is obvious that nobody is reckoned as upright in God’s sight by the law, since the upright will live through faith, and the law is based not on faith, but on the principle, `whoever complies with it will find life in it.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being cursed for our sake since the scriptures says, Anyone hanged is accursed, so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the gentiles in Christ Jesus and that we might receive the promised spirit through faith (Galatians 3:10-14 Bible verse).
The law brings people under slavery (Galatians 4). The burden of tithing is not of Christ. The burden of circumcision in the days of Apostle Paul was not of Christ (Galatians 5.1-6 Bible verse). Christ freed us from the slavery of the old law (Galatians 5.1 Bible verse). We are freed to belong to another master. The Lord Jesus has given us an easy yoke. It is the debt of love that we owe one another (Romans 13.8 Bible verse). By loving one another, we fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6.2 Bible verse).
Christians ask many unnecessary questions about tithe: “how to tithe correctly”, “what should tithe money be used for”, “who does tithe money belong to”, “what are the consequences of not paying tithe”, “benefits of tithing” etc. These questions are baseless. The right question should be: Are Christians obligated to tithe?
How God provides for His Children
When Christ fulfilled the righteous demands of the old law on the cross, He gave us a new law (Matthew 5.17 Bible verse). A new law was given to replace the old law. It is obeying this new law that guarantees us provision for our earthly needs (Mathew 6.33-34 Bible verse) and inheriting the kingdom of God. A Christian does not receive God’s supply of provision by keeping the tithe law. He receives God’s supply when he enters God’s kingdom and obeys his words and righteous commandment in Christ. His new commandment in the New Testament is this:
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment (1 John 3.23 Bible verse).
When God’s kingdom and rules is the sole purpose of our hearts, all the other needs will be provided for. Many Christians are still to empty their hearts for God. You must love God and serve him only. Your career, your spouse, your children, your dreams, your plans, your purposes, your possessions must not overtake your hearts. You must obey and fear God always. Serving and obeying only God is what guarantees heaven’s provision. Tithing does not give you any security in the new testament or covenant.
The early church did not practice tithing, rather they practiced total renunciation. God does not want 10%. God wants your all (Luke 14. 26-33 Bible verse). The early church sold their possessions and distributed among themselves as each other needed.
The whole community of believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared all things in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses, sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale. And they laid it at the feet of the apostles who distributed it according to each one’s need (Acts 4.32-35 Bible verse).
The disciples sold their properties to meet the need of the poor. The sales proceeds were never used to build any synagogue. The only way to eradicate poverty is for the rich to give to the poor (Deuteronomy 15.4 Bible verse). The receiver is blessed by receiving and the giver is blessed by God.
FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS
No one was ever required to tithe on earned income only those who raised crops and animals. If Jesus was here today he would rebuke the minsters of today as He did the scribes and Pharisee for all the lies. Most ministers today are manipulating the people. That is what God told me is the biggest sin in the churches today. To sum it up most are not teaching we should be led by the spirit in all things. Our goal should be to be like Jesus only say what the Father say to say and only do what we see the father doing. This is not being taught because you can not teach something you are not doing. It is hard to teach tennis if you never had a tennis racquet in your hand. God told me the minsters are supposed to be building up the saints for the work of the ministry and if they are not doing that they are anti Christ and going to hell.
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The LORD is surely pleased with those who love and share the truth. Thanks for sharing the mind and will of christ. God bless.
Thank you so much for sharing this truth! I have been looking for an article that explains why we as Christians do not tithe and why in binding the law someone may fall from Grace. 😦 would it be alright with you if I shared your words, but changed the scriptures to the KJV? I will absolutely include your name and give you credit.
Thanks for the positive feedback. To God be the glory. You are free to share the truth of God’s word in any way He leads you. I hold no reservations. Thanks.
Thank you Post author,
I did not yet read your three books but i have already download them
for reading because the Titles attracted my attention.
God Bless you
To God be the glory. Thanks for the feedback.
I really enjoyed this. It’s sad that people cant see the transition taking place from the law to grace. The dispensation given to Paul. Paul explains more about this meeting in Gal 2 . Even in Acts 21: 18-20, how that the Jews were still following the Law. Jesus spoke about a change taking place to the woman at the well in John 4. Very interesting reading.
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Thanks for your positive feedback. To God be the glory
I tithes faithfully but have been asking God for clarity in this because I just had my doubts..I felt like why couldnt I just give my 10 % to people i encounter on the streets that would benefit from it…i came to this site by not even looking up about tithing I was looking up scrioture and this popped up..thank you very much for this , this has answered alot of my questions I have been asking God..
Glory be to God. Share the truth with others.
This is really the gospel truth you are publishing here,pity I can’t get it as an article to keep or copy,this is important.
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Thanks for visiting.Truly we must spread the truth and save the flock of God.
If you have a blog, you can click the “reblog” icon at the end of the article.
If you do not have a blog, you can download the opened page from your browser.
Or get my free eBook, “The Truth against Errors” on this website.
I remember attending a church where at Christmas a special evening service was held we were supposed to bring God our best gift aka money – I always felt so inadequate- like I was failing God some how because I didn’t have much to give. And how could I expect the “miracles” others were having-like raises, bonuses, canceled debt if I only gave a little. I have learned my love and surrender to Him is my best gift- I love to give and do as much and as often as possible but my view of giving has matured – Thank God!
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It is good that you have matured in your giving. The Lord is pleased when we give cheerfully no matter the size of our pockets. He loves us. Thanks for sharing.
I am blessed with this piece of God’s work. May you be blessed abundantly that covenant was there to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives and makes the law looks good than to be seen as away of oppression to God’s children
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Amen. Nope. The tithe is not for today. When I was young in the Lord, I went to a church that taught that it is, and then I got to the Word you mentioned above myself and was like them why aren’t churches doing the part where they help the poor with it too? I knew many single moms who went to tithe churches who e.g. couldn’t even receive a gallon of milk from them. And other horrible things. They asked because they had read the Word too and thought it was a given. A no brainer but were rejected. Discovering these things literally made me leave churches who taught this lie. They prosper with the tithe lie and barely help the poor in most case. Or just nominally and only give directly to 501c3 orgs to do so. Soooo not God’s will and desire.
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Yes my sister. In their greed, they make profit from God’s flock by telling lies. We must confront the lie by showing the truth. By this, we clearly know who is sent by God. I feel bad for the flock of God. My heart is sick each time I see how they are bound by these self imposed preachers.
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I agree. Very heartbroken. Feeling God’s heart in it. Keep sharing the truth. I pray it is seen and received.
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I wish every believer would read this powerful message!
The law on tithes is NOT for the born again Christian as succinctly explained in the message.
May God open our hearts and give us understanding.
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Thanks for your positive feedback | https://lilianel.home.blog/2019/08/07/bible-verses-on-tithe-your-pastor-will-never-tell-you/ | 5,202 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999994 |
"All things whatever arise from, and depend on, the divine appointment; whereby it was foreordained who should receive the word of life, and who should disbelieve it; who should be delivered from their sins, and who should be hardened in them; and who should be justified and who should be condemned." - Martin Luther
Commonly remembered as an age of great upheaval and enlightenment, the Protestant Reformation was one of the most significant events in the development of the Western World. The Reformation was more than a simple rebellion against teachings of the Roman Catholic Church; it was truly a rediscovery of biblical doctrines that had gradually been lost due to mishandling and negligent teaching.
When Martin Luther sparked the Reformation on October 31, 1517, he had no notion of beginning a fresh, new movement with no ties to the past, as many religious movements often do. On the contrary, he and every other Reformer affirmed that the doctrines they proclaimed had always been the true historic doctrines of the church.
It is for this reason that the Reformation followed on the heels of the Renaissance and the rise of intellectual humanism. With renewing interest in the discipline of exploring ancient writings in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, came the renewing and uncovering of the doctrines the ancient texts had so carefully preserved. As Luther and many others intensely studied the saints of old, they saw their own place in history in a very new light: the light of the past.
Of the many great doctrines rediscovered and revived during the Protestant Reformation, one in particular has and continues to be one of heated debate and discussion: the doctrine of predestination. This doctrine, perhaps more than any other, has caused division and strife within the Christian Church, and in particular, has historically been a dividing line between the traditions of Calvinism and Lutheranism. Why is this? What significant differences between Lutheran and Calvinist thought concerning predestination cause such a division?
Nearly all Modern Lutheran scholars insist that while John Calvin and his followers (Beza, Bucer, Knox, etc.) affirm the doctrine of double predestination, Martin Luther and his followers affirm the doctrine of single predestination.
Double predestination affirms that in eternity past, prior to the creation of the universe, God chose and elected a people for himself whom he would actively save in the outworking of history, but at the same time, chose to pass over the remaining number of mankind, thus handing them over to their sinful state, and reprobating them to the consequences of their sin: eternal hell. Double predestination affirms both God's election and His reprobation of certain men in eternity past. That is, God decreed that some would be saved, and others would be lost. Calvinist theologian Louis Berkhof defines reprobation as "[T]hat eternal decree of God whereby He has determined to pass some men by with the operations of His special grace, and to punish them for their sins, to the manifestation of His justice."
Lutherans, on the other hand, teach single predestination; that while God in eternity past did indeed elect a people for himself whom he would actively save in the outworking of history, he did not decree that the rest of mankind would absolutely be lost and reprobate them to eternal hell. That is, while affirming election, Lutherans reject reprobation. God refrained from electing some men to salvation, but at the same time did not actively decree their continuation in sin, and ultimate suffering as a consequence. Robert G. Hoerber writes,
"According to Ephesians 1, our salvation is the result of our election by God from eternity, which is a gospel message. To deduce by logical reasoning that therefore some people must be predestined to damnation is law - a clear instance of mingling law and gospel. On the other hand, the "unreasonable" doctrine of election to salvation (but not to damnation) is a particularly comforting part of the gospel message."
It is clear that the motive of Lutheran theology at this point is to preserve the goodness of God and to refrain from making God the author of evil and sin. Lutherans see the reprobate as being eternally punished on their own merit, not because of God's eternal decree that they should be punished. Thus, the sinner is the author of his own sin, not God.
It is clear that the Calvinist as well wishes to make man the author of his own sin, not God, but the approaches in which this question is answered take two very different paths.
The purpose of this paper is to answer the question: Did Martin Luther himself teach the doctrine of single predestination, or did he fully affirm the election and reprobation of God in eternity past?
If the former, then the division between the Lutherans and Calvinists remains a legitimate outworking of their respective theological traditions. However, if the latter is indeed the case, then the Lutheran tradition finds itself in the uncomfortable as well as compromising position of proclaiming a doctrine their father in the faith rejected.
The importance of the question cannot be under-emphasized.
The Reformation, as previously mentioned, consisted of the recovery of ancient doctrines, especially those of St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine wrote extensively on the issue of predestination, and has thus been the object of both admiration and scorn. The vigorous debate that reappeared on the subject during the Reformation makes this a perennial subject very relevant to today's disciples of the Reformation.
In fact, while many students of the Reformation today focus their attention to the obvious differences between Protestantism and Romanism, such as the Papacy, mass, indulgences, et cetera, Luther himself recognizes those issues to be entirely peripheral to the conflict. He wrote in 1525 to Erasmus of Rotterdam, with whom he had been debating the Sovereignty of God's grace (in election and salvation) and the freedom of man's will:
"I give you hearty praise and commendation on this further account - that you alone, in contrast with all others, have attacked the real thing, that is, the essential issue. You have not wearied me with those extraneous issues about the Papacy, purgatory, indulgences and such like - trifles, rather than issues - in respect of which almost all to date have sought my blood (though without success); you, and you alone, have seen _____THE HINGE ON WHICH ALL TURNS____, and aimed for the vital spot.
With this admission by the Father of the Protestant Reformation, the present study becomes highly important in understanding the Reformation.
The debate over single versus double predestination has certainly been an issue throughout church history, but was it an issue among the Reformers? Specifically, were Luther and Calvin at odds on this issue? 19th Century Scottish theologian William Cunningham asserts,
"When Luther's followers, in a subsequent generation, openly deviated from scriptural orthodoxy on these points, they set themselves to prove that Luther had never held Calvinistic principles. . . But we have no hesitation in saying, that it can be established beyond all reasonable question, that Luther held the doctrines which are commonly regarded as most peculiarly Calvinistic, though he was never led to explain and apply, to illustrate and defend some of them, so fully as Calvin did."
Though Cunningham is confident enough to make this claim, his reader may be disappointed that he fails to make a comprehensive case for his assertion (though his claim is not entirely without defense).
Another Reformed theologian, Loraine Boettner, in his work The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination claims that "Luther. . .went into the doctrine [of predestination] as heartily as did Calvin himself. He even asserted it with more warmth and proceeded to much harsher lengths in defending it than Calvin ever did." Boettner's work displays a far better defense of his claim than Cunningham's, but both fail to fully analyze Luther's position.
What Cunningham and Boettner both fail to support, the present work intends to prove. Where their assertions fall short, this work will provide ample evidence to support their claims. The Modern Lutheran church does not stand with Martin Luther on the issue of predestination, and thus suffers from an internal contradiction. It's efforts to modify Luther's views and to present a more moderate case for predestination ultimately end in conflict with Luther's uncompromising doctrine of God's Sovereignty. However, before critically analyzing the writings of Luther, an examination must be made of the various presuppositions possible in approaching Luther's writings.
Any astute reader of Reformation history must note the great discrepancies among analysts of Martin Luther. Lutherans read him and conclude that he taught single predestination. Calvinists read him and conclude that he taught double predestination. Certainly, the overall perspective with which one approaches the Reformer has great impact on the conclusions reached. This is indeed unavoidable. Every reader approaches a subject matter within a given framework, or paradigm, by which he interprets given data. Thus, when two parties disagree upon an interpretation, the debate must proceed to a level beyond the respective interpretations of the facts, but to the philosophy of interpretation employed in reaching conclusions.
Therefore, in considering the subject of Martin Luther's view of predestination, two different paradigms appear in analyses of his works. One we shall call the Concord Paradigm, the other, the Augustinian Paradigm.
The Concord Paradigm is the mainstream conservative Lutheran viewpoint, which views Luther through the eyes of the Book of Concord, the standard book of Lutheran confession, which was compiled thirty-four years after Luther's death in 1546. In other words, the Concord Paradigm looks at more recent developments of Lutheran theology and reads Luther in that light.
The Augustinian Paradigm, on the other hand, is a framework of analyzing Luther's views not in light of more recent statements of theology, but in terms of Luther's own theological background. That is, what were the theological traditions and doctrines closest to his own upbringing and training in theology? Thus, it is the older statements of Luther's theological tradition through which one views his writings.
At first glance it may seem as though the Concord Paradigm ought to be the interpretive framework by which one analyzes Luther, in that, after all, it takes into account the doctrines and statements of the later Lutheran tradition. It would seem that those best suited to systematize Martin Luther's doctrines would be the second generation Lutherans. Furthermore, Luther's own colleague, Philip Melancthon, was influential in propagating the doctrines reflected in the Book of Concord. Cannot even Luther's closest colleague be trusted to give an accurate account of Luther's beliefs?
Historians viewing Luther through the Concord Paradigm (unaware though they may be) have their perception of him colored, so to speak, by the Book of Concord. The book clearly spells out a scheme for single predestination, therefore the historian expects to find single predestination in Luther's writings. So when one encounters a passage in Luther that may be questionable, on account of this paradigmatic coloring they must err on the side of single predestination. The expectation that the Book of Concord accurately reflects Luther's own theology is largely an assumption made by the adherents of the Concord Paradigm.
However, upon analysis, it becomes clear that the best framework through which to analyze the great Reformer is the Augustinian framework. St. Augustine taught the doctrine of double predestination. That he believed God predestined not only the salvation of His elect, but also the reprobation of the wicked is clear:
"Therefore the mercy is past finding out by which He has mercy on whom He will, no merits of his own preceding; and the truth is unsearchable by which He hardeneth whom He will, even although his merits may have preceded, but merits for the most part common to him with the man on whom He has mercy. As of two twins, of which one is taken and the other left, the end is unequal, while the deserts are common, yet in these the one is in such wise delivered by God's great goodness, that the other is condemned by no injustice of God's. For is there unrighteousness with God? Away with the thought!"
Augustine clearly taught that from eternity God predestined those whom He would save and those whom He would not. In writing against the Pelagian heretics of his day, Augustine was prolific in his treatment of divine predestination. He taught that the Sovereignty of God was so great that even the hearts and wills of wicked men are directly controlled by God Himself.
He wrote, "It is, therefore, in the power of the wicked to sin; but that in sinning they should do this or that by that wickedness is not in their power, but in God's, who divides the darkness and regulates it; so that hence even what they do contrary to God's will is not fulfilled except it be God's will."
In his Treatise on Grace & Free Will, the title of Chapter 41 reads, "The wills of men are so much in the power of God, that he can turn them whithersoever it pleases him." And again, chapter 42 reads, "God does whatsoever he wills in the hearts of even wicked men."
He begins the chapter, "Who can help trembling at those judgments of God by which He does in the hearts of even wicked men whatsoever He wills, at the same time rendering to them according to their deeds?" Thus, it is clear that Augustine's doctrine is centered around the Sovereignty of God.
The significance of Augustinian doctrine in the present study becomes more apparent when one takes into account that Martin Luther, in July of 1505, entered the Augustinian Monastery at Erfurt. The monks of this order were known as the "Black Augustinians" (due to the color of their garb), and were known for their intense, rigorous pursuit of spirituality. Luther studied at Erfurt and was mentored under an Augustinian monk named Johann von Staupitz, a man from whom Luther would eventually say "I received everything."
Staupitz himself was not ignorant of the Augustinian position on predestination. He himself emphasized the doctrines of "prevenience of grace, the bondage of the will, and predestination. . . ." In his treatise Eternal Predestinatioin and its Execution in Time he wrote, "Because mercy and justice contribute equally to the praise of the Almighty it has been decreed that some should be elected and predestined to conformation with the image of the Son of God and to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who do not have faith are judged already." Thus Staupitz affirms the double predestination of Augustine.
Interestingly, in his treatise, he uses the same basis as Augustine before him: the Sovereignty of God. "[I]t ought to be remembered that God is the universal, principal, and most immediate cause of each individual thing and the prime agent of all actions. Therefore, though there are different kinds of work, it is one God who works all in all."
It seems that simply on the prima facie basis that Luther was an Augustinian monk and taught by a self-consciously double predestinarian Augustinian, Johann von Staupitz, one ought to assume that Luther was familiar with and schooled in traditional Augustinian doctrines. However, this simple assumption cannot be made, for it would be an entirely superficial analysis.
In the late medieval era the scholastic theologians began to modify and deviate from Augustine's views on man's will and predestination.
James Mackinnon writes that "this divergence is already discernible throughout the intervening seven centuries - from the fifth to the twelfth." Among the schools of thought which deviated the most were the Scotus and Occamist. Mackinnon observes:
"At the same time, there was a tendency to tone down [Augustine's] doctrine of absolute predestination by emphasizing God's foreknowledge and to make the most of his idea of freedom of choice. This divergence shows itself in the Semi-Pelagian, or, as Loofs prefers to call it, Neo-Pelagian, trend of scholastic theology. . . .For the scholastic theologians, even those of them, like Scotus and Occam and his followers, who diverged farthest from Augustine's doctrine of salvation, professed to follow him before all other fathers as their master, and held the teaching of Pelagius to be heresy. Nevertheless, there is in the scholastic theologians, even the least divergent from Augustine, an element that does not entirely accord with his teaching on grace and free will, and this element becomes more marked in that of the later schoolmen, in whose teaching Luther was trained."
It seems that here Mackinnon damages any "Augustinian Paradigm" one might wish to assert, because, apparently, Luther was not schooled in "Old School" Augustinianism, but rather "New School." If this is indeed true, then perhaps Luther's writings must be seen in light of a pervasive Semi-Pelagianism rather than Augustinianism. Another question arises from Mackinnon's assertion; was Staupitz himself affected by this New School deviation? If so, then any influence he had on Luther would not be the true representation of Augustine, but deviations from it.
It seems clear, first of all, that Staupitz remained always a staunch Old School Augustinian. While he certainly utilized and interacted with the late scholastics, his reliance upon them was minimal.
Steinmetz observes, "While Staupitz quotes Thomas Aquinas and a host of scholastic authorities, their comments appear subordinate to Scripture understood from a strongly Augustinian point of view." He also comments, "The Bible and St. Augustine are all the school that Staupitz wants." It seems that Staupitz maintained this unswerving commitment to the Augustinian doctrines of grace even among his own order, who were influenced by the late scholastics. That his own order maintained no Augustinian consensus is evident in the fact that Staupitz had to correct Luther in his doctrines of grace.
While it seems safe to conclude, then, that Luther's close mentor and confidant had remained a faithful disciple of Augustine, the question still remains: was Luther mainly influenced in theology by Staupitz or other scholastics, as Mackinnon asserts?
Steinmetz writes, "The fact that Staupitz corrects Luther's theology and that Luther cites one of these corrections as fundamental to his new understanding of justification raises the interesting and important question whether for a period of time - at least, say, from 1509 to 1518 - Luther should be understood primarily as a disciple of John Staupitz."
Heiko Oberman certainly concludes that this is indeed the case. According to Steinmetz, he views Staupitz as "[T]he mediator of a late Augustinian school tradition to Luther," and himself writes that "at least one aspect of Luther's thought. . . was radical Augustinianism." Most persuasive of all, however, is Luther himself, when he rejects the late scholastics regarding his understanding of grace and free will. He wrote in 1519:
"It is certain that the so-called 'Modern Theologians,' in this point of grace and free will, agree with the Scotists and Thomists except for one whom all condemn, Gregory of Rimini. . . .Also these theologians made it absolutely and convincingly clear that they are worse than the Pelagians."
This admission by Luther makes it plain that he is not influenced in the least by the scholastics, contrary to Mackinnon's thesis, especially in regard to the issues of grace and free will. It seems best, in light of this statement, as well as in Luther's overwhelming gratitude to Staupitz in his remark that he had received "everything" from him, that Luther is indeed primarily a disciple of Johann Staupitz, and therefore of the "authentic" Augustinian tradition.
The implications of this fact upon the study of predestination are impressive. This demonstrates that first and foremost, the reader of Martin Luther must presuppose his adherence to the Augustinian doctrine of predestination, as promoted both by the great Saint, and later Johann Staupitz. In other words, the Augustinian Paradigm is clearly the more accurate picture of Luther the theologian.
For proponents of the Concord Paradigm, this proposition completely turns the tables.
While Lutheran scholars have contented themselves by insisting that Reformed theologians prove where Luther affirms double predestination, the situation is in reality reversed. The Reformed theologian, presupposing an Augustinian Paradigm, must insist that the Lutheran theologian prove where Luther self-consciously or otherwise parts ways from the teachings of St. Augustine.
While this perspective may be maintained so as to simply await a Lutheran response, the present work will now seek to answer Modern Lutheranism on its own (albeit illegitimate) terms.
That is, it shall now be demonstrated that not only did Martin Luther not depart from orthodox Augustinian teaching, he in actuality explicitly taught double predestination.
LUTHER'S "MAGNUM OPUS":
The most significant work of Martin Luther regarding the issues of God's sovereignty in grace is his 1525 work, The Bondage of the Will. Written in response to Erasmus of Rotterdam's Diatribe on Free Will, the book remains the greatest of Luther's works. When Luther contemplated answering Erasmus he was very aware that the issue centered around God's eternal predestination. In May of 1522 he wrote to an anonymous addressee,
"I knew before that Mosellanus agreed with Erasmus on predestination, for he is altogether an Erasmian. I, on the contrary, think that Erasmus know less, or seems to know less, about predestination than the schools of the sophists have known. There is no reason why I should fear my own downfall if I do not change my opinion. Erasmus is not to be feared either in this or in almost any other really important subject that pertains to Christian doctrine. Truth is mightier than eloquence, the Spirit stronger than genius, faith greater than learning. As Paul says: 'The foolishness of God is wiser than men.' The eloquence of Cicero was often beaten in court by less eloquent men; Julian was more eloquent than Augustine. In summary: Truth conquers lying eloquence, even though it only stammers, as it is written: 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected strength to destroy the enemy and the avenger. . . .Yes, give my greetings to Mosellanus, for I don't hold it against him that he follows Erasmus rather than me. Indeed, tell him to be boldly Erasmian. The time will come when he will think differently. Meanwhile, we must bear with the poor understanding of matters held by an excellent friend."
Luther at this time refused to write against Erasmus on his views, but rather decided to wait for Erasmus to initiate the debate. But from this it is clear that Luther understands the issues of disagreement between he and Erasmus as including the issue of predestination. He also here equates his position with those of Augustine, who was challenged by a more eloquent Julian.
Ultimately Erasmus did issue a challenge to Luther, under pressure from both his friends and enemies: A Diatribe on Free Will.
Luther's response was his The Bondage of the Will, in which he argues against Erasmus' notion that the will of man must cooperate with the will of God in the reception of the gospel. As the title suggests, Luther responded that the will of man is bound in sin, and therefore __completely unable to cooperate__ with God. Therefore, the sovereign grace of God must be __the sole determining factor__ in the salvation of men.
Different opinions have been offered of this work, but it can hardly be denied that Luther's claims are very boldly stated, as well as very Augustinian. Nonetheless, regarding Luther's view of predestination, Lewis Spitz writes,
"St. Augustine was a high double predestinarian. . . .Luther found assurance in the belief that the faith of the elect was determined by God's eternal counsel and did not depend upon man's own weak will, but, except for some polemical passages in his treatise On the Bondage of the Will in which he overstated his own case, he left the question of why some were lost open. . . ."
That Spitz makes this claim apart from any analysis of Luther is unfortunate, considering his good reputation as an historian. He here seems embarrassed for Luther by claiming he "overstated his own case." While this is quite an admission regarding the contents of Luther's work, Spitz's editorialism is simply untrue.
Did the great author himself believe he had "overstated" his case? On the contrary, in 1537, writing to Wolfgang Capito concerning a plan to publish his complete works, he states, "I would rather see them [his books] devoured. For I acknowledge none of them to be really a book of mine, except for perhaps the one On the Bound Will, and the Catechism."
It is clear that twelve years following its publication, Luther claimed the book as his most important, hardly as an overstatement of his case for predestination.
Furthermore, it would seem as though Luther held his "overstated" double predestinarian views not simply at the time of, or after, the publication of The Bondage of the Will, but years prior as well. In his Commentary on Romans, written around 1515, he wrote,
"All things whatever arise from, and depend on, the divine appointment; whereby it was foreordained who should receive the word of life, and who should disbelieve it; who should be delivered from their sins, and who should be hardened in them; and who should be justified and who should be condemned.
While Spitz thinks that Luther generally held a single predestinarian view, Oxford scholar Alister McGrath takes quite a different view. In fact, McGrath is a scholar who seriously disagrees with the thesis of this paper: namely, that Luther held a consistently Augustinian view of predestination and did not part from it. McGrath concludes that Luther did indeed part ways from Augustine. He writes,
"[Luther's] assertions that Wycliffe was correct to maintain that all things happen by absolute necessity, and that God is the author of all man's evil deeds, have proved serious obstacles to those who wish to suggest that Luther was merely restating an Augustinian or scriptural position....Luther explicitly teaches a doctrine of double predestination, whereas Augustine was reluctant to acknowledge such a doctrine, no matter how logically appropriate it might appear. In light of this quote McGrath certainly disagrees that Luther was a consistent Augustinian. McGrath actually reverses here the positions most Lutherans assume: that Augustine was the double predestinarian, while Luther taught single. Not so, claims McGrath, it is actually the very opposite!
This author would certainly take issue with McGrath in that it is his reading of Augustine that is questionable, but not his reading of Luther. However, that issue is not critical to the thesis of the present work. McGrath is correct, as shall now be demonstrated, that Luther's work without question teaches double predestination.
Luther begins The Bondage of the Will, after addressing some introductory matters, with a most appropriate question: that is, the nature of the Sovereignty of God. Section IV of Chapter 2 is entitled, "Of the Necessitating Foreknowledge of God." In this chapter Luther sets out to demonstrate and prove that all things are controlled directly by the counsel and will of God: what he calls "necessitating foreknowledge." That is, "God foreknows nothing contingently, but. . .He foresees, purposes, and does all things according to His own immutable, eternal and infallible will."
Not only is this the case, but Luther also says that it is "fundamentally necessary and wholesome for Christians" to know and trust this sovereignty, and where it is not known, "There can be no faith, nor any worship of God. To lack this knowledge is really to be ignorant of God - and salvation is notoriously incompatible with such ignorance."
His justification for saying this is quite simple: "If you hesitate to believe, or are too proud to acknowledge, that God foreknows and wills all things, not contingently, but necessarily and immutably, how can you believe, trust and rely on His promises?" This logic is refreshingly carried through by Luther:
"If, then, we are taught and believe that we ought to be ignorant of the necessary foreknowledge of God and the necessity of events, Christian faith is utterly destroyed, and the promises of God and the whole gospel fall to the ground completely; for the Christian's chief and only comfort in every adversity lies in knowing that God does not lie, but brings all things to pass immutably, and that His will cannot be resisted, altered, or impeded."
It is this foundational chapter in Luther's work that provides the basis for the rest of his conclusions.
While Luther analyzes many different arguments, and exegetes hundreds of passages of Scripture, the Sovereignty of God is the fundamental truth by which his conclusions are reached.
It is from this that he continues by asserting God's absolute control over man's salvation through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. It is from the Sovereignty of God that he also argues for God's control over the reprobation of the wicked by means of sovereign control, working evil through them, and handing them over to their sins.
Luther argues against the Erasmian thesis of the cooperative will on the grounds that the human will is bound by sin as a result of the fall of man.
Erasmus fully realized the implications of Luther's strong statement of God's sovereignty. He writes that if this teaching of God's sovereignty is proclaimed, "Who will try and reform his life?"
Luther lashes back, "I reply, Nobody! Nobody can! God has no time for your practitioners of self-reformation, for they are hypocrites. The elect, who fear God, will be reformed by the Holy Spirit; the rest will perish unreformed."
Erasmus pushes the point: "Who will believe that God loves him?"
Luther stands his ground: "I reply, Nobody! Nobody can! But the elect shall believe it; and the rest shall perish without believing it, raging and blaspheming, as you describe them. So there will be some who believe it."
This is the central point Erasmus makes in his Diatribe, that God's sovereignty should not be emphasized to the point that the freedom of man's will is usurped.
Luther fires volley after volley, arguing that unless the sovereign God changes the heart of man, none shall accept the gospel. He writes:
"God has surely promised His grace to the humbled: that is, to those who mourn over and despair of themselves. But a man cannot be thoroughly humbled till he realises [sic] that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers, counsels, efforts, will and works, and depends absolutely on the will, counsel, pleasure and work of Another - God alone."
Thus Luther affirms the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation. In this same passage, Luther also goes on to speak of those who are not elect, that is, the reprobate. He realizes that his theology will not allow him to speak only of the elect, but of the non-elect as well. He writes:
"Thus God conceals His eternal mercy and loving kindness beneath eternal wrath, His righteousness beneath unrighteousness. Now, the highest degree of faith is to believe that He is merciful, though he saves so few and damns so many; to believe that He is just, though of His own will He makes us perforce proper subjects for damnation, and seems (in Erasmus' words) 'to delight in the torments of poor wretches and to be a fitter object for hate than for love.' If I could by any means understand how this same God, who makes such a show of wrath and unrighteousness, can yet be merciful and just, there would be no need for faith. But as it is, the impossibility of understanding makes room for the exercise of faith when these things are preached and published; just as, when God kills, faith in life is exercised in death."
Thus Luther exhibits no qualms about following his theology to it's logical conclusion.
Time and time again he makes this known. He uses the specific examples of Pharoah, Judas, and Esau to prove his case that God sovereignly, in the counsel of His own will, determined to harden and reprobate them. At this point it is best to allow Luther to express his own views.
"Here, God Incarnate says: 'I would, and thou wouldst not.' God Incarnate, I repeat, was sent for this purpose, to will, say, do, suffer, and offer to all men, all that is necessary for salvation; albeit He offends many who, being abandoned or hardened by God's secret will of Majesty, do not receive Him thus willing, speaking, doing and offering. . . .It belongs to the same God Incarnate to weep, lament, and groan over the perdition of the ungodly, though that will of Majesty purposely leaves and reprobates some to perish. Nor is it for us to ask why He does so, but to stand in awe of God, Who can do, and wills to do such things."
"On your view [Erasmus], God will elect nobody, and no place for election will be left; all that is left is freedom of will to heed or defy the long-suffering and wrath of God. But if God is thus robbed of His power and wisdom in election, what will He be but just that idol, Chance, under whose sway all things happen at random? Eventually, we shall come to this: that men may be saved and damned without God's knowledge! For He will not have marked out by sure election those that should be saved and those that should be damned; He will merely have set before all men His general long-suffering, which forbears and hardens, together with His chastening and punishing mercy, and left it to them to choose whether they would be saved or damned, while He Himself, perchance, goes off, as Homer says, to an Ethiopian banquet!"
This passage remarkably demonstrates Luther's purpose in The Bondage of the Will. Here he states that the entire problem with the theology of Erasmus is that it makes its case for free will by robbing God of His sovereignty.
The entire problem with Erasmus is that on his terms God would not mark out, predestine, and know those among the elect and reprobate.
A single predestinarian may at this point claim that God marks out and knows those whom he elects, but not the remaining number.
The simple question is then how God elects any in an informed manner? How does God know He has elected all He wants to elect? This is to say, that unless God marks out and knows both the elect and reprobate, His sovereignty as well as omniscience suffers. Thus, Luther chastises Erasmus for promoting a relinquishing of God's sovereignty. He writes that Erasmus has been deceived by the "Mistress Reason" and that
"Reason will insist that these are not the acts of a good and merciful God. They are too far beyond her grasp; and she cannot bring herself to believe that the God Who acts and judges thus is good; she wants to shut out faith, and to see, and feel, and understand, how it is that He is good and not cruel. She would certainly understand, were it said of God that He hardens none and damns none, but has mercy on all and saves all, so that hell is destroyed, and the fear of death may be put away, and no future punishment need be dreaded!"
"[I]f God foreknew that Judas would be a traitor, Judas became a traitor of necessity, and it was not in the power of Judas or of any creature to act differently, or to change his will, from that which God had foreseen. It is true that Judas acted willingly, and not under compulsion, but his willing was the work of God, brought into being by His omnipotence, like everything else. . . .If you do not allow that the thing which God foreknows is necessarily brought to pass, you take away faith and the fear of God, you undermine all the Divine promises and threatenings, and so you deny Deity itself!"
This is a strong statement in favor of maintaining God's sovereign will over even evil events and actions such as Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus.
Luther understands the initial offensiveness of the doctrine he teaches, but holds that though it may be difficult, God must be reverenced and believed on the subject. He states, "Doubtless it gives the greatest possible offence [sic] to common sense or natural reason, that God. . .should of His own mere will abandon, harden and damn men."[47
After admitting this to be a great stumbling block, even for him, he states that "None the less, the arrow of conviction has remained, fastened deep in the hearts of learned and unlearned alike. . .that if the foreknowledge and omnipotence of God are admitted, then we must be under necessity."
"You may be worried that it is hard to defend the mercy and equity of God in damning the undeserving, that is, ungodly persons, who, being born in ungodliness, can by no means avoid being ungodly, and staying so, and being damned, but are compelled by natural necessity to sin and perish; as Paul says: 'We were all the children of wrath, even as others' (Eph.2.3), created such by God Himself from a seed that had been corrupted by the sin of the one man, Adam. But here God must be reverenced and held in awe, as being most merciful to those whom He justifies and saves in their own utter unworthiness; and we must show some measure of deference to His Divine wisdom by believing Him just when to us He seems unjust."
It is here that two very important considerations must be addressed. Opponents of the doctrine of double predestination often object on the grounds that the doctrine makes God into an "arbitrary" being - having no just reason to choose one over another. The other is an objection that the doctrine makes God to be the author of evil. These two objections Luther himself addresses quite adequately.
Is it true that upon the basis of double predestination God becomes a creature of arbitrariness, not having a just reason for choosing one man over another? Why did God choose to harden some in their sins and not alter their evil wills? "This question touches on the secrets of His Majesty, where 'His judgments are past finding out' (cf. Rom.11.33). It is not for us to inquire into these mysteries, but to adore them." Luther surely recognizes an element of mystery in the doctrine of predestination, as did virtually all the Reformers. But Luther goes on to address the issue in a more satisfying manner.
The same reply should be given to those who ask: Why did God let Adam fall, and why did He create us all tainted with the same sin, when He might have kept Adam safe, and might have created us of other material, or of seed that had first been cleansed? God is He for Whose will no cause or ground may be laid down as its rule and standard; for nothing is on a level with it or above it, but it is itself the rule for all things. If any rule or standard, or cause or ground, existed for it, it could no longer be the will of God. What God wills is not right because He ought, or was bound, so to will; on the contrary, what takes place must be right, because He so wills it. Causes and grounds are laid down for the will of the creature, but not for the will of the Creator - unless you set another Creator over him!
Luther himself, in a skillful approach, answers the objection of arbitrariness. The ground upon which the objection must be brought is that God is bound to some greater rule of equity than His own infallible will. Luther articulates that the actual rule of equity God is bound to is His own will. That is, God does whatsoever pleases Him, and because it pleases Him, it is by definition equitable and right. While sometimes men may not understand fully the justice and righteousness of God's ways, Luther explains that God's ways are often mysterious to fallible and sinful men, and that He must be "reverenced and held in awe."
The second objection regarding double predestination stems ultimately from a misunderstanding of it. Many caricatures of the doctrine see God as electing and reprobating men in eternity past, with no reference to man as sinner, but merely as creature. Thus, when God reprobated men from eternity, he had to then set His plan into action by then creating them sinful, (that is, create their sin afresh) and actively incline their hearts to wickedness so that he could punish them eternally. This particular doctrine is best called symmetrical predestination, in that God reprobated in the same active fashion as he elects. That is, as God must create a new, righteous, heart in the elect man, God must also create a new, wicked heart in the reprobate man. Very few theologians, especially Reformers, held this particular view.
The view that Luther maintains is also the view of the other major Reformers, including John Calvin, as well as earlier St. Augustine and Johann Staupitz. This view may be called asymmetrical predestination, as it pictures God electing and reprobating in eternity past with reference to man as sinner, not as creature.
Therefore, when God had before him the entire human race, he viewed mankind as fallen.
This is why Luther constantly writes that God "damns the undeserving" as well as "elects the undeserving."
God, in His act of election and reprobation, saw both kinds of men as "undeserving."
The implications of this are such that God had no need to create the reprobate with fresh evil in them, as if it were possible for Him to be the author of evil, but rather, His decree of reprobation was passive. God simply "passed over" the reprobate in the exercise of His saving mercy.
One may wonder how this differs from "single" predestination. Quite simply, in single predestination there is no "decree of reprobation," while in asymmetrical double predestination there is, albeit a passive decree.
It is the opinion of this paper that the positions of Martin Luther are in no way compatible with any scheme of "single" predestination.
Luther at every turn affirms the sovereignty of God in both election and reprobation, as well as in everything that comes to pass. That is, God's sovereignty is the foundation upon which all his argument flows.
If the very candid statements by Luther so far are not enough to convince the skeptic, nowhere does Luther so skillfully defend the doctrine of double predestination as in the following (lengthy) passage:
"The Diatribe gathers its second absurdity from Mistress Reason - 'human' reason, so-called: to wit, that on my view blame must attach, not to the vessel, but to the potter, especially in view of the fact that He is a potter who creates this clay as well as moulds it. 'Here (says the Diatribe) the vessel is cast into eternal fire, a fate which it in no way deserved, except that it was not under its own control.' Nowhere does the Diatribe more openly betray itself than here. You hear it saying (in different words, admittedly, but with identical meaning) just what Paul makes the ungodly say: 'Why doth He find fault? Who shall resist His will?' This is what Reason cannot receive nor bear. This is what offended so many men of outstanding ability, men who have won acceptance down so many ages."
"At this point, ___they demand that God should act according to man's idea of right___, and do what seems proper to themselves - or else that He should cease to be God! . . . .Flesh does not deign to give God glory to the extent of believing Him to be just and good when He speaks and acts above and beyond the definitions of Justinian's Code, or the fifth book of Aristotle's Ethics! No, let the Majesty that created all things give way before a worthless fragment of His own creation! Let the boot be on the other foot, and the Corycian cavern fear those that look into it! So it is 'absurd' to condemn one who cannot avoid deserving damnation. And because of this 'absurdity' it must be false that God has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and hardens whom He will. He must be brought to order! Rules must be laid down for Him, and ___He is not to damn any but those who have deserved it by our reckoning___! In this way, Paul and his simile are satisfactorily answered; so Paul must presumably recall it, and allow that it has no force, and remodel it; because the Potter in question (this is the Diatribe's explanation) makes the vessel unto dishonour on the grounds of merit preceding, just as He rejected some of the Jews by reason of unbelief, and received Gentiles by reason of their faith. But if God works in such a way as to regard merit, why do the objectors grumble and complain? Why do they say: 'Why doth He find fault? Who resists His will?' Why need Paul restrain them? For who is surprised, let alone shocked or inclined to object, if one is damned who deserved it? Moreover, what becomes of the power of the Potter to make what vessel He will, if He is controlled by merits and rules, and is not allowed to make as He would, but is required to make as He should?"
"....Suppose we imagine that God ought to be a God who regards merit in those that are to be damned. Must we not equally maintain and allow that He should also regard merit in those that are to be saved? If we want to follow Reason, it is as unjust to reward the undeserving as to punish the undeserving. So let us conclude that God ought to justify on the grounds of merit preceding; or else we shall be declaring Him to be unjust. One who delights in evil and wicked men, and who invites and crowns their impiety with rewards!"
"But then woe to us poor wretches with such a God! For who shall be saved? Behold, therefore, the wickedness of the human heart! When God saves the undeserving without merit, yes, and justifies the ungodly, with all their great demerit, man's heart does not accuse God of iniquity, nor demand to know why He wills to do so, although by its own reckoning such action is most unprincipled; but because what God does is in its own interest, and welcome, it considers it just and good. But when He damns the undeserving, because this is against its interest, it finds the action iniquitous and intolerable; and here man's heart protests, and grumbles, blasphemes. So you see that the Diatribe and its friends do not judge in this matter according to equity, but according to their passionate regard for their own interest."
"....[I]f God who crowns the undeserving pleases you, you ought not be displeased when He damns the undeserving! If He is just in the one case, He cannot but be just in the other. In the one case, He pours out grace and mercy upon the unworthy; in the other, He pours our wrath and severity upon the undeserving; in both He transgresses the bounds of equity in man's sight, yet is just and true in His own sight. How it is just for Him to crown the unworthy is incomprehensible now; but we shall see it when we reach the place where He will be no more an object of faith, but we shall with open face behold Him. So too, it is at present imcomprehensible how it is just for Him to damn the undeserving; yet faith will continue to believe that it is so, till the Son of Man shall be revealed."
The author of these words might well have drafted the Articles of Dordt, the Westminster Confession of Faith, or any other historic Calvinist creed. In this quote are found a summary of all that has been said thus far. Luther addresses every element: election (active), reprobation (passive), God's justice (anti-arbitrariness), and God's sovereignty.
The Modern Lutheran statement on predestination states that, "[We] reject that God does not want everybody to be saved, but that merely by an arbitrary counsel, purpose, and will, without regard for their sin, God has predestined certain people to damnation so that they cannot be saved."
Luther and every Calvinist would agree on at least one point: God's counsels nor purposes are never arbitrary. They are righteous and good because God Himself makes them, and God does not reprobate without regard for their sin. God's reprobation presupposes their sin.
Regarding God's desire for all men to be saved, Luther himself objects. In response to the claim that 'God desires all men to be saved,' and that 'Christ died for all men,' he writes that:
"These points and others like them can be refuted as easily as the first one. For these verses must always be understood as pertaining to the elect only, as the apostle says in 2 Tim. 2:10 'everything for the sake of the elect.' For in an absolute sense Christ did not die for all, because he says: 'This is my blood which is poured out for you' and 'for many' - He does not say: for all - 'for the forgiveness of sins' (Mark 14:24, Matt. 26:28)"
Something has gone wrong in Lutheranism. It has been more than adequately shown that regarding the doctrine of the eternal predestination of God Martin Luther taught things directly contrary to the standards of Modern Lutheranism. Something very clearly happened in Lutheran doctrine between 1546 and 1580. In the span between Luther's death and the Formula of Concord a radical shift came in "Lutheran" theology. While it is beyond the scope of this paper to examine exactly what did happen, enough has been said to demonstrate that something did indeed happen.
Luther never taught any such doctrine as "single" predestination. The concept was clearly very foreign to him, as it required the suspension of God's sovereignty over the reprobation of man. Such a suspension to Luther was the "denial of Deity itself."
Luther understood that in terms of God's predestination, the principle is indeed "double or nothing." Either God is sovereign over all things which comes to pass, or He is not sovereign at all.
Modern Lutheranism, however, treats reprobation in an almost agnostic fashion. Recall the quote from Robert Hoerber: "[T]he 'unreasonable' doctrine of election to salvation (but not to damnation) is a particularly comforting part of the gospel message."
No explanation is given by Hoerber as to how it is possible (indeed, he admits that it is "unreasonable") for God to maintain sovereignty over election yet not over reprobation.
One can almost anticipate Luther's response that "the Christian's chief and only comfort in every adversity lies in knowing that God does not lie, but brings all things to pass immutably, and that His will cannot be resisted, altered, or impeded."
Hoerber's supposedly "comforting" single predestinarian view is thus rejected by Luther himself. Comfort is only drawn through faith in God's sovereignty, not faith in His relinquishing of it.
Though Martin Luther and other Reformers like Calvin and Zwingli may have differed over many issues, such as the regulating principle of worship, the nature of the sacraments, the use of law in civil government, and the like, they never had a public disagreement over their respective doctrines of predestination.
In an age of controversy, this fact is quite remarkable, especially as the doctrine remains the most controversial of all doctrines. If one reads the doctrine as presented by the Reformers, a single, uniform, voice will be found: God is sovereign over heaven and hell, salvation and damnation, life and death.
The health of the church today requires re-thinking on the issue of God's sovereignty. With semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism the norm rather than the exception in the modern church, the tough issues must once again be grappled with. There must be another reformation.
Perhaps this should start with a "rediscovery" of the doctrines of times long past. Perhaps there must be a revival of reading ancient documents and treatises to discover the secrets long obscured. The church must see its place in history through the light of the past. The author, however, does not speak now of that ancient light of St. Augustine, now dimmed and wearied with age. God continues to raise up new lights for the continual reformation of His church. The light now shining is not Augustine, but Martin Luther himself.
Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura, Soli Deo Gloria
Original article with references found at the following URL:
Double Or Nothing: Martin Luther's Doctrine of Predestination Brian G. Mattson | http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/double_luther.html | 11,450 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999989 |
World's Most Corrupt Leaders
Corrupt leaders have plagued the world since the creation of organized societies. In the modern era, this has escalated as more money and wealth have circulated around the globe. Corrupt politicians the world over, tainted by the power they wield, cannot resist the opportunity to get their hands on some dirty cash.
Political leaders who enact the most egregious abuses of power regularly make use of mechanisms such as embezzlement, money laundering, and extortion. Those who gain a few thousand may get away with it, but for the highest profile cases, where hundreds of millions of dollars go missing, keeping it a secret is often more difficult than the fraudulent action itself.
What Is A Corrupt Leader?
A corrupt leader is anyone in a position of power within a government that uses their influence to illegally benefit themselves or someone else. This benefit could be in the form of money, increased influence, or political favors. A common example is embezzlement; where leaders appropriate funds from public projects or schemes and funnel them into their own pockets.
Acts of corruption represent an affront to the ideals of a healthy democracy and therefore, corrupt leaders become disgraced in their countries, with some even facing formal corruption charges.
What Do You Call A Corrupt Government?
The formal term for a corrupt government used in political science is a kleptocracy. Corruption is present in most governments across the world, occurring at higher levels in some and lower levels in others. However, this doesn’t mean every country can be classed as a kleptocracy. What sets kleptocracies apart from other governments is the lack of public accountability and legal prosecution for acts of corruption.
Those who indulge in corrupt activities are called kleptocrats and they are the main beneficiaries of their actions. However, a key feature of kleptocracies is the presence of cronies. Cronies are the close allies and friends of kleptocrats who are deliberately appointed to positions of power in order to support their regime. In return for their support, cronies also reap rewards such as money, fame, or power.
What Is Corruption and Its Types?
Corruption takes many forms, but at its most basic it is an illegal abuse of power that takes advantage of public trust to benefit an individual or small minority. Corruption is seen as a disease within societies that not only undermines public trust in governments but also perpetuates poverty and other social ills. The eradication of corruption is seen by organizations like the UN as a major factor in creating more equal systems of wealth and increasing human rights standards.
Perhaps the most common type of corruption is embezzlement, as described above, which comes hand-in-hand with money laundering. Money laundering is the process of hiding the origin of illegal funds to evade being caught. For example, if a person gained a large sum of money through embezzlement, this sudden income could look suspicious to the authorities that deal with corruption. To make it more likely to go undetected, this person could set up a fake business to be paid by fake customers using the embezzled funds. By doing this, the income looks legitimate.
Corruption isn’t always primarily about money; many countries are plagued by political corruption that focuses on power and influence. Rigged elections, where the outcome is already predetermined as a result of bribery and voter fraud, as well as cronyism are both examples of how power can be abused to benefit a certain group of people. If unchallenged, this can lead to heavily unfair societies that rarely see any change and are overseen by dictators with absolute power.
Most Corrupt Leaders and Why
Transparency International is a non-profit organization that aims to tackle and document corruption across the world. It regularly produces assessments of countries, their levels of corruption and, in 2004, published a list of the most corrupt leaders in the world.
The list is based on the amount various individuals embezzled whilst holding positions of power in their respective countries. Of course, this list only includes those who have been caught and there is a chance that others who have embezzled more remain unknown. For up-to-date information on corruption in countries as a whole, visit their list for 2022.
1. Mohamed Suharto - President of Indonesia (1967–1998)
Funds Embezzled: $25 billion
Mohamed Suharto was the second president of Indonesia and served for a record 31 years from 1967 to 1998. Suharto oversaw a military dictatorship, which evolved into an authoritarian regime built on his own cult of personality, and ended his rule with a personal net worth of $38 billion.
Following an economic downturn in 1997 that Indonesia was slow to recover from, prominent politicians began blaming Suharto and protests began in earnest that year. After mounting pressure and desertion by his political allies in May 1998, Suharto resigned.
He has been investigated for corruption numerous times since his resignation and was accused of embezzling $571 million of government funds through various personal charity foundations. Other lawsuits in Indonesia have sought to order Suharto to repay up to $1.5 billion in scholarship funds that supposedly disappeared during his tenure.
Suharto was never prosecuted, partly because he was said to be too ill to stand trial but also because he was still well-regarded by a large proportion of the population. He died on 27th January 2008 and remains a controversial figure in the country; some regard him as a hero whereas others see him as the main source of corruption in Indonesia.
2. Ferdinand Marcos - President of the Philippines (1972–1986)
Funds Embezzled: $7.5 billion
Ferdinand Marcos entered politics in the late 1940s after World War 2. He ran for election in 1965 and won, partially due to his claims of bravery and achievement during the war. During his second term from 1969-1972, Marcos oversaw a debt crisis resulting from his policy of high public expenditure on infrastructure projects. This led to civil interest and rising political opposition which caused Marcos to declare martial law, placing him in sole charge of the country.
This period lasted until 1986 when his reign as leader ended. In 1986, Marcos was forced to call a snap election due to his rising unpopularity and coup threats, which ended in complex indecision as various vote counts declared different winners. A revolution followed and Marcos was forced to flee to Hawaii.
Marcos took with him around $717 million in cash, numerous crates of valuable physical objects, gold, and deposit slips totaling $124 million. All of this was amassed illegally during his time in power. In all, he is thought to have stolen $5-$10 billion from the Philippines Central Bank. He died in January 1995 without facing justice.
3. Viktor Yanukovych - President/Prime Minister of Ukraine (2002-2014)
Funds Embezzled: $5 billion
Viktor Yanukovych held the positions of Prime Minister and President of Ukraine variously from 2002 to 2014. During his time in office, he became increasingly sympathetic to his affiliation with Russia and represented the interests of big business in Ukraine. After the Ukrainian parliament voted to sign documents to more closely tie the country to the EU, Yanukovych instead decided to reject the vote at the last minute under pressure from Russia.
This angered the majority of the Ukrainian populace, who were a mostly anti-Russian influence, and led to the Euromaidan protests. Yanukovych fled to Russia and entered a self-imposed exile. On 22nd February 2014, the Ukrainian parliament voted in favor of his impeachment, leading to the discovery of his embezzlement activities.
Amongst a host of corrupt actions, Yanukovych was found to have used $220 million of state funds to set up a private communication company, stole $1.5 billion in assets from the state including property, and generally used public funds for his own personal enjoyment.
4. Mobutu Sese Seko - President of Zaire (1965–1997)
Funds Embezzled: $5 billion
Mobutu Sese Seko was president of Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 1965 to 1997. After gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, Zaire went through a period of political turmoil during which Seko was the Chief of Staff of the Army. With the backing of the USA, Seko overthrew the elected left-wing leader Patrice Lumumba and installed his own autocratic government.
Known for his extravagant shopping sprees in Paris, speculation about his corruption was never far from the truth. Conservative estimates state that Seko embezzled $5 billion directly from the state’s purse, using the money to fund a luxurious lifestyle and buy gifts for his cronies. He is considered to be one of the richest world leaders of all time and was eventually deposed by a military coup in 1997. He died months later of prostate cancer without being prosecuted.
5. Sani Abacha - President of Nigeria (1993–1998)
Funds Embezzled: $2-$5 billion
Like many of the people on this list, Sani Abacha began his career as a military officer and became leader of Nigeria after seizing power in 1993 following a coup d’etat. He ruled for a shorter period of time than others due to his death in 1998, overseeing a strengthening of Nigeria’s economy but a violent approach to discipline.
Because of Nigeria’s unprecedented economic growth, the amount of money flowing through the country dramatically increased. This presented an opportunity for Abacha that he couldn’t resist. By setting up fake government funding requests, Abacha directly stole money sent from Nigeria’s central bank, laundered it abroad, and deposited it in offshore bank accounts. Estimates vary but in Jersey alone, they discovered an account holding $267 million linked to Abacha.
6. Najib Razak - Prime Minister of Malaysia (2009-2018)
Funds Embezzled: $4.5 billion
Najib Razak had been a politician in Malaysia for decades before he was elected as prime minister in 2009. During his time in power, he opened the country to more foreign investment and pursued a strategy of imprisoning his political opponents.
Due to his links with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad investment firm, which had been accused of embezzling money from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, Razak began to face rising criticism in 2013.
After he lost a general election in 2018, he was arrested by Malaysian anti-corruption investigators. In all, Razak was found guilty of embezzling $1 billion from Malaysia’s wealth fund with more expected held in assets. He was jailed in 2022 for 12 years and fined $45 million.
7. Slobodan Milosevic - President of Serbia/Yugoslavia (1989–2000)
Funds Embezzled: $1 billion
Milosevic was a key figure during the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. First rising to power as the president of Serbia in 1989, Milosevic became the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1997. The politics of Yugoslavia was, and still is, incredibly complex with multiple ethnic groups involved in conflict with each other. Milosevic supported ethnic Serbs and aided in negotiating an end to the Bosnian War in 1995.
He was put on trial for war crimes by the UN whilst still in power in 1999, eventually losing power in the 2000 elections. He was arrested soon after by Yugoslav authorities on charges of corruption and embezzlement with his trial lasting five years. He died in prison in 2006.
8. Jean-Claude Duvalier - President of Haiti (1971–1986)
Funds Embezzled: $800 million
Jean Claude Duvalier was part of the Duvalier dynasty, a family that had ruled the Caribbean island of Haiti from 1957. Duvalier succeeded his father in 1971 following his death and maintained the violent, autocratic style of governance that had preceded him. Thousands died or were tortured under the rule of Duvalier, whilst he lived a lavish lifestyle in the faces of Haitians that were amongst the most impoverished in the world.
After a popular revolution in 1986, Duvalier was forced to flee in exile to France. He remained there until 2011 when he returned to Haiti claiming he wanted to help build the country. He was arrested two days later and charged with corruption and embezzlement but died in 2014 before he could be prosecuted.
9. Alberto Fujimori - President of Peru (1990–2000)
Funds Embezzled: $600 million
Fujimori was elected to office in 1990 and almost immediately implemented vast neo-liberal economic reforms. He quickly revealed dictator-like tendencies after he enacted a self-coup to oust opposition in the congress so that he could govern unopposed. He also made use of a death squad to take out political rivals and torture those connected with them.
Fujimori was re-elected twice but both are heavily disputed on grounds of election rigging. Soon after his third win in 2000, Fujimori’s involvement in bribery was made public and he fled to Japan to offer his resignation as president. Upon his return to the country to run for president once more in 2005, he was arrested within hours. He was tried for human rights abuses and embezzlement, found guilty, and sentenced to 32 years in prison.
10. Pavlo Lazarenko - President of Ukraine (1996–1997)
Funds Embezzled: $200 million
Lazarenko was born into a peasant family in the 1950s when Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union. He served in the Red Army and worked in agriculture, eventually gaining employment with regional agriculture departments. He was made Vice Prime Minister in 1995 and then swiftly Prime Minister in 1996.
He lasted only a year in power but managed to oversee a chaotic, violent and highly corrupt period in Ukraine instigated almost entirely by himself. He fled Ukraine in 1998 after losing the favor of the then-president and ended up in the United States. Since then he has been charged in absentia with multiple corruption charges, including extortion of prominent business owners and embezzlement from his time in charge of gas imports. He still resides in the USA.
11. Arnoldo Aleman - President of Nicaragua (1997–2002)
Funds Embezzled: $100 million
Aleman was a popular mayor in Nicaragua before becoming president. In 1996, he decided to run for president with an anti-socialist stance beating the revolutionary Ortega in an election many disputed for fraud. He served a full term but his successor soon sought to charge him with corruption following public allegations.
It was found that Aleman repeatedly used the government credit card to pay for expensive personal items, in addition to the embezzlement of millions to Panamanian bank accounts. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003 but this was overturned, to the surprise of lawyers in Nicaragua, in 2009. It is suspected he worked a deal with Daniel Ortega for his release in return for not standing against him.
12. Joseph Estrada - President of the Philippines (1998–2001)
Funds Embezzled: $80 million
Estrada was a successful and popular film actor in the Philippines long before his political career. He used his popularity to slowly rise through the political ranks, becoming president in 1998 after winning a large majority.
A close friend of Estrada alleged in public in 2000 that Estrada had paid him bribes worth millions of dollars. This led to outrage and an impeachment case brought against Estrada that ended in controversy after the court voted not to admit some key evidence. Hours later, mass protests began and Estrada lost all political support leaving him to resign. He was detained until 2007 awaiting a trial verdict but was pardoned in October of that year.
A Snapshot Of Global Corruption
Corruption was a huge problem throughout the second half of the 20th century. Many countries were gaining independence, power vacuums sucked in individuals with bad intentions, and there lacked any robust national-level anti-corruption watchdogs. As countries in Africa, South America, and Asia grappled with their systems of governance, many managed to settle into relatively transparent power structures.
And this is reflected in the latest Transparency International global corruption report. According to them, corruption levels have stabilized, remaining the same for the past ten years after a period of falling corruption from 2000-2010. A reduction in anti-corruption measures has meant that even in established democratic countries, corruption persists at all levels of governance. What remains clear is that areas with dictators, autocrats, or one-party systems in place will continue to see the most rampant levels of corruption.
Transparency International is an organization that tracks and reports on global instances of corruption in politics, education, and other sectors. In 2004, they reported on (as of then) the rankings of the world's most corrupt leaders2, by order of funds embezzled. They have not updated this list since 2004, with most of their reports focusing on whole countries rather than individual leaders. They do regularly update the list of the world's most corrupt countries.
If reading about the devious nature of governance has interested you, then check out our article on the world’s most notorious despots.
Sources: Transparency International
Name | Position | Funds embezzled1 |
1. Mohamed Suharto | President of Indonesia (1967–1998) | $25 billion |
2. Ferdinand Marcos | President of the Philippines (1972–1986) | $7.5 billion |
3. Viktor Yanukovych | President/Prime Minister of Ukraine (2002–2014) | $5 billion |
4. Mobutu Sese Seko | President of Zaire (1965–1997) | $5 billion |
5. Sani Abacha | President of Nigeria (1993–1998) | $2-$5 billion |
6. Najib Razak | President of Malaysia (2009–2018) | $4.5 billion |
7. Slobodan Milosevic | President of Serbia/Yugoslavia (1989–2000) | $1 billion |
8. Jean-Claude Duvalier | President of Haiti (1971–1986) | $800 million |
9. Alberto Fujimori | President of Peru (1990–2000) | $600 million |
10. Pavlo Lazarenko | Prime Minister of Ukraine (1996–1997) | $200 million |
11. Arnoldo Alemán | President of Nicaragua (1997–2002) | $100 million |
12. Joseph Estrada | President of the Philippines (1998–2001) | $80 million |
The Bribe Payers' Index | Political Statistics | Women Political Leaders —Historical and Current |
About the author | http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921295.html | 3,924 | Politics | 3 | en | 0.999989 |
By Titilalayo Solarin
We could simply say, “How do we help our children reach their full intellectual potential?”
In the first five years of a child’s life, the brain develops at the most rapid pace ever. Studies have shown that its intellectual capacity continues to grow until brain maturity at about the age of 16.
Some people feel intelligence is fixed while others believe it is nurtured. Nevertheless, we work so hard to ensure our kids attend the best schools. We also provide everything needed books, toys including extra tutoring classes to ensure they do excellently well.
Let’s discuss other great ways to boost the IQ of a growing child.
▪ Let the children play – Play is the work of a child. Free play helps the brain make all the right connections and this aids active learning.
▪Adequate Sleep – Sleep improves mental health. Children need at least eight hours of sleep daily for their bodies and minds to rest and develop. (You wonder why infants grow so fast)
▪Good Nutrition: Breastfeeding for the first year helps to provide nutrients that aids proper brain development. A complete and healthy diet for growing children is so important.
▪Avoid too much screen time: Children need human Interaction and active learning opportunities to increase their brain’s capacity to learn.
▪ Read- reading to and with your child improves their vocabulary, reading and writing skills.
▪Music- Researchers say music instruction helps to speed up the development of a child’s brain. Allow your child learn a musical instrument.
Adequate Sleep – Sleep improves mental health. Children need at least eight hours of sleep daily for their bodies and minds to rest and develop. (You wonder why infants grow so fast)
▪Learn a new language- Many brain studies show that young children who are exposed to more than one language have greater capacity to learn. Let’s start with our local dialect.
▪Exercise and Sports: It helps to increase the blood flow to the brain. It helps children learn faster.
▪Happy Home- A happy child comes from a happy home. They can sense love, joy, fear, unhappiness etc. These feelings affect their mental wellbeing. So let’s raise children in happy homes.
▪Praises and encouragement: Praise your child’s effort at all times. Be their greatest fan, encourage them to be the best.
▪Educational and Didactic materials/Toys: young children are explorers, always learning something new. Provide only toys that make them think and involves the use of all five senses.
So, mums have you tried any of these tips before? we would love to hear from you.
Please drop a comment below or email us at [email protected]
Titi Solarin, is an early years enthusiast and a Montessori directress whose discipline is teaching children between ages of zero to six. She can be reached on @amazingearlyyears on Instagram. | http://fabmumng.com/11-easy-ways-to-boost-your-childs-iq/ | 636 | Family | 4 | en | 0.999987 |
Albinism is a rare genetic condition that causes the lack of pigment in skin, hair, and eyes, sometimes accompanied by visual impairment. Different types of albinism are caused by various gene mutations.
According to the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, about 1 in 18,000 to 20,000 people in the United States have a form of albinism. Read on to learn more.
Albinism is an inherited disorder that’s present at birth. Children have a chance of being born with albinism if both of their parents have albinism or both of their parents carry the gene for albinism.
The cause of albinism is a defect in one of several genes that produce or distribute melanin, the pigment that gives skin, eyes, and hair their coloring. The defect may result in the absence of melanin production or a reduced amount of melanin production.
For most types of albinism, both parents must carry the gene in order for their child to develop the condition. Most people with albinism have parents who are only carriers of the gene and don’t have symptoms of the condition.
Other types of albinism, including one that only affects the eyes, mostly occur when a birthing parent passes the gene for albinism on to a child assigned male at birth.
Different gene defects characterize the numerous types of albinism. Types of albinism include:
- oculocutaneous albinism (OCA)
- ocular albinism
- Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome
- Chediak-Higashi syndrome
- Griscelli syndrome
Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA)
There are several subtypes of OCA.
OCA1 is caused by a defect in the tyrosinase enzyme. There are two subtypes of OCA1:
- OCA1a. People with OCA1a have a complete absence of melanin. People with this subtype have white hair, very pale skin, and light eyes.
- OCA1b. People with OCA1b produce some melanin. They have light-colored skin, hair, and eyes. Their coloring may increase as they age.
OCA2 is less severe than OCA1. It’s caused by a defect in the OCA2 gene that results in reduced melanin production. People with OCA2 are born with light coloring and skin. Their hair may be yellow, blond, or light brown.
OCA2 is most common in people of African descent and Native Americans.
OCA1 and OCA2 are the
OCA3 is the result of a defect in the TYRP1 gene. It usually affects people with dark skin, particularly Black people in southern Africa. People with OCA3 have reddish-brown skin, reddish hair, and hazel or brown eyes.
OCA4 is caused by a defect in the SLC45A2 protein. It results in the minimal production of melanin and commonly appears in people of East Asian descent. People with OCA4 have symptoms similar to those in people with OCA2.
OCA5, OCA6, and OCA7 are very rare subtypes of OCA.
OCA5 and OCA7 have both been reported in only one family each. OCA6 has been reported in one family and one separate individual.
Ocular albinism is the result of a gene mutation on the X chromosome and occurs almost exclusively in males.
People with ocular albinism have reduced coloring in the retina and iris. The condition doesn’t affect the skin or hair.
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is a rare form of albinism that’s caused by a defect in one of 10 genes. It produces symptoms similar to OCA. The syndrome occurs with lung, bowel, and bleeding disorders.
It’s more common in Puerto Rico.
Chediak-Higashi syndrome is another rare form of albinism that’s the result of a defect in the LYST gene. It produces symptoms similar to OCA, but it may not affect all areas of the skin. There have been
The skin is usually creamy white to grayish. Hair is usually brown or blond with a silvery sheen. People with this syndrome have a defect in the white blood cells, increasing their risk of infections.
Griscelli syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder. It’s caused by a defect in one of three genes. There were only around 150 known cases of this syndrome worldwide between 1978 and 2018.
It occurs with albinism (but may not affect the entire body), immune issues, and neurological issues. Griscelli syndrome usually results in death within the first decade of life.
People with albinism will have the following symptoms:
- an absence of color in the skin, hair, or eyes
- lighter than normal coloring of the skin, hair, or eyes
- patches of skin that have an absence of color
Albinism occurs with vision problems, which may include:
The most accurate way to diagnose albinism is through genetic testing to detect defective genes related to albinism.
Less accurate ways of detecting albinism include an evaluation of symptoms by a doctor or an electroretinogram test. This test measures the response of the light-sensitive cells in the eyes to reveal eye problems associated with albinism.
There’s no cure for albinism. But treatment can help relieve symptoms and prevent sun damage.
Treatment may include:
- sunglasses to protect the eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays
- protective clothing and sunscreen to protect the skin from UV rays
- prescription eyeglasses to correct vision problems
- surgery on the muscles of the eyes to correct abnormal eye movements
Most forms of albinism don’t affect a person’s life expectancy.
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, and Griscelli syndrome do affect life expectancy. This is because of the health problems associated with the syndromes. These syndromes are all very rare.
People with albinism may have to limit their outdoor activities because their skin and eyes are sensitive to the sun. UV rays from the sun can cause skin cancer and vision loss in some people with albinism. | https://www.healthline.com/health/albinism | 1,354 | Health | 4 | en | 0.999989 |
A major incentive for colonial rule in Nigeria were her natural resources and the wealth hidden beneath her soils, including large deposits of minerals strewn around the country. So alluring and wide spread were these deposits that it motivated the colonial government to amalgamate the territories now known as Nigeria for easier colonial management and transportation to Europe. Abiodun Baiyewu-Teru looks at the history of coal in Nigeria.
Coal was first discovered in Nigeria in 1909 at the Udi Ridge in Enugu by a British mines engineer, Albert Kitson. Kitson had been prospecting for silver. By 1914, the year of Nigeria’s amalgamation, the first consignment of coal made its way to the United Kingdom from the newly created ports at Port Harcourt.
By 1916, the Ogbete Mine was in full operation and in that year alone, it yielded 24,511 metric tons of coal. Over time, other mines sprang up in the region which became the modern day Enugu State. Coal production hit an all-time high of 790,030 metric tonnes before it faced a steady decline due to reasons discussed below, which resulted in many of the mines being abandoned. Currently Nigeria’s coal deposit is estimated at about 2.8 billon metric tons.
Coal for Rail
To manage the resources produced at these mines, the Nigeria Coal Corporation was incorporated in 1950. The core domestic market for coal production in Nigeria was its emerging rail system which depended heavily on the produce to power its locomotive engines. But with the sudden discovery of hydrocarbons in the late 1950s, the Nigerian Railway Corporation switched from coal to diesel powered energy. The Electric Company of Nigeria also converted its power generation from coal to diesel. The loss of these two big clients played a major role in the decline in coal production as the government did not think it feasible to continue to heavily invest in the sector. Besides, the recent discovery of crude oil at Oloibiri held the promise of greater revenue through exports for the newly independent nation. The Coal Corporation survived the onslaught of crude oil especially because it continued to enjoy a national monopoly on coal production.
The Nigerian civil war was another major factor in the decline of the Nigeria Coal Corporation. A number of the coal mines became inaccessible during the period and were abandoned. Most of the abandoned coal mines were never revived or reclaimed. Interestingly, two mines were commissioned during the civil war: One at Odagbor, which was later known as the Okaba coal mine, located in present day Kogi State, and the Biafra Coal Corporation in Enugu. Both were merged at the end of the war into the Nigeria Coal Corporation.
Attempts at mechanizing the mines in the late 70s and 80s failed, further plummeting production. Another concern in the 1980s and most of the 1990s was the poor management of the Nigeria Coal Corporation. The then military government had a perchance for randomly appointing personnel with little or no experience in management or without technical knowledge to manage public enterprises. The Nigeria Coal Corporation was no exception. With the appointment of a university professor who had no management experience to head the corporation, its further decline came as no surprise. The final blow was in 1999, when the Nigerian government sought to increase direct foreign investment in the country by privatizing the Corporation and opening the nation’s solid mineral market to large private investors. The strategy failed. With the withdrawal of support from the government, the Corporation lost its steam. It however remained in operation till 2002 before eventually shutting down. Unsuccessful in its privatization bid, the Federal Government in 2013 sold off some of the Corporation’s assets to the Enugu State government in order to offset outstanding debts.
Enugu, the Coal Capital
The discovery of coal in Enugu had a kaleidoscope of effects on the town and indeed the nation. For one, it contributed to the rapid development of the town and made it a commercial hub for the region. The wealth generated from coal was so strategic that Enugu became the capital of the Eastern Region in 1938. Its wide spread influence also led to the establishment of a thriving port at the area now known as Port Harcourt (which also became a city of reckon), to ship coal out of Enugu to Europe. Coal mining quickly spurred the growth of the population of Enugu with the influx of miners. The total number of miners working in the region jumped from 6,000 men in 1948, to 8,000 men in 1958.
The aftermath of the Iva Valley Massacre of 1949 played a prominent role in the national agitation for independence. The Iva Valley Massacre revolved around the miners’ strike of 1949 in which miners demanded better wages and conditions of service but was viewed by the colonial government administrators as confrontation and a covert call for independence.
Coal miners against colonial rulers
Historical accounts state that the coal workers, agitated by rising inflation and the failure of the management to recognize the Colliery Workers Union had started to demand for increases in their wages and the recognition of their union as far back as 1944. However, matters came to a head in November 1949 when the workers decided to embark on a work-to-rule strike to drive home their points: they refused to work for longer than the minimum required hours and operated strictly within the confines of their minimum deliverables and thus considerably slowed down the operations of several coal mines. Three days into the work-to-rule strike, the management attempted to sack 200 hewers. For several days the fired hewers occupied the mines so they would not be replaced by new recruits. In solidarity with their husbands, the miners’ wives protested at the colliery’s office destroying equipment and breaking windows. In response, the management called the police to disrupt the protests and in the fracas that ensued, some of the women were wounded. Even that event did not dislodge the miners. The tenacity and wide support for the protests led the colonial government to believe it was an insurrection with communist backing and that it was instigated by members of the Zikist Movement, who were agitating for national independence. It also feared that the protesters would steal the explosives from the mines and use them in terrorist attacks. It therefore dispatched 900 soldiers and policemen from the northern part of the country to dislodge the miners and secure the explosives. The ensuing standoff between the colonialists and the miners led to the killing of 21 and the grievous wounding of 51 unarmed miners by the Colonial Police. Historical records cite that Captain F.S. Philips, a colonial officer vexed by the striking miners’ solidarity chants, fired the first shot, which hit a hewer - Sunday Anyasado - in the mouth, killing him instantly. Another military officer joined Captain Philips in shooting at the protesters and in the aftermath of the ensuing mayhem, 21 miners were dead. These events became known as the Iva Valley Massacre and have become a reference point in the history of the labour movement in Nigeria. It also marked a tipping point in Nigeria’s quest for independence – a fact often lost in the formal teaching of Nigeria’s history.
The event catalyzed mass protests in other cities including Port Harcourt, Aba and Onitsha. According to political scientist Richard Sklar, “Historians may conclude that the slaying of the coal miners by police at Enugu first proved the subjective reality of a Nigerian nation. No previous event ever evoked a manifestation of national consciousness comparable to the indignation generated by this tragedy”.
The Iva valley massacre monument in Enugu
Coal also managed to play a prominent role in Nigeria’s politics in the nation’s early years, post-independence. Having earned Enugu, its position as the Eastern Region’s capital, it subsequently became the short-lived strategic capital of Biafra, during Nigeria’s civil war with the Biafra Coal Corporation providing essential power to the Biafran struggle.
Coal economy at independence
Coal accounted for a sizable chunk of Nigeria’s revenue at independence and made a major contribution to the development of its national infrastructure. While there are no accurate records of the number of persons employed at the mines for the entire duration of its existence or its dependent economies, what we do know is that it was considered to have provided employment for a sizeable population of people and that the final demise of the Nigeria Coal Corporation impacted commercial activities in the city. As a mining town, Enugu attracted local, national and international migrants who worked at the mines and provided it with flavor and colour. The city’s population in 1952 was estimated at 62,000, of which more than half were non-indigenes. A traditional ruler who witnessed the coal era boom, testified that virtually every family in Enugu had at least one member working at the Corporation and that the mines had a large dependent economy. Later, when crude oil took over from the revenue derived from coal, its impact was less felt on a national scale.
While the benefits of the coal mines were largely economical and immediate, it also had negative and long term effects, especially on the environment. These effects are particularly compounded by the failure of the government to reclaim most of these mines – especially those abandoned during the civil war. Enugu state is reputed to have the worst erosion in the entire nation – a condition attributable to unreclaimed mines and unregulated artisanal mining at abandoned mine sites throughout the state. A study by the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology on the effects of mine drainage on water bodies, specifically looking at coal mining in Enugu concluded that “the quality of the water is significantly influenced by acidic mine drainage and its impact on human health could be severe.” There are currently over 22 redundant coal mines around Nigeria, four of which were fully developed coal mines. There is no coherent public discussion about their existence or more importantly, their reclamation. With such a rich and varied history of coal, it’s about time Nigeria has a well informed debate about its energy future.
Watch our video on the current state of coal mining in Nigeria below | https://ng.boell.org/2015/12/03/history-history-coal-nigeria | 2,063 | Politics | 4 | en | 0.99999 |
Bad breath, or halitosis, is familiar to many people. Although precise epidemiological data are missing, some studies have suggested that bad breath may rank only behind dental cavities and gum disease as the most frequent reasons for visits to the dentist.
The root cause behind bad breath can range from banal — such as poor oral hygiene after meals — to potentially life-threatening complications from diabetes and kidney failure.
The food you eat can affect your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors, such as garlic or onions, the smells will accompany your breath. As your digestive system breaks down food, it enters your bloodstream. Pungent oils in garlic and onions eventually enter your lungs and cause bad breath. Brushing your teeth, eating a mint or using mouthwash covers the smell, but it will not go away completely until the food has left your body.
Food particles can also remain in your mouth if you do not brush or floss daily. These particles collect between the teeth and encourage the growth of bacteria, which builds up in the mouth and causes bad breath.
Smoking and chewing tobacco can also lead to mouth odor and bad breath. In addition to their own smells, tobacco particles collect in your teeth and lead to bacteria growth in the same way that food does. Furthermore, smokers and chewers are more likely to develop gum disease, a symptom of which is bad breath.
Saliva helps cleanse the mouth and wash away food particles and bacteria. However, everyone produces less saliva while asleep, which leads to dry mouth and the dreaded "morning breath." It is worse for those who sleep with their mouths open.
In the condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, the body cannot properly break down and use glucose as an energy source, so it opts to break down body fat instead. As a byproduct of doing this, the body produces ketones. These can result in sweet, fruity breath if the disease is not addressed and the chemicals continue to build up in the blood and urine, according to the National Institutes of Health. Although it may sound more pleasant than conventional bad breath, diabetic ketoacidosis can become a serious problem if unaddressed, because ketones are poisonous at high levels.
Late-stage liver failure can also cause bad breath. Also known as "Fetor hepaticus," the sweet, musty aroma is caused by dimethyl sulfide, not ketones. Because of this symptom, breath analysis could potentially be used as a diagnostic tool for detecting liver pathologies, according to an article published by Belgian researchers in the Journal of Chromatography B.
In addition, people with chronic kidney failure may have breath that smells "fishy" or like ammonia, according to the NIH. Known as "uremic fetor," the high concentration of urea in the saliva and its subsequent breakdown to ammonia causes this condition.
Other medical problems associated with bad breath include sinusitis (inflamed sinuses), pneumonia, bronchitis, postnasal drip and acid reflux.
Treatments for bad breath usually involve either improving oral hygiene or targeting the underlying health problems.
A regimen that includes tongue brushing and scraping can successfully treat bad breath caused by the overgrowth of bacteria on the surface of the tongue, according to a review published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Drinking lots of water, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless candy can also help prevent bad breath. These activities all encourage saliva production, which aids in washing away food particles and odor-causing bacteria.
Gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, according to the Mayo Clinic, leaving behind pockets where bacteria can settle in and replicate. Professional cleaning and mouth rinses can reach into these areas and eliminate bacterial growth.
Jessie Szalay contributed to this article.
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Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. | http://www.livescience.com/34700-bad-breath-halitosis-causes-treatments.html | 814 | Health | 4 | en | 0.999956 |
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against the spread of Zika virus in South, Central and North America.
The mosquito-borne virus is already present in 21 of the 55 countries and territories across the Americas, the organization said in a statement Sunday.
However, the UN public health arm said the carrier Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits Zika and also dengue and chikungunya viruses, is already present in all countries in the Americas, except Canada and Chile.
According to the WHO, about ten countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific have reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus infection.
The Zika virus is suspected to cause serious birth defects.
It is linked to microcephaly disease, in which babies born to women infected during pregnancy have abnormally small heads.
There is no sure prevention or treatment for the disease and affected countries are reportedly doing their best to eliminate the breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito bites all day long.
The WHO said the best known prevention measures include wearing long sleeves and trousers, applying insect repellents and sleeping under mosquito nets.
At this point, no specific travel advisory has been issued by the WHO, but national centers could issue travel advice to their own nationals, based on the evidence they have.
Zika virus was first isolated from a monkey in Zika Forest, Uganda, in 1947.
In Brazil, three people were reported dead due to the Zika virus in November 2015. | http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/25/447287/World-Health-Organization-Zika-virus-Americas/ | 308 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999962 |
In the realms of law and governance, Thomas Hobbes‘s thought-provoking quote in his book “Leviathan,” “It’s not wisdom but authority that creates law,” this quote has sparked considerable debate and contemplation. Questioning conventional legal foundations, this aphorism prompts exploration into the complex interplay of authority and wisdom in shaping societal laws.
Authority and the Enforcement of Law: “It’s not wisdom but authority that creates law” – Tymoff. On the other hand, it’s impossible to overlook the role played by authority in enacting and maintaining laws. Governments and legislative bodies formulate laws, and they also have the power to enforce these laws through designated agents. Authorities ensure compliance with laws and impose punishment or penalties on those who violate them, essential for maintaining order and preventing chaos in society.
However, Thomas claims that authority, not wisdom, is the true creator of law. It argues that the enforcement of unjust or oppressive laws can occur solely through authority, without regard for knowledge and fairness. Laws cannot serve the best interests of those they govern when they are solely based on the whims of the powerful.
The Essence of Authority
Power in Legislation
At first sight, it may seem that the essence of law lies in its wisdom, derived from the societal knowledge and moral compass. However, a closer examination reveals that authority plays a crucial role in the creation and enforcement of laws.
Authority vs. Wisdom
The Role of Authority
Authority, often vested in governing bodies or individuals, holds legal and institutional power to enact and uphold laws. It’s essential for any legal system as it provides the framework within which wisdom can operate.
The Element of Wisdom
While authority determines the stage, wisdom contributes to the standards and fairness in laws. Wisdom encompasses ethical considerations, societal values, and the ability to anticipate consequences, all necessary for fair and just legislation.
Interaction Between Authority and Wisdom
Striking a Balance
To achieve effective and equitable laws, a delicate balance between authority and wisdom is necessary. Excessive authority can lead to arbitrary or unfair laws, while too much emphasis on wisdom can undermine their enforcement and societal order.
Authoritarian Influence on Laws
Throughout history, we observe examples where authoritarian regimes have enacted laws, often to maintain control, whether or not they are inherently just or rational.
Reforms under the Leadership of Wisdom
Conversely, significant moments in history testify to the triumph of wisdom over mere authority. Reforms driven by societal wisdom and moral conscience have led to reconsideration of unjust laws.
Contemporary Legal Systems
In today’s world, governments and legal systems work together to make and enforce laws. Elected representatives create laws based on what people know and need, and institutions make sure these laws are followed.
Contemporary legal debates often revolve around ethical considerations. Laws should not only be documented but also reflect the societal wisdom and values upon which they are based.
Consensus and Adaptation
In a rapidly changing world, legal systems must adapt to societal principles and values. This requires a dynamic interaction between authority and wisdom to ensure that laws remain relevant and equitable.
Thomas Hobbes’s claim that “It’s not wisdom but authority that creates law” encapsulates the complex relationship between these two elements within the realm of law. While authority provides the legal framework, wisdom serves as the ethical compass guiding the formation of fair and just laws. An ideal legal system is one that harmonizes these two aspects, acknowledging that both are essential for the well-being of society.
FAQs on Wisdom and Authority in Law:
In modern lawmaking, wisdom can be applied by incorporating insights from legal experts, community representatives, and ethical considerations. This collaborative approach helps create just and equitable laws.
Ignoring wisdom in lawmaking may lead to the passage of unjust or unfair laws, risking social unrest and discontent. Balancing wisdom and authority is crucial for effective and just legal systems.
Yes, legal systems can evolve towards a more wisdom-driven approach by including citizen participation, professional counsel, and ethical considerations in the drafting of laws.
The interplay between authority and wisdom significantly impacts how society views justice. Achieving a balance ensures that laws are just, fair, and in the best interests of all members of society.
The quote is commonly attributed to British historian Edward Gibbon, not T. Tymoff. Gibbon’s views emphasize the role of authority in making laws.
For authority to maintain legitimacy, it must respect a social contract and uphold a baseline level of justification and accountability. The governing body should represent the will or values of those it governs.
Historical philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas believed that wisdom, derived from reason and ethical considerations, plays a crucial role in crafting just laws.
Finding the right balance ensures that laws are fair, flexible, and enduring. Wisdom brings empathy and context, while authority provides structure and enforcement.
In an ever-evolving world, legal systems must adapt to changing societal norms. This requires a dynamic interplay between authority and wisdom to ensure laws remain relevant and just. | https://stylemenz.com/the-interplay-of-wisdom-and-authority-in-lawmaking/ | 1,063 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999975 |
Cereals are underated most times as snacks and comfort food or just taken whenever you feel like indulging in junks.
However, this is far from the truth as cereals are one of the most important part of our diet and without it, one runs a risk of having countless illnesses.
Why Is Cereal Important?
1. Cereals are a very good source of dietary fibres.
Sometimes I get emotional when I write, that’s because I believe if people are well informed, they would not find themselves in bad situations.
Do you know what fibre does in the body?
why are they so essential to our health?
Food fibres dissolves in the stomach and form a gel like substance that allows digested food to be slowly absorbed into the body.
This stabilizes sugar level and prevent cholesterol build up ultimately preventing Diabetes
It also allows for free movement of waste product in the large intestine and prevents haemorroids.
It also keeps your weight in check and makes you live long.
2. Cereals are an excellent source of breakfast from corn flakes to oats.
Why Breakfast is a must!!!
* It’s the most important food of the day as it improves concentration at work and prevents loss of memory.
No wonder many companies provide breakfast for their top workers; the engine room to their organizations
* It keeps you from consuming junks which affects your body weight and injest lots of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) into your system. It summarily keeps your heart in good shape.
3. Cereals are rich source of vitamins, carbs, minerals like iron and protein so they supply energy needed and nutrients for the day and they are easily digested.
4. Cereals are healthy because they can be combined and taking directly with different fruits, vegetables and milk.
5. In the case of having a picky eater on your hands, cereals can be easily planned and incorporated into good and attractive dishes any picky eater cannot resist.
6. They contain phytosterol which prevents cancer like breast cancer by blocking oestrogen that causes breast cancer.
7. Cereals are also very good for children. This is because children requires a lot of nutrients for their body growth, daily activities. This can be gotten from cereals which is dense with nutrition.
They are also relatively cheap to procure, sweet and are easy to prepare unlike most foods.
They save you a lot of money trying to get pastries or burgers at work.
To cap it up, one is guaranteed a healthy and strong life if one can incorporate cereal into his or her life.
I hope you find this article helpful, pls comment and share this post to encourage me for more articles. | https://www.caterbakes.com/2019/02/why-every-homes-must-have-and-take_6.html?m=1 | 565 | Food | 3 | en | 0.999998 |
When you were younger, did you ever find yourself unconsciously rubbing the corners and tips of your pillows? Especially if it was your ‘bantal busuk’! Don’t deny, all of us have had a bantal busuk okay?! If you say yes to all of the above, then you’re not alone in this.
In general, playing, moving, or fiddling with something – especially when it’s purposeless or out of nervousness – is a behaviour known as ‘twiddling’. It can include anything from playing with our fingers and toes, to fiddling with objects and playing with fabrics, tags and corners of pillows. That’s how the term ‘twiddle your thumbs’ came to be!
So why do we do this?
There are many theories as to why people like to twiddle the corners of their pillow. The most common explanation is that it’s a comforting habit that started in our childhood that we’ve carried into adulthood. Toddlers tend to explore through sensory play (it’s a certified technique of learning in the Montessori curriculum!) that helps with their development. This means engaging in activities that involve all five senses – touch, sight, smell, taste and sound. This is where the habit of twiddling stems from. For most toddlers, touch is one of the most sensitive of the five sense that is also used as a physical form of comfort for them to self-soothe. Hence the need use of bantal busuks. Think of it more along the lines of a ‘safety blanket’ thing, except with a pillow or other things like fabrics, tags or even soft toys.
It’s a form of ‘stimming’ aka to sooth yourself
Another theory is that twiddling is a form of ‘stimming’, or self-stimulation behaviour. Stimming occurs when an individual is in a situation or environment that is over-stimulating and is used as a way to calm down. It’s basically a coping mechanism that everyone has.
Could be a symptom of OCD behaviour
No, it’s not just cleanliness that they obsess about. OCD refers to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which is when a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessive) and behaviours (compulsive) that they feel an urge to repeat over and over again. We’re not referring to how obsessed you are to that latest Coldplay song that you can’t get out of your head. This obsession and compulsion more often than not leads to a disruption in your daily routine and can cause a person extreme anxiety if not carried out ‘the right way’. That being said, OCD is a legit mental disorder kay? So don’t la simply say you got OCD all.
Is it something to be worried about?
Most likely, no. More often than not, it’s probably just a ‘bad’ childhood habit that we’ve grown too old to curb. Old habits die hard right?
Can I stop the habit?
Of course you can! You just have to make a conscious effort to realise that you’re doing it in the first place. When you catch yourself doing it, just stop. *cue MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This*
But all jokes aside, here are some ways you can remedy your bad habits:
- Fine yourself every time you do it
- Understand what triggers you to start doing it
- Give your future self reminders to stop your bad habit
- Give yourself a motivation talk and coach yourself out of it (it may sound funny but it works okay?)
- Change the way you think and feel about your bad habit
These ways might not work for everyone so find what’s best for you and stick to that. Before you know it, you’ll stop rubbing those pillow tips in no time (only if you want lah)! Of course, we also don’t advise throwing all your pillows away in order for you to stop.
In short, there may be several theories as to why some of us rub pillow tips as well as fidget and twiddle with other things but we really just do it because it makes us feel good. As long as you’re not hurting anyone or yourself, then why not right?
And for those of you who have read this article and are thinking ‘eyer, why would you ever rub the tips of your pillows?’, let’s just say you’re really the weird one in this situation. Because really, why would you not?! *rubs pillow tips*
ALSO READ: 9 Very Malaysian Moments That Always Leave All of Us Feeling Immensely Satisfied | https://worldofbuzz.com/love-rubbing-tips-pillows/ | 1,009 | Romance | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
History of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In 1662, British physician Nathaniel Henshaw pioneered the use of compressed air in a chamber called a domicilium to create an HBOT environment. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many doctors began using compressed air for oxygenation, and by 1877 hyperbaric chambers were used to treat a wide range of health problems. In 1861, Neurologist James Leonard Corning built the first hyperbaric chamber in the U.S. He used it to treat New York’s Hudson Tunnel site workers who suffered from severe decompression illness “the bends” after toiling beneath sea level. And in 1917, German inventors Heinrich and Bernhard Dräger first used pressurized oxygen to effectively heal divers with the bends. In the early 20th century, Dr. Orville Cunningham from Kansas used pure oxygen to restore health to dying flu patients. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that hyperbaric oxygen therapy generated sufficient interest for use to become wide spread.
Today, U.S. metropolitan hospitals and treatment centers routinely use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat persistent degenerative health problems that cause or result in poor blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body. The FDA has approved HBOT’s use for 14 conditions. And although some researchers continue to dispute its effectiveness, for decades doctors in Europe, Russia, Mexico and China have used HBOT to successfully treat a wide variety of serious health conditions.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Successfully Treating RSD Without Drugs Or Needles
- Healing Traumatic Brain Injuries with HBOT
- How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Naturally Helps The Healing Process
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments and Sudden Deafness
- Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration In A Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
- What Happens When Wounds Don’t Heal Right?
- Reducing RSD Pain with HBOT Therapy
- HBOT for Hard-to-Heal Diabetic Wounds
- Searching For A Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment Center Near You?
- Improving Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms with HBOT | http://florida-oxygen.com/hbot-for-menieres-disease/Hi | 454 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999969 |
Cancer affects everyone – the young and old, the rich and poor, men, women and children – and represents a tremendous burden on patients, families and societies and it is one of the leading causes of death in the world, particularly in developing countries.
Yet, many of these deaths can be avoided. Over 30% of cancer can be prevented by healthy life style or by immunization against cancer causing infections (HBV, HPV). Others can be detected early, treated and cured. Even with late stage cancer, the suffering of patients can be relieved with good palliative care.
To help reduce your risk of developing cancer, follow these 10 easy steps:
1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. Weight gain, overweight and obesity increases the risk of a number of cancers, including bowel, breast, prostate, pancreatic, endometrial, kidney, gallbladder, oesophageal, and ovarian cancers.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Physical activity decreases the risk of colon, endometrial, and postmenopausal breast cancer.
As fitness improves, aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate, or for 30 minutes or more of vigorous, physical activity every day.
3. Avoid sugary drinks and limit consumption of energy-dense food. Foods that are high in fats, added sugars, and/or low in fibre, such as many fast and convenience foods, as well as sodas and energy drinks, promote weight gain that is associated with a higher cancer risk.
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and pulses such as beans regularly.
5. Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
6. Limit alcoholic drinks. Limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. It is best if you can avoid it totally.
7. Limit consumption of salt and avoid moldy grains and cereals. Limit consumption of processed foods with added salt to ensure an intake of less than 2.4g sodium a day. Do not eat moldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes).
8. Where possible, aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone, instead of using supplements to try to protect against cancer.
9. It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to be overweight as children or adults.
10. After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention. Follow the recommendations for diet, healthy weight, and physical activity from your doctor or trained professional.
With all these steps followed, you are freeing yourself from the risk of any type of cancer. Cancer is real, rampant now and very expensive to manage. More worrisomely, the survival rate is still very low in this part of the world. Definitely, as you are reading this, you will be able to think of one or two friends, family members or neighbours that you have lost to cancer.
So, you want to do everything within your means to prevent it.
If you have gained anything from reading this, don’t hesitate to share it with others too. Put your comments and questions or topics you will like us to write about in the comment box below.
Stay Healthy And Never Give Up!
Plan B Wellness Center
Email – consult@planbwellnesscom
Twitter – @planbwellness | https://planbwellness.com/cancer/ | 727 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999994 |
Is it possible to manipulate memory formation and consolidation? And why would we want to do it? Our memories make up so much of who we are, and the things we remember can often define our experience of the world.
And while positive memories can help us grow and thrive, negative memories do not always have such welcome effects. Sometimes, unpleasant memories can be part of a learning curve, getting scalded with boiling water means that next time we will be more careful when handling the kettle.
However, there are also memories that are truly traumatic, and recalling them can lead to distress and serious mental healthconditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study of memory formation, recall, and forgetting attracts a lot of attention and curiosity among neuroscientists, psychologists, and even researchers from the humanities, as there is still so much we do not fully understand about the processes surrounding memory.
And, while we still need to find out more about how memories form in the brain, researchers in recent years have started investigating the possibility of manipulating memories particularly negative ones to see if they can weaken or remove them altogether.
When the brain encodes information, those data become stored in groups of neurons that synapses or links that allow brain cells to “communicate” connect together. Scientists typically associate stronger synapses with a better memory, and the brain constantly “updates” synaptic connections, forming new ones or strengthening old ones, as new memories build or we update older ones.
However, synapses can also become weaker if they are not activated often enough, and the brain often loses some of these connections altogether. Thus, forgetting can occur naturally and, indeed, researchers argue that forgetting is a crucial part of learning and creating new memories.
Forgetting occurs because it would not be energy efficient to indefinitely maintain all the memories that we form each day,” he explained, adding that it “also seems to be a natural consequence of neurogenesis: the process that creates new brain cells in support of future learning. Clearing old and unused memories may be directly related to our ability to learn new things.
But scientists continue to explore the many complications that riddle memory recall and formation. For instance, not all our memories are correct, and sometimes our brains “implement” forgetting as a defense mechanism. Past research has shown that social interactions can influence a person’s memory of an event, as can what other people remember or claim to remember about the same event.
A memory is not simply an image produced by time traveling back to the original event, it can be an image that is somewhat distorted because of the prior times you remembered it. “Memories aren’t static. If you remember something in the context of a new environment and time, or if you are even in a different mood, your memories might integrate the new information.
One way in which forgetting can be adaptive, Berens told MNT, is that, by letting go of irrelevant details, our brains are then better able to recall important information. “[M]y own work suggests that forgetting specific details of an event allows us to focus on the bigger picture and pull out general patterns that can predict the future,” he explained.
“For instance, remembering exactly which trees in the forest bear the most delicious fruit is only useful until you have eaten all of that fruit. Instead of remembering the specifics trees, it may be best to remember the general area of a forest that has the best trees.” This sometimes involves forgetting specific details […] and blurring together many experiences in order to pull out a general pattern. ”
The researcher also noted that another way in which forgetting can be a helpful process is by placing negative memories out of reach so that they are less distressing to the person they affect.
“Memories for emotional or traumatic events lose their emotional tone over time,” said Berens, and “this can help us reappraise and learn from past experience without the need to reexperience all the associated emotions at the same time.” But what happens when traumatic memories persist and resurface unbidden? Experts call this the “intrusive reexperiencing of trauma,” and it is a core feature of PTSD.
Individuals who experience PTSD may spontaneously recall a traumatic memory, or feel as if they are going back into the context that produced the trauma. This effect can cause the person severe distress and lead to erratic behaviors as a coping strategy.
For this reason, some scientists have wondered what approach they could take to weaken or manipulate negative memories and lessen their effect. And, we already know that it is possible to interfere with a memory and stop it from solidifying.
Memories can be actively weakened after formation,“Firstly, there seems to be a time window after memory formation where memories are particularly weak and sensitive to interference — where conflicting information can overwrite the contents of a memory. […] Memories can also be weakened by the simple act of retrieval… Yes, simply recalling a memory makes it more susceptible to being weakened, distorted or erased.”
The drug Propranolol, which doctors can prescribe for PTSD, already goes some way towards weakening distressing memories to dampen their effect. “This is how Propranolol is being used to help patients with PTSD,” he explained, adding that “[f]irst the patient recalls the trauma, which weakens the memory, then the Propranolol is given, which stops the emotions from being re-encoded as a new memory.”
Nevertheless, researchers are still on the lookout for other ways of interfering with memory formation and recall. Such studies could help not only find novel treatments for PTSD and other phenomena such as phobias, but they might also reveal new information about how memory-related brain mechanisms work.
To try and understand whether or not we can artificially manipulate memories, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge first tried to instil false memories in mice. This initial study, which appeared in Science in 2013, used an optogenetic technique to manipulate the formation of a “hybrid” memory in the mice’s brain. This method requires the use of light beams to activate neurons that researchers have engineered to respond to this stimulus.
In the study, the team led by Prof. Susumu Tonegawa used optogenetic methods to synchronize two groups of neurons, one in the hippocampus, which activated a spatial memory, and one in the amygdala, which activated a fear memory. The experiment was successful, the mice started associating fear with a space where they had never actually had a bad experience.
In their recent experiments, the scientists exposed volunteers to unpleasant content, so that they could first form the unwanted memories. Then, they asked the participants to recall those memories, to trigger the process of memory consolidation. However, at that point, the team administered an anesthetic-propofol to some of the participants. They found that, after this intervention, the volunteers could no longer properly recall the unpleasant content that they had memorized before.
This led the researchers to conclude that sedation could, in some cases at least, help disrupt the reconsolidation of traumatic memories in humans, if delivered as with the earlier study in rats at just the right time. This process could be a helpful method of lessening the impact of traumatic memories in people who are affected by such intrusive thoughts.
“Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart,” writes author Haruki Murakami in the novel Kafka on the Shore, and we still have a way to go in learning how best to use our memories for growth, and to stop them from becoming an obstacle. | http://haleplushearty.org/2019/04/06/medical-news-today-can-scientists-hack-memory/ | 1,603 | Health | 4 | en | 0.999985 |
Updated October 23, 2023
Let me tell you that the above three events are quite interesting. You may have heard these facts before, or this may be totally new information for you. These facts may have contributed to the macro economy of that respective country in one way or another. But life does not always bring all the good news to the Market. Some macroeconomic problems can totally crash the Market. So, in this article on macroeconomic problems, we will understand these issues in detail and how they affect the economy. So, let’s first start by understanding the meaning of Macroeconomics.
Meaning of Macroeconomics
You must have heard of the term Microeconomics hundreds of times. So, let’s now try to understand it in simple terms. Macroeconomics is focused on the movement and trends in the economy. The field of economics studies the behavior of the entire economy. Thus, we can say that it is that part of economic theory that studies the economy in its totality or as a whole.
Let us now understand how it is different from Microeconomics. Microeconomics deals with individual economic units like households, firms, or industries. On the contrary, Macroeconomics deals with the whole economic system, like national income, total savings and investment, total employment, total demand, total supply, general price level, etc. In this article, we will study the determination of aggregates of the economy and what causes fluctuations in them. We will understand the reason for the fluctuations and how to ensure the maximum level of employment and income in a country.
Importance of Macroeconomics
- It helps in understanding the functioning of a complex modern economic system. Macroeconomics gives us a clue into how the economy functions as a whole and how the level of national income and employment is determined on the basis of aggregate demand and aggregate supply.
- In a certain way, macroeconomics does help in achieving the goal of economic growth, a higher level of GDP, and a higher level of employment.
- It also analyses the forces which determine the economic growth of a country. Understanding the macroeconomic problems gives a cue on how to reach the highest state of economic growth and sustain it.
- Bringing stability in price level and analysis of the fluctuations in business activities is another set of macroeconomic problems that are taken care of by a better understanding of macroeconomics.
- Macroeconomics helps in suggesting policy measures to control inflation and deflation.
- It explains the factors affecting the balance of payment. It also identifies causes of deficit in the balance of payment and suggests measures.
- Helps to solve economic problems like poverty, unemployment, inflation, deflation, etc. The solution for such macroeconomic problems is possible at the macro level only.
- A better understanding of the country’s macroeconomics helps formulate correct economic policies and coordinate with international economic policies.
Macroeconomics Problems: What Are They?
Now that we have understood the meaning and importance of macroeconomics let’s try to grasp some ideas about some common macroeconomic problems. In the earlier paragraphs of this article, we have heard some terms related to macroeconomics. Some of them were inflation, unemployment, the balance of payment, etc. So, now let’s get to know them better. Have you ever tried to think of when these macroeconomic problems arise? To get your doubts clear, let me share the answer with you.
Macroeconomic problems arise when the economy does not adequately achieve the goals of full employment, stability, and economic growth. As a result, a cascading effect follows—unemployment results when full employment is not achieved. Inflation creeps in when the economy falls short of the goal of stability. The phase of stagnant growth arises when the economy is not adequately attaining the goal of economic growth. All these problems are due to too little or too much demand for gross production. For instance, unemployment results from too little demand, and inflation emerges with too much demand.
Think that there are 4 boxes of a full-sized pizza, and there are 10 hungry moths that are ready to grab a bite. But only 4 of them get to have all 4 boxes of pizza. So rest of the six people are not utilized here in this eating completion. Though it’s a funny scenario, it can relate exactly to why unemployment creeps in. In the same way, unemployment arises when factors of production that are willing and able to produce goods and services are not actively engaged in production. Unemployment means the economy is not attaining the macroeconomic goal of full employment. Unemployment is a problem because:
- Less output, and thus arises the problem of scarcity in the economy.
- Due to this, the owners of unemployed resources receive less income. This gradually reduces the standard of living.
Thus unemployment rate ultimately tells us how many people from the available labor force pool cannot find work. It is generally observed that unemployment levels tend to be low when the economy witnesses growth from period to period, which is indicated in the GDP growth rate. This is because with rising (GDP levels, the output is higher, and hence, more laborers are needed to keep up with the greater production levels. Generally, the better the economy, the lower the unemployment rate.
The consistent and persistent rise in the average price level in the economy leads to inflation. In simple words, during Inflation, there is a general rise in the price of goods and services over time. In such cases, prices generally rise from month to month and year to year, and thus, with this burden of inflation, the economy does not attain its stability goal. Inflation leads to an average increase in prices. Here, some prices rise more than the average, some rise less, and some even decline.
Inflation is a problem because:
- Since there is a rise in the price of goods and services, the purchasing power of money declines, this, in turn, reduces financial wealth and lowers living standards.
- Greater uncertainty surrounds long-run planning.
- Income and wealth tend to be haphazardly distributed among various sectors of the economy and the resource owners.
Unemployment and inflation tend to arise at different phases of the business cycle. The probability of these problems will vary accordingly. Sometimes, unemployment is less of a problem, and inflation is more. At other times, unemployment is more of a problem, and inflation is less. Now, we will understand how these two problems are connected to the two primary business cycle phases.
- Contraction Phase: During the contraction phase of the business cycle, there is a general decline in economic activity. The aggregate demand is less, meaning less output is produced, and thus fewer resources are employed for the same. For this reason, unemployment tends to be a key problem here. But at the same time, since markets tend to have more surpluses than shortages, inflation tends to be less of a problem during this phase.
- Expansion Phase: During the expansion phase of the business cycle, there is a general rise in economic activity. Thus, the overall aggregate demand increases, leading to more production and the resources employed at a higher level. Demand is more than supply. Hence, markets are more likely to have shortages than surpluses. Thus, inflation tends to be the primary problem during this phase. However, with robust production, more people need to cope with the Job demand, and thus, unemployment tends to be less of a problem.
Interest rates are the charges levied by banks for lending a loan. As businesses borrow money from the banks occasionally, an increase in Interest rates will directly influence the business. The increase in interest rates will lead to an increase in interest expense. In such a case, businesses will incur higher costs to repay the loan. Along with the businesses, interest rate changes also affect customers, which will affect the business. In such cases, individuals have to pay more to borrow the money, ultimately declining the demand for large products.
Stagnant growth occurs when the Supply of products is not increasing or decreasing below the benchmark. An increase in the total production of goods and services is generally for the economy’s growth. This is necessary to keep pace with an increase in the population and expectations of rising living standards. Stagnant growth exists if total production does not keep pace with these expectations. Hence, the macroeconomic goal of economic growth is unsuccessful. The probable reasons for stagnant growth can be the quantity and quality of the resources used for production.
So let’s understand the reasons in detail. The quantities of the four production factors can restrict production growth. These factors are labor, capital, land, and entrepreneurship. If a lazy person decides to quit his job and spend his time doing nothing but sleeping on his parent’s living room sofa, then the total quantity of labor declines. Thus, the quantity of labor is based on both the overall population and the portion of the population willing and able to work.
If, for example, Government regulations and High taxes discourage some industries from building new factories in the manufacturing sector, it will totally decline the quantity of capital. So, this is all about the macroeconomic problems.
If you have any further input on this article, you may notify me through the comments below this article. Learn the juice of this article in a minute through Macroeconomics problems Infographics.
Here are some articles that will help you get more details about macroeconomic problems, so just go through the link. | https://www.educba.com/macroeconomics-problems/ | 1,941 | Education | 3 | en | 0.99999 |
Many people have heard the idea that our left-brains are logical, verbal, rational and scientific while our right brains are spatial, emotional, intuitive and creative.
There are online quizzes which purport to assess your left brain vs right brain dominance.
Those with right brain dominance, they say, are creative thinkers.
People with left brain dominance, though, are thought to be more logical and to have strong math skills.
In fact, this is all mostly a myth — we need both sides of our brains in order to function to our fullest potential.
However, like some of the mind-myths covered in this series, there’s a solid grain of truth here, but its extent has been wildly exaggerated.
Left brain vs right brain
The brain is divided into two halves, each of which is called a hemisphere.
The left brain and right brain are connected by a tract of nerve fibre called the corpus callosum.
Both the left brain and the right brain look very similar.
Left brain dominant for language
The idea of left brain or right brain dominance come from an early finding that our verbal powers are concentrated in the left side of our brains.
It was Nobel Prize winner Roger W. Sperry who, in the 1960s, first suggested that the left brain or hemisphere is specialised for language (Corballis, 2007).
He was studying patients suffering from crippling epileptic fits who had decided to undergo surgery to try and relieve their symptoms.
The surgery cut the bundle of white matter – the corpus callosum – that connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
Along with successfully treating their epilepsy, these ‘split-brain’ patients exhibited some strange new symptoms.
Sperry found that after the surgery patients were unable to name objects with the, now disconnected, right side of their brains.
Their left brain, however, seemed to have retained this ability.
This lead him to propose that the left hemisphere or left brain is specialised for language.
But this specialisation didn’t mean the right hemisphere or right brain has no language powers at all.
Further experiments suggested that the right brain could indeed still process language, just to a lesser degree.
For example, patients were able to point to the written names of objects which were presented to their right brain, although they found themselves unable to say the word.
Right brain dominant for attention
Not long after the left brain language discovery, researchers began to wonder about the right brain’s skills.
Sure enough the right hemisphere seemed to perform better in some tasks, especially related to attention:
- Mentally rotating shapes.
- Identification of melodies.
- Detecting facial emotions.
This seems to correspond well with the myth, after all right brains are spatial, emotional and creative, aren’t they?
Well, yes, but the actual differences found in these experiments are relatively small, especially when compared to the specialisation of the left brain in language.
Left brain vs right brain
In a classic paper published in the journal Neurology, renowned neuropsychologist Brenda Milner points out that while there are many measurable functional differences between the left brain and the right brain, there are actually many more similarities between the two hemispheres (Milner, 1971).
Perhaps the clearest evidence of this is from studies of brain damage.
To completely lose a particular mental faculty, a person normally needs to suffer damage to a particular area in both the left and right hemispheres.
Research continues apace into the functional differences between our right and left hemispheres.
But while findings about lateralisation continue to point out surprising new differences about our hemispheric twins, the overall message remains the same: apart from language these differences are generally small.
Even in language, to perform at our best, we need both left brain and right brain working together.
Brain scans refute right brain left brain dominance theory
More recent research, though, has similarly suggested that there is no left brain vs right brain dominance.
The evidence for left brain or right brain dominance has always been very weak, but researchers have done much to debunk this idea by examining the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans of over 1,000 people (Nielsen et al., 2013).
Each person was lying in the scanner thinking about nothing in particular for 5 to 10 minutes.
These resting brain states were then analysed for evidence of more activity in either the right or left sides of the brain.
The lead author, Jared Nielsen explained the results:
“…we just don’t see patterns where the whole left-brain network is more connected or the whole right-brain network is more connected in some people.
It may be that personality types have nothing to do with one hemisphere being more active, stronger, or more connected.”
Some functions are biased left or right
None of this means that some people aren’t more creative, while others more analytical and logical, just that it’s not accurate to say that creative people are more ‘right-brained’.
It’s not their over-active right brain that’s making them more creative; it’s their whole brain.
This finding also does not contradict the idea that some of the brain’s functions are biased towards the left brain or right brain.
For example, language processing is biased more towards the left brain (in right-handed people), while attention is biased towards the right brain.
Although some functions are lateralised, then, one side isn’t dominant over the other in some people.
Despite having no solid basis in science, the expressions ‘left-brained’ and ‘right-brained’ will probably survive because it’s an easy way to talk about two aspects of personality.
But be aware that the expression is flawed: it’s far better to talk about people’s creativity or their analytical skills separately, rather than in opposition—especially since many people have plenty of both. | http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/08/debunked-right-brain-and-left-brain-personalities.php#utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer86412&utm_medium=twitter | 1,256 | Health | 4 | en | 0.999992 |
- Developing a preventive vaccine against HIV is a scientific challenge owing to the virus’s unique properties.
- Most researchers view it as a realistic long-term prospect, though we cannot predict when an effective vaccine will be developed.
- The first vaccines may only protect a proportion of people, or work only against some viral strains, and the protection they confer may need to be boosted regularly. Over time, vaccine efficacy may improve.
- A successful vaccine will need to be active against a wide variety of viral strains. It will probably need to stimulate several branches of the immune system to respond to HIV.
- Two large trials of candidate vaccines closed in February 2020 and August 2021 because of lack of efficacy. A third large trial is ongoing.
- If the third trial’s results are disappointing, this suggests that scientists will need to focus on vaccines based on different strategies. They are being developed, but large trials are unlikely to start for several years.
A vaccine that prevents HIV infection is not available yet. Researchers remain confident that a vaccine that will protect people from infection is possible, but it could be years or even decades away yet.
This page summarises the current state of research and the challenges facing scientists.
It has been difficult to develop a vaccine against HIV for several reasons. Whereas most other vaccines work by teaching part of the immune system to produce antibodies that clear an infection, antibodies are unable to clear HIV infection – indeed their presence indicates infection. This is because HIV generally mutates too rapidly for antibodies and other immune responses to contain infection in time.
Vaccine approaches that have been successful against other viruses – killed or weakened versions of a virus – have not proved suitable in the case of HIV, owing to the risk that the viral material used in the vaccine will integrate into human cells and eventually lead to new virus replication.
Another challenge is that HIV is divided into families, or subtypes, that predominate in different parts of the world. A vaccine will need to be effective against all subtypes, or different vaccines must be developed against different subtypes. Even in one geographical area, a vaccine that only protects against some viral subtypes may not work against others also in circulation. This is not a problem unique to HIV: it is the reason, for instance, why a flu vaccine needs to be adapted each year for the strain thought most likely to be circulating the following winter.
To be effective, an HIV vaccine may need to stimulate all three branches of the immune system to work together:
- Innate immune responses, the fastest and least specific ones, react to harmful invaders by secreting defensive chemicals, stimulating the production of nonspecific antibodies, and mobilising natural killer (NK) cells to destroy cells that bear signs of infection.
- Antibody responses, which are attuned to the specific proteins that viruses or bacteria display on their surfaces. Although the typical antibody response to HIV is usually too weak, too narrow and arrives too late to prevent infection, so-called broadly neutralising antibodies, that recognise parts of HIV that do not mutate, develop in time in some people. If these were produced immediately upon exposure to HIV, they might prevent or contain infection. One goal of HIV vaccine research is to induce the body to make them immediately.
- Cellular immune responses, consisting of CD4 T-lymphocytes that recognise HIV and stimulate other T-cells, such as CD8 cells, to destroy virus-infected cells. Cellular immunity may be the most persistent form of immunity but may work more slowly. It does not actually prevent infections, but reduces the damage they cause and can eventually eliminate them.
We know an effective immune response to HIV is possible because it exists in so-called ‘elite controllers,’ people who live with HIV for many years without any immune damage and with viral loads below 200, without having to take antiretroviral therapy. There may be several different mechanisms of elite control, but most elite controllers seem to have strong virus-specific T cell-mediated immune responses.
A T-cell-stimulating vaccine could lead to the efficient destruction of any cells that HIV antibodies had failed to protect, or it could lead to lower levels of HIV in people who became infected despite vaccination, effectively turning them into elite controllers.
What has been learnt so far about how to produce an effective HIV vaccine?
Vaccine researchers have learnt much from animal studies, from investigations of people who have been exposed to HIV without becoming infected, from HIV controllers, and from clinical trials of experimental HIV vaccines.
Numerous approaches to vaccine design have been tested to learn more about how to protect against HIV and how to produce strong immune responses against HIV. Vaccine trials have investigated the following questions:
- How can a vaccine introduce HIV genes or proteins into the body safely?
- How many doses of vaccine are needed to make a strong immune response?
- Might a combination of vaccines, given in a specific sequence, produce a stronger response?
- What combination of HIV proteins produces the strongest response?
- How broad is the immune response – does it work against all types of HIV?
- How long do the responses last?
The first large trial of an HIV vaccine reported results in 2003. The vaccine used in that trial, AIDSVAX, was designed to stimulate the production of antibodies against a region of an HIV surface protein, gp120. The trial found that AIDSVAX was no more effective than a placebo, or dummy vaccine, in preventing HIV infection.
Another vaccine approach was tested in a large trial called STEP. This trial tested a vaccine designed to encourage cellular immune responses. The vaccine used an adenovirus (Ad5) which causes common cold symptoms to deliver HIV proteins safely. The trial was halted in 2007 after an interim analysis showed that the vaccine had not reduced the risk of infection. Further analysis found that people with the highest levels of antibodies to the adenovirus used in the vaccine had the highest risk of becoming infected with HIV after receiving the vaccine, at least during the early phase of the trial. This study showed that care needs to be taken in the choice of virus, or vector, used to deliver HIV proteins in a vaccine.
Another study of a vaccine using the Ad5 vector but containing subtype B HIV proteins showed no effectiveness and an increase in the risk of HIV infection for vaccinated men after the study was unblinded. It is still unclear why the risk of infection increased in these participants.
An alternative approach designed to stimulate both cellular immunity and antibody production was tested in the RV144 trial. This study used two vaccines in what is called a ‘prime-boost’ approach. A vaccine called ALVAC-HIV was used to ‘prime’ the cellular immune system, using three sequences of HIV proteins. The AIDSVAX vaccine was used to boost the immune response later. ‘Prime-boost’ vaccines are designed to produce strong and long-lasting immune responses.
The RV144 trial showed that the prime-boost combination reduced the risk of infection by 31%. Many researchers were surprised by this result, as AIDSVAX had not protected against infection when used alone. Another surprising result was that the vaccine did not produce strong CD8 T-cell responses in a majority of participants and did not result in reduced viral load in people who became infected despite vaccination. The vaccine did produce strong antibody responses to a region of the HIV surface protein.
Further analysis showed that specific antibody responses which also encouraged innate-cell immune responses (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC) were strongly associated with a reduced risk of infection in vaccine recipients. This finding encouraged researchers to test further prime-boost vaccine strategies.
A version of the vaccine combination used in the RV144 trial adapted for the type of HIV common in southern and eastern Africa (subtype C) was tested in the HVTN 100 study. The study found the vaccine produced very strong antibody responses of the type associated with protection against infection in the RV144 trial.
The vaccine was then tested in a much larger trial in southern Africa. The Uhambo study (also known as HVTN 702) recruited 5407 people and aimed to test whether the vaccine could reduce the risk of HIV infection by at least 50%. The trial was also set up to find out whether strong immune responses to HIV would last longer with this vaccine than with the one used in the RV144 trial, where its protective effect began to wane after one year.
However, the Uhambo trial was stopped early in February 2020 because an interim review found that the vaccine was ineffective. This was a major setback. Researchers hypothesised that the number and variety of different viral strains circulating in southern Africa, and which participants were exposed to, overwhelmed any weak immune response the vaccine might have stimulated. In contrast, RV144 had been conducted in Thailand in a lower-risk population with less circulating viral diversity.
A different prime-boost vaccine approach was tested in another large study in southern Africa. This vaccine approach had produced strong immune responses in animal studies and in preliminary human studies. The Imbokodo study (also known as HVTN 705) used a ‘prime’ vaccine consisting of an adenovirus vector that delivered a ‘mosaic’ of HIV envelope and internal proteins from four HIV subtypes designed to produce responses against a wide range of HIV subtypes. The booster vaccine used had been shown to stimulate the production of antibodies against the HIV envelope protein gp140.
Imbokodo recruited 2637 women in five southern African countries. It was a second major disappointment when Imbokodo also closed early in August 2021. Whereas in Uhambo there were equal numbers of infections in vaccine and placebo recipients, in Imbokodo 25% fewer women receiving vaccine were infected than women receiving placebo. However, this difference was so small that it was not statistically significant, in other words could have been due to chance alone.
Another study, the Mosaico trial (also known as HVTN 706) uses, as its name indicates, the same mosaic vaccine approach as Imbokodo. Mosaico began recruiting participants in North America, Latin America and Europe in 2019. This trial uses a prime and booster designed to produce responses to subtype B HIV which predominates in Europe, North America and Latin America. Recruitment of gay and bisexual men and transgender people began in those regions in 2019, and the trial is ongoing, with results expected in March 2024.
Will a vaccine protect everyone?
It is widely expected that the first generation of HIV vaccines will only be partially effective. Some people will have weaker immune responses after vaccination or will miss doses of the vaccine and fail to achieve protection. The RV144 vaccine reduced the risk of infection by only 31% but trials of newer vaccines are looking for reductions in the risk of infection of at least 50%, and preferably 65% or more, to move forward. A vaccine which only halved the risk of infection may nevertheless be highly cost-effective in regions of the world where rates of infection are high and the cost of providing treatment will continue to grow if the rate of infection cannot be reduced.
When will an HIV vaccine be available?
Scientists have swung between optimism and pessimism about the chances of developing an effective vaccine over the past 30 years. Scientists were feeling more optimistic after the results of the phase I and II studies that fed into Uhambo and Imbokodo, but we are now in a period, if not of pessimism, of retrenchment.
Even if Mosaico produces positive results after 2024, it will take several years for the results to be fully analysed and submitted for regulatory approval – and they will only apply to the subtype B epidemic that is predominant in Europe and the Americas. Vaccine manufacturing will need to be scaled up and money will need to be pledged by donors to pay for HIV vaccination campaigns in lower-income countries. Further studies will be needed to find out if the vaccine effective in this one clinical trial show similar efficacy in other populations.
If Mosaico fails, it will not mean that HIV vaccine research will stop. However, it may be the last vaccine candidate that elicits non-neutralising antibodies. These don’t directly block viral replication but recruit an immune response that does.
The next generation of vaccine candidates will need to elicit broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), which do directly block viral replication, or stimulate a very broad and potent T-cell response. Novel vaccines are being researched, though they are only in phase I (safety) or preclinical studies so far. You can read more about them on another page. | http://www.aidsmap.com/Why-is-it-so-hard-to-make-a-vaccine-against-HIV/page/1271042/ | 2,603 | Health | 4 | en | 0.99999 |
Did early Christians have Bibles? Hide in catacombs? Oh, and as far as why Peter was crucified upside down...
Whether you like it or not, if you live in Western Europe or North America your world is shaped by Christianity. But Christianity was not inevitable. Jesus was not the only Messiah executed by the Romans for sedition. His impact is felt and the religion founded in his name exists today because of the work of his followers—the Apostles and first disciples who spread his message. We know a little about their work from the Bible (Acts of the Apostles) and there are some almost cartoonish portrayals of them in stories composed decades, even hundreds of years after their deaths. But it’s largely a murky period. Most of what we think we know about the earliest Christians comes from later traditions, Hollywood epics and, sadly, The Da Vinci Code.
1. They weren’t Christians.
Jesus and his disciples were Jews: Their scripture was Jewish, their religious rituals were Jewish, and their conception of the Messiah was Jewish. It’s certainly true that in the Gospel of John, a text written at the earliest around 90 CE, Jesus says some pretty vicious things about Jews (spoiler alert: He didn’t actually say those things). And it’s true that Paul discouraged Gentile converts from embracing the full demands of Jewish law, including circumcision. But neither Paul nor any of the evangelists know the name Christian or use it to describe followers of Jesus. | http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/27/the-biggest-myths-about-the-first-christians.html | 312 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999983 |
Scientists in the UK have developed the world’s most effective malaria vaccine with 77 percent efficacy against the disease.
Researchers at the Jenner Institute of Oxford University and their partners, said findings from a phase IIb trial of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, demonstrated high-level efficacy of 77 percent.
The most effective malaria vaccine to date had only shown 55% efficacy in trials on African children.
Malaria kills more than 400,000 people a year, mostly children in sub-Saharan Africa. But despite many vaccines being trialled over the years, none has met the required target for success.
The researchers say the vaccine could have a major public health impact.
When trialled in 450 children in Burkina Faso, the vaccine was found to be safe, and showed “high-level efficacy” over 12 months of follow-up.
Larger trials in nearly 5,000 children between the ages of five months and three years will now be carried out across four African countries, to confirm the findings.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Although preventable and curable, the World Health Organization estimates there were 229 million cases worldwide in 2019 and 409,000 deaths.
Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute and professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said trials of this malaria vaccine started in 2019, long before coronavirus appeared – and the Oxford team developed its Covid vaccine on the strength of its research into malaria.
He said a malaria vaccine had taken much longer to come to fruition because there are thousands of genes in malaria compared to around a dozen in coronavirus, and a very high immune response is needed to fight off the disease.
Prof Charlemagne Ouédraogo, minister of health in Burkina Faso, said malaria was one of the leading causes of childhood mortality in Africa.
“These new data show that licensure of a very useful new malaria vaccine could well happen in the coming years.
“That would be an extremely important new tool for controlling malaria and saving many lives.”
The Serum Institute of India, which has manufactured the vaccine, says it is confident of delivering more than 200 million doses of the vaccine as soon as it is approved by regulators. | http://www.africagiantnews.com.ng/an-oxford-vaccine-shows-77-efficacy-in-early-trials-against-malaria/ | 477 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999922 |
Welcome to the Quranic Arabic Corpus, an annotated linguistic resource which shows the Arabic grammar, syntax and morphology for each word in the Holy Quran. The corpus provides three levels of analysis: morphological annotation, a syntactic treebank and a semantic ontology.
The Quran is a significant religious text written in Quranic Arabic,
and is followed by believers of the Islamic faith. The Quran contains
6,236 numbered verses (ayāt) and is divided
into 114 chapters. An example verse from the Quran: (21:30) Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? |
- Version 0.4 Released - new and updated linguistic features in this version of the corpus
- Word by Word Quran - maps out the syntax of the entire Quran, with analysis and translation
- Quranic Grammar - traditional Arabic grammar (إعراب) illustrated using dependency graphs
How you can get involved
This project contributes to the research of the Quran by applying natural language computing technology to analyze the Arabic text of each verse. The word by word grammar is very accurate, but ensuring complete accuracy is not possible without your help. If you come across a word and you feel that a better analysis could be provided, you can suggest a correction online by clicking on an Arabic word.
World map of users of the Quranic Arabic
Corpus, provided by Google Analytics.
Countries with the highest number of users are shaded in darker green.
The map above shows worldwide interest in the Quranic Arabic Corpus. Every day, the website is used by over 2,500 people from 165 different countries. Help us review the information on this website so that together we can build the most accurate linguistic resource for Quranic Arabic.
The Quranic Arabic Dependency Treebank (QADT)
The Quranic treebank is an effort to map out the entire grammar of the Quran by linking Arabic words through dependencies. The linguistic structure of verses is represented using mathematical graph theory. The annotated corpus provides a novel visualization of Quranic syntax using dependency graphs.
The Ontology of Quranic Concepts
The Quranic Ontology uses knowledge representation to define the key concepts in the Quran, and shows the relationships between these concepts using predicate logic. Named entities in verses, such as the names of historic people and places mentioned in the Quran, are linked to concepts in the ontology.
- Message Board - discuss the Arabic language and grammatical analysis of the Quran
- Frequently Asked Questions - more information about the research project | http://corpus.quran.com/documentation/gender.jspInformative..thanks | 543 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999981 |
Ancient Architecture and urban planning by the Africans.
One of its most endearing structure was the Deffufa, a mud brick temple which ceremonies were performed on top. It is 18 meters tall and comprises three stories.
The deffufa is a unique structure in Nubian Architecture. Three known deffufa exist. The Western Deffufa at Kerma, an Eastern Deffufa, and a third little known deffufa. The Western Deffufa is 50m by 25m. It was surrounded by a boundary wall. Inside were chambers connected by passageways.
Kerma was settled around 2400 BC.It was a walled city containing religious building, large circular dwelling, a palace, and well laid out roads. On the East side of the city, funerary temple and chapel were laid out. It supported a population of 2,000.
The Eastern Deffufa
The Eastern Deffufa lies 2 km east of the Western Deffufa. The Eastern Deffufa is shorter than the Western Deffufa, just two stories high. It is considered a funerary chapel, being surrounded by 30,000 tumuli or graves. It has two columned halls. The walls are decorated with portraiture of animal in color schemes of red, blue, yellow, and black and stone laid floors. Exterior walls were layered with stone. The third deffufa is of similar structure as the Eastern Deffufa.
Architecture and urban planning, by the Africans.
Kerma (now known as Dukki Gel, a Nubian term which can be roughly translated as “red mound”wink was the capital city of the Kingdom of Kerma, which was located in present day Sudan. The Kerma site has been confirmed by archaeology to be at least 9,500 years old. Around 3000 BC, a cultural tradition began around Kerma. Kerma was a large urban center that was built around a large mud brick temple, known as the Western Deffufa. Some unique aspects of this culture were beautiful pottery, the importance of cattle, a system of defense, and the King’s audience chamber, which bears no resemblance to any Egyptian building (it was rebuilt 10 times). ‘Kerma’ is also used to describe the early Sudanese kingdom, of which Kerma was capital. This was one of the earliest African civilizations, commanding an empire that in 1600 BCE rivalled Egypt (stretching from the First to Fourth Cataracts). | http://solarey.net/western-deffufa-kerma-sudan/ | 536 | Culture | 4 | en | 0.999975 |
The Jewish Troops of Adolf Hitler
Amidst the Holocaust; it’s Jews against Jews
History already dictated that during World War II, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Army persecuted millions of Jews in Europe. The entire world knew the story; it was the Nazis against the Jewish people. The goal was to eradicate the latter until every single one of them was extinct.
However, history is not as simple as black and white. A little known fact during the Holocaust was not given much attention as it could change the narrative of knowledge we were already accustomed to.
Based on the book Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military, by Bryan Rigg, this is the story of the Mischlings or Jewish descent men who joined the Wehrmacht (Unified Armed Forces) of Nazi Germany and even protected Fürher Adolf Hitler.
The Mischlings’ Confused Origin
The Nazis sought several ways to classify Jews as a race and not as a religious community. Jews in Germany were not easy to identify by physical appearance. Hence, many had given up traditional practices and had integrated into mainstream society.
Some no longer practiced Judaism and had even begun celebrating Christian holidays, especially Christmas. Many of… | https://medium.com/frame-of-reference/the-jewish-troops-of-adolf-hitler-4298f6bc7954 | 264 | Politics | 3 | en | 0.999914 |
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Researchers have come up with a new way to generate electricity with solar panel technology by harvesting the energy produced by raindrops.
The method, proposed by a team from Tsinghua University in China, involves a device called a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that creates electrification from liquid-solid contact.
These are typically used to harvest energy from waves, as droplet-based TENGs (D-TENGs) have previously faced technical limitations that prevented them from working at any significant scale.
By using solar panel bridge arrays, the researchers discovered such barriers could be overcome
“Referring to the design of solar panels in which multiple solar power generation units are connected in parallel to supply the load, we are proposing a simple and effective method for raindrop harvesting,” said Professor Zong Li, who led the research.
“The peak power output of the bridge array generators is nearly five times higher than that of the conventional large-area raindrop energy harvesting. The results of this study will provide a feasible scheme for large-area raindrop energy harvesting.”
A study detailing the breakthrough, titled ‘Rational TENG arrays as a panel for harvesting large-scale raindrop energy’, was published in the journal iEnergy.
“As an important part of the natural energy and water cycle, rainfall contains abundant renewable energy,” the study notes.
“However, this kind of renewable energy lacks effective utilisation today... Therefore, finding a reasonable topology to relieve the inherent constraints of D-TENGs is of great significance for realising the large-scale raindrop energy harvesting.”
It is one of a number of promising advances with solar panel technology in recent months, with an Australian team of researchers developing self-healing cells capable of recovering 100 per cent of their original efficiency after suffering degradation from space radiation.
Earlier this week, scientist’s at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) unveiled a design for a double-sided solar panel capable of boosting efficiency rates by up to 20 per cent by harvesting reflected sunlight.
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Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies | https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-panel-electricity-rain-china-b2379404.html | 580 | Politics | 4 | en | 0.999945 |
YOU might think your job sucks, but it's nothing compared to this.
A brave Australian scientist has spoken of how he lets thousands of mosquitoes bite his arm as part of research into a deadly infectious disease.
Dr Perran Stott-Ross, of Melbourne University, lets bugs lap up his blood daily in his quest to rid the world of Dengue fever, ScienceAlert reports.
The disease has exploded worldwide over the past 50 years and kills an estimated 25,000 people every year.
The insects Dr Stott-Ross feeds are infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium known to block the spread of dengue.
Speaking to ScienceAlert, the infectious disease expert admitted that the bites – up to 5,000 a day – do sting on occassion.
"Sometimes it can sting a little bit if they get you in the right spot, but mostly it's just slight irritation," he said.
"It's absolutely itchy later. As soon as I take my arm out, I have to resist the urge to scratch."
Dr Stott-Ross has worked with mosquitoes for years and regularly posts photos and videos of his research to his 2,500 Twitter followers.
In one post that went viral in May, he shared an image of his arm after a day of feeding, writing that he'd lost 16ml of blood.
Wolbachia is already a well distributed infectious bacteria, and it's helping scientists fight back against dengue fever.
The microorganism formed a big part of recent efforts to eradicate dengue in northern Australia.
The project started in 2011, and turned north Queensland into a "dengue-free are for the first time in 100 years", physician Richard Gair, Director of Tropical Public Health Services in Cairns said back in April.
Research into how Wolbachia might help other dengue-stricken areas involves the rearing and feeding of hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes.
Dr Stott-Ross' work involves infecting mosquito eggs with the bacterium – which is harmless to humans – and then breeding lines of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in the lab.
Releasing these infected creepy crawlies into the wild can infect wild populations, stopping dengue transmission in its tracks.
"You have to rear hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes in the lab and then go around releasing them everywhere," Dr Stott-Ross told ScienceAlert.
"These particular mosquitoes don't really travel very far by themselves."
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue Fever is a tropical disease that is spread by mosquitos.
According to the NHS, symptoms of dengue usually develop suddenly, about 5 to 8 days after you become infected.
Symptoms can include:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
- a severe headache
- pain behind the eyes
- muscle and joint pain
- feeling or being sick
- a widespread red rash
- tummy pain and loss of appetite
The symptoms normally pass after about 1 week, although you may feel tired and slightly unwell for several weeks afterwards.
It's painstaking work, and one that requires a lot of blood, sweat and tears to keep the many thousands of mosquitoes fed.
Ross works with the mosquitoes on a daily basis, feeding them by sticking his arm through some bug-proof netting.
Projects to release Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to help fight dengue pandemics are expanding across the globe.
A project is Kuala Lumpa, Malaysia, has reduced dengue infections by between 40 and 60 per cent, Dr Stott-Ross said.
There's still a lot of work to do, but appears the tide is finally turning on the disease, which infects as estimated 390million people each year.
Most read in Science
In other news, toxins in water produced by bacteria killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana this year, officials have announced.
An alligator on helium has landed researchers a bizarre science prize.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
And, an asteroid came closer to Earth than some satellites last week.
What do you make of the strange mosquito research? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected] | https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/12790586/scientist-infected-mosquitoes-killer-disease/ | 899 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999973 |
In this era of rapid technological advancement and digital innovation, the world has witnessed an unprecedented surge in electronic devices. From smartphones and laptops to household appliances, electronic gadgets have become an integral part of our lives, transforming the way we work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. However, this digital revolution comes with its own set of consequences, prominently highlighted by the rising challenge of electronic waste, or e-waste. In this blog post titled “Rising challenge of e-waste: the impact on the environment”, we will take a critical analysis on the definition, origin, consequences, etc., of e-waste.
Setting the Stage: The Digital Revolution and its Consequences
The advent of the digital age has brought forth remarkable changes, connecting people across the globe and revolutionizing industries. However, this progress has also led to a staggering increase in the production and consumption of electronic devices.
Defining E-Waste: What Falls Under the Category?
E-waste encompasses discarded electronic devices, ranging from cell phones and televisions to refrigerators and printers. These gadgets, once cutting-edge, quickly become obsolete, contributing to the mounting e-waste problem.
The Scope of E-Waste Problem
Exploring the Global Surge: Statistics and Trends
Globally, the volume of e-waste generated has skyrocketed, driven by shorter product lifecycles and increasing consumer demand for the latest technologies. According to recent reports, the world generated over 53 million metric tons of e-waste in 2021 alone.
The Lifecycle of Electronics: From Production to Disposal
Understanding the journey of electronic devices is crucial in comprehending the e-waste challenge. From raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, usage, and disposal, each phase has its own environmental implications.
Environmental Impact of E-Waste
Toxic Chemicals Unleashed: Hazardous Materials in Electronic Devices
E-waste poses a severe threat due to the presence of toxic substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants. When not properly managed, these chemicals leach into the environment, contaminating soil, water, and air.
Soil and Water Contamination: E-Waste’s Subtle Yet Dangerous Consequences
Improper disposal of e-waste, including dumping or incineration, can release harmful chemicals into the soil and water. This contamination affects ecosystems, wildlife, and even agricultural produce.
Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Hidden Footprint
E-waste incineration releases toxic fumes into the air, contributing to air pollution and emitting greenhouse gases that exacerbate climate change.
Health Hazards for Humans
The Vulnerability of Informal E-Waste Recycling Workers
In many developing countries, informal e-waste recycling is a common practice, exposing workers to hazardous materials without proper protection. This leads to serious health issues, including respiratory problems, skin disorders, and even cancer.
E-Waste’s Reach: How Contaminants Enter the Food Chain
Toxic substances from e-waste can infiltrate the food chain through contaminated water and soil, potentially impacting human health through the consumption of contaminated crops and seafood.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
International Agreements and Initiatives: Basel Convention and Beyond
The Basel Convention is a pivotal international agreement aimed at controlling the trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste, including e-waste. Various countries have ratified the convention to regulate e-waste trade and disposal.
E-Waste Legislation in Different Countries: A Comparative Analysis
Different countries have adopted varying levels of e-waste legislation, ranging from stringent regulations to more relaxed measures. A comparison sheds light on the global effort to tackle this challenge.
Economic and Social Ramifications
Lost Precious Resources: The Untapped Potential of E-Waste Recycling
Electronic devices contain valuable materials like gold, silver, and rare earth elements. Proper recycling not only reduces environmental harm but also unlocks economic opportunities.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Can E-Waste Initiatives Benefit Underserved Communities?
E-waste initiatives can provide access to technology in underserved areas while promoting sustainable practices, potentially bridging the digital divide.
Technological Innovations and Solutions
Circular Economy Approaches: Redefining Electronics Consumption
The circular economy model advocates for designing electronics with repair, refurbishment, and recycling in mind, reducing waste and extending product lifecycles.
The Promise of E-Waste Recycling Technologies: Turning Trash into Treasure
Innovations like advanced recycling techniques and urban mining hold the promise of efficiently extracting valuable resources from discarded electronics.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Holding Manufacturers Accountable
EPR mandates that manufacturers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including proper disposal. This approach encourages more sustainable design and production practices.
E-Waste Management Programs by Tech Giants: Evaluating Their Effectiveness
Many tech giants have initiated e-waste recycling and collection programs. Assessing the impact of these initiatives on the environment and communities is crucial.
Consumer Awareness and Education
Educating the Masses: Raising Awareness about Proper E-Waste Disposal
Raising public awareness about the environmental and health impacts of e-waste is essential in changing consumer behavior.
Making Informed Choices: How Consumers Can Minimize E-Waste Generation
Empowering consumers to make conscious decisions, such as buying longer-lasting products and supporting repair services, can contribute to reducing e-waste.
E-Waste Collection and Recycling
Formal vs. Informal Recycling: The Pros and Cons
Formal e-waste recycling centers adhere to proper guidelines, whereas informal recycling can lead to environmental degradation and health risks.
E-Waste Collection Initiatives: Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Disposal Collaborative efforts between governments, businesses, and communities can establish efficient e-waste collection systems, diverting electronic devices from landfills.
Incentives for Sustainable Practices
Government Incentives: Encouraging E-Waste Recycling Through Policy
Governments can incentivize e-waste recycling through tax benefits, subsidies, and favorable regulations.
Corporate Incentives: How Businesses Can Benefit from Responsible Practices
Companies embracing sustainable e-waste management can enhance their reputation, reduce legal liabilities, and contribute to a cleaner environment.
Closing the Loop: A Sustainable Future
Promoting Design for Sustainability: Creating Electronics with End-of-Life in Mind
Designing electronics for disassembly, repair, and recycling ensures a more sustainable future.
Community Engagement: Building a Culture of E-Waste Responsibility
Engaging communities in e-waste awareness campaigns and recycling initiatives fosters a culture of environmental responsibility.
From Awareness to Action: Our Role in Tackling the E-Waste Challenge
Understanding the gravity of the e-waste issue is the first step. It’s imperative that individuals, governments, and industries collectively take action to mitigate its impact.
Embracing a Greener Digital Age: A Hopeful Outlook
While the rising challenge of e-waste poses significant threats, there’s hope in the concerted efforts toward sustainable practices, responsible consumption, and innovative solutions. Through mindful choices and collaborative action, we can pave the way for a greener, cleaner future.
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Too many times have we waited until the eleventh hour to tackle the problems before us. This time around, it mustn't be business as usual.
An erstwhile little-known scourge, the Ebola virus disease has spread like wildfire through the western parts of the West African sub-region since the first case was reported early this year.
According to Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and the World Health Organization (WHO), over 400 lives have been lost in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia since January 2013, making it the deadliest and largest ever outbreak of the disease since records began.
The scary part of the picture is that the disease has no known cure. The ravaging nature of this family of viruses (which first appeared in Central Africa in 1976) has made it difficult to be studied by scientists. As a result, experiments with it can only be carried out in biosafety level 4 laboratories where the world's deadliest disease agents are studied.
The viruses that give rise to the EVD, known as the filovirus, are somewhat very transmissible. Anything from a prolonged exposure to the bodily fluids such as sweat, urine, blood, mucous and faeces to the excrement of a carrier leads to contagion of the disease. Carriers can be both humans and animals. Fruits that have come in contact with infected animals, especially bats, can also serve as reservoirs for the viruses.
Despite concerted efforts by experts to check the spread of the disease, the number of reported cases has continued to rise over the past few weeks. Observation of the trend of the outbreak reveals that around 60% of the over 600 infected persons have so far lost their lives. But the fatality rate can be much higher, currently put at 90%. It has been designated a regional disaster worthy of drastic measures.
This now begs the question of the readiness of the Nigerian government - and people - in ensuring that it doesn't cross the borders of the country. In a country of more than 170 million people, most of them living in squalid, crammed full conditions with a high level of interstate movement, an outbreak of such a disease is best left to the imagination.
History is a witness to our laissez faire approach to matters of utmost urgency. Too many times have we waited until the eleventh hour to tackle the problems before us. This time around, it mustn't be business as usual.
Given the highly contagious nature of the disease, all hands must be on deck to see to it that it doesn't make it into the country or take us by surprise. There have been reported cases of doctors, nurses and other patients fleeing from hospitals in Guinea because of the high number of Ebola virus disease-related deaths over there. Schools have also be shut there, churches and mosques empty, commercial activities brought to a standstill and social interaction almost nonexistent.
It's everyone's duty to protect himself or herself and his or her community. Constant hand washing after contact with people is encouraged. The incubation period of the disease can be as little as 48 hours and as long as 21 days. Therefore, someone can be infected with disease, but not yet display any symptom.
The consumption of wild animals sold in local markets, popularly called "bush meat", should be avoided at all costs. Pigs, monkeys, bats and other wild animals are proven carriers and reservoirs of the Ebola virus.
The government and health workers should not be taught their jobs. In rural clinics, the practice of the reuse of needles should be discouraged. At airports, screening of travellers from neighbouring West African countries for any sign of the disease should be taken more seriously. Travellers to any part of the sub-region, especially the hot spots of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia must be on red alert.
These, along with other precautionary measures, will go a long way in insulating Nigeria from the epidemic. Prevention is easier and cheaper than remedy, and it must be the priority of the government, health workers and everyone at this point in time.
Facts about the Ebola virus disease (EVD) by the WHO:
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%
EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.
Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals.
Genus Ebolavirus is 1 of 3 members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), along with genus Marburgvirus and genus Cuevavirus. Genus Ebolavirus comprises 5 distinct species:
Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV)
Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV)
Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV).
BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV have been associated with large EVD outbreaks in Africa, whereas RESTV and TAFV have not. The RESTV species, found in Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, can infect humans, but no illness or death in humans from this species has been reported to date.
EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes. | http://saharareporters.com/article/what-nigeria-doing-prevent-outbreak-ebola-virus | 1,243 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999992 |
Everyone suffers from major or minor illnesses at some point in life. However, a few chronic diseases have been nicknamed “silent killers” due to their mortality rate and lack of symptoms.
Most of these conditions occur due to metabolic or genetic issues and some can be attributed to lifestyles. Thus, it is best to get regularly screened for these diseases as early detection can help prevent fatalities.
Silent Killer Diseases You Must Know
Here are some common chronic conditions that may be deadly if not addressed.
1. High blood pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a chronic condition that causes elevated levels of blood pressure in the blood vessels. This can be detrimental to your health in the long run and should be managed with a doctor’s guidance. It can put you at risk of heart disease and heart attack. (1)
You may have hypertension if your blood pressure reading is higher than normal on at least 3 separate occasions. Some common symptoms are dizziness, headache, nausea, and fatigue.
You can be at higher risk of developing hypertension if you smoke, drink alcohol excessively, have a family history of diabetes, have elevated levels of cholesterol, or consume too much salt. (2)
Fortunately, when diagnosed early, high blood pressure can be resolved with lifestyle changes, becoming more physically active, restricting salt and high-fat intake, taking prescribed medicines, etc. (3)
Diabetes is another chronic disorder. It causes a rise in blood sugar levels due to decreased production of insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar) or decreased sensitivity to insulin in the body.
There is no cure for diabetes and it has to be managed with lifestyle changes, diet, medication, or insulin injections for the rest of your life. (4)
Diabetes is a major health scare in today’s generation due to the increase in obesity and decreased physical activity. (5) It can seriously damage your organs and nerves in the long run if not managed properly.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 2 diabetes – Type 2 diabetes occurs due to decreased sensitivity of the cells to insulin. Insulin helps break down blood sugar to release energy. Hence, type 2 diabetes causes an increase in blood sugar even if the pancreas is working effectively. (6)
- Type 1 diabetes – Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, occurs due to the inefficient production of insulin by the pancreas. It more commonly manifests in adolescents and young adults and can be a lifelong condition.
You should monitor your blood sugar levels regularly if you have diabetes. It helps in decreasing your risk of heart disease, organ failure, and nerve damage.
3. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease and is also one of the biggest causes of death in the United States.
It occurs when the walls of blood vessels thicken due to the deposition of cholesterol and fatty plaque. This impairs blood flow and may cause high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), increased heart rate, etc. (7)
CAD can significantly increase your risk of a heart attack.
4. Fatty liver disease
There are two main types of fatty liver disease: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease occurs when you have fat deposits but no damage to the liver, and NASH occurs with fat and damage to the liver. (8) NASH is the more dangerous form of liver disease and can progress to cirrhosis (permanent scarring and damage to the liver).
Excessive alcohol consumption is a big factor in developing liver diseases. Treatment includes medicines, lifestyle changes, and diet. The only treatment if liver disease has progressed to cirrhosis is a liver transplant. (9)
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes a decrease in bone density and minerals. It can increase your risk of fractures. Osteoporosis usually does not cause symptoms unless you break a bone due to injury. It is commonly diagnosed in older women.
Osteoporosis can be managed with physical activity, medicines, consuming more calcium and vitamin D, quitting smoking, etc. (10)(11)
6. Colon cancer
Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon and rectum, which are the lower parts of the large intestine. It begins as the growth of polyps in the intestine and slowly progresses to cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in the United States today. It is highly preventable if detected early and the polyps are removed.
If you are above the age of 50, have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, have a family history of colorectal cancer, or have colorectal polyps, it is important to regularly have yourself checked for colorectal cancer. (12)
7. Nonmelanoma skin cancer
Nonmelanoma skin cancer includes common cancers of the skin cells such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It tends to occur when the skin cells are overexposed to the UV rays of the sun or tanning beds.
Symptoms of skin cancer can be red patches, tiny white bumps, warts, bleeding patches, etc. (13)
8. Chagas disease
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is a common disease spread by insects in the United States and Latin America.
Chagas disease can also be transmitted by bug feces in food, from mothers to babies during birth, or from blood products or organ donation from an infected person. It can cause rashes, heart palpitations, and fever.
Chagas can be a lifelong condition if left untreated. (14)
9. Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer occurs in the cervix, which is located at the bottom end of the uterus at the opening of the vagina. Most cases of cervical cancer occur due to a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. (15)
Early detection is key to preventing cervical cancer in women. It is essential to undergo a Pap smear test once a year for adult women. (16)
Hepatitis is a liver disease that can significantly damage the liver. A group of viruses can cause hepatitis, but the hepatitis C virus is the most common causative agent. This disease is spread by blood transfusions, using used needles, or sexual contact.
There are no vaccines for hepatitis C, but certain medicines can cure the disease. (17)
A significant rise in metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and PCOD is seen in the United States today. Sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and fast food consumption have contributed to this phenomenon and need to be addressed urgently.
Making a few widespread lifestyle changes such as encouraging more physical activity, consuming healthy diets, or avoiding cigarettes and vaping can help decrease the occurrence of many preventable diseases. | https://www.top10homeremedies.com/news-facts/10-silent-killer-diseases-you-must-know.html | 1,458 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999971 |
What are triglycerides is a very important topic which should be covered knowing fully well that it has to do with human health. The problem most people have is when the level of triglycerides becomes high and they don't even know about it or what are the causes. As such, in this guide you are going to learn and understand the following after reading this article:
- What causes triglycerides to be high
- What level of triglycerides is dangerous
- What is the triglycerides normal level
- Sources of triglycerides in food
- Symptoms of triglycerides when high
- When is triglyceride measured
- How to lower the triglycerides
What Are Triglycerides?
The answer to this question is that triglycerides are a type of fat that provides the body with energy, and it is one of the most common types of fats in the body. It is formed by linking fatty acids with glycerol, which is a form of glucose. Most of the fat we eat from dietary sources is converted into triglycerides at the end of the day which includes butter, oils, excess calories, alcohol, and sugar, etc, and they are finally stored in fat cells throughout the body. But having a high level of triglycerides can increase the likelihood of heart disease among which is coronary artery disease.
Sources Of Triglycerides
As you already know, triglycerides are one of the main energy sources and can be gotten from the following sources:
1) Sources of triglycerides in food: Some of the foods we eat contain triglycerides, such as meat, dairy products, cooking oils, butter, and fats in general, they are absorbed by the intestines and then converted into lipoproteins known as chylomicrons. These proteins carry the triglycerides to the tissues to be used for energy or to be stored for use when needed.
2) Triglycerides supply in the body by the liver: Of course, the body makes its own stores of triglycerides in the liver. These fats are carried in a different type of lipoprotein known as very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) to the tissues when the body needs energy.
When Is Triglyceride Measured?
Triglyceride levels are measured at the same time that we measure cholesterol levels because knowing their levels can help to determine the likelihood of developing heart and circulatory diseases and assist in the diagnosis of these diseases. The importance of checking your triglyceride levels can help you overcome some complicated health issues in time because you can now control the situation after your check-up compared to when you did not do any check-up and it gets out of hand and cause serious health problems.
Read This:Sweet Potato Benefits For Health
Symptoms Of Triglycerides When High
Below are some of the known symptoms of high or extremely high triglycerides:
- Inflammation of the pancreas also known as pancreatitis
- Severe abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- High cholesterol
- Hardening of the arteries
What Is The Triglycerides Normal Level?
The following are the possible results of triglycerides levels starting from the normal level to the most dangerous levels:
- The normal levels of triglycerides are usually less than 150 milligrams per deciliter
- High threshold levels are usually 150 - 199 milligrams per deciliter
- High levels are usually 200 - 499 milligrams per deciliter
- Very high levels are usually 500 milligrams per deciliter or more
You may be asking, what level of triglycerides is dangerous? It should be known that triglycerides higher than 150 milligrams per deciliter can increase the risk of heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, and the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes. So when triglycerides are high or very high, it is considered dangerous.
Read This: Cantaloupe Benefits For Health
What Causes Triglycerides To Be High?
You may be curious about why are triglycerides high? Of course, the most common factors that can raise your triglyceride level include:
- Eating more calories than you burn, especially on a diet rich in sugar and simple carbohydrates
- Some genetic disorders
- Thyroid diseases
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Taking certain medications, such as diuretics, hormones, corticosteroids, and beta-blockers
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
How To Lower The Triglycerides
You can be able to prevent or lower your triglyceride levels through lifestyle changes that include:
- Lose weight and keep it within a healthy range
- Control of high blood pressure and diabetes
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Do regular physical activity
- Switch from saturated fats to healthy fats
- Stop smoking
- Limit sugar, unhealthy fats, and simple carbohydrates and increase your fiber intake
- Limit alcohol
- Relieve stress
- Some people may need to take cholesterol medication to lower triglyceride
Summary And Takeaway
In this guide, we answered the question about what are triglycerides as well as covered other related areas just to provide full information about the topic at hand of which among the other related areas covered include what causes triglycerides to be high, what level of triglycerides is dangerous, what is the triglycerides normal level, sources of triglycerides in food, symptoms of triglycerides when high, when is triglyceride measured as well as how to lower the triglycerides. In conclusion, it should be known that triglycerides are a type of fat that provides energy to the body, but when it is above the normal level in the body can cause some health complications which is what we discussed in this guide of which we also provided some preventive measures which can be so helpful in this regard.
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Symptoms for malnutrition is a very important topic knowing fully well that healthy living requires full nutritional supply to the body to function and flourish at its best of which the lack of any important element in the body can result in unwanted health issues and as such, in this guide, you are going to learn and understand the following about malnutrition:
- Malnutrition definition
- Signs and symptoms of malnutrition
- Symptoms of malnutrition in the elderly
- What are the effects of malnutrition
- Diseases caused by malnutrition
- Malnutrition diagnosis
- What are causes of malnutrition
- Kwashiorkor disease is due to
- Malnutrition treatment
- Prevention for malnutrition
Malnutrition can be defined as a situation in which the body lacks all or some of the essential nutrients it requires to flourish. The seriousness of malnutrition ranges from minor to severe, which may cause irreversible damage even if the person recovers from it. Malnutrition occurs in a person gradually and is sometimes difficult to diagnose at first and can result in physical harm to the sufferer. Having the knowledge of the signs of malnutrition helps to start the treatment early before it gets out of hand.
In a situation where malnutrition is due to a lack of food, or nutritional needs, the sufferer is responsible to solve this problem by making available sufficient quantities of food that contain different nutritional values suitable to remedy the situation as well as prevent the reoccurrence by following the proper nutrition methods. When the case of malnutrition is as a result of negligence and eating disorders, the responsibility, in this case, should be directed to a physician who can prescribe the treatment method.
Signs And Symptoms Of Malnutrition
There are several symptoms for malnutrition of which among the most notable signs of malnutrition are as follow:
- Tiredness, anxiety, and feeling restless
- Loss of appetite and not willing to eat and drink
- Feeling cold most of the time
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Wasting of muscle or body fat
- Difficulty in wounds healing
- Increased risk of disease or infection
- Frequent exposure to postoperative complications
- Slow growth in children and weight loss
- Fatigue and loss of energy both in children and adults
- Slow to act and difficult to learn in children
What Are Causes Of Malnutrition?
There are some known causes and factors that result in malnutrition and the notable ones are:
1) Lack Of Food: This deficiency occurs when the body does not get one or more of the vital nutrients needed to carry out its functions normally, or due to poor absorption of the nutrients contained in the food despite the availability of the required quantity and elements in it. It is worthy of note that a deficiency in only one nutrient, such as a particular vitamin, is also considered malnutrition. Some of the most notable factors that lead to a lack of food intake are the following:
- Incidence of cancer
- Health problems that cause difficulty swallowing
- Liver problems
- Economic and social problems
- Taking some medications that cause nausea
Severe malnutrition caused by starvation or lack of food that usually occur in third world countries
2) Mental Health Problems: Among the major mental illnesses that can result in malnutrition are as follow:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Gastrointestinal diseases that cause problems in the absorption of food thereby leading to malnutrition.
Groups Most Likely At Risk Of Malnutrition
There are some groups of people that are more exposed to malnutrition and below is the list:
1) The Elderly: The inability to regulate nutritional needs, or poor absorption of nutrients due to aging, especially iron, may result in malnutrition in the elderly. Some of the symptoms of malnutrition in the elderly include weight loss, open to disease or infection, fatigue, and loss of energy, etc.
2) Children: Because of the high need for vital nutrients and energy for growth, infants and children of the growing age are more susceptible to the damage of malnutrition, resulting in emaciation, delayed growth and development, anemia, and signs of vitamin deficiency.
3) Chronic Disease Patients: Some diseases that are related to malabsorption of nutrients, or diseases that put stress on the body, are usually accompanied by loss of appetite which can result in a shortage of food and nutrients in the body.
4) Pregnant Women: As a result of the process of childbearing, the mother needs good nutrition to carry on the process of the pregnancy of which the lack of food and required nutrients may lead to premature birth. Importantly, the lack of folic acid in the pregnant woman’s diet can lead to congenital damage to the nervous system of the fetus, and not getting vitamin B12 would lead to a deficiency in this Vitamin in the infant.
What Are The Effects Of Malnutrition
For sure, malnutrition can lead to many health complications of which among the main complications of malnutrition include the following:
- Having difficulty balancing salts and fluids inside the body
- Weakened immunity of the patient and the increased exposure to infection
- Prolonged healing of wounds or wound healing problems
- Having difficulty controlling body temperature
- In severe cases can result in kwashiorkor knowing that one of the major causes of kwashiorkor disease is due to malnutrition
The first step in the case of diagnosing malnutrition is to visit the doctor and seek to find out the cause, and if the cause is as a result of digestive disorders or other diseases, then the following tests are required:
- Blood test
- An albumin test to measure the level of protein in the blood and to make sure that there are no kidney or liver diseases
- A test to measure questionable nutrients including iron
The treatment of malnutrition is done according to what caused it. But in general, malnutrition is treated in the following ways:
1) Treatment Of Malnutrition In Minor Cases: In this case, the doctor asks patients to follow the below advice:
- Make sure to eat light meals between main meals
- Eating fortified food rich in protein
- Drinking and eating foods full of calories
- Avoiding excessive movement and staying at home to relax the body
However, in a situation where the previous advice did not meet the purpose, the doctor may prescribe nutritional supplements and drinks rich in calories and nutrients.
2) Treatment Of Severe Malnutrition: In a case where the patient is unable to eat orally or has a health problem that prevents swallowing, the doctor may install a feeding tube that enters from the nose directly into the stomach, and the patient may be fed intravenously.
Diseases Caused By Malnutrition
Some of the known diseases that can be caused by malnutrition include the following:
- Vitamin deficiency
Prevention For Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be prevented and avoided by following some simple tips such as:
- Drinking milk and eating dairy products
- Eating more vegetables and fruits
- Eating a diet rich in starchy foods like rice, bread, potatoes, and pasta
- Ensuring that the food you eat contains protein, and the most important foods rich in protein are fish, meat, eggs, and beans
Summary And Takeaway
We talked about the symptoms for malnutrition which is also the same thing as the signs of malnutrition covering different areas including malnutrition definition, symptoms of malnutrition in the elderly, what are the effects of malnutrition, diseases caused by malnutrition, malnutrition diagnosis, what are causes of malnutrition, kwashiorkor disease is due to, signs and symptoms of malnutrition, malnutrition treatment as well as prevention for malnutrition. Finally, it is worthy of note that malnutrition is a very dangerous condition for healthy living knowing that it can result in many health complications and also hinder your health from progressing due to its negative effects on health considering that it is the lack of the required nutrients and elements in the body of which without the proper amount of healthy nutrients in the body, your health will be at consistent risk which, therefore, requires you to eat healthily and avoid malnutrition by following the guidelines you learned in this article.
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How is malabsorption treated is a very important question that needs to be answered considering the damage this condition can cause to health knowing that we should be very cautious about it, avoid it, and treat it urgently when affected. As such, for the purpose of this article, you are going to learn and understand the following after going through this guide:
- What is malabsorption syndrome
- Malabsorption syndrome symptoms
- Malabsorption syndrome causes
- Diagnosis of malabsorption
- Prevention of malabsorption
What Is Malabsorption Syndrome?
Malabsorption is one of the problems that affect the digestive system and becomes an obstacle to the absorption of the basic nutrients and elements important for the growth of the body. Therefore, malabsorption is a disorder that happens when the stomach is unable to absorb vitamins, salts, and important elements in the food that was eaten of which some of the disorders known to be associated with malabsorption are lactose intolerance and celiac disease.
People with a history of intestinal surgery are likely to experience malabsorption disorders. Since malabsorption is a condition that affects the benefit that is gotten from the food we eat which as a result may affect growth and the proper functions of the body and its performance, it is important to urgently seek for a solution and get the appropriate malabsorption treatment which usually should be handled by a specialist doctor. But in general terms, the issue of how is malabsorption treated can be solved in the following ways:
Read This: Symptoms For Malnutrition | Signs Of Malnutrition
1) Changes In Diet: It should be known that the treatment for malabsorption syndrome depends on the cause of the disease. Sometimes the route of the treatment should be the option of making changes in your diet. You can consult a specialist doctor and dietitian who can develop a therapeutic diet to help you manage and control the symptoms associated with malabsorption and to obtain all the elements and fluids in a natural and balanced way.
2) Taking Of Digestive Enzyme Supplements: Digestive enzyme supplements are enzyme packed capsules that are capable of breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the stomach which can play a role in the management of malabsorption and are able to contribute to the control of certain gastrointestinal diseases associated with the digestive system such as lactose intolerance. Of course, different combinations of digestive enzymes are available in the market, some of which differ in terms of the type of enzyme, its source, and the dose in it. It can be taken to help the body increase its ability to digest and absorb important nutrients that it can not be able to absorb on its own.
3) Taking Of Nutritional Supplements: Taking certain nutritional supplements to replace the elements and nutrients that the body cannot absorb in the issue of malabsorption is essential. You can consult a specialist doctor to prescribe some dietary supplements which can give the body the nutrients that could not be absorbed by the stomach as well as aid digestion in the stomach while absorbing the required elements. In some cases, you will need to take intravenous nutrients, along with fluids if you are dehydrated.
Malabsorption Syndrome Causes
Some of the well-known causes of malabsorption can be seen as follow:
- Lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency
- Damage to the intestine due to inflammation, infection, surgery, or trauma
- The use of antibiotics for a long time
- Some conditions like celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, or Crohn's disease
- Diseases of the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder
- Radiation therapy, which possibly can injure the intestine lining
- Drugs that may injure the intestine lining like cholestyramine, tetracycline, or colchicine
- Certain abnormalities like biliary atresia that is congenital, or present from birth
- Parasitic diseases
Malabsorption Syndrome Symptoms
People need the required nutrients from food to have a healthy body. When the body is unable to properly absorb the needed nutrients, it certainly will experience negative side effects. The symptoms of malabsorption can vary depending on the cause, the seriousness of the condition, and how long a person has suffered from the problem. However, some of the examples of general malabsorption symptoms include:
- Stomach distention
- Stools that look greasy in appearance
- Stomach cramping
- Bone pain
- Sore tongue
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Bones fracturing easily
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle wasting
- Weight loss
Diagnosis Of Malabsorption
When your doctor suspects that you have malabsorption syndrome, your doctor may do some tests to confirm the suspicion which will include:
- Endoscopy: The use of an endoscope which is a flexible tube with a camera on it to examine the intestines.
- Lactose hydrogen breath test: A medical professional can estimate how well nutrients are absorbed by measuring the amount of hydrogen in an individual's breath after drinking a lactose solution.
- Stool test: A large amount of fat in the stool may mean malabsorption.
- Biopsy: A small sample of tissue is taken from the small intestine and examined to see if it shows signs of infection or other problems.
- Sweat test: An examination of a sample of sweat can help diagnose cystic fibrosis, and one of the effects of this disease is a lack of enzymes needed to properly digest food.
Prevention Of Malabsorption
Here are some of the notable ways for prevention:
- Some diseases like celiac disease or lactose intolerance may not be avoided, but the accompanying symptoms can be controlled by following the diet and nutritional supplements recommended by the specialist doctor.
- You can prevent malabsorption treatment by making sure that the proper amount of fluid is ingested in the body regularly which can aid digestion.
- In most cases, malabsorption can be prevented by avoiding excessive use of laxatives or alcohol, both of which are associated with an increased risk of malabsorption. If you have health conditions related to your digestive system, it is important to speak to your healthcare professional to know the best way to handle it.
- Making use of iron supplements to assist with anemia knowing that part of the malabsorption symptom is iron deficiency.
- Taking of supplements containing vitamin D and K, magnesium, and calcium in order to increase the nutrients that the body receives.
Summary And Takeaway
In this guide, the question of how is malabsorption treated was answered revealing three different ways for malabsorption treatment. Also, other important areas were covered in order to give a full understanding of the topic at hand of which among the areas covered include what is malabsorption syndrome, malabsorption syndrome symptoms, malabsorption syndrome causes, diagnosis of malabsorption as well as prevention of malabsorption. Having said that, it should be known that malabsorption is a very bad condition for health because it denies the body the essential nutrients it is supposed to receive, and therefore, you should avoid the issue of malabsorption by following the information in this guide while you take urgent steps to treat the condition if you have been diagnosed of it in order to avoid it leading to other health complications which may not be easy to handle.
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1. Kidney Disease
Your body removes unwanted fluid by filtering your blood through your kidney, via osmosis, to draw excess water out of your blood. This requires a balance of sodium and potassium to pull the water across the wall from the bloodstream into a collecting channel in the kidney. A high salt diet will alter this sodium balance, causing the kidneys to have reduced function and remove less water resulting in higher blood pressure. This puts strain on the kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.
A high salt intake has been shown to increase the amount of protein in the urine which is a major risk factor for the decline of kidney function. There is also increasing evidence that a high salt intake may increase deterioration of kidney disease in people already suffering from kidney problems.
Over 3 million people in the UK have Chronic Kidney Disease, with 61,000 being treated for kidney failure. 3% of the NHS budget is spent treating kidney failures and it is believed that over 3000 kidney replacements are carried out each year with over 5000 patients on a waiting list. There are 40-45000 premature deaths in the UK each year due to CKD.
Who is at risk?
People of Black African and South Asian descent are 3-5 times more likely to suffer from kidney failure (requiring dialysis) compared to white Caucasians. South Asian patients with diabetes are 10 times more likely to go on to have kidney failure. High blood pressure also puts the kidney under excess stress leading to deterioration of function.
How does salt contribute?
Salt intake increases the amount of urinary protein which is a major risk factor for developing kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
2. Kidney (Renal) Stones
Renal stones are relatively common. Over a lifetime, 6% of women and 11% of men will have renal stones at least once. Although common, renal stones are painful and can cause nausea, difficulty passing urine and may progress to kidney disease if there is a blockage.
As well as being a risk factor for kidney disease, a high salt diet has been associated with renal stones. Urinary calcium, the main constituent of renal stones, is increased by a high salt diet and this increases the risk of stones forming. A number of studies have successfully shown that a reduction in salt consumption can reduce calcium excretion, and reduce reoccurrence of renal stones.
Hypercalciuria is present in 80% of renal stone patients and it has also been found that individuals with raised blood pressure are more likely to develop renal stones. A reduction in salt intake may therefore be of particular benefit to these people as it not only lowers blood pressure but can also reduce urinary calcium excretion. A diet designed to reduce hypertension (the DASH diet) has been found to be associated with a marked decreases in kidney stone risk.
Who is most at risk of kidney stones?
People with high blood pressure, persistent urinary infections and Crohns disease are at greater risk of renal stones. Also, white British men between the ages of 30-60, and those with a family history of kidney stones are at greater risk.
Current Salt Intake & Dietary Advice
Almost everyone in the UK (and the rest of the Western world) eats too much salt. The daily recommended amount in the UK is no more than 6 grams a day; the current average salt intake is around 8g salt a day although many people are eating more than this.
People with or considered at risk of kidney disease or renal failure should ensure that they keep their salt intake below the recommended maximum of 6g. This can be achieved by simple changes, such as consuming less processed foods and checking product labels before purchase. | http://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/salthealth/factsheets/kidney/#sthash.KEnA0atK.dpufA | 741 | Health | 4 | en | 0.99999 |
Click here for a printable PDF pamphlet of the information contained in this section.
Surah 15:9 of the Qur’an proclaims:
We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).
Muslim scholars interpret this ayah (verse) as a divine promise that the text of the Qur’an would be preserved perfectly, down to the smallest detail. The Qur’an therefore offers us a way to test its divine origin, based on whether Allah’s promise in Surah 15:9 was fulfilled. In this pamphlet, we will review the history of the Qur’an according to Muslim sources, allowing us to see if this book has Allah’s stamp of approval.
I. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE QUR’AN
The first Qur’anic revelation came to Muhammad around the year 610. Muhammad delivered many more verses to his scribes and companions for memorization and recording over the next two decades. These verses were written on stalks of palm leaves, bones of dead animals, flat stones, and other materials. There was no complete manuscript of the Qur’an during this time.
Qur’anic revelation ceased when Muhammad died. Shortly after Muhammad’s death, Caliph Abu Bakr needed to suppress a rebellion, and he sent many huffaz (people who had memorized portions of the Qur’an) to fight at the Battle of Yamama. Many of these huffaz died, and Muslim sources tell us that portions of the Qur’an were lost:
Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif—Many (of the passages) of the Qur’an that were sent down were known by those who died on the day of Yamama . . . but they were not known (by those who) survived them, nor were they written down, nor had Abu Bakr, Umar or Uthman (by that time) collected the Qur’an, nor were they found with even one (person) after them.
Abu Bakr decided that it was time to gather what remained of the Qur’an in order to prevent more from being lost, and he appointed Zaid ibn Thabit to this task. After Zaid completed his codex around 634 AD, it remained in Abu Bakr’s possession until his death, when it was passed on to Caliph Umar. When Umar died, it was given to Hafsa, a widow of Muhammad. (For a fuller account see Sahih al-Bukhari 4986.)
During Caliph Uthman’s reign, approximately 19 years after the death of Muhammad, disputes arose concerning the correct recitation of the Qur’an. Uthman ordered that Hafsa’s copy of the Qur’an, along with all known textual materials, should be gathered together so that an official version might be compiled. Zaid ibn Thabit, Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, Sa’id bin Al-As, and Abdur-Rahman bin Harith worked diligently to construct a revised text of the Qur’an. When it was finished, “Uthman sent to every Muslim province one copy of what they had copied, and ordered that all the other Qur’anic materials, whether written in fragmentary manuscripts or whole copies, be burnt” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4987). The Qur’an we have today is descended from the Uthmanic codex.
II. DISPUTES AMONG MUHAMMAD’S SCHOLARS
Not all Muslims approved of the new Qur’an. Indeed, some of Muhammad’s top teachers rejected Zaid’s version.
Muhammad once told his followers to “Learn the recitation of the Qur’an from four: from Abdullah bin Masud—he started with him—Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, Mu’adh bin Jabal and Ubai bin Ka’b” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3808). Interestingly, Ibn Masud (first on Muhammad’s list) held that the Qur’an should only have 111 chapters (today’s version has 114 chapters), and that chapters 1, 113, and 114 shouldn’t have been included in the Qur’an.
Because of this (along with hundreds of other textual differences), Ibn Masud went so far as to call the final edition of the Qur’an a deception! He said, “The people have been guilty of deceit in the reading of the Qur’an. I like it better to read according to the recitation of him [i.e. Muhammad] whom I love more than that of Zayd Ibn Thabit” (Ibn Sa’d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. 2, p. 444).
Should Muslims submit to this “deceit”? Not surprisingly, Ibn Masud advised Muslims to reject Zaid’s Qur’an and to keep their own versions—even to hide them so that they wouldn’t be confiscated by the government! He said:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3104—“O you Muslim people! Avoid copying the Mushaf and recitation of this man. By Allah! When I accepted Islam he was but in the loins of a disbelieving man”—meaning Zaid bin Thabit—and it was regarding this that Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: “O people of Al-Iraq! Keep the Musahif that are with you, and conceal them.”
But Ibn Masud wasn’t the only one of Muhammad’s trusted teachers who disagreed with Zaid’s Qur’an. Ubayy ibn Ka’b was Muhammad’s best reciter and one of the only Muslims to collect the materials of the Qur’an during Muhammad’s lifetime. Yet Ibn Ka’b believed that Zaid’s Qur’an was missing two chapters! Later Muslims were therefore forced to reject some of Ibn Ka’b’s recitation:
Sahih al-Bukhari 5005—Umar said, “Ubayy was the best of us in the recitation (of the Qur’an), yet we leave some of what he recites.” Ubayy says, “I have taken it from the mouth of Allah’s Messenger and will not leave it for anything whatever.”
Due to these disputes among Muhammad’s hand-picked reciters, Muslims are faced with a dilemma. If Muslims say that the Qur’an we have today has been perfectly preserved, they must say that Muhammad was horrible at choosing scholars, since he selected men who disagreed with today’s text. If, on the other hand, Muslims say that their prophet would know whom to pick regarding Islam’s holiest book, they must conclude that the Qur’an we have today is flawed!
III. MISSING CHAPTERS
Simply knowing the facts about such disputes is enough to dismiss the claim that the Qur’an has been perfectly preserved. Nevertheless, we may go further by briefly considering certain other problems.
When Ibn Umar—son of the second Muslim caliph—heard people declaring that they knew the entire Qur’an, he said to them: “Let none of you say, ‘I have learned the whole of the Koran,’ for how does he know what the whole of it is, when much of it has disappeared? Let him rather say, ‘I have learned what is extant thereof’” (Abu Ubaid, Kitab Fada’il-al-Qur’an).
One of Muhammad’s companions, Abu Musa, supported this claim when he said that the early Muslims forgot two surahs (chapters) due to laziness:
Sahih Muslim 2286—Abu Musa al-Ash’ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur’an and he said: You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: “If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.” And we used to recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it . . .
This shows that entire chapters of the Qur’an were forgotten.
IV. MISSING PASSAGES
We know further that large sections of certain chapters came up missing. For instance, Muhammad’s wife Aisha said that roughly two-thirds of Surah 33 was lost:
Abu Ubaid, Kitab Fada’il-al-Qur’an—A’isha . . . said, “Surat al-Ahzab (xxxiii) used to be recited in the time of the Prophet with two hundred verses, but when Uthman wrote out the codices he was unable to procure more of it than there is in it today [i.e. 73 verses].”
According to Aisha, the collectors simply couldn’t find all of Surah 33. Why not? As we’ve seen, many huffaz were killed at the Battle of Yamama. Apparently, no one who knew the entire chapter survived.
V. MISSING VERSES
Aisha also tells us that individual verses of the Qur’an disappeared, sometimes in very interesting ways:
Sunan ibn Majah 1944—It was narrated that Aishah said: “The Verse of stoning and of breastfeeding an adult ten times was revealed, and the paper was with me under my pillow. When the Messenger of Allah died, we were preoccupied with his death, and a tame sheep came in and ate it.”
The verses on stoning and breastfeeding an adult ten times are not in the Qur’an today. Why? Aisha’s sheep ate them.
VI. MISSING PHRASES
Since entire chapters, large portions of chapters, and individual verses of the Qur’an were lost, it should come as no surprise that short phrases were forgotten as well. Let’s consider two examples.
First, Surah 33:6 declares that “The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.” Ubayy ibn Ka’b and other early Muslims held that a phrase (“and he is a father of them”) is missing from this verse. Even the great translator Yusuf Ali admits this in his commentary. Ali writes: “In some Qira’ahs, like that of Ubayy ibn Ka’ab, occur also the words ‘and he is a father of them,’ which imply his spiritual relationship and connection with the words ‘and his wives are their mothers’” (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, Note 3674). It seems that Muslims have been left with an incomplete verse.
Second, if we open a modern edition of the Qur’an, we find that Surah 2:238 commands Muslims to “Guard strictly your (habit) of prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).” According to Aisha, Muhammad recited this verse as follows: “Guard strictly (the five obligatory) prayers, and the middle Salat, and Salat Al-Asr. And stand before Allah with obedience” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2982). Hence, the phrase “and Salat Al-Asr” is missing from modern editions.
Obviously, the Qur’an has changed significantly over the years. The evidence shows that entire chapters were lost, that large sections of chapters came up missing, that individual verses were forgotten, and that phrases have been left out. Muhammad’s best teachers and reciters couldn’t even agree on which chapters were supposed to be in the Qur’an.
This raises an obvious question. What’s the difference between a book that’s been perfectly preserved, and one that hasn’t been perfectly preserved? If Muslims are right, there’s no difference at all. The typical characteristics of a book that hasn’t been perfectly preserved are (1) missing phrases, (2) missing passages, (3) missing chapters, (4) disagreements about what goes back to the original, etc. But the Qur’an has all of these characteristics. Thus, Muslims who are aware of the evidence but who also want to maintain the perfect perseveration of the Qur’an must say something like this: “Yes, the Qur’an has all the characteristics of a book that hasn’t been perfectly preserved, but it’s been perfectly preserved anyway.” Can anyone make sense of such a claim?
We must also take note of the obvious. Anyone who has read the Muslim sources (e.g. Hadith, Tafsir, etc.) knows that the Qur’an has not been perfectly preserved. Muslim scholars are well aware of the fact that the Qur’an has been changed, and yet they tell less-educated Muslims that the Qur’an has always been exactly the same. Why are Muslim scholars and leaders deceptive about the history of their book? Moreover, if they are willing to deceive their fellow Muslims about the history of the Qur’an, what else are they being deceptive about?
Friends, whenever a book is passed on and copied by human beings, mistakes are going to be made (e.g. spelling errors, inadvertent omissions, intentional changes, and so on). This is true of all books, including the Qur’an and the Bible. The difference between the Qur’an and other books is that the Qur’an promises that no changes in its text will ever occur. As we have seen in this study, the Qur’an has not been perfectly preserved, which means that the promise of Surah 15:9 was not kept. The Qur’an cannot therefore be the Word of God. | http://www.answeringmuslims.com/p/quran.html?m=1 | 3,152 | Religion | 3 | en | 0.999765 |
On Number base system, we cover the following subtopics, and the complete notes on number base system will follow. Simply click on the documents corresponding to the listed topics below to access the detailed information.
Definition of Terms Related to Number Base System;
- Number Base or Base
- A number system
Types of Number System
- Decimal numbers and their corresponding Binary Equivalents
- Base -8 (Octal Number System)
- Base -10 (Decimal Number System)
- Base - 16 (Hexadecimal Number System)
Converting From Other Bases to Base Ten
Converting Numbers in Base Ten to Other Bases.
Addition and Subtraction of Number Bases
Subtraction of Binary Numbers
Entire documents with in-depth explanations and multiple solved examples are attached below
A YouTube video session that provides a thorough explanation of the answers to the questions will be available in June , 2024 to supplement these resources. We invite you to investigate these materials in order to improve your comprehension and expertise in the field. Please get in touch if you have any questions or need further information. Happy studying! | https://www.nairafame.net/2024/05/number-base-system.html | 235 | Education | 4 | en | 0.999992 |
Strange as it may seem, most fatal electric shocks happen to people who should know better. Here are some electro-medical facts that should make you think twice before taking that last chance.
Offhand it would seem that a shock of 10,000 volts would be more deadly than 100 volts. But this is not so! Individuals have been electrocuted by appliances using ordinary house currents of 110 volts and by electrical apparatus in industry using as little as 42 volts direct current. The real measure of shock's intensity lies in the amount of current (amperes) forced though the body, and not the voltage. Any electrical device used on a house wiring circuit can, under certain conditions, transmit a fatal current.
While any amount of current over 10 milliamps (0.01 amp) is capable of producing painful to severe shock, currents between 100 and 200 mA (0.1 to 0.2 amp) are lethal. Currents above 200 milliamps (0.2 amp), while producing severe burns and unconsciousness, do not usually cause death if the victim is given immediate attention. Resuscitation, consisting of artificial respiration, will usually revive the victim.
From a practical viewpoint, after a person is knocked out by an electrical shock it is impossible to tell how much current has passed through the vital organs of his body. Artificial respiration must be applied immediately if breathing has stopped.
The chart shows the physiological effects of various currents. Note that voltage is not a consideration. Although it takes voltage to make current flow, the amount of shock-current will vary, depending on the body resistance between the points of contact.
As shown in the chart, shock is relatively more severe
as the current rises. For currents above 10 milliamps, muscular contractions
are so strong that the victim cannot let go of the wire that
is shocking him. At values as low as 20 milliamps,
breathing becomes labored, finally ceasing completely
even at values below 75 milliamps.
As the current approaches 100 milliamps, ventricular fibrillation of the heart occurs - an uncoordinated twitching of the walls of the heart's ventricles which results in death. Above 200 milliamps, the muscular contractions are so severe that the heart is forcibly clamped during the shock. This clamping protects the heart from going into ventricular fibrillation, and the victim's chances for survival are good. |
It is common knowledge that victims of high-voltage shock usually respond to artificial respiration more readily that the victims of low-voltage shock. The reason may be the merciful clamping of the heart, owing to the high current densities associated with high voltages. However, lest these details be misinterpreted, the only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that 75 volts are just as lethal as 750 volts.
The actual resistance of the body varies depending upon the points of contact and the skin condition (moist or dry). Between the ears, for example, the internal resistance (less the skin resistance) is only 100 ohms, while from hand to foot is closer to 500 ohms. The skin resistance may vary from 1000 ohms for wet skin to over 500,000 ohms for dry skin.
New Jersey State Council of Electrical Contractors Associations, Inc.
Bulletin VOL. 2, NO. 13
Submitted by Paul Giovinazzo
Provided by Elmwood Electric Inc. | http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~p616/safety/fatal_current.html | 714 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999987 |
Brain power is usually an advantage when you have it as you can easily remember things and store a lot of information which makes you smarter than others thereby giving you the opportunity to have an edge over them.
Having a good memory and brain power simply means that you are smart and that your IQ level is high which makes you exceptional because you can do what others can not do when it comes to brain work and as such, you can be able to land yourself into a good job or become a leader to others knowing fully well that you have the brain capacity to handle it.
After reading this guide, you will be able to learn the following about the brain and memory:
- How to boost brain power and improve memory
- Foods that increase brain power and memory
- Habits that damage the brain and memory
- Habits that help improve memory and brain power
- Some causes of poor memory and brain
Disclosure: Please note that this article contains helpful affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through one of them, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here is our process.
With the huge amount of information we receive and give out on a daily basis while conducting our daily activities, sometimes we forget the things we are supposed to remember which implies that we need some help to increase memory power. Anyone who is concerned with their brain health must have in one way or the other pondered how to boost brain power and improve memory which is very important for human existence knowing fully well that a weak brain can be less productive compared to that of a sharp brain.
The brain is one of the most important parts of human organs that control every human activity because it provides the ability for you to think and do the things you want to do. Without the brain, human beings are senseless just because no one will have the ability to think and coordinate their ways and if that is the case, the existence of human beings will be compared to that of animals that do not have the type of brain humans posses. As such, the brain is an organ that is connected with the central nervous system which controls the entire functionality of the body.
A healthy brain radiates with a sharp memory and can store a great amount of information making one easily remember what has previously been seen, thought, touched, or heard. Thus, have you ever contemplated whether the food you eat every day affects your brain function? Incidentally, food influences your mental health more than you know. While a large portion of us may think that food just influences only the physical parts of the body, researchers have found out that the food we eat largely influences our brain which is why we need to be aware of these foods that increase brain capacity.
Studies have shown the fact that some foods greatly improve memory as well as boost brain power. With the growing stress of life that we are faced with on a daily basis due to the issues of daily life such as work-related pressures and loss of sleep, a lot of people suffer from poor memory and lack of focus. Nutrition specialists have shown after conducting numerous experiments, that there are some foods that contain food compounds that preserve brain cells and improve their ability to function.
A such, if you want to boost your brain and desire to increase brain power effectively, giving cautious consideration to what you eat can pay off for your own good. A balanced diet routine comprising of foods that improve memory and food rich in minerals helps with expanding your cognitive capacities. For the purpose of this report, here are 7 carefully selected foods that have been shown to be very viable and valuable in boosting brain power and improving memory.
There is a popular health proverb that says, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". As such, apples have been linked to various benefits that could help advance long-term health. This is a highly nutritious fruit that is packed with vital nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. These nutrients help to stimulate the memory as well as improve the function of neurotransmitters in the brain which in turn fortifies the memory and boosts brain power. Thus, to improve your overall well-being and increase memory power, apple is one of the recommended foods that you can take on a daily basis to achieve your goal.
Avocado is a significant brain enhancement food that is packed with antioxidants which help increase the function of the immune system. It's rich in vitamin C and E which are two nutrients that help to reinforce memory and increase brain capacity. Avocado is among the most beneficial fruits that you can eat, in spite of the fact that avocados are high in fats, however, you should realize that these foods are packed with monounsaturated fats, this kind of fat keeps control of glucose levels and make your skin shine. This miracle fruit additionally contains folic acid which is a memory supplement that forestalls blood clusters in the brain, and it likewise improves the cognitive capacity of the brain by increasing memory power and focus.
Research has uncovered that vitamin D deficiency is the principal explanation behind the brain's loss of its cognitive capacities, eggs are rich in vitamin D which enhances the cognitive skills of the brain, and it is one of the main vitamins that help strengthen the memory and increase brain power. This is why eggs are viewed as good food for the brain. Also, eggs contain vitamins B6 and B12 which help to increase focus optimally. Vitamin B12 is involved in the synthesis of chemicals that are located in the brain together with choline which is one of the neurotransmitters that help memory enhancement and fortification.
Turmeric is a popular ancient spice with numerous medical advantages which is mostly consumed in Asia. It has been celebrated for its outstanding healing properties. It contains a substance compound known as curcumin which is a viable anti-inflammatory agent. Turmeric helps to increase antioxidant levels in the body, it likewise supports the flow of oxygen to the brain which makes the memory sharp and fresh. Curcumin which is the substance in turmeric contains neuroprotective agents which preserve mental ability and boost the brain. Turmeric can be taken as a spice added to the food. For example fried eggs, soups, rice or vegetables, etc. It can as well be consumed as a supplement to increase brain power.
5) Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate promotes blood flow to the brain which makes it an important food that helps to increase brain capacity. It is full of flavanols which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that you can increase memory power by consuming a moderate amount of dark chocolate consistently. Dark chocolate has been shown to eliminate depression and anxiety symptoms as well as promote feelings of calmness in the body which helps to relax the brain and make you remember things that are stored in the memory.
To boost the brain Beets are among the foods packed with the nutrients that have the astounding ability to improve memory and averting its loss with age. Consuming beets often enhance the capacity to focus. Beets contain nitrates, which assist with extending blood flow to the brain, improve cognitive capacity, and conceivably decrease the danger of dementia. Also, the nitrates contained in beets are changed over into nitrites by microbes in the mouth as nitrites help open blood vessels in the body, promote blood circulation, and distribute oxygen where it is needed.
Salmon is a familiar food fish categorized as an oily fish that is rich in protein and omega-3 oils. Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is profoundly advantageous to boost the brain. Omega-3 oils give more oxygen to the brain and permit you to store more information in the brain, while still recollecting already stored ones. Also, salmon contains vitamin B12, which is significant for keeping up healthy nerves and veins. B12 insufficiency in the body has been shown to prompt symptoms like depression and memory loss, especially towards elderly folks.
Read This:11 Anti-Aging Foods To Stay Younger
Summary And Take Away
In order to boost brain power and improve memory, this report has revealed 7 superfoods that can help the brain and memory function at its best. They include:- Beets, Dark Chocolate, Eggs, Turmeric, Avocado, Salmon, and Apples. These foods contain the necessary nutrients that benefit the brain thereby making it function properly. To help improve your brain health and increase memory power, desisting from some bad habits can be helpful too. Smoking and too much alcohol should be done away with because these are not healthy for the body in general. Drinking an adequate amount of clean water on a daily basis also helps to balance the body which in turn benefits your mental health as well.
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A web application is available to assess your own skills according to this table for one or more programming languages.
The table characterizes the proficiency level (columns) of programmers of a particular programming language in the context of different programming activities (rows).
This table is inspired by the CEFR table of the same name, for assessing proficiency in natural languages. Like the CEFR, this table divides learners into three broad level divisions: “Basic user” (A), “Independent user” (B) and “Proficient user” (C). The broad divisions are each further divided in two levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) that correspond to testable milestones in language acquisition.
This table can be used in different ways, for example:
- row by row, to assess one’s own level per activity (different skill levels for different activities are possible);
- column by column from left to right, to determine one’s own minimum level for a programming language (the rightmost level where all requirements in the column and all columns to the left are matched);
- column by column from right to left, to determine one’s most developed skill (the rightmost level where any requirement in the column is matched);
- language per language, to assess one’s own relative proficiency in different programming languages.
to track one’s own progress while learning how to program;
for example: this year, I transitioned from A2 to B2 in C++. For Java, I am B1 for understanding but still A2 for writing.
to advertise the educational goals of a programming course;
for example: this Java introductory course will bring you to level A1 or A2 for all activities.
to advertise one’s own skillset to peers or prospective employers;
for example: I am C1 in Python, B2 in O’Caml and A2 in Haskell.
to set basic level requirements for courses or professional activities:
for example: This course requires A2 proficiency with a language in the C family.
to select a programming course that best matches one’s skill level;
for example: My current level is A2 but this course requires B1, so I will need some extra work before starting.
to coordinate the teaching objectives of successive programming courses in a curriculum;
for example: Our introductory course brings students to A2 in Java, but our follow-up program requires B1 or B2, so we need to propose a supplementary course for that level.
The table was designed following the CEFR methodology:
First, recognize the different modalities (production, reception, interaction, mediation). Then group and abstract activities in each modality by clusters that share similar motivations and actors. The resulting set becomes the rows in the matrix.
The requirements for “A” levels are then phrased to identify users that can perform language acts under supervision or under dedicated/personalized guidance from peers.
The requirements for “B” levels are then phrased to identify users that can perform language acts without supervision or guidance from peers, or with minimal effort from peers.
The requirements for “C” levels are then phrased to identify users who are fully independent and who can demonstrate skills corresponding to a high expertise level according to the majority of other users of the language.
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). Language Policy Unit, Strasbourg. Available from: http://www.coe.int/lang-CEFR
- Wikipedia: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The initial idea of an assessment matrix appeared during discussions with Merijn Verstraaten about average programmer skills in online fora. The concrete form as presented here was further developed thanks to inspiration and suggestion from Philip Hölzenspies, Jan Kuper, Cosmin Dumitru, Taddeüs Kroes, and many others.
So what do you think? Did I miss something? Is any part unclear? Leave your comments below. | http://science.raphael.poss.name/programming-levels.html | 856 | Programming | 3 | en | 0.999964 |
Eating healthy or eating a balance diet is more than just eating to burning fat, or keeping in shape. You can also stay healthy by including specific foods in your diet that will assist in boosting your immunity to diseases. You immune system defends your body from diseases. To have a truly healthy and fully functional immune system you need to eat protein which helps prevent malnutrition, Vitamins for healthy functions and Minerals for supporting the immune system function. Let’s look at some specific foods that help boost your immune system.
Chicken: Make chicken into a soup to increase hydration and loosen nasal congestion when you have flu.
The amino acid cysteine released from cooking the chicken resembles the drug acetyl cysteine which acts in the same way.
Not many people like the taste but garlic is known to be a wonderful herb used to season food and also fight infection and bacteria. Eating 6 cloves of garlic a week can lower the rate of colorectal cancer and stomach cancer.
Good bacteria found in Yogurt helps the immune system work better and improves digestion.
Polyphenols which are potent plant antioxidants are immune boosters and can be found in green tea. Drinking green tea with honey and lemon offers the body immune boosting properties.
Fatty fish are a good source of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps combat flu and sictroy bacteria and other viruses that make us sick. That is why most processed foods like powered milk come fortified with Vitamin D.
Remember eat for the right reasons and stay healthy. | http://iwehachidinma.wixsite.com/healthsexualityeden/single-post/2016/07/12/ONE-A-DAY-KEEPS-THE-DOCTOR-AWAY | 307 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999985 |
The impact of climate change has had an immediate effect on Ugandans, and this effect is anticipated to worsen in the future. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has attributed the drop in Uganda’s economic growth primarily to the variability of the weather and its impact on agriculture, a key sector in Uganda’s economy.
Within rural communities, the devasting effects of climate change is ruining livelihoods, threatening food security, economic stability, and increasing poverty. In May 2020, floods washed away homes and property in the Kasese District in southwestern Uganda (located at the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro). The main hospital was damaged, and the floods resulted in at least 8 reported deaths. An estimated 173,000 people were affected in total. Children have not escaped the impact of these natural disasters, with many suffering from a lack of food, adequate housing, and social instability.
Safeguarding development from disasters
As the Head of Child Protection and Child Rights Governance at Save the Children in Uganda, I worked with National Resilience Coordinators such as Gilbert Atuhe, community members, children and local leaders to help build community resilience against the shocks of natural disasters. It is important that children are included in this work as key members of their communities, and so Save the Children’s climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) programmes include youth-centred approaches. The programmes are guided by Uganda’s National Development Plan 2, and the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030, which provides UN member states with targets and priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks.
The programmes have three youth-centred pathways through which we implement and mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk interventions. The pathways include comprehensive school safety, using the Safe Schools approach, child and community-centred disaster risk reduction initiatives, and life skills for youths and adolescents.
The Safe Schools approach
Many children are not safe in and around school. Children’s safety is threatened by violence, natural and everyday hazards, and conflict which affects their learning and wellbeing. The Safe Schools Common Approach (SSCA) draws from decades of experience, learning, and research from across the globe and is developed from evidence in and beyond Save the Children International (SCI). It brings together proven interventions, such as comprehensive school safety, that address challenges facing children in and around school. The SSCA is an all-inclusive, all-hazards approach which empowers boys and girls to stay safe.
The SSCA focuses on keeping children protected at, and when travelling to and from school, and improves their right to education and protection. It seeks to raise awareness amongst children of the immediate risks they may face, such as those related to child protection, as well as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation. Through extra-curricular activities, children are encouraged to participate in hazard, vulnerability, and capacity assessments to identify risks and mitigation measures for risks which may affect their learning and safety.
The inclusive risk analysis and planning enables children of all ages and abilities to inform teachers, parents, and caregivers of any risks they identify which have the potential to affect their personal safety, school environment and investments. Investments at risk from disasters include buildings, reading materials, and other important school activities such as gardening, which boosts child awareness of nutrition and food production.
In Kasese District, 30 DRR Clubs have been established. Each club comprises 20 members who are now trained on disaster preparedness, risk mitigation, and disaster management responses. Members have conducted community outreach activities, such as music, dance, and drama shows, to raise awareness of disaster risks and psychological first aid to better enable community members to support each other.
Through the outreach work of the clubs, children have been informed of the dangers of climate change. Children and protection and safety of their community by reporting concerns to community members. Community members, with support from the local leadership, commit to their participation in the school safety calendar by getting involved in different child-led activities, such as levelling and clearing the school compound, contributing to mid-day meals and gardening for school feeding. Informed and empowered parents also play a significant role in detecting, prevention and reporting child rights violations to the existing authorities, such as the Child Protection Committee (CPC).
Community members, with support from the local leadership, commit to their participation in the school safety calendar by getting involved in different child-led activities, such as levelling and clearing the school compound, contributing to mid-day meals and gardening for school feeding. Informed and empowered parents also play a significant role in detecting, prevention and reporting child rights violations to the existing authorities, such as the Child Protection Committee (CPC).
Child and community-centred disaster risk reduction initiatives have empowered communities and children to assess the risks, vulnerabilities, and capacities to adapt to and mitigate climate-related shocks. SCI has enabled children’s clubs in 30 schools to participate in climate change mitigation through tree planting and sustainable riverbank management practices for flood mitigation. By collaborating with the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and the Uganda Red Cross Society, Save the Children has trained school management committees and DRR clubs in early warning risk prevention messages and response drills on evacuation and first aid to save lives.
During the latest floods in May 2020, the Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMC) of Kasese District (having been trained in risk mitigation and the development of contingency plans and early warning signs) were able to save lives when the river banks burst. The VDMC, through the use of megaphones, community radios, and loudspeakers, sounded alarms late in the night that enabled people to rush to pre-identified safe zones and evacuation sites in schools and churches. VDMC located children who had been separated from their families and ensured they reached safety and were reunited with their families and relatives.
Boosting food productivity
In addition, through collaboration with district technical persons, climate-smart agricultural practices have been mainstreamed in school gardening activities and shared with caretakers and parents to improve food productivity at home. Parents now harvest greens and vegetables planted in their backyards, while schools boost school meals with vegetables from the school gardens. This not only provides additional nutritional supplements, but also equips schoolchildren with agricultural skills for the future, with the awareness that the agriculture sector involves around 90% of Uganda’s workforce.
Through DRR interventions, young people aged between 10 and 24 years have been trained in life skills, including social, communication, and vocational skills, to enable vulnerable youth to cope with the shocks that come with the effects of climate change, such as reduced food intake, domestic violence, psychological trauma, and physical injuries. Life skills training has provided foundational competencies to identify, plan, and kick-start alternative livelihood sources which are critical for building resilience to climate related shocks at the household level. In Kasese, groups of over 100 young people have been supported to grow crops such as watermelon and passionfruit, which they are able to sell to complement household income.
If sustainable measures are not put in place to mitigate some of the drivers of climate change, then the future remains worrying. Drastic climate change will have a grave impact on lives, ranging from the displacement of people, the destruction of property and infrastructure, the separation of children from parents, and the washing away of farming land.
The plan for Save the Children’s resilience and DRR interventions is to empower communities to practice climate-smart agriculture and improve farming methods, to strengthen the capacity of VDMCs to better coordinate with government disaster management plans, and also advocate to government to resource these small, but powerful units at the grassroots level, given the real-time role they place in monitoring and alerting communities when disasters strike.
Lastly, we seek to continue to empower children and provide platforms for them to raise issues, discuss the impact of climate change on their lives, and equip them with the most relevant skills to be able to respond in simple but significant ways.
At the time of printing, Margaret and Gilbert have both taken up new posts with Save the Children. Margaret is now a Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist based in Mozambique and Gilbert coordinates the U-learn Project. | https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-fragile-states/You | 1,700 | Education | 3 | en | 0.999975 |
How to increase immunity power in the body naturally is a home remedy that everyone needs to know about because the immune system is the most important system in the body knowing that it controls the health status of the body. Having a low immune system can be dangerous knowing fully well that a compromised immunity can lead to vulnerability of the parts of the immune system which can result in easy penetration of different infections and germs into the body. As such, in this article, you are going to learn and know the following about the immune system:
- Understanding the immune system
- Parts of the immune system
- Immunosup or immunosuppression definition
- Immunodeficiency definition
- Immunodeficiency disorder
- What are signs of a weak immune system
- Things that weaken your immune system
- How to test immune system strength
- Signs of a strong immune system
- Tips on how to improve immunity power
- How to increase immunity power in body naturally
Understanding The Immune System
Before we go into the recipe on how to increase immunity power in the body naturally, you need to understand the immune system and its functionality. The function of the immune system is to keep the body strong and avoid the penetration of diseases and infections which may include viruses, germs, or parasites. As such, the activity of the immune system is to overcome various internal and external diseases that may break down the health. If the immune system detects a cancer cell in the body which it defines as a foreign cell or foreign body, the task of the immune system is to eliminate such a cell if it is strong enough to do so. But the failure of the immune system to eliminate diseases from the body while the disease is still in its infancy shows that the immune system is not strong and effective in its functionality.
In order for the immune system to carry out its vital task, it must be able to identify and distinguish between unwanted infections and diseases in the body and the healthy microbes in the body. When the immune system is weak, it fails to distinguish between the external invader and what is naturally present inside the body. As a result, the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. It may attack a single cell, a system, or even an entire organ. This is the failure of the immune system to defend and protect the body from outside invaders, but more than this it is the failure of the immune system to recognize and identify the healthy microbes which are not harmful to the body but contributes to human wellbeing.
The immune system consists up of organs, cells, and chemicals that fight off unwanted infections. The major parts of the immune system include antibodies, white blood cells, the lymphatic system, the complement system, the spleen, the bone marrow, and the thymus. These are the main parts of the immune system that effectively fight off infection provided that the immune system is active and functioning properly. Of course, the immune system records every harmful microbe it defeats in the body using its memory cells. This means that a strong immune system can recognize and eliminate a microbe quickly if it penetrates the body another time before it can spread and cause any sickness.
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Different Parts Of The Immune System And Their Functions
There are different components of the immune system that work together in order to protect and guide the body against unwanted germs or free radicals. As such, below are the parts Of the immune system and their different functions:
1) Antibodies: The antibodies assist the body to fight microbes or toxins produced by the body. This is done by the ability of the antibodies to recognize substances known as antigens where the microbes exist as well as the chemicals they produce which automatically mark the toxins or microbes as foreign to the body and as such the antibodies then attack these antigens to eliminate them. There are several cells, chemicals, and proteins that aid in this attack.
2) White blood cells: The white blood cells are the main conductors of the immune system. They are present in the bone marrow and are part of the lymphatic system. The white blood cells circulate through the tissue and blood all over the body searching for external invaders such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and when they find any of them, they start to attack them. The white blood cells include lymphocytes such as T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells as well as other different types of immune cells.
3) Lymphatic system: The lymphatic system is a structure of delicate tubes that go through all over the body. The major roles of the lymphatic system include management of the body fluid levels, reaction to bacteria, reaction to cancer cells, the absorption of some fats in our diet from the intestine, and dealing with any cell product that may cause disease or disorders. The lymphatic system consists of the white blood cells (lymphocytes), the lymph nodes which resist microbes, and the lymph vessels which are the tubes that carry lymph, the colorless fluid that cleanses the body's tissues and fights infections.
4) Complement system: The complement system consists of proteins whose actions support the work carried out by the antibodies.
5) Thymus: The thymus is responsible for filtering and monitoring the blood content. It is known for producing the type of white blood cells known as T-lymphocytes.
6) Bone marrow: Bone marrow is a tissue found inside the bones. It is known for producing the red blood cells that the body needs to carry oxygen as well as the white blood cells that help the body fight infections, and also the platelets that the body needs for blood clotting.
7) Spleen: The spleen is known as the organ that filters the blood by removing microbes and destroying old or damaged red blood cells. It also helps the immune system to fight diseases just like lymphocytes and antibodies.
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Immunosup or Immunosuppression Definition
Immunosup or immunosuppression is a condition where the immune system has been compromised because of one condition or the other. The deliberate or non-deliberate suppression of the body's immunity is known as immunosup or immunosuppression which hinders the ability of the immune system to fight infections and other diseases. Immunosuppression can be done intentionally with drugs, as in the case of bone marrow or other organ transplantations in order to avert rejection of the transplanted organ. On the other hand, immunosup can also result from certain diseases such as AIDS, HPV, lymphoma, or cancer.
Immunosuppression can also mean the same thing as immunodeficiency, immunocompromised as well as immunosuppressed which all are in one way or the other concerned about the under activity of the immune system. Even though their meanings may be slightly different depending on the angle in which they are being defined, but the overall knowledge focuses on the immune system being low and unable to function at its best thereby exposing the body to unwanted infections and germs which are detrimental to the health and can lead to serious ailments, inflammation, and chronic diseases.
Immunodeficiency Definition And Immunodeficiency Disorder
The immune system can experience common disorders as it can become overactive or underactive which is considered a problem being that the functionality of the immune system is not normal. The overactivity of the immune system can come in different forms which include allergic diseases, which is where the immune system makes an excessive strong response to allergens. Allergic diseases are common and may include allergies to foods, hay fever, medications, anaphylaxis, sinus disease, hives, dermatitis, asthma, and eczema. Another disorder of the immune system is autoimmune diseases, which is a situation where the immune system reacts against normal organs and tissues of the body. Autoimmune diseases include autoimmune thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic vasculitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
The underactivity of the immune system is called immunodeficiency. Immunodeficiency is a health condition in which the immune system malfunctions in one or more ways due to disruption in the functionality of the immune system which can be caused by different things and can make a person become more open to infectious diseases. The nature and seriousness of infectious diseases that a person with immunodeficiency can contract are measured by the affected areas of the immune system and the severity of this infection. For instance, T or B lymphocytes may be affected, cooperation between these lymphocyte groups may be crashed, phagocytes may be damaged, secretion of soluble mediators of the immune system may be impaired, or receptors on cell surfaces may be injured.
Immunodeficiency diseases can be caused by a congenital defect which is under primary immunodeficiency or by an acquired defect. When the immunodeficiency is acquired, it is called secondary immunodeficiency. Among the well-known acquired immune deficiency infections that can be caused by some sexually transmitted diseases include the AIDS virus or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as well as some other infections that are very strong for the immune system to handle. However, there are so many other secondary immunodeficiency diseases whose overall effects are greater than that of AIDS or HPV. Secondary immunodeficiency can also develop at any stage of life and one of the most common causes is by taking immunosuppressive drugs which are usually given to cancer patients. In such a case, the immune system is suppressed for a short-term in order to allow a particular treatment to take place in the body which backfires sometimes thereby leaving the immune system open to some infectious diseases.
The congenital defect or primary immunodeficiency is usually discovered in the first months after childbirth following serious infections. When the deficiency is caused particularly by an injury that impairs the ability of the B cells to produce antibodies, then bacterial infections may appear after the age of six months. But when the infection distorts the ability of the T cells, then viral and fungal infections appear starting from the first weeks after birth. Through molecular genetics methods and techniques, the cause of these diseases can be discovered, which can help in understanding the mechanism and process of disease emergence and development. Meanwhile, the disease can be diagnosed in the early stages of the fetus's life which should be around the 10th week of pregnancy. The secondary immunodeficiency diseases can be classified as below:
1) Diseases in which immunodeficiency is formed due to the treatment of other diseases: This type of immunodeficiency is mainly caused by taking drugs that destroy or harm the functionality of the cells of the immune system. These drugs are taken to suppress the work of the immune system and are given to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ, or as a treatment for various inflammatory diseases. Medicines aimed at suppressing the immune system are called immunosuppressive drugs and they mainly include steroids and cytotoxic drugs. As such, a cancer treatment that involves radiation is almost always dependent on a period of time during which the immune system is suppressed making the patient vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Another occurrence of secondary immunodeficiency disease can be seen in people with removed spleen which is as a result of the spleen being absent in the body due to serious damage or because of treatment for various blood diseases. There are also diseases in which the spleen is present, but is ineffective. These people are susceptible to certain infectious diseases which the spleen plays an important role in preventing. Mild cases of secondary immunodeficiency also occur in infancy and adulthood. In infancy, it can occur as a result of the slow process in the maturity of the immune system, and in adulthood can occur as a result of the deterioration of the effectiveness of the immune system as part of the aging process.
2) Diseases in which immunosuppression is caused by the complication of another disease: These are diseases in which immunodeficiency is formed as a complication resulting from the existence of other diseases in the body. Under this category, some of the diseases that cause immunodeficiency include tumors, mainly malignant carcinomas, chronic infections, and malnutrition. Malnutrition is more available in developing countries and is associated to a general disorder in the functioning of the immune system. One of the basic causes of untimely deaths among people suffering from malnutrition is the lack of the vital nutrients that the body needs to grow and flourish such as proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, etc.
Also, patients with metastatic or advanced cancer are more vulnerable to infectious diseases due to the general damage to the functionality of the immune system. Tumors that send metastases to the marrow or malignant tumors that have their origin in the bone marrow may interfere with the development of healthy immune cells from the bone marrow. Cancer cells may also produce various soluble factors that suppress the cells of the immune system. Most severe damage to the immune system are mainly observed in cancerous diseases such as lymphomas in which cells and tissues of the immune system are involved.
A variety of different infectious diseases can also cause suppression of the immune system and the development of secondary immunodeficiency. Some viral diseases aside from AIDS can lead to damage to the immune system and the development of other infectious diseases. Examples of these viruses include measles morbillivirus (MeV) and human T-lymphotropic virus 1. Chronic parasite infections can also suppress the functionality of the immune system. Some children in Africa who suffer from chronic malaria can cause the functioning of the T cells to be impaired which exposes them to infections such as epstein-barr virus (EBV) and malignant cancerous diseases related to chronic infections with this virus.
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What Are Signs Of A Weak Immune System?
If the immune system is having some issues, there are some signs and symptoms that can help you identify when there is a change in your immune system. Because of this, you may be asking what are signs of a weak immune system? The answer can be fetched below:
1) You Have Reoccuring Infections: If you always suffer from regular infections, it is possible that your immune system has been compromised. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, the possible signs of immune deficiency in adults include experiencing above four ear infections per year, experiencing pneumonia twice during under one year, a need for more than two courses of antibiotics per year, and having chronic sinusitis or bacterial sinusitis more than three times in a year.
2) You Constantly Get Cold: Sometimes it's normal to get cold may be in situations where you have malaria or typhoid fever which can cause some kind of cold or fever. Apart from that, it's also normal for one to sneeze or sniffle because of the common cold of which most people get back to normal within seven to ten days. However, it usually takes the immune system about three to four days to prepare its antibodies to fight off any germ that causes cold. But if you are always getting colds or have a cold that does not stop when it's supposed to stop, then it's a clear sign that your immune system is down and needs to be checked.
3) You Experience Slow Healing Of Wounds: Experiencing slowness in the healing process of a wound on your skin such as a burn, cut, or scrape can be a sign of a weak immune system. A strong immune system will help your body to protect any wound by sending the required nutrient-rich blood to the wound which will help it heal fast and regenerate new skin. This healing process is highly dependable on strong immune cells. But where the immune system is weak, the skin takes longer time to regenerate which gives it a hard time to heal.
4) You Experience Lots of Stomach Problems: Having consistent stomach problems such as constipation, diarrhea or gas, could be an indication that your immune system is weak. Several studies show that almost 80 percent of your immune system is situated in your digestive tract because the healthy microbes and bacteria that live there protect the gut from infection thereby supporting the immune system. Low availability of these healthy gut bacteria can make one susceptible to chronic inflammation, viruses, or even autoimmune diseases.
5) You Experience Tiredness Always: Although working too hard and not getting enough rest and sleep can always leave you feeling tired. However, if you are getting adequate sleep but are still exhausted, then it is worth considering whether your immune system is giving you a signal. When your immune system is in trouble, your energy levels can also be affected. This is simply because your body is trying to preserve the energy that will propel the immune system to fight off free radicals.
6) Frequent Pain In Muscles And Joints: Constant joint and muscle pain is closely related to the immune system. During the process that the immune system fight infections, it produces a large number of inflammatory chemicals and white blood cells. In the early stage, the number of monocytes which is another cell group of the white blood cells goes high. But as the immune system gets weak and inflammation persists, these monocytes drop down of which these monocytes are known to regulate the immune system. With the continued weakness of the immune system and inflammation, the body goes into a state of chronic pain which makes the joints become inflamed as a result of swelling and lots of pain.
7) You Always Experience High-Stress Level: The more stressors in your life, the weaker your immune system tends to be. This is due to the fact that the constant release of the stress hormone which is known as cortisol will reduce the response of the T lymphocytes. These lymphocytes which are also white blood cells are the major resistance to infections in your body. That is why after a big project or sudden financial loss, it is possible that a person gets sick due to the psychological and emotional trauma attached to it. So it is important to lower your stress level so that you don't reduce your immune response to infections. It is worth knowing that the constant release of cortisol makes the body used to high level of cortisol which causes chronic inflammation.
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Things That Weaken Your Immune System
There are some situations that may compromise the immune system which we need to pay very close attention to. As such, below are some of the things that weaken your immune system which you may not be aware of as many of us go through some of these things without even knowing that they affect the immune system.
- Too much radiation or chemical exposure can weaken the immune system and make it vulnerable to infections
- Obesity or overweight affects the immune system because obesity is among the signs of an unhealthy body.
- The absence of proper hygiene can cause unwanted germs and toxins in the body which can affect the immune system.
- The absence of exercise can affect the immune system knowing fully well that inactivity of the body is unhealthy to the body immunity.
- Grief, anxiety, stress, and worry can cause a weak immune system because of too much thinking and stressing of the mind and body on the process.
- Dehydration can weaken the immune system due to the fact that the body needs an adequate amount of water to function properly.
- Heavy alcohol can cause the immune system to get weak being that excessive alcohol is not healthy for the body.
- Too little time outdoors can cause the weakness of the immune system knowing that the body needs an adequate amount of sunlight to flourish.
- Lack of an adequate amount of fruits and Vegetables can cause the body to lose some nutrients which in turn affects the immune system.
- A high-fat diet is not the best option for healthy living as it can affect the immune system because of its unhealthy cholesterol.
- Marijuana and cigarettes are not good for the health and therefore not good for the immune system as well and can cause low immunity.
- Some medications that treat allergies, lupus, arthritis, and organ transplant can suppress the immune system due to the effects of the drugs.
- Low vitamin D and zinc in the body can also lead to a weak immune system knowing that both nutrients are good for a healthy immune system.
- Lack of sleep is one of the things that can weaken the immune system being that the body does not get enough rest to function properly.
How To Test Immune System Strength
Due to the fact that most parts of the system immunity protective guards live in the blood and bone marrow, a simple blood test is the easiest way to determine if your immune system is compromised or not. A blood sample is collected and examined in the laboratory by evaluating the number of white blood cells and antibodies to check if your immune system levels are normal or deficient. An unusually high or low blood count gives the doctor the needed information to know the source of the immune problems. How to test immune system strength can only be done by professional medical laboratory scientists or doctors.
The use of laboratory testing plays an essential role in evaluating the immune system. Laboratory studies are important in pointing out the occurrence of a primary or secondary immunodeficiency disease in a patient. Without proper laboratory testing, it will be difficult to determine the issues associated with the sensitive parts of the immune system. A very essential aspect of the actual interpretation of a laboratory test is the observation of what values are thought to be normal or abnormal in which case either the immune system is found to be normal or abnormal after a laboratory test.
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Signs Of A Strong Immune System
Of course, there are some indications that we observe in our body that shows the signs of a strong immune system meaning that our immunity is normal and can be able to withstand unwanted infections and free radicals. Below are the few major signs to determine a strong immune system:
1) You have a healthy gut: Because about 80% of the immune system resides in your gut, having a healthy gut can be seen as a sign of a strong immune system. As such, a healthy digestive system is essential in having strong immune functions. Meanwhile, studies have shown that an adequate amount of good gut bacteria is a sign of a healthy immune system.
2. Fast recovery from colds and flu: Falling sick sometimes can be used to measure signs of a strong immune system. How fast and well you get back to normal after falling sick is a good indication of how well your immune system is functioning. Because the immune system is structured to prevent infections and diseases, sometimes one might get infected with cold and flu which is normal but the ability of the immune system to kick it out in few days can suggest that the immune system is functioning well, but cold and flu that lasts longer than a week or more is an indication that your immune system is not strong enough and is struggling to function.
Tips On How To Improve Immunity Power
If you are experiencing any sign of weak immunity, there is a need to pay some attention to your immune system and do things that will help you strengthen your immunity. Some lifestyle changes, as well as new habits, can help you improve and keep your immune system stronger and healthy of which below are some helpful tips on how to improve immunity power:
- Wash your hands regularly and maintain healthy hygiene which will help you stay clean from unwanted germs and infections.
- Eating a balanced diet is a sure way to improve immunity power being that all the nutrients that the body needs are inclusive.
- Getting enough rest and sleep on a daily basis can help balance the body, improve the immune system, and repair strained tissues.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is a good way to keep your immune system in check because obesity is unhealthy to the immune system.
- Doing away with smoking is important in helping improve your immunity because smoking is one of the worst habits that can damage your health.
- Exercising regularly will keep the body active and increase blood circulation which in turn helps improve the immune system.
- Avoiding stress by all means is a good way to improve the immune system because the body functions poorly when it's stressed.
- Keeping hydrated at all times helps the body get the adequate amount of water it needs to function which in turn helps the immune system.
- Avoiding too much alcohol helps keep you healthy which also improves the immune system knowing that excessive alcohol is bad for health.
- Taking immune-boosting supplements such as zinc, vitamins C and D can go a long way to help improve the immune system.
How To Increase Immunity Power In Body Naturally
Your immune system is the key to good health, so the more you can do to protect it, the better. It is a known fact that the immune system protects the body from all kinds of diseases when it is functioning at its peak and as such below is a home remedy on how to increase immunity power in body naturally:
That being said, you are going to learn a powerful formula to boost your immune system at home. To enhance and fortify body immunity, we have to be cautious about the foods we eat and at the same time take good care of ourselves. We have to eat foods that revitalize our bodies and stay away from junk foods, processed foods as well as fried foods.
Some of the foods that help boost the immune system and fight viral infections include vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds, sea moss, and olive oil. Of course, like said before in this article, exercise plays an important role in the body's immunity of which we also need to do away with too much stress and get enough rest and sleep regularly.
However, to further boost your immunity, there is a natural recipe that can help you do just that with turmeric, ginger, and Lemon juice. This immune booster is effective against cold, fever, cough, sore throat as well as flu. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory tonic for boosting your immunity.
To prepare this amazing immune booster, all you need is half a glass of lemon juice mixed with a small tablespoon of turmeric and ginger powder each. Stir it very well as you can add little honey to make it tasty before drinking of which it is best to be taken in the morning before eating. Again, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily and also add green tea to your routine for better immune health.
Summary And Takeaway
This article is all about the immune system, its functions, and how to improve the immune system for better living. It covers - understanding the immune system, parts of the immune system, immunosup or immunosuppression definition, immunodeficiency definition, immunodeficiency disorder, what are signs of a weak immune system, things that weaken your immune system, how to test immune system strength, signs of a strong immune system, tips on how to improve immunity power, and how to increase immunity power in body naturally. All the areas covered are well researched and have in-depth information to help the reader understand each topic and make an informed decision for better healthy living.
The immune system is what the body depends on to function and if it's low or affected in any way, the body tends to function abnormally but if it's fine and okay, the body will function at its best making you more healthy and free from unwanted health issues. As such, the immune system needs to be taken care of in order to maintain a healthy living knowing that a low immunity can damage your health in the long run and give room to some chronic diseases and infections that may be hard to cure. Some of the simple tips for a healthy immune system include maintaining a clean hygiene, eating a balanced diet as well as avoiding bad habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol.
Post a Comment | https://www.healthypunchtoday.com/2021/08/immunosup-how-to-increase-immunity.html | 5,751 | Health | 3 | en | 0.999971 |
The Stigma of Mental Illness, 1st Edition
Strategies against social exclusion and discriminationPeople with mental illness are often painfully familiar with overt prejudice or more subtle forms of mistreatment. The stigma and discrimination associated with their disorders can have effects in several areas of life: in social interactions, in work and healthcare settings, in the legal system and the media. Many withdraw due to shame and do not seek help. In turn, stigma can prove to be a more serious problem than the disorder itself. Yet too little is done to reduce stigma and its impact.
The Stigma of Mental Illness: Strategies Against Discrimination and Social Exclusion offers up the knowledge necessary to understand and fight against stigma and discrimination. It will be invaluable to all health professionals, social workers, healthcare managers and policy makers with an involvement or interest in mental illness.
- Broad coverage of the forms and consequences of stigma
- Specific treatment of stigma in relation to diagnoses such as dementia and autism
- Perspectives and strategies of a service user and a relative
- Up-to-date concepts regarding exclusion and discrimination
- Practical strategies for service users, relatives, healthcare professionals and policy makers | https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/the-stigma-of-mental-illness-9780323834292.html#additionalThe | 237 | Programming | 3 | en | 0.999968 |
SAT Math: Strategies for Tackling Challenging Problems
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The SAT Math section is notorious for its challenging problems that often leave test-takers scratching their heads. However, with the right strategies, you can navigate through even the trickiest questions and maximise your score. In this article, we will explore effective approaches to tackle challenging SAT Math problems and boost your confidence on test day.
Understand the Question
One of the key strategies for tackling challenging SAT Math problems is to fully understand the question before attempting to solve it. Break down the problem into smaller parts and identify what is being asked. Pay close attention to any keywords or phrases that provide clues about the problem’s structure or the required solution. This careful analysis will help you approach the problem with a clear plan of action.
When faced with a complex problem, consider working backwards from the answer choices. Start with the choices and assess which one fits the conditions of the problem. This strategy is particularly effective for problems involving equations or inequalities. By plugging in answer choices and eliminating incorrect options, you can narrow down the possibilities and arrive at the correct answer more efficiently.
Plug In Numbers
For problems involving variables, consider substituting actual numbers to simplify the problem. Choose numbers that make calculations more manageable and reflect the relationships outlined in the problem. This technique, known as plugging in numbers, can help you gain a better understanding of the problem’s structure and guide you toward the correct solution.
Look for Patterns
Challenging SAT Math problems often conceal patterns that, when recognized, can significantly simplify the solution process. Pay attention to the relationships between numbers, equations, or geometric figures. Identifying patterns allows you to apply shortcuts and streamline your approach, saving valuable time during the exam.
Utilise Process of Elimination
When in doubt, employ the process of elimination to eliminate obviously incorrect answer choices. This strategy not only increases your chances of selecting the correct answer but also helps you manage your time effectively. Cross out options that are mathematically impossible or do not fit the conditions of the problem, narrowing down your choices and improving your odds of selecting the correct answer.
The key to mastering challenging SAT Math problems is consistent practice. Familiarise yourself with various problem types, and expose yourself to a range of difficulty levels. Practice tests and timed exercises will help you develop the speed and accuracy needed to tackle even the most challenging maths questions on the SAT.
Take full-length practice SAT tests under timed conditions to build your test-taking stamina and improve your time management skills.
Tackling challenging SAT Math problems requires a combination of analytical skills, strategic thinking, and regular practice. By incorporating the strategies outlined in this article into your preparation, you can approach the maths section with confidence and increase your chances of achieving a high score on the SAT. Remember, a well-rounded approach that combines understanding, strategy, and practice is the key to success. | https://www.mcfedututors.com/s?Statement-Of- | 601 | null | 3 | en | 0.999981 |
What Is M1?
M1 is the money supply that is composed of currency, demand deposits, other liquid deposits—which includes savings deposits. M1 includes the most liquid portions of the money supply because it contains currency and assets that either are or can be quickly converted to cash. However, "near money" and "near, near money," which fall under M2 and M3, cannot be converted to currency as quickly.
- M1 is a narrow measure of the money supply that includes currency, demand deposits, and other liquid deposits, including savings deposits.
- M1 does not include financial assets, such as bonds.
- The M1 is no longer used as a guide for monetary policy in the U.S. due to the lack of correlation between it and other economic variables.
- The M1 money supply was a much more constrictive measurement of the money supply compared to the M2 or M3 calculation.
- The M1 money supply is reported on a monthly basis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
M1 money is a country’s basic money supply that's used as a medium of exchange. M1 includes demand deposits and checking accounts, which are the most commonly used exchange mediums through the use of debit cards and ATMs. Of all the components of the money supply, M1 is defined the most narrowly. M1 does not include financial assets, such as bonds. M1 money is the money supply metric most frequently utilized by economists to reference how much money is in circulation in a country.
Note that in May 2020, the definition of M1 changed to include savings accounts given the increased liquidity of such accounts.
Money Supply and M1 in the United States
Up until March 2006, the Federal Reserve published reports on three money aggregates: M1, M2, and M3. Since 2006, the Fed no longer publishes M3 data. M1 covers types of money commonly used for payment, which includes the most basic payment form, currency. The amount of currency in circulation or held in deposits at the Federal Reserve is called M0, or the monetary base.
M1 is defined as the sum of all currency in circulation, plus the value of most liquid deposits at commercial banks, except those held by the government, foreign banks, or other depository institutions. Because M1 is so narrowly defined, very few components are classified as M1. The broader classification, M2, also includes savings account deposits, small-time deposits, and retail money market accounts.
Closely related to M1 and M2 is Money Zero Maturity (MZM). MZM consists of M1 plus all money market accounts, including institutional money market funds. MZM represents all assets that are redeemable at par on demand and is designed to estimate the supply of readily circulating liquid money in the economy.
The money supply within the United States is graphically depicted by the Federal Reserve. The graphical depiction lists the money supply in billions of dollars on the y-axis and the date on the x-axis. The information is periodically updated on the Federal Reserve of St. Louis' site.
How to Calculate M1
The M1 money supply is composed of Federal Reserve notes—otherwise known as bills or paper money—and coins that are in circulation outside of the Federal Reserve Banks and the vaults of depository institutions. Paper money is the most significant component of a nation’s money supply.
M1 also includes traveler’s checks (of non-bank issuers), demand deposits, and other checkable deposits (OCDs), including NOW accounts at depository institutions and credit union share draft accounts.
For most central banks, M1 almost always includes money in circulation and readily cashable instruments. But there are slight variations in the definition across the world. For example, M1 in the eurozone also includes overnight deposits. In Australia, it includes current deposits from the private non-bank sector. The United Kingdom, however, does not use M0 or M1 class of money supply any longer; its primary measure is M4, or broad money, also known as the money supply.
M2 and M3 include all of the components of M1 plus additional forms of money, including money market accounts, savings accounts, and institutional funds with significant balances.
Money Supply and the U.S. Economy
For periods of time, measurement of the money supply indicated a close relationship between money supply and some economic variables such as the gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, and price levels. Economists such as Milton Friedman argued in support of the theory that the money supply is intertwined with all of these variables.
However, in the past several decades, the relationship between some measurements of the money supply and other primary economic variables has been uncertain at best. Thus, the significance of the money supply acting as a guide for the conduct of monetary policy in the United States has substantially lessened.
M1 vs. M2 vs. M3
The M1 money supply includes all physical currency, traveler's checks, demand deposits, and other checkable deposits (e.g. checking accounts). While the M1 is a measure of all the most liquid forms of money in an economy, other forms of money supply are slightly different.
The M2 money supply is a broader measure of money supply that includes all components of M1 as well as "near money". M2 includes savings deposits, money market securities, and other time deposits which are less liquid and not as suitable as exchange mediums. Although many elements of the M2 money supply can can still be quickly converted into cash or checking deposits, they are not as instant as the components of the M1 money supply.
On the other hand, the M3 money supply is an even broader measure of the money supply that includes all components of M1 and M2. In addition, it includes all forms of savings deposits, money market deposits, time deposits in amounts of less than $100,000, and institutional money market funds. M3 is arguably the most comprehensive measure of the money supply compared to the other calculated amounts of money supply as it includes a wider range of savings and investments that can be readily converted into cash.
How the M1 Money Supply Changes
Governments intentionally change the money supply to have residual impacts on the broader economy. For example, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments increased the M1 money supply, making it easier to come about capital to help stimulate the economy, keep workers employed, and encourage business activity.
Central banks can increase the M1 money supply by increasing the amount of physical currency in circulation, lending money to banks, or purchasing securities on the open market. On the other hand, as seen in the aftermath of COVID-19, central banks reverse these policies to cool the economy to fight inflation.
Businesses and consumer spending also have an impact on the M1 money supply. As consumers and businesses spend more money, they create greater demand for that local currency. Therefore, as consumers write checks, use debit cards, or use credit cards, the M1 money supply increases.
Why Is M1 Money Supply So High?
In May 2020, the Federal Reserve changed the official formula for calculating the M1 money supply. Prior to May 2020, M1 included currency in circulation, demand deposits at commercial banks, and other checkable deposits. After May 2020, the definition was expanded to include other liquid deposits, including savings accounts. This change was accompanied by a sharp spike in the reported value of the M1 money supply.
Why Is M2 More Stable Than M1?
The M2 money supply is more stable than the M1 money supply because the M1 money supply only contains the most liquid of assets. Whereas it may take a little longer for components of the M2 money supply to convert or be liquidated, the M1 money supply more often changes due to the ease of being able to transact.
Who Controls the M1 Money Supply?
The total supply of money is managed by the Federal Reserve banks. The Federal Reserve banks establish monetary and fiscal policies to influence the economy, create jobs, or combat inflation.
How Does the M1 Money Supply Affect Inflation?
As the Federal Reserve increases the money supply, money is easier to come by. Debt usually costs less, or tax breaks approved by the Federal government may reduce tax liabilities. As a result, consumers have more capital available to spend. An unfortunate downside of increasing the money supply is that the demand for goods broadly increases as consumers have greater purchasing power. As a result, prices for good broadly tend to increase. For example, when the cost of debt is low and the money supply increases, the cost of taking a home mortgage (i.e. mortgage rates) are low, thus applying upward pressure on housing prices.
The Bottom Line
The M1 money supply consists of the sum of currency, demand deposits, and other liquid deposits. Each component is often seasonally adjusted, and this measurement contains only the most liquid vehicles compared to other money supply measurements. The money supply often directly relates to inflation, and the Federal Reserve often manages the money supply via fiscal and monetary policy to influence the economy.
Correction—May 14, 2023: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the M0 money supply is equal to the amount of currency in circulation. In fact, M0 also includes the reserve balances held by banks at the Federal Reserve. | https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/m1.asp | 1,951 | null | 3 | en | 0.99996 |
In today’s fast-paced and sedentary world, finding ways to incorporate physical activity into our daily lives is crucial for maintaining good health. Walking, a simple yet effective form of exercise, offers a multitude of benefits for both our physical and mental well-being. Among the various walking goals, achieving 10,000 steps per day has gained popularity as a benchmark for a healthy and active lifestyle. In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the extensive benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day and explore how this habit can positively impact your overall health and well-being.
1. Improved Cardiovascular Health
Regular physical activity, such as walking, plays a pivotal role in improving cardiovascular health. By consistently achieving 10,000 steps a day, you engage in a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise that gets your heart pumping, increases blood circulation, and strengthens the cardiovascular system. This, in turn, helps lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and prevent conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
2. Weight Management and Metabolism
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for overall well-being, and walking can be an excellent tool in weight management. Walking 10,000 steps a day can burn a significant number of calories, contributing to weight loss and preventing obesity. Furthermore, regular walking boosts metabolism, which aids in weight management by increasing the rate at which your body burns calories even at rest.
3. Increased Energy Levels and Mood Enhancement
Contrary to common misconceptions, walking can actually boost your energy levels rather than deplete them. Engaging in regular physical activity, such as walking 10,000 steps a day, stimulates the release of endorphins—neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being. These endorphins not only elevate your mood but also provide a natural energy boost, making you feel more productive, alert, and focused throughout the day. Walking can also help reduce stress levels, combat anxiety, and alleviate symptoms of depression, contributing to enhanced mental well-being.
4. Mental Well-being and Cognitive Function
Walking offers numerous mental health benefits that can positively impact your overall well-being. Taking a brisk walk outdoors, particularly in natural environments, allows you to immerse yourself in nature and experience the calming effects it provides. This connection with nature and the surroundings can help reduce stress, improve mood, and clear your mind. Additionally, regular walking has been linked to enhanced cognitive function, memory improvement, and a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
5. Strengthened Muscles, Bones, and Joints
Walking is a weight-bearing exercise that engages various muscle groups, including the legs, glutes, and core. By consistently achieving 10,000 steps a day, you promote muscle tone, strength, and endurance, leading to improved overall body composition. Walking also plays a vital role in enhancing bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis, especially when combined with exposure to sunlight for vitamin D synthesis. Furthermore, the low-impact nature of walking makes it a suitable exercise for people with joint issues or those looking to avoid excessive strain on their joints.
6. Better Sleep Quality
Regular physical activity, including walking, has a positive impact on sleep patterns and quality. Engaging in 10,000 steps a day can help regulate your circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep, improving sleep duration, and enhancing the overall quality of your rest. By incorporating walking into your daily routine, you may experience reduced insomnia symptoms and wake up feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated.
7. Increased Longevity
Engaging in regular physical activity has been consistently linked to increased longevity and a reduced risk of chronic diseases. Walking 10,000 steps a day promotes a healthier lifestyle, leading to a reduced risk of developing various health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. By investing in your physical and mental well-being through walking, you increase your chances of living a longer, more fulfilling life.
Walking 10,000 steps a day is an achievable and rewarding goal that offers an array of benefits for your physical and mental health. From improved cardiovascular health and weight management to increased energy levels, enhanced mental well-being, and better sleep quality, walking has the power to transform your life. By embracing this simple and accessible form of exercise, you take significant steps towards a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lifestyle. So, put on your walking shoes, step outside, and embark on a journey of improved health and well-being—one step at a time. | https://log.ng/health/the-benefits-of-walking-10000-steps-a- | 931 | null | 3 | en | 0.999895 |
The kilogram is used in most countries of the world, not all have adopted the kilogram as a unit of mass/weight, such as the use of the pound in the United States and England. In this way, to know the equivalence of a kilogram to a pound, the conversion must be made taking into account that 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds (1 kg = 2.20462 lb).
The International System of Units defined in 1889 standardizes the units of measurement around the world. In the case of the kilogram, the weight of a platinum-iridium cylinder kept in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures as a reference is taken in 1960.
A kilogram is known as a unit of mass contemplated by the International System of Units. It is approximately equivalent to the mass of one thousand cubic centimeters of water preserved at the temperature of its maximum density (4ºC) and to the mass of a platinum-iridium cylinder stored in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures located in the French city from Paris and kilogram is abbreviated by kg.
The kilogram is the only unit belonging to the International System that is still established from a standard object, that is, that does not take into account a fundamental peculiarity of a physical nature. The kilogram (also referred to as kilo ) also refers to the amount of some material that can be measured by kilograms. For example, I’m going to take a kilogram of roast, fruits, vegetables, etc.
The pound ( lb ) is currently a unit of mass, used since ancient Rome as a unit of weight. The word (derived from Latin ) means “scale or balance”, and is still the name of the main unit of mass. used in the United States and in some Spanish-speaking countries.
The pound has had very diverse values throughout history, especially in antiquity. The pound still used is the avoirdupois pound, so if the word “pound” is mentioned referring to mass, it is understood that we are talking about this avoirdupois pound.
Long after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the various regions of the former empire took on their particular way of estimating the value of a pound, and numerous units of weight also called pounds arose.
The Roman pound was equal to 273 grams. Although the Greek pound, of 327.4 grams, was used as the monetary unit of account.
Uses of kilogram and pound
the united states and British countries use the pound to measurement of mass and many other Asian countries use kilogram to weigh meassurement.
The pound as a unit of weight is widely used in the United States, often to measure body weight. Many versions of the pound existed in the past in the United Kingdom (UK), and although the UK largely uses the International System of Units, pounds are still used in certain contexts, such as the labeling of packaged foods (by law, metric values must also be displayed). The UK also often uses both pounds and stones when describing body weight, where one stone is made up of 14 pounds. Bakery items are always measured in pounds.
A pound is a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and the British commonwealths. A pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms.
How to convert Kilograms to Pounds
1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 2.20462262185 pounds (lbs).
1 kg = 2.20462262185 lb
84 Kilograms = 185.18830 Pounds
kg | lb |
84.00 | 185.19 |
84.01 | 185.21 |
84.02 | 185.23 |
84.03 | 185.25 |
84.04 | 185.28 |
84.05 | 185.30 |
84.06 | 185.32 |
84.07 | 185.34 |
84.08 | 185.36 |
84.09 | 185.39 |
84.10 | 185.41 |
84.11 | 185.43 |
Also read: how to chit potatoes
6 thoughts on “Convert 84 Kilograms to Pounds”
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If you have ever wondered if common stock is an asset or liability, you are not alone. A lot of people seek to invest their money in stocks but most are unsure if the investment will be an asset or a liability. Our discussion shall answer the question is a common stock asset or liability but in order for us to answer this question, let us first understand what an asset or a liability is.
What is an asset?
Assets represent value that can be turned into cash and are majorly classified into tangible and intangible assets. Tangible assets are assets that can be seen and touched hence they are also called physical assets; they include equipment, land, cash, building, etc. Intangible assets are resources that cannot be physically seen hence they are also known as non-physical assets; they include patents, trademarks, copyrights, intellectual property, computer programs, etc.
The major economic benefit that can be derived from assets is usually in the form of an appreciation in market price or value over time. Assets can be owned by individuals, corporate organizations, and even countries. In the case of corporate organizations, they keep a record of their liabilities in their books of account, and on the balance sheet, it is recorded on the left-hand side.
An accounting equation expresses the balance sheet structure of an asset as Assets = Liabilities + Equity
Now that we know what an asset is, let us have a look at what a liability is.
What is a liability?
In the case of corporate entities such as a company, they keep a record of their liabilities in their books of account, and on the balance sheet, it is recorded on the right-hand side. An accounting equation expresses this balance sheet structure of liability as Liabilities = Assets – Equity.
Now that we have understood what both assets and liabilities mean, let us find out what common stock is so that we can determine if it is an asset or a liability.
What is common stock?
Apart from voting rights and dividend payments, common stockholders also have a residual claim on the issuing company’s assets in a case whereby the company liquidates. They also have the right to be first offered subsequent shares which the company might issue in the future before the company offers them to the public. Additionally, the stockholders’ liability is limited to their initial investment amount.
Is common stock asset or liability?
Although common stock could be taught of as a liability since its issuing company has to pay dividends to its stockholders and it might also be taught of as an asset since it has some characteristics that provide future economic benefits to its owners such as having the potential to increase in market value and the payment of dividends to its owners. Common stock on the balance sheet is classified as equity or more commonly, as stockholders’ equity.
What is stockholders’ equity?
It usually consists of share capital which is the capital gotten from the sale of shares and retained earnings which is the income earned by the company through the services or products it offers.
Stockholders equity is the total amount that the business owners have invested into the company which includes: an accumulation of all the income the business has made since inception; all income that has been reinvested since inception; all monies that have been directed invested by the owners and all funds gotten from the sales of equity stocks.
Sources of stockholders’ equity
- Contributed capital includes the common stock’s par value as well as additional paid-up capital and treasury stock. The par value is the face value of the stock. Additional paid-up capital is the excess capital gotten from the sales of stocks. Treasury stock is all previously issued stock that the company has bought back.
- Retained earnings comprise the accumulated net income of the company minus all dividend payments to investors/shareholders.
Common stock: asset or liability?
We have already seen that common stock is neither asset nor liability and that instead, it is equity. However, even though common stock is an equity instrument, it tends to be viewed as an asset by investors who own them. Below, we shall discuss why a common stock is an equity and why it could be considered an asset too.
Common stock as equity
- Buying the stocks of a company represents ownership in the company. The number of stocks you own shows the ownership stake you have in that company. If for example a company issues a thousand (1000) stocks, and you purchase two hundred (200) of these; it means your ownership stake in the company is twenty percent (20%). This means that if the company were to liquidate, you are entitled to get twenty percent from its liquidation.
- Additionally, the fact that common stocks are a source of long-term financing for the issuing company also makes these stocks equity.
- Furthermore, when the issuing company wants to record the funds it has gotten from the sales of stocks, it is recorded under stockholders’ equity as paid-up capital. Also, when the company decides to buy back some of its already issued common stock either as a way to retain more control or to reduce its outstanding stock; the bought-back shares are also recorded under shareholders’ equity as treasury stocks.
Common stock as an asset
Assets are resources that are expected to provide future economic benefits to their owners either by increasing cash inflows or reducing cash outflows. Even though the financial world recognizes common stock as equity, investors who own these stocks largely consider them as an asset due to the following reasons:
- Most common stockholders receive distributions from the issuing companies in which they own stocks in the form of cash dividends. These dividends are paid either quarterly or yearly whenever the issuing company declares dividends.
- Similar to other assets such as land, common stocks when held over time could increase in market value. This means that a stock that was bought for one dollar ($1) today could increase in market value to ten dollars ($10) in say five years especially when its issuing company experiences growth.
- Some investment brokerages accept common stocks as collateral when giving out loans. Owning common stocks is therefore considered assets since they represent creditworthiness.
Frequently asked questions
Is common stock an asset?
Why is common stock equity?
We have discussed the question is a common stock asset or liability, looking at the reasons why it is considered equity in the financial world due to how it is recorded in the balance sheet. We have also seen that part of why it is considered equity is due to its feature of having no maturity date, making it a source of permanent capital to the issuing company. Furthermore, we have also seen some attributes of common stocks which are akin to that of assets and why stockholders commonly classify these stocks as assets.
Whether a common stock is an asset, liability or equity largely depends on if you are the issuing company or a stockholder. However, the general agreement in finance is that common stock is neither asset nor liability, it is instead, equity. | https://www.financialfalconet.com/common- | 1,426 | null | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
What is Polyethylene glycol (PEG)?
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications, PEG is the basis of a number of laxatives (as MiraLax). Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy.
PEG is also used as an excipient in many pharmaceutical products. PEG used in medicines for treating disimpaction and maintenance therapy for children with constipation.
When attached to various protein medications, polyethylene glycol allows a slowed clearance of the carried protein from the blood.
What is Propylene glycol (PG)?
Propylene glycol is a viscous, colorless liquid, which is nearly odorless but possesses a faintly sweet taste. It is classed as a diol and miscible with a broad range of solvents, including water, acetone, and chloroform.
It is produced on a large scale primarily for the production of polymers. In the European Union, it has E-number E1520 for food applications. For cosmetics and pharmacology, the number is E490. Propylene glycol is also present in propylene glycol alginate, which is known as E405. Propylene glycol is a compound which is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the US Food and Drug Administration under 21 CFR x184.1666, and is also approved by the FDA for certain uses as an indirect food additive.
Polyethylene Vs Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol (PG) and polyethylene glycols or PEGs) are synthetic substances that are used as vehicles in various cosmetic and medicinal products.
Propylene glycol is ubiquitously used in a variety of common items including edible items (sweeteners, whipped dairy products), cleaners, vaporizers, hand sanitizers and artificial tear preparations like Systane. It is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and was named the ACD Society’s allergen of the year in 2018.
In addition to causing contact dermatitis with cosmetic exposure, systemic contact dermatitis has been reported after oral ingestion. As PG is both a weak sensitizer and a cause of irritant dermatitis, patch testing interpretation can be difficult to interpret as testing results may not be robust if low concentrations are used and may lead to irritant response with higher concentrations. There are no reports upon literature review of IgE-mediated or anaphylactic reactions to PG.
Polyethylene is also found in multiple cosmetic and industrial products and is used quite frequently in medicine as it is found in PEGylated medications, hydrogels, tablets and lubricants. Though thought to be fairly safe, but according to studies, there are multiple reports of immediate type hypersensitivity reactions consistent with anaphylaxis.
A 2016 systematic review, noted 37 case reports of PEG induced reactions, 80% due to oral PEG exposure. Some cross reactivity does appear to exist between PEG and structurally related polymers such as polysorbate 80 and poloaxmer.
PG and PEG have dissimilar chemical structures. PG is a small, single molecule with 3 carbons and 2 OH groups ( ie a double alcohol). PEG is a multi-unit polymer with a differing molecular weight and backbone. Historically the types of reactions these agents cause are dissimilar as noted above.
Few studies have looked at sensitization to both agents. A single Turkish study retrospectively looked a patch testing for both PG and PEG as a marker for nitrofurazone allergy. Though not the main outcome of the study, a low proportion of subjects included (2 of 42) had positive patch testing to both PG and PEG. Thus there is not sufficient literature to support cross reactivity between PG and PEG. Though I am not sure which agent your patient has reacted to in the past, given how ubiquitous both agents are it would be prudent to take a detailed history as it is likely they are already tolerating exposure to the other agent which can provide some reassurance.” | https://medssafety.com/polyethylene-vs-propylene-glycol/ | 863 | null | 3 | en | 0.999987 |
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an essential vitamin that your body needs but cannot produce.
It’s found naturally in animal products but also added to certain foods and available as an oral supplement or injection.
Vitamin B12 has many roles in your body. It supports the normal function of your nerve cells and is needed for red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis.
Vitamin B12 may benefit your body in impressive ways, such as by boosting your energy, improving your memory and helping prevent heart disease.
Here some other benefits of vitamin B12:
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Depression. Eating more food that contains vitamin B12 has been linked with a lower risk of depression.
Nerve pain in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
High levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Immune system problems
Why should people go for Vitamin B12 Slim Shots?
A B12 shot is an injection used for treating the deficiency of Vitamin B12. Its deficiency leads to severe health issues such as fatigue, neurological disorders etc. If a person’s body doesn’t absorb Vitamin B12 properly, they are given injections. People who go through gastric surgery can also take these shots.
Why do you need Vitamin B12 shots?
It is a water-soluble vitamin that plays its part in various body functions like:
- Production of DNA
- Nerve cells
- Red Blood Cells
This vitamin is available in daily diet also, such as:
- Dairy products
- Fortified foods
But if someone has a deficiency of it, they will have to take it in other ways. Vitamin B12 shots in Katy are dependent on the age groups also. The same amount of it can’t be given to a kid and an adult. The least amount of it is given to the ones who breastfeed (0-6 months age group) with 0.4 microgram, while the women who are breastfeeding the babies should take 2.8 micrograms to avoid weakness. However, the quantity is slightly different for elderly people and pregnant women.
There are multiple reasons for people to go for Vitamin B12 shots in Katy. Here are some of them:
- These shots reduce the risk of neurological disorders and heart problems.
- Vision loss and infertility can also be reduced by using these.
- These shots can resolve issues related to memory loss and thinking as well.
What happens if there is deficiency of Vitamin B12?
The symptoms you may feel in case of deficiency of this vitamin include:
- Low appetite
- Weight loss
So, it is better to have Vitamin B12 shots in Katy in order to avoid any such issue later. | https://www.katymedispa.com/vitamin-b12-shots-in-katy | 607 | null | 3 | en | 0.999968 |
Anxiety is the most common mental health psychological condition in Australia, with one in six people experiencing anxiety as some stage of their life.
Anxiety symptoms are when you are afraid or have worries or stress and sometimes distress and intense feelings about bad things or danger that may or may not happen. Fight or flight responses may cause you to be in a state of hypervigilance, hyperarousal, or acute stress responses. You may have behaviours of avoidance, aggression, or irrational behaviour from pain, substance misuse or dependency, grief, or trauma.
Symptoms may make you feel overwhelmed, tense, nervous, panicking, irritable, agitated, or unwell. You may not be thinking clearly and your thought processes may be negative, repetitive, and distorted. | https://happypeeps.com.au/brisbane/brisbane- | 156 | null | 3 | en | 0.999931 |
U.S. technology giant Microsoft says it is conducting research to find solution to one of the world’s most acute sicknesses, cancer, using Computer Science.
The technology company widely known for computer software development says that at its research labs around the world, computer scientists, programmers, engineers and other experts are trying to crack some of the computer industry’s toughest problems, from system design and security to quantum computing and data visualization.
However, a subset of those scientists, engineers and programmers have a different goal, according to Microsoft. “They’re trying to use computer science to solve one of the most complex and deadly challenges humans face: Cancer”, Microsoft says.
And, for the most part, they are doing so with algorithms and computers instead of test tubes and beakers, Microsoft says.
Jasmin Fisher, a biologist who works in the programming principles and tools group in Microsoft’s Cambridge, U.K., lab says, “we are trying to change the way research is done on a daily basis in Biology.”
Microsoft reveals that one team of researchers is using machine learning and natural language processing to help the world’s leading oncologists figure out the most effective, individualized cancer treatment for their patients, by providing an intuitive way to sort through all the research data available.
Another is pairing machine learning with computer vision to give radiologists a more detailed understanding of how their patients’ tumors are progressing.
Yet another group of researchers has created powerful algorithms that help scientists understand how cancers develop and what treatments will work best to fight them.
And another team is working on moonshot efforts that could one day allow scientists to program cells to fight diseases, including cancer.
According to Jeannette M. Wing, Microsoft’s corporate vice president in charge of the company’s basic research labs, even though the individual projects vary widely, Microsoft’s overarching philosophy toward solving cancer focuses on two basic approaches.
She explained that one approach is rooted in the idea that cancer and other biological processes are information processing systems. Using that approach the tools that are used to model and reason about computational processes such as programming languages, compilers and model checkers are used to model and reason about biological processes.
The other approach is more data-driven. It’s based on the idea that researchers can apply techniques such as machine learning to the plethora of biological data that has suddenly become available, and use those sophisticated analysis tools to better understand and treat cancer.
Both approaches share some common ground including the core philosophy that success depends on both biologists and computer scientists bringing their expertise to the problem, according to Wing.
“The collaboration between biologists and computer scientists is actually key to making this work,” Wing notes.
According to her Microsoft has good reason to make broad, bold investments in using computer science to tackle cancer. For one, it’s in keeping with the company’s core mission.
“If you talk about empowering every person and organization to achieve more, this is step one in that journey,” she says.
Beyond that, she reckons that Microsoft’s extensive investment in cloud computing is a natural fit for a field that needs plenty of computing power to solve big problems.
She says that for longer term, it makes sense for Microsoft to invest in ways it can provide tools to customers no matter what computing platform they choose even if, one day, that platform is a living cell.
“If the computers of the future are not going to be made just in silicon but might be made in living matter, it behooves us to make sure we understand what it means to program on those computers,” Wing concludes.
Leave a Reply | http://technologytimes.ng/microsoft-to-fight-cancer-with-computer-science/ | 773 | null | 3 | en | 0.999983 |
There are several thousand words in English today and one interesting thing about these words is that most of them sound alike, with similar spellings, but have different meanings. See Homonyms. Some have different spellings and meanings but sound alike. Read about Homophones while others have same spellings with different meanings and sound differently. We call words in this group Homographs. These closely related words usually cause confusion for users of English and to this end, I have put together this post, Commonly Confused Words with Definitions & Examples, to solve this challenge and shed light on such words we commonly mix up.
Table of Contents
Commonly Confused Words with Definitions & Examples
Let us look at these words one after the other with their definitions, the Parts of Speech they belong to and their usage and examples so that we do not confuse them with other similar words anymore. Here we go…
Accompany with or Accompany by
We use these two when both refer to going to some place with somebody; but in a musical context, we use accompanied by. For example:
- The bassist was accompanied by the pianist.
When we use accompany to refer to ‘going along with something’, we can either use by or with. For instance:
- The chicken salad was accompanied by a chilly drink.
- His promise was accompanied by/with deed.
- The police accompanied their threats with action.
Adapter and Adaptor
We can be used interchangeably, but commonly, we use adapter to refer to a person who adapts, as in:
- The adapter of the stage play for television did it very well.
We use adaptor to refer to a thing that adapts, specifically a type of electrical plug.
Admission and Admittance
These two both means ‘permission’ or ‘right to enter’. Admission is the more common term, as in:
- They refused him admission to their house.
Unlike admittance, it can also mean ‘the price or fee charged for entry’, as in:
- Admission to the football game is relatively cheap.
We largely use Admittance in formal or official situations, as in:
- They ignored the notice saying “no admittance”’.
Admission also means ‘confession’ or ‘acknowledgement of responsibility’, as in:
- On her own admission, she was the thief.
Agnostic and Atheist
These words both mean ‘disbeliever in God’, but there is a difference in the sense in which both words are used. Agnostics believe that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not; that is, it refers to a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable. Atheists believe that there is no God. An Atheist is someone who does not believe in God nor in the existence of deities.
Aide vs Aid
These two words are homophones. Aide, as a noun, means ‘an assistant and it is the short form of ‘aide-de-camp’ pronounced /eɪd.dəˈkɑ̃ː/ which refers to a military officer serving as personal assistant to a senior. ‘Aid’ on the other hand, could be used both as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means ‘assistance, help or support’ which could be in form of money or supplies. It also refers to a person, a device or anything that helps or assist. For instance:
- He used a teaching aid in the class.
- Crutches are aids to help someone walks well.
- The UN gives aid to several countries of the world.
- She wouldn’t have survived the recession without the aid of his bankers.
- The book is an aid to using the App for publishing.
- There should be visual aids in every classroom.
As a verb, ‘aid’ means to ‘give help or assistance to an individual, something or a cause’. For example:
- Clean water and environment aid in the fight against diseases.
- She aided her daughter in securing overseas admission.
- Good citizens must not aid and abet a crime.
All together and Altogether
These two words, despite their similarity, are not interchangeable. All together means ‘at the same time’ or ‘in the same place’, e. g.
- The guests arrived all together.
- They kept their personal papers all together in a filing cabinet.
Altogether, however, means ‘in all, in total’ or ‘completely’, as in:
- We collected ten thousand altogether.
- The work was altogether too much for him.
Amiable and Amicable
Both words are adjectives and refer to friendliness and goodwill. Amiable means ‘friendly’ or ‘agreeable and pleasant’, and is mostly used of people or their moods, as in:
- We are fortunate to have amiable neighbours.
- She had amiable travelling companions.
- He has an amiable temperament.
- I like to be in an amiable mood.
Amicable means ‘characterized by friendliness and goodwill’ and is applied mainly to relationships, agreements, documents, etc., as in:
- We have an amicable working relationship.
- They finally reached an amicable settlement at the end of the land dispute.
- The politician sent an amicable letter to his former rival.
Among and Amongst
Both are Prepositions and can use them interchangeably as in:
- We searched among/amongst the bushes for the ball.
- Divide the chocolate among/amongst you.
- You must choose among/amongst the various possibilities.
Among and between may be used interchangeably in most contexts. Formerly between was used only when referring to the relationship of two things, as in:
- Share the chocolate between you and your brother.
Among was used when referring to the relationship of three or more things, as in:
- Share the chocolate among all your friends.
In modern usage between may be used when referring to more than two things, as in:
- There is an agreement between all the countries of the EU.
- Share the chocolate between all of you.
However, among is still used to describe more than two things.
Artist and Artiste
These words are liable to be confused. Artist refers to ‘a person who paints or draws’, as in ‘Renoir was a great artist’. The word may also refer to ‘a person who is skilled in something’, as in:
- The mechanic is a real artist with an engine.
Artiste refers to ‘an entertainer, such as a singer or a dancer’, as in:
- We have a list of the artistes in the musical performances.
The word is becoming a little old-fashioned.
Beg the Question
This is often used wrongly. It means ‘to take for granted the very point that has to be proved’, as in ‘to say that God must exist because we can see all his wonderful creations in the world around us begs the question’. The statement assumes that these creation have been made by God although this has not been proved and yet this fact is being used as evidence that there is a God. Beg the question is often used wrongly to mean ‘to evade the question’, as in:
- The police tried to get him to say where he had been but he begged the question and changed the subject.
Blond and Blonde
These are both used to mean ‘a fair-headed person’, but they are not interchangeable. Blond is used to describe a man or boy, blonde is used to describe a woman or girl. They are derived from the French adjective, which changes endings according to the gender of the noun.
These both mean in one of their senses ‘to be permitted’. In this sense, can is much less formal than may and it is best restricted to informal contexts, as in:
- Can I go to the park now?
May is used in more formal contexts, as in:
- May I please have your name?
Both can and may have other meanings. Can has the meaning ‘to be able’, (ability) as in:
- He can still walk.
May has the additional meaning ‘to be likely’, (possibility) as in:
- You may well be right.
The past tense of can is could, as in:
- The children asked if they could (be permitted to) go to the park.
- She could (be unable to) not walk.
The past tense of may is might, as in:
- The child asked if he might have a piece of cake (permitted to).
- They might (be likely to) well get here tonight.
Calvary vs Cavalry
Calvary is a noun that has a religious connotation. It means a sculpture of crucifixion; that is, an open-air representation of the crucifixion of Jesus. It also refers to an experience of usually intense mental suffering. Geographically, it is a place outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified; the variant or Hebrew of Golgotha.
Cavalry refers to an army component mounted on horseback or an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility. It also refers to horsemen or soldiers on horseback: formerly, the part of an army made up of soldiers trained to fight on horseback. Take note of the spellings, especially the placement of letter ‘l’ and do not confuse the two words.
Cardinal and Ordinal
Cardinal and ordinal numbers refer to different aspects of numbers. Cardinal is applied to those numbers that refer to quantity or value without referring to their place in the set, as in ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘fifty’ ‘one hundred’. Ordinal is applied to numbers that refer to their order in a series, as in ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘fortieth’, and ‘hundredth’.
Catholic and catholic
These two words have different meanings. Catholic as an adjective refers to the Roman Catholic Church, as in ‘the pope is the head of the Catholic Church’, or to the universal body of Christians. As a noun, it means ‘a member of the catholic church’, as in ‘she is a catholic but he is a -protestant’. Catholic with a lower-case initial letter means ‘general, wide-ranging’, as in:
- The book contains catholic selection of essays.
It also means ‘broad-minded, liberal’, as in:
- She has a catholic attitude to the tastes of others.
Centre on and Centre around
These are often used interchangeably, as in ‘her world centres on/around her children’. Centre around is objected to by some people on the grounds that Centre is too specific to be used with something as vague as around. When it is used as a verb with place names, Centre is used with ‘at’, as in:
- Their business operation is centred at London.
Chair, Chairman, Chairperson
Chair is often used to mean ‘a person in charge of a meeting, committee, etc.’, as in:
- The committee has a new chair this year.
- She is the new chair of the panel.
- Was he nominated as the chair of the meeting?
Formerly chairman was always used in this context, as in:
- He was appointed the chairman of the fund-raising committee.
But this is disapproved of on grounds that it is sexist. Formerly, chairman was sometimes used even if the person in charge of the meeting or committee was a woman, and sometimes chairwoman was used in this situation. Chairperson, which also avoids sexism, is frequently used instead of chair. Chair is also a verb meaning to be in charge of a meeting, committee, etc.
- He chairs the board.
- Will you chair the meeting?
- She chaired the plenary session.
Client and Customer
Although closely related in meaning, these words are not interchangeable. Client refers to ‘a person who pays for the advice or services of a professional person’, as in:
- They are both clients of the same lawyer.
- A client waiting to see the bank manager.
- Most hairdressers keep their clients waiting.
Customer refers to ‘a person who purchases goods from a shop, etc.’, as in:
- Customers complained to the shopkeepers about the faulty goods.
- He was a regular customer at the local supermarket.
- She ensures maximum satisfaction for the customers in her restaurant.
Client is used in the sense of ‘customer’ by shops who regard it as a more superior word, as in:
- There are many clients of the exclusive dress boutique.
Compare with and Compare to
When you ‘compare with’, you are assessing the similarities and differences between two or more things. For instance, we can compare Pepsi with Coca-Cola. But when you compare to, you are declaring two things to be similar in some respect. For example, you can compare your Toyota Jeep to your Ford Jeep. Note that it is possible to compare two or more things with and to each/one another. For example, you can compare your niece with your sister and you can also compare your niece to your sister.
Dispatch and Despatch
The two are interchangeable. It is most common as a verb meaning ‘to send’, as in:
- The mail was despatched/dispatched as invitation
As a noun, rarely used though, it means ‘a message or report, often official’, as in:
- He receives a dispatch/despatch that the soldiers were to move on.
It also means ‘rapidity, swiftness or speed’, as in:
- He carried out the orders with dispatch/despatch.
Diagnosis and Prognosis
These two are liable to be confused. Both are used with reference to disease but they have different meanings. Diagnosis refers to ‘the identification of a disease or disorder’, as in:
- She had cancer but the doctor failed to make the correct diagnosis until it was too late.
- He could not get a correct diagnosis until he travelled abroad.
- His diagnosis was always faulty.
Prognosis refers to ‘the prediction of the likely course of a disease or disorder’, as in:
- According to the doctor’s prognosis, the patient will be dead in six months.
- Based on the prognosis, the disease will affect scores of people before cure arrives.
Disassociate and Dissociate
These two are used interchangeably, as in:
- She wished to disassociate herself from the statement.
- She wished to dissociate herself from the statement issued by her colleagues.
But dissociate is the more commonly used.
Disinterested and Uninterested
These are often used interchangeably in modern usage to mean ‘not interested, indifferent’, as in:
- The pupils are totally disinterested in learning.
- Children are uninterested in school work.
Many people dislike disinterested being used in this way and regard it as wrong use, but it is becoming increasingly common. Disinterested also means ‘impartial, unbiased’, as in:
It is better to ask a disinterested party to settle the dispute between them.
Disorient and Disorientate
They are used interchangeably. For example:
- The town had changed so much since his last visit that he was completely disoriented/disorientated.
- After the blow to her head, she was slightly disoriented/disorientated.
Each other and One another
These two used not to be used interchangeably. We use each other when only two people are involved and one another when more than two people are involved, as in:
- John and Mary really love each other.
- The twins love each other.
- The couple likes each other’s company.
- All the members of the family love one another.
- The students always cover for one another.
- They shared the goods among one another.
In modern use, this restriction is often ignored.
Empathy and Sympathy
The two are liable to be confused although they are not interchangeable. Empathy means ‘the ability to imagine and share another’s feelings, experiences, etc.’, as in:
- As a single parent herself, she has a real empathy for women bringing up children on their own.
- The writer felt a certain empathy with the subject of his biography.
Sympathy means ‘a feeling of compassion, pity or sorrow towards someone’, as in:
- She feels sympathy for homeless children.
- The organisation shows sympathy towards the widow.
- They have no sympathy for the wounded thieves.
Enquiry and Inquiry
The two words are frequently used interchangeably, as in:
- Can you make enquiries/inquiries about her health?
However, some people see a distinction between them and use enquiry for ordinary requests for information, as in:
We need to make enquiries about the times of trains.
They use inquiry only for ‘investigation’ as in:
- The police have begun a murder inquiry.
- The government launched an inquiry into the hygiene standards of the food firm.
These are similar in meaning but not identical. Evade means ‘to keep away from by cunning or deceit’, as in:
- The criminal evaded the police by getting his friend to impersonate him.
Avoid means simply ‘to keep away from’, as in:
- Women avoid that area of town at night.
Evasion and avoidance are frequently applied to the non-payment of income tax but they are not interchangeable. Tax avoidance refers to ‘the legal non-payment of tax by clever means’. Tax evasion refers to ‘the illegal means of avoiding tax by cunning and dishonest means’.
Extrovert and Introvert
Though these two words are opposites, they are liable to be confused. Extrovert refers to ‘a person who is more interested in what is going on around him/her than his/her own thoughts and feelings, such a person usually being outgoing and sociable’, as in:
- She is a real extrovert who loves to entertain the guests at parties.
Introvert refers to ‘a person who is more concerned with his/her own thoughts and feelings than with what is going around him/her, such a person usually being shy and reserved’, as in:
- She is an introvert who hates having to speak in public.
- Introverts who prefer to stay at home than go to parties.
Both extrovert and introvert can be adjectives as well as nouns, as in ‘extrovert behaviour’ and ‘introvert personality’. Note the spelling of extrovert. It was formerly spelt with an ‘a’ instead of an ‘o’, that is extravert.
Fill in and Fill out
I wrote a post on the Eccentric Nature of the English language and there is this witty, paradoxical, ironic and quizzical statement which goes thus: You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which one’s house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on. You need to read that post and you will be amused.
When it comes to these words, they are both used to mean ‘to complete a form, etc. by adding the required details’, as in:
- Fill in your details.
- Fill out an application form for a passport.
In British English fill in is the more common term, although fill out is the accepted term in American English.
Grey and Gray
These are both acceptable in terms of spellings. In British English, however, grey is the more common, as in:
- There are different shades of grey.
- Her grey hair is becoming notable.
In American English, gray is the standard form.
Illegible and Unreadable
The two words are not totally interchangeable. Illegible refers to something that is impossible to make out or decipher, as in:
- His handwriting is completely illegible.
Unreadable can also mean this, as in:
- She has an unreadable handwriting.
- What he wrote was totally unreadable.
But it can also mean ‘unable to be read with understanding or enjoyment’, as in:
- His handwriting is so full of jargon that it is unreadable.
- The absence of punctuation marks makes his essay unreadable.
Impracticable and Impractical
These are liable to be confused. Impracticable means ‘impossible to put into practice, not workable’, as in:
- In theory, the plan is fine but it is impracticable in terms of costs.
- It is impracticable for lead to float.
- Travelling to Pluto by Jumbo Jet is impracticable.
Impractical means ‘not sensible or realistic’, as in:
- It is impractical to think that you will get there and back in a day.
- It is impractical for the economy to turn around in three months.
- Meeting up with the appointment with the heavy traffic is impractical.
It also means ‘not skilled at doing or making things’, as in:
- He is a brilliant academic but he is hopelessly impractical in the kitchen.
In vs To
See When to Use IN and AT for explicit discussion on this.
Indoor and Indoors
They look similar but are not interchangeable. Indoor is an adjective, as in:
- Basketball is an indoor game.
- We have an indoor match tomorrow.
- The competition will not feature indoor games.
Indoors is an adverb, as in:
- Children like playing outdoors instead of watching television indoors.
- On warm evenings, it is good to sleep instead of indoors.
- I was indoors throughout the week.
Intense and Intensive
These two are not interchangeable. Intense means ‘very strong, extreme’, as in:
- She felt an intense desire to scream.
- The cold was intense and intolerable.
- The expatriates were unable to tolerate the intense heat of Africa.
Intensive means ‘thorough’, as in:
- The police conduct an intensive search for the missing boy.
- The don is very intensive with his teachings.
- It was a very intensive examination.
It also means ‘concentrated’, as in:
- She attended an intensive course in first aid.
- There was intensive bombing during the Gulf War.
Jail and Gaol
These are both acceptable spellings although jail is the more common. They both mean ‘prison’ and can be either nouns or verbs, as in:
- He was sent to jail/gaol for drug trafficking.
- The judge jailed/gaoled him for his part in the bank robbery.
Naught and Nought
The two words are not totally interchangeable. Naught means ‘nothing’, as in:
- All his projects came to naught.
- His plans came to naught.
It is rather a formal or literary word in this sense.
Naught is also a less usual spelling of nought, which means ‘zero’ when it is regarded as a number, as in:
- The number contains two noughts.
Nevertheless and Nonetheless
These two words mean the same thing, as in:
- He has very little money; nevertheless, he gives generously to charity.
- He came from a rich family, nonetheless, he dresses shabbily.
Sometimes None the less is usually written as three words but nevertheless is spelt as one word. But in modern usage nonetheless is sometimes written as one word.
Rout and Route
Both words are liable to be confused. They look similar but they have different pronunciations and have completely different meanings’. Rout as a noun means ‘overwhelming defeat’, as in:
- The rout of the opposing army was the talk of the town.
- Crushing the rebels was a great victorious rout for the king.
As a verb, it means ‘to defeat utterly’, or ‘to delve, cut into, dig, rootle, root, etc. as in:
- Their team routed ours last time.
- They routed the fighters from their caves.
- The scavengers routed for junks in the dunghill.
- The pig was routing for truffles.
Route refers to ‘a way of getting somewhere’, as in:
- We should take the quickest route.
- The scenic route of the countryside is amazing.
Route can also be a verb meaning ‘to arrange a route for, to send by a certain route’, as in:
- They plan to route the visitors along the banks of the river.
- We routed all phones calls through his office as he demanded.
- She routed the letter to the Governor through his Personal Assistant.
We pronounce Rout to rhyme with ‘shout’, ‘tout’, etc. while we pronounce Route to rhyme with ‘brute’, ‘root’, etc.
Straight away and straightaway
These are both acceptable ways of spelling the expression for ‘without delay, at once’, other synonyms include: right away, straight off, forthwith, instantaneously, instantly, etc. Examples include:
- Attend to the matter straight away/straightaway.
- He found an answer straightaway/straightway.
- It was a straightaway/straightway denial.
What ever and Whatever
These two words seem similar, but they are not interchangeable.
We use ‘What ever’ when ‘ever’ is used for emphasis, as in:
- What ever does he think he’s doing?
- What ever is she wearing?
As a pronoun, it means emphatic ‘what’ which is used to express an emotion such as surprise or perplexity, as in:
- What ever is the matter now?
Whatever means ‘anything, regardless of what, no matter what’ and it could be a pronoun, as in:
- Feel free to say whatever you like.
- She always succeeds, whatever she does.
- Whatever he says I don’t believe him.
- Help yourself to whatever you want.
- Whatever problem you encounter will stop with time.
- Give me whatever apples you do not want.
As an adverb:
- If that is what you think, whatever. (expressing mild disagreement)
- I can see no reason whatever why you should not go. (of any kind)
It is also closely related with the word, ‘whatsover’ which as an adverb, means ‘at all’, as in:
- Did you have any doubts? None whatsoever!
The pair of words that are liable to cause confusion discussed in this post are not exhaustive. We will still discuss many more singly or collectively. Having proper knowledge of how we should use these words will go a long way to help you in the English language both in formal and informal contexts. Endeavour to check other commonly confused words that we have explained in other posts we list below:
Your comment is important to us; do let us know how our posts have benefited you. See you around!
1 thought on “Commonly Confused Words with Definitions & Examples”
This is interesting. I think you serialize this presentation. This is a welcome development. | https://akademia.com.ng/commonly-confused-words-with- | 6,045 | null | 3 | en | 0.999998 |
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- Milne Library - What is Sound?
- NeoK12 - Educational Videos and Games for School Kids - Sound
- Khan Academy - Sound
- National Park Service - Understanding Sound
- University of Florida Pressbooks - Music and Health (Development Version) - Physics of Sound
- The Physics Classroom - Sound Waves and Music
- Physics LibreTexts - Sound
sound, a mechanical disturbance from a state of equilibrium that propagates through an elastic material medium. A purely subjective definition of sound is also possible, as that which is perceived by the ear, but such a definition is not particularly illuminating and is unduly restrictive, for it is useful to speak of sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear, such as those that are produced by dog whistles or by sonar equipment.
The study of sound should begin with the properties of sound waves. There are two basic types of wave, transverse and longitudinal, differentiated by the way in which the wave is propagated. In a transverse wave, such as the wave generated in a stretched rope when one end is wiggled back and forth, the motion that constitutes the wave is perpendicular, or transverse, to the direction (along the rope) in which the wave is moving. An important family of transverse waves is generated by electromagnetic sources such as light or radio, in which the electric and magnetic fields constituting the wave oscillate perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Sound propagates through air or other mediums as a longitudinal wave, in which the mechanical vibration constituting the wave occurs along the direction of propagation of the wave. A longitudinal wave can be created in a coiled spring by squeezing several of the turns together to form a compression and then releasing them, allowing the compression to travel the length of the spring. Air can be viewed as being composed of layers analogous to such coils, with a sound wave propagating as layers of air “push” and “pull” at one another much like the compression moving down the spring.
A sound wave thus consists of alternating compressions and rarefactions, or regions of high pressure and low pressure, moving at a certain speed. Put another way, it consists of a periodic (that is, oscillating or vibrating) variation of pressure occurring around the equilibrium pressure prevailing at a particular time and place. Equilibrium pressure and the sinusoidal variations caused by passage of a pure sound wave (that is, a wave of a single frequency) are represented in and , respectively.
A discussion of sound waves and their propagation can begin with an examination of a plane wave of a single frequency passing through the air. A plane wave is a wave that propagates through space as a plane, rather than as a sphere of increasing radius. As such, it is not perfectly representative of sound (see below Circular and spherical waves). A wave of single frequency would be heard as a pure sound such as that generated by a tuning fork that has been lightly struck. As a theoretical model, it helps to elucidate many of the properties of a sound wave.
Wavelength, period, and frequency
hertz or kilohertz and is represented by f.
is another representation of the sound wave illustrated in . As represented by the sinusoidal curve, the pressure variation in a sound wave repeats itself in space over a specific distance. This distance is known as the wavelength of the sound, usually measured in metres and represented by λ. As the wave propagates through the air, one full wavelength takes a certain time period to pass a specific point in space; this period, represented by T, is usually measured in fractions of a second. In addition, during each one-second time interval, a certain number of wavelengths pass a point in space. Known as the frequency of the sound wave, the number of wavelengths passing per second is traditionally measured inThere is an inverse relation between a wave’s frequency and its period, such that
This means that sound waves with high frequencies have short periods, while those with low frequencies have long periods. For example, a sound wave with a frequency of 20 hertz would have a period of 0.05 second (i.e., 20 wavelengths/second × 0.05 second/wavelength = 1), while a sound wave of 20 kilohertz would have a period of 0.00005 second (20,000 wavelengths/second × 0.00005 second/wavelength = 1). Between 20 hertz and 20 kilohertz lies the frequency range of hearing for humans. The physical property of frequency is perceived physiologically as pitch, so that the higher the frequency, the higher the perceived pitch. There is also a relation between the wavelength of a sound wave, its frequency or period, and the speed of the wave (S), such that
The equilibrium value of pressure, represented by the evenly spaced lines in constitute the sound wave, there would occur a fluctuation above and below atmospheric pressure. The magnitude of this fluctuation from equilibrium is known as the amplitude of the sound wave; measured in pascals, or newtons per square metre, it is represented by the letter A. The displacement or disturbance of a plane sound wave can be described mathematically by the general equation for wave motion, which is written in simplified form as:
and by the axis of the graph in , is equal to the atmospheric pressure that would prevail in the absence of the sound wave. With passage of the compressions and rarefactions thatThis equation describes a sinusoidal wave that repeats itself after a distance λ moving to the right (+ x) with a velocity given by equation (2).
The amplitude of a sound wave determines its intensity, which in turn is perceived by the ear as loudness. Acoustic intensity is defined as the average rate of energy transmission per unit area perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Its relation with amplitude can be written aswhere ρ is the equilibrium density of the air (measured in kilograms per cubic metre) and S is the speed of sound (in metres per second). Intensity (I) is measured in watts per square metre, the watt being the standard unit of power in electrical or mechanical usage.
The value of atmospheric pressure under “standard atmospheric conditions” is generally given as about 105 pascals, or 105 newtons per square metre. The minimum amplitude of pressure variation that can be sensed by the human ear is about 10-5 pascal, and the pressure amplitude at the threshold of pain is about 10 pascals, so the pressure variation in sound waves is very small compared with the pressure of the atmosphere. Under these conditions a sound wave propagates in a linear manner—that is, it continues to propagate through the air with very little loss, dispersion, or change of shape. However, when the amplitude of the wave reaches about 100 pascals (approximately one one-thousandth the pressure of the atmosphere), significant nonlinearities develop in the propagation of the wave.
Nonlinearity arises from the peculiar effects on air pressure caused by a sinusoidal displacement of air molecules. When the vibratory motion constituting a wave is small, the increase and decrease in pressure are also small and are very nearly equal. But when the motion of the wave is large, each compression generates an excess pressure of greater amplitude than the decrease in pressure caused by each rarefaction. This can be predicted by the ideal gas law, which states that increasing the volume of a gas by one-half decreases its pressure by only one-third, while decreasing its volume by one-half increases the pressure by a factor of two. The result is a net excess in pressure—a phenomenon that is significant only for waves with amplitudes above about 100 pascals. | https://www.britannica.com/science/sound-physics | 1,608 | null | 4 | en | 0.999952 |
1. Low-Protein Foods
People with kidney disease need to limit their protein intake to prevent further damage to the kidneys. Foods that are low in protein include fruits, vegetables, and grains such as rice, pasta, and bread.
Low-Potassium Foods: Potassium is a mineral that can build up in the blood of people with kidney disease, leading to heart and muscle problems. Low-potassium foods include leafy greens, cauliflower, berries, and apples.
2. Low-Phosphorus Foods
Phosphorus is another mineral that can build up in the blood of people with kidney disease. Foods that are low in phosphorus include fruits, vegetables, and grains. Some examples of low-phosphorus foods include bananas, oranges, and white bread.
3. Low-Sodium Foods
Sodium can cause high blood pressure, which can put extra stress on the kidneys. Foods that are low in sodium include fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as foods that are labeled as “low-salt” or “no salt added.”
4. Low-Fat Foods
People with kidney disease should also limit their intake of fat to keep their cholesterol levels in check. Low-fat foods include skinless poultry, fish, and lean cuts of meat, as well as non-fat dairy products.
People with kidney disease should drink plenty of water to help flush waste products from their kidneys. Drinking water can also help keep blood pressure and fluid levels in the body in check, which can help prevent further damage to the kidneys. | https://medicalcaremedia.com/avoid- | 321 | null | 4 | en | 0.999903 |
Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin. Medically referred to as diabetes mellitus, diabetes describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
Normally, the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) releases insulin to help your body store and use the sugar and fat from the food and every this you consume. Diabetes can then occur when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin, or when the body does not respond appropriately to the insulin produced by the pancreas.
Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience frequent urination (polyuria), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).
If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.
Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death.
Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers and damage to the eyes.
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The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Some people do refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes happens when your immune system destroys cells in your pancreas called beta cells which are the ones that produce insulin. hence, the body does not produce insulin.
DamageS to beta cells from type 1 diabetes throws the process off. Glucose doesn’t move into your cells because insulin isn’t there to do it.
Instead it builds up in your blood and your cells starve. This causes high blood sugar.
Medically, patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet.
However, natural remedies that work on preparing the damages to the beta cell and the pancreas have been proven to be helpful to type 1 diabetic patients.
You can click here to read about such natural remedy.
Sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin are usually normal, especially in the early stages of type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes can also be accompanied by irregular and unpredictable high blood sugar levels, frequently with ketosis and sometimes with serious low blood sugar levels.
Other complications include an impaired counter-regulatory response to low blood sugar, infection, gastroparesis (which leads to erratic absorption of dietary carbohydrates), and endocrinopathies.
Symptoms of type1 diabetes are often subtle, but they can become severe. They include:
- Heavy thirst
- Increased hunger (especially after eating)
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in your belly
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss (even though you’re eating and feel hungry)
- Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
- Blurred vision
- Heavy, laboured breathing (your doctor will call this Kussmaul respiration)
- Frequent infections of the skin, urinary tract, or vagina
Signs of an emergency with type 1 diabetes include:
- Shaking and confusion
- Rapid breathing
- Fruity smell to your breath
- Pain in your belly
- Loss of consciousness (rare)
The key to good health is to keep your blood sugar levels within the range your doctor gives you.
You’ll need to check them often and adjust insulin, food, and activities to make that happen.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes mellitus.
It begins with insulin resistance; a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease progresses, a lack of insulin may also develop.
The most common cause is excessive body weight and insufficient exercise. The defective responsiveness of body tissues to insulin is believed to involve the insulin receptor.
In the early stage of type 2 diabetes, the predominant abnormality is reduced insulin sensitivity. At this stage, high blood sugar can be reversed by a variety of measures and medications that improve insulin sensitivity or reduce the liver’s glucose production.
Type 2 diabetes is primarily due to lifestyle factors and genetics. A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to its development, including obesity (defined by a body mass index of greater than 30), lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, and urbanization.
Dietary factors also influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in excess is associated with an increased risk. The type of fats in the diet is also important, with saturated fat and trans fats increasing the risk and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat decreasing the risk.
Eating lots of white rice, and other starches, also may increase the risk of diabetes. A lack of physical activity is believed to cause 7% of cases.
Gestational diabetes is the third main form and occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels.
Gestational diabetes mellitus resembles type 2 diabetes in several respects involving a combination of relatively inadequate insulin secretion and responsiveness.
It occurs in about 2 -10% of all pregnancies and may improve or disappear after delivery.
However, after pregnancy approximately 5 – 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, most commonly type 2.
Gestational diabetes is fully treatable, but requires careful medical supervision throughout the pregnancy because of the baby.
Management may include dietary changes, blood glucose monitoring, and in some cases, insulin may be required.
Though it may be transient, untreated gestational diabetes can damage the health of the foetus or mother.
Risks to the baby include macrosomia (high birth weight), congenital heart and central nervous system abnormalities, and skeletal muscle malformations.
Increased levels of insulin in a foetus’s blood may inhibit foetal surfactant production and cause infant respiratory distress syndrome. A high blood bilirubin level may result from red blood cell destruction.
In severe cases, perinatal death may occur, most commonly as a result of poor placental perfusion due to vascular impairment.
Other Types of Diabetes
Prediabetes indicates a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Many people who later develop type 2 diabetes spend many years in a state of prediabetes.
Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) is a condition in which type 1 diabetes develops in adults. Adults with LADA are frequently initially misdiagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, based on age rather than cause.
Any disease that causes extensive damage to the pancreas may lead to diabetes (for example, chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis).
Diseases associated with excessive secretion of insulin-antagonistic hormones can cause diabetes (which is typically resolved once the hormone excess is removed).
Many drugs impair insulin secretion and some toxins damage pancreatic beta cells. The ICD-10 (1992) diagnostic entity, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus (MRDM or MMDM, ICD-10 code E12), was deprecated by the World Health Organization (WHO) when the current taxonomy was introduced in 1999.
Other forms of diabetes mellitus include congenital diabetes, which is due to genetic defects of insulin secretion, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid diabetes induced by high doses of glucocorticoids, and several forms of monogenic diabetes.
Prevention and treatment involve maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, a normal body weight, and avoiding use of tobacco.
Control of blood pressure and maintaining proper foot care are important for people with the disease.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), is common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Most cases are mild and are not considered medical emergencies. Effects can range from feelings of unease, sweating, trembling, and increased appetite in mild cases to more serious effects such as confusion, changes in behaviour such as aggressiveness, seizures, unconsciousness, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death in severe cases.
Moderately low blood sugar may easily be mistaken for drunkenness; rapid breathing and sweating, cold, pale skin are characteristic of low blood sugar but not definitive.
Mild to moderate cases are self-treated by eating or drinking something high in sugar. Severe cases can lead to unconsciousness and must be treated with intravenous glucose or injections with glucagon.
People (usually with type 1 diabetes) may also experience episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a metabolic disturbance characterised by nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, the smell of acetone on the breath, deep breathing known as Kussmaul breathing, and in severe cases a decreased level of consciousness.
A rare but equally severe possibility is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), which is more common in type 2 diabetes and is mainly the result of dehydration
The major long-term complications relate to damage to blood vessels. Diabetes doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease and about 75% of deaths in diabetics are due to coronary artery disease.
Other macrovascular diseases include stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
The primary complications of diabetes due to damage in small blood vessels include damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Damage to the eyes, known as diabetic retinopathy, is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina of the eye, and can result in gradual vision loss and eventual blindness.
Diabetes also increases the risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems. It is recommended that diabetics visit an eye doctor once a year.
Damage to the kidneys, known as diabetic nephropathy, can lead to tissue scarring, urine protein loss, and eventually chronic kidney disease, sometimes requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation.
NB: You can contact us for potent natural remedies for kidney issues.
Damage to the nerves of the body, known as diabetic neuropathy, is the most common complication of diabetes. The symptoms can include numbness, tingling, pain, and altered pain sensation, which can lead to damage to the skin.
Diabetes-related foot problems (such as diabetic foot ulcers) may occur, and can be difficult to treat, occasionally requiring amputation (contact us for a guaranteed natural remedy for treating wounds relating to diabetes, no matter how long it’s been there).
Additionally, proximal diabetic neuropathy causes painful muscle atrophy and weakness.
There is a link between cognitive deficit and diabetes. Compared to those without diabetes, those with the disease have a 1.2 to 1.5-fold greater rate of decline in cognitive function.
Being diabetic, especially when on insulin, increases the risk of falls in older people.
How to determine whether you have diabetes, prediabetes or neither
Doctors can determine whether a patient has a normal metabolism, prediabetes or diabetes in one of three different ways – there are three possible tests:
The A1C test
- at least 6.5% means diabetes
- between 5.7% and 5.99% means prediabetes
- less than 5.7% means normal
The FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test (also called fasting blood sugar)
- at least 126 mg/dl means diabetes
- between 100 mg/dl and 125.99 mg/dl means prediabetes
- less than 100 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the FPG means the patient has impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)
- at least 200 mg/dl means diabetes
- between 140 and 199.9 mg/dl means prediabetes
- less than 140 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the OGTT means the patient has impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
The above is the detail of everything important that you need to know about diabetes.
Stay healthy and never give up
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Covid mRNA vaccine- Does it affect sperm quality?
Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
According to Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are some of the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States.
mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases.
- mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies.
- The benefit of mRNA vaccines, like all vaccines, is those vaccinated gain protection without ever having to risk the serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable. If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product for your second shot.
- mRNA vaccines do not give someone covid 19. It does not use the live virus that causes COVID-19.
- mRNA does not affect or interact with our DNA in any way. That is, it never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is kept.
- The cell breaks down and gets rid of the mRNA soon after it is finished using the instructions.
- mRNA vaccines are safe and effective.
Learn more about getting your vaccine.
A normal sperm count ranges from 15 million sperm to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter (mL) of semen. Anything less than 15 million sperm per milliliter, or 39 million sperm per ejaculate, is considered low.
A low sperm count is often referred to as oligospermia. This makes it difficult for the man to impregnate a female naturally.
When this occurs, you will need a sperm booster like SpermBoost dietary supplement.
SpermBoost is a formulation of traditional herbs with empirical evidence for centuries but now scientifically proven. The formulation is known to improve several parameters of sperm count, sperm viability and motility by 300%; these herbs also reduce morphological damage.
Benefits of taking Spermboost
- It increases the motility of your sperm
- Helps boost your sperm production
- Makes you fertile if you have a low sperm count.
- Reduces morphological damage – making your sperm maintain their shape
- And many more…
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You can determine your sperm count through a semen analysis. You can get the analysis done at your doctor’s office, a fertility clinic, or with an at-home test.
A semen analysis tests for the following:
Sperm Parameters Before and After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination
Covid mRNA Vaccine- does it affect sperm quality?
According to this study,
“Two mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna), received Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, Despite high efficacy and few adverse events found in clinical trials, only 56% of individuals in the US reported wanting to receive the vaccine. One of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy is the potential negative effect on fertility.
We assessed sperm parameters before and after mRNA vaccine administration”
The result of the study of sperm parameters before and after 2 doses of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine: “ there were no significant decreases in any sperm parameter among this small cohort of healthy men. Because the vaccines contain mRNA and not the live virus, it is unlikely that the vaccine would affect sperm parameters. While these results showed statistically significant increases in all sperm parameters, the magnitude of change is within normal individual variation and may be influenced by regression to the mean. Additionally, the increase may be due to the increased abstinence time before the second sample. Men with oligospermia did not experience further decline”
Covid mRNA Vaccine- Does It Affect Sperm Quality? Experts Answer
The Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR), two major male fertility medical organizations, are both recommending that the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to men desiring fertility when they meet the criteria for vaccination. Similarly, ASRM has issued guidance that patients who are trying to conceive or going through fertility treatments should be encouraged to receive the vaccine.
Data demonstrates that, for couples undergoing IVF, getting vaccinated will not impact their chances of success. A study (still in pre-print) of 47 couples undergoing IVF found that the number of eggs retrieved, fertilization rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates were no different in pre- and post-vaccination cycles.
The mRNA vaccines do not appear to affect sperm count or motility, so vaccination should not impact the outcomes of fertility treatment. However, if you and your partner are undergoing fertility treatment, you may want to talk to your doctor about timing, so that the potential impact — however small — of fever post-vaccination won’t affect your cycle.
Can A Female Get Pregnant After Covid mRNA Vaccine?
Many females have become pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, including some who got vaccinated during COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. In addition, a recent report using the v-safe safety monitoring system data showed that 4,800 people had a positive pregnancy test after receiving a first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). Another report using data from 8 U.S. healthcare systems documented more than 1,000 people who completed COVID-19 vaccination (with any COVID-19 vaccine) before becoming pregnant.
Infertility is a condition that affects approximately 1 out of every 6 couples. Female infertility factors contribute to approximately 50% of all infertility cases.
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Covid mRNA Vaccine- Does it Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
COVID-19 may cause Erectile Dysfunction, you may be worried about the vaccines causing ED. Currently, the clinical trial data from the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines show that the vaccines may cause pain or swelling where you received the vaccine and side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, chills, or fever. But, none of the manufacturers listed any issues related to sexual health or Erectile Dysfunction in their reports.
Erectile dysfunction might be brought about by numerous elements — a health condition, emotional or relationship issues, prescription, smoking, medications, or liquor — erectile dysfunction treatment is possible with the use of this supplement Randyfoods
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Covid mRNA Vaccine- Does It Affect Female Libido?
There has not been any research that covid mRNA vaccine affects female libido
Low Libido is a widespread but hidden problem women experience. Studies have identified a variety of sexual problems including Vagina dryness, Painful penetration, Pain during sexual intercourse, lack of orgasm, Vagina tightness, Vagina looseness, Bleeding or irritation after sex, and Loss of sexual desire.
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- it improves mood and desire
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- it reduces problem during menopause
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Covid mRNA Vaccine- Does It Affect Sperm Quality?
The mRNA vaccines do not appear to affect sperm count or motility, so vaccination should not impact the outcomes of fertility treatment.
1 thought on “Covid mRNA Vaccine- Does It Affect Sperm Quality?”
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Khadījah (died 619, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]) was a merchant who was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Little is known about her apart from the posthumous accounts of Muhammad’s life (sīrah) and teachings (Hadith).
Khadījah was born in the 6th century ce to merchants of the Quraysh tribe, which ruled Mecca. The Sīrah of ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Hishām characterizes her as “resolute and noble” and as commanding significant respect within the tribe. She inherited her wealth but continued to conduct trade after the deaths of her parents and, according to Sunni tradition, of her first two husbands. She employed Muhammad when he was in his early 20s to manage a caravan to Syria and subsequently offered him marriage. According to most sources, she was about 40 years old with children from her previous marriages and Muhammad was about 25. That she bore him several children, however, suggests that she may have been younger.
Khadījah and Muhammad did not have any sons who survived childhood. According to the Sunni interpretation of the sources, they had four daughters: Umm Kulthūm, Ruqayyah, Zaynab, and Fāṭimah. Fāṭimah—their only daughter according to Shiʿi tradition—herself became an important figure in Islam, and her descendants (see Ahl al-Bayt), known as sharīfs and sayyids, have played important social roles to this day.
According to the traditional sources, Khadījah provided instrumental support in Muhammad’s early prophethood. Her wealth allowed him the leisure to meditate, and she reassured him of the authenticity of his first revelations. She is thus often considered the first person to have believed in Muhammad’s message. Moreover, she consulted her relative Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who is said to have likened Muhammad’s revelations to those of Moses, further providing Muhammad confidence in his revelations.
Khadījah died in 619, a few years before the Hijrah—the emigration to Medina wherein the Muslim community began crystallizing into a clear sociopolitical force in its own right. Muhammad had no other wives while she was alive and had no children by any of his later wives. | https://www.britannica.com/biography/Khadijah | 492 | null | 3 | en | 0.99977 |
Protected Health Information (PHI) is basically the personally identifiable health information that is protected and regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was filed or rather written 20 years ago when smartphones were a distant reality.
Therefore, everything related to this act was penned down for mostly an analog world of physical X-rays and even paper files. And in today’s era of wearables, genetic sequencing, health apps, and much more, getting a proper and precise definition of PHI can be quite difficult to understand, especially for the developers who are trying to parse or figure out whether they need to be HIPAA compliant or not.
The HIPAA privacy and protection rules assist in governing protected health information that includes information associated with a patient’s physical or mental health. HIPAA and PHI need to follow strict guidelines and requirements for storing, transmitting, and disposing of patient data with utmost privacy.
When pieces of data become identifiers of PHI, patents automatically acquire the legal rights to the security and privacy of that information. PHI and HIPAA regulate certain information that can be shared freely amongst patients. Several businesses manage and generate PHI information list in medical billing, hospitals and provider offices, pharmacies, insurance providers, psychologists, and more.
Through this post, we hope to provide a clearer picture of what exactly is PHI or Protected Health Information and what is not considered PHI. And hopefully, you as a healthcare software developer can use the information below as a reference while determining if all the information you are collecting for your digital health solution falls under PHI or not.
Covered Entities and Business Associates
Before we proceed further to talk about the definition of PHI, what information constitutes PHI and what doesn’t, let’s first understand two major definitions under HIPAA and those are – Business Associates and Covered Entities.
A covered entity is a person who provides treatment, payment, as well as operations in the healthcare sector. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses fall under the covered entities. The healthcare providers usually include doctors, clinics, dentists, psychologists, nursing homes, pharmacies, chiropractors, and last but not the least, hospitals.
Health plans include health insurance companies, company health plans, HMOs, Medicare & Medicaid. Schools and employers that handle PHI to enroll their employees and students in any sort of health plan also fall under the definition of a Health Plan.
Here’s a complete list of entities that come under covered entities:
- Dental and doctors’ offices, clinics, psychologists
- Insurance companies, health plans, HMOs
- Pharmacies, nursing homes, home healthcare agencies, or hospitals
- Healthcare clearinghouses
- Government programs that contribute toward healthcare
A business associate is nothing but a subcontractor or a vendor who has access to protected health information (PHI). However, if defined in a more legalized way, a business associate is an entity that discloses or uses PHI on behalf of a covered entity. In case the legalized definition is complex, here’s a very simple and crisp definition- a business associate can be defined as a person who performs or assists in performing certain activities involving the use or disclosure of PHI, on behalf of the covered entity.
Business Associates can be providers of data transmission services, document or data storage services (it hardly matters if they can view the PHI they maintain), portals, or other interfaces specially created on behalf of the covered entities that allow the patients to share their health-related data with the covered entity, as well as other electronic health information exchanges.
What is Considered PHI?
PHI stands for Protected Health Information, which is any information that is related to the health status of an individual. This can include the provision of health care, medical record, and/or payment for the treatment of a particular patient and can be linked to him or her. The term “information” can be interpreted in a very broad category and the main phrase, in this case, is “that can be linked to a specific individual”.
Protected health information is also a form of individual health information that is specifically created, obtained, or maintained under the HIPAA-covered entities or business associates of covered entities. PHI can be accessible in any form – oral, paper, or electronic – including medical charts, images, and other characteristics. PHI in HIPAA also includes family members’ characteristics maintained across the same set of patient data that can be utilized together or individually.
This assists in identifying the patient or the health plan member. The 18 identifiers of PHI created, disclosed, or used by HIPAA-covered entities in the care provision course of an individual or used under the payment of care conjunction, the data set existing is considered PHI under HIPAA compliance with strict controls over permissible usage and disclosures.
PHI differs from PII (Personally Identifiable Information). The latter is considered a legal definition – PII is generally used to identify an individual uniquely. This is mostly used when the condition or illness is rare.
Protected health information correlates to the past, present, and future of an individual’s mental and physical health. The PHI in HIPAA provides healthcare services to an individual, payment provisions, and more, including
- Data transmitted by electronic media.
- Data is maintained in electronic media.
- Data transmitted or maintained across any other form or medium.
What Information is considered PHI?
If a piece of health data is to be considered as PHI and regulated under or by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), then it needs to be two things:
- It has to be personally identifiable or recognizable to the patient.
- It has to be utilized or disclosed to a covered entity only, during health care.
To understand this in an in-depth manner, what is considered PHI under HIPAA compliance rules – it is essential to know the Administrative Simplification Regulations beginning with health information. In this section, health information can range from genetic, oral, or recorded information in any form or medium that is received or created by healthcare providers, public health authorities, employers, health plans, life insurers, schools or universities, or healthcare clearinghouses.
The integration of technology in healthcare has made the determining factors of PHI more complicated. But, the population sharing large documents of health information with businesses and companies are evolving to fit digital requirements to operate more efficiently. So the question to ask here is, what are the 18 types of PHI? That brings us to our next section on the 18 identifiers of PHI.
The 18 Identifiers of PHI
- Data of Geographic locators for subdivisions smaller than the state
- Dates (except year) related to the individual
- Phone numbers
- Fax numbers
- Email addresses
- Social Security numbers (SSN)
- Medical record numbers
- Health Insurance beneficiary numbers
- Account numbers
- Certificate or license numbers
- Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers
- Device identifiers and serial number
- Web Universal Resource Locators (URLs)
- Internet Protocol (IP) address numbers
- Biometric identifiers, including finger, retinal, and voice prints
- Any other unique identifying number, characteristic, or code
- Full-face photographic images and any comparable images
In general, PHI can show up in a wide variety of documents, forms, and communications, such as:
- The billing information provided by your doctor
- An email sent to your doctor’s chamber/office for medication or prescription that you require
- An appointment scheduling note with your doctor’s chamber/office
- An MRI scan report
- Blood test reports
- Phone records about your conversation with the doctor
Formats of PHI Records Covered under HIPAA Compliance
All kinds of PHI record formats are covered under HIPAA compliance. The question asked in this situation is, what is the most common example of PHI? To answer this question, these include but are not limited to written PHI on paper, oral PHI, ePHI, and digital and physical images identifying health information subjects. It is essential to remember that PHI records are only covered by HIPAA when the possessions of covered entities or business associates are theirs.
What is ePHI?
ePHI stands for electronic protected health information, which is PHI transferred, received, or simply saved in an electronic form. The types of ePHI include patient names, fingerprints, addresses, social security numbers, email addresses, and photographic images. Along with this information, past medical records are also kept private.
Cloud integration has changed a lot when HIPAA is involved in handling protected health information. Companies are relying on cloud provider services for various health solutions to close customers are coming to rely on cloud providers for various HIPAA compliance aspects. The onus of cloud customers for ensuring all necessary HIPAA requirements are followed under both PHI and ePHI.
What is not considered PHI?
A common misconception is that all health information is PHI under HIPAA compliance. But it is usually never the case. It depends on all the identifiers of PHI and needs to be included in the same sets of medical records. So what is not considered PHI under HIPAA? PHI usually ceases to remain PHI if all the identifiers are stripped that tie the information with the patients. Once these identifiers are eliminated, the health information becomes de-identified PHI and HIPAA does not apply to this kind of PHI.
Health information is also not considered PHI when it is maintained, created, transmitted, and maintained by an entity that is not subject to HIPAA rules.
For example, employment records of a covered entity that are not linked to medical records.
Similarly, health data that is not shared with a covered entity or is personally identifiable doesn’t count as PHI. For example, heart rate readings or blood sugar level readings without PII.
Now let’s move forward and understand the various common ways to protect your PHI.
Ways to Protect PHI
PHI in HIPAA, as healthcare organizations, you need to follow some simple procedures to prevent PHI from leaving your organization by a cyber breach or accident. While every business will have different variations of PHI, there are 10 basic practices you can follow to secure patient-accumulated data.
HIPAA establishes a rule of training your employees on both cybersecurity practices and HIPAA policies. There are only two situations when employee training is required – when they are new to your business and when there are changes or updates under the HIPAA guidelines.
Implementing Access Control Guidelines
Access control guidelines are crucial for healthcare organizations, and it includes restricting physical access to certain areas existing within the facility as well as limiting electronic PHI access. Only parties authorized should have patient record accessibility.
Managing Third-Party Vendors
Hiring vendors outside of the organization can help your business in managing patient PHI and they should follow the HIPAA and PHI requirements. The PHI indicators require HIPAA to enter a business associate agreement (BAA) with third-party vendors that can access your company’s PHI. This allows vendors to be liable for any security breaches, but the BAA isn’t enough to lock down the PHI. It is required for you to thoroughly mandate third-party vendors regarding cybersecurity protocols.
The PHI information list shows that HIPAA requires backing up all PHI-related information and is practiced as a cybersecurity protocol. This method can restore your system from potential hackers by backing up the information and data and avoiding any business disruptions that pose substantial risks to the safety of patients.
Protecting Verbal PHI
The disclosure of verbal PHI is also a potential HIPAA guideline violation, so it is necessary to create measures to protect patient data when shared aloud. Even if employees are conversing with one another about sensitive patient-related information, there should be a guideline that can eliminate others from hearing this. There should be guidelines like no sensitive discussions around public areas or with other patients, no disclosing PHI than what is required for patient treatment, conversing in enclosed private spaces in low voice, and phone calls discussing PHI in private rooms.
Software and Firmware Updates
Regardless of all the software or devices utilized by our business, it is required that updating and patching are a part of your system protocols. IT department in your company should constantly keep scheduling updates across all organizational devices, especially for patient monitoring devices, IoT devices, wearables, implantable medical devices, fax machines, etc.
Businesses integrating protected health information should not store unencrypted patient information. HIPAA enables you to encrypt PHI both at transit and rest. PHI encryption masks the true content of the data stolen and it renders it an uninterpretable language to any cybersecurity breaches.
A Simple Test for PHI
If the device or application stores, records, or transmits a user’s personally-identifiable health data to any covered entity, then you are dealing with PHI, and hence, you need to be HIPAA compliant.
In case you are about to manufacture wearable devices or applications that can easily collect health information but do not share the health-related information with a covered entity at any point in time, you do not need to be HIPAA compliant. For instance, the Nike Fuel Band (it’s a health band) does not track the data which is considered protected health information or PHI because you cannot transmit that essential data from the device to any covered entity.
We hope after reading this article, you will have a more clear picture of what protected health information (PHI) is and what it isn’t. Now it’s time for you to go back and review all types of information that you are collecting to assess whether you need to be HIPAA compliant or not. Currently, the scrutiny of HIPAA violations has increased a lot, and massive fines have been associated with breaches as well as the lack of safe harbor clauses for unintentional PHI use. Hence, it’s better to be safe than sorry when you are dealing with all kinds of sensitive health-related information of an individual that falls under PHI. You can collaborate with a leading digital healthcare technology development partner that helps healthcare startups and organizations in building HIPAA-compliant solutions.
Shailendra Sinhasane (Shail) is the co-founder and CEO of Mobisoft Infotech. He has been focused on cloud solutions, mobile strategy, cross-platform development, IoT innovations and advising healthcare startups in building scalable products. | https://mobisoftinfotech.com/resources/blog/what-is-phi-and- | 2,997 | null | 3 | en | 0.999949 |
Who is a pharmacist?
A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the preparation, dispensing, and safe use of medications. They play a critical role in the healthcare system by working with patients, physicians, and other healthcare providers to ensure the appropriate use of medications.
Pharmacists are responsible for reviewing prescription orders, checking for drug interactions, counseling patients on how to use medications safely and effectively, and monitoring patient outcomes. They also provide information on over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and other healthcare products.
In addition to dispensing medications, pharmacists also participate in drug development, clinical research, and public health initiatives. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community pharmacies, clinics, and research laboratories.
Pharmacists are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy program, pass a licensing exam, and maintain ongoing continuing education to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in drug therapy and healthcare practice.
History Of Pharmacy Practice
The history of pharmacy practice dates back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. In these societies, pharmacists were often priests or healers who prepared and dispensed medications from natural sources such as herbs and minerals.
During the Middle Ages, pharmacies began to emerge in Europe, with the first recorded pharmacy opening in Baghdad in the 8th century. Pharmacists during this time period were known as apothecaries, and their primary role was to prepare and dispense medications.
In the 19th century, advances in chemistry and technology revolutionized pharmacy practice. The development of new drugs and the establishment of pharmaceutical companies led to the production of standardized medications, and pharmacists became more involved in drug development and testing.
In the 20th century, pharmacy practice continued to evolve, with the introduction of new laws and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy. The role of pharmacists expanded beyond the preparation and dispensing of medications to include patient counseling, drug therapy management, and medication safety.
Today, pharmacy practice continues to be an essential component of modern healthcare. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community pharmacies, and specialty clinics, to provide patient-centered care and ensure the safe and effective use of medications.
Types Of Pharmacists
Here are the 15 types of pharmacists we have:
1. Community Pharmacist: Community pharmacists work in retail or independent pharmacies and are responsible for dispensing medications and providing medication-related care to patients in the community. They may also offer advice on over-the-counter medications, health supplements, and medical equipment. Community pharmacists often work closely with patients to ensure they understand how to take their medication properly and manage any side effects.
2. Hospital Pharmacist: Hospital pharmacists work in hospitals or other healthcare settings and are responsible for dispensing and managing medications for inpatients and outpatients. They work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the correct medications and dosages. Hospital pharmacists may also participate in rounds with physicians to review patients’ medication regimens and provide recommendations for optimizing drug therapy.
3. Clinical Pharmacist: Clinical pharmacists work with healthcare providers to manage patients’ medication therapy and provide medication therapy management services. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings, and are responsible for conducting medication reviews, identifying and resolving medication-related problems, and educating patients on how to manage their medications effectively.
4. Compounding Pharmacist: Compounding pharmacists prepare customized medications that are not available commercially, such as medications in different strengths or dosage forms. They may work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, or specialized compounding facilities, and are responsible for formulating medications to meet individual patient needs.
5. Nuclear Pharmacist: Nuclear pharmacists specialize in the preparation and dispensing of radioactive medications for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. They may work in hospitals, nuclear medicine clinics, or research facilities, and are responsible for ensuring the safe and effective use of radioactive materials.
6. Ambulatory Care Pharmacist: Ambulatory care pharmacists work in outpatient clinics or physician offices to provide medication therapy management services to patients with chronic conditions. They are responsible for managing patients’ medications, monitoring drug therapy, and providing education to help patients manage their conditions effectively.
7. Geriatric Pharmacist: Geriatric pharmacists specialize in the care of older adults and manage medications for patients with multiple chronic conditions and complex medication regimens. They work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug reactions in older adults.
8. Industrial Pharmacist: Industrial pharmacists work in the pharmaceutical industry and are involved in drug development, testing, manufacturing, and quality control. They may work in research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, or quality assurance, and are responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.
9. Oncology Pharmacist: Oncology pharmacists specialize in the care of cancer patients and manage medications for chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. They work closely with oncologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug reactions in cancer patients.
10. Research Pharmacist: Research pharmacists conduct research in the field of pharmacy and may work in academic institutions, government agencies, or pharmaceutical companies. They are responsible for designing and conducting clinical trials, analyzing data, and publishing research findings to advance the field of pharmacy.
11. Psychiatric Pharmacist: Psychiatric pharmacists specialize in the care of patients with mental health disorders and manage medications for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. They work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug reactions.
12. Pediatric Pharmacist: Pediatric pharmacists specialize in the care of children and manage medications for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and infections. They work closely with pediatricians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug reactions in children.
13. Regulatory Pharmacist: Regulatory pharmacists work in the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, or other organizations involved in drug regulation. They are responsible for ensuring that drugs meet regulatory standards for safety, efficacy, and quality.
14. Academia Pharmacist: Academia pharmacists work in colleges and universities, teaching pharmacy students and conducting research in the field of pharmacy. They may also provide continuing education to practicing pharmacists and work with other healthcare professionals to improve patient care.
15. Veterinary Pharmacist: Veterinary pharmacists specialize in the care of animals and manage medications for conditions such as infections, pain, and chronic diseases. They work closely with veterinarians and other animal healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug reactions in animals.
Pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare, working in a variety of settings and specializing in different areas of pharmacy practice to ensure the safe and effective use of medications. | https://medssafety.com/15-types-of-pharmacists-you-should-know/ | 1,421 | null | 3 | en | 0.999956 |
The scientific debate over evidence that the coronavirus can float in the air for extended periods of time is intensifying.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly downplayed the importance of such airborne transmission, instead emphasizing, with substantial evidence, the risks of close contact with infected people.
But now, over 200 experts have signed an open letter to the WHO saying it’s time to recognize evidence that the coronavirus is airborne. The letter, published July 6 in Clinical Infectious Diseases, argues that the public health institution must update its prevention recommendations to help people avoid those risks.
“We acknowledge that there is emerging evidence in this field,” Benedetta Allegranzi, coordinator of WHO’s global infection prevention unit said July 7 in a news conference. “We have to be open to this evidence and understand its implications regarding the modes of transmission and also regarding the precautions that need to be taken.” The WHO plans to issue updated guidelines in the coming days
Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing debate and what it means for fighting the spread of COVID-19.
What is airborne transmission?
At the beginning of the outbreak, scientists thought that the virus was spread largely through bits of spit or mucus that people coughed or sneezed. Those droplets, up to roughly a millimeter across, would fall from the air within a short amount of time. The WHO has long maintained that the coronavirus spreads primarily via these larger droplets, which don’t easily travel farther than about six feet.
But researchers increasingly think that the coronavirus can stay in the air longer and travel farther in tinier bits, called aerosols, that can be generated by people talking, breathing or singing (SN:4/2/20).
These aerosols, which are less than 5 microns in diameter, can linger in the air for extended periods in places without ventilation, possibly infecting people long after the infected person has left.
What’s the evidence the virus is airborne?
Laboratory studies have found that infectious coronavirus can persist in the air for at least three hours when artificially aerosolized, though these results are hard to translate to real-world conditions. But evidence from “superspreader” events also point to airborne transmission. For example, a single infected person at a choir practice in Mount Vernon, Wash., infected at least 45 other people, many of whom were farther than six feet from the sick singer (SN: 4/17/20).
And one of the first outbreaks in Guangzhou, China was linked to a single positive case eating at a restaurant on January 24 (SN: 6/18/20). That person infected nine others that night, and an analysis of airflow patterns suggests that viruses were propelled as far as 20 feet by an air conditioning unit.
Scientists are still working out whether airborne transmission is a common feature of COVID-19’s spread, but evidence suggests it does happen.
Why does it matter?
The mode of transmission informs prevention strategies. The WHO has continually emphasized the importance of social distancing and handwashing to fight the spread of COVID-19. While still important, these measures are insufficient against an airborne virus, which can travel far in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces. Masks may be necessary in such situations, even with proper social distancing.
The authors of the open letter implore the WHO to consider updating its recommendations to possibly include avoiding overcrowding in public buildings, properly ventilating indoor spaces and introducing germicidal ultraviolet light to air filtration systems to help mitigate airborne transmission. Even a simple open window might create enough ventilation to prevent an airborne coronavirus from infecting a new host.
Trustworthy journalism comes at a price.
Scientists and journalists share a core belief in questioning, observing and verifying to reach the truth. Science News reports on crucial research and discovery across science disciplines. We need your financial support to make it happen – every contribution makes a difference. | https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus- | 830 | null | 3 | en | 0.999979 |
WHAT IS STRESS?
- Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response
This means that we experience stress if we believe that we don’t have the time, resources, or knowledge to handle a situation. In short, we experience stress when we feel “out of control.”
We have two instinctive reactions that make up our stress response. These are the “fight or flight” response, and the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). Both of these reactions can happen at the same time.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT: this is a basic, short-term survival response, which is triggered when we experience a shock, or when we see something that we perceive as a threat.
Our brains then release stress hormones that prepare the body to either “fly” from the threat, or “fight” it. This energizes us, but it also makes us excitable, anxious, and irritable.
The problem with the fight or flight response is that, although it helps us deal with life-threatening events, we can also experience it in everyday situations – for example, when we have to work to short deadlines, when we speak in public, or when we experience conflict with others.
In these types of situations, a calm, rational, controlled, and socially-sensitive approach is often more appropriate.
At GRACE COTTAGE, we recognize the harmful effects of stress in leading to BURN OUT, hence give our clients the needed training for them to be empowered to combat stress and de-stress. | https://www.gracecottagehospital.org.ng | 329 | null | 3 | en | 0.99999 |
Artemis, in Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth; she was identified by the Romans with Diana. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Among the rural populace, Artemis was the favorite goddess. Her character and function varied greatly from place to place, but, apparently, behind all forms lay the goddess of wild nature, who danced, usually accompanied by nymphs, in mountains, forests, and marshes. Artemis embodied the sportsman’s ideal, so besides killing game she also protected it, especially the young; this was the Homeric significance of the title Mistress of Animals.
The worship of Artemis probably flourished in Crete or on the Greek mainland in pre-Hellenic times. Many of Artemis’s local cults, however, preserved traces of other deities, often with Greek names, suggesting that, upon adopting her, the Greeks identified Artemis with nature divinities of their own. The virginal sister of Apollo is very different from the many-breasted Artemis of Ephesus, for example.
Dances of maidens representing tree nymphs (dryads) were especially common in Artemis’s worship as goddess of the tree cult, a role especially popular in the Peloponnese. Throughout the Peloponnese, bearing such epithets as Limnaea and Limnatis (Lady of the Lake), Artemis supervised waters and lush wild growth, attended by nymphs of wells and springs (naiads). In parts of the peninsula her dances were wild and lascivious.
Outside the Peloponnese, Artemis’s most familiar form was as Mistress of Animals. Poets and artists usually pictured her with the stag or hunting dog, but the cults showed considerable variety. For instance, the Tauropolia festival at Halae Araphenides in Attica honored Artemis Tauropolos (Bull Goddess), who received a few drops of blood drawn by sword from a man’s neck.
The frequent stories of the love affairs of Artemis’s nymphs are supposed by some to have originally been told of the goddess herself. The poets after Homer, however, stressed Artemis’s chastity and her delight in the hunt, dancing and music, shadowy groves, and the cities of just men. The wrath of Artemis was proverbial, for to it myth attributed wild nature’s hostility to humans. Yet Greek sculpture avoided Artemis’s unpitying anger as a motif. In fact, the goddess herself did not become popular as a subject in the great sculptural schools until the relatively gentle 4th-century-bce spirit prevailed. | https://www.britannica.com/topic/Artemis-Greek-goddess | 563 | null | 4 | en | 0.999918 |
Milialar is a popular term in Turkey commonly known as Milia. It refers to small, pearl-like cysts that commonly appear on the skin around the eyes, particularly on the eyelids. Although these small bumps are generally harmless, they can be distressing due to their appearance. It’s important to note that milialar is not a type of acne. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of milialar or milia, exploring its types, development, signs, symptoms, preventive measures, and treatment options. The information provided is based on extensive scientific research and expert insights on milia, ensuring you have a thorough understanding of this condition.
What is Milia or Milialar?
Milialar are small, dome-shaped bumps that typically range in size from 1-2 millimeters, about the size of a pinhead. They appear as whitish-yellow, pearly cysts with a firm and smooth texture on the skin surface. The most common location is milia on eyelid and the skin under the eyes, where they resemble tiny pearls embedded under the skin. According to a study, milialar occurs when keratin, a protein found in the skin, hair, and nails, becomes trapped beneath the skin’s surface. While they are often seen in newborns, adults can also develop milialar, often as a result of skin damage.
Fun Fact: Despite the similar-sounding name, milia (singular: milium) or milialar are entirely unrelated to malaria, which is a disease caused by a parasite.
Types of Milia or Milialar
Milialar can be classified into two main types: Primary Milialar and Secondary Milialar.
Primary Milia or Milialar
Primary milialar is directly formed due to the entrapment of keratin within the skin. They are more commonly seen in neonates due to immature sweat ducts. Key characteristics of primary milia or milialar include:
- Small, white-to-yellow cysts.
- Commonly found on the face, especially on the cheeks, nose, and around the eyes.
- Generally asymptomatic.
- Often resolves spontaneously in infants within a few weeks to months.
Secondary Milia or Milialar
Secondary milialar, on the other hand, arise as a result of trauma or injury to the skin. They can occur in adults after certain skin conditions or procedures. Key characteristics of secondary milia or milialar include:
- Similar appearance to primary milialar, often seen in areas where an injury or procedure occurred.
- Symptoms might be associated with the underlying cause, such as pain from a burn.
- Duration varies and can persist longer depending on the cause.
- Addressing the underlying cause is crucial, and treatments like manual extraction, laser therapy, or medications may be considered.
What Causes Milia or Milialar Development?
Milialar form when dead skin cells become trapped under the skin’s surface, resulting in the formation of tiny cysts. While they often appear on the face, especially around the eyes and cheeks, they can also occur elsewhere on the body. Several factors contribute to the development of milia or milialar, although the underlying trigger is not always identifiable. These factors include:
- Genetics: Some individuals have a hereditary predisposition for developing milia, and it often runs in families.
- Sun Exposure: Prolonged sun exposure can damage facial skin over time, increasing the risk of milia.
- Skin Trauma: Injury to the skin, such as cuts, burns, abrasions, and blisters, may lead to the formation of milia during the healing process.
- Certain Medical Conditions: Disorders that cause dry skin and inflammation, like eczema, can increase the risk.
- Medications: Some medications, like steroids, may promote milia as a side effect.
- Heavy Creams and Makeup: Using thick, greasy products can clog pores and cause cysts.
Milialar is most common in newborns, with up to 50 percent of infants developing transient milia that typically go away within a few weeks. The role of maternal hormones is believed to contribute to this occurrence. However, persistent milialar affects approximately 2.5% of the general adult population. Women are more frequently affected than men, and milia become more prevalent with age, thought to be caused by age-related changes in skin cell kinetics and decreased skin elasticity.
The development of milialar follows a specific process:
- Skin Renewal: As part of its renewal process, the skin naturally sheds dead cells. Sometimes, these cells don’t shed properly.
- Trapped Keratin: The trapped cells then form keratin, which accumulates.
- Formation of Cysts: This accumulation results in the formation of tiny cysts beneath the skin, leading to milia.
Expert Insight: There are several subtypes of milialar, but primary milialar arising spontaneously due to keratin entrapment are most common around the eyelids. Secondary milialar can arise from trauma, burns, blistering, or ophthalmic conditions.
Signs and Symptoms of Milia or Milialar
Milialar are generally easy to recognize due to their characteristic appearance. They can manifest as:
- Small, pearly white bumps on the eyelids or around the eyes.
- Dome-shaped, smooth bumps resembling pearls under the skin.
- Whitish-yellow or yellowish-white in color.
- May appear singly or in clusters.
- Typically painless and don’t cause itching or irritation.
- Can remain unchanged for weeks to months or disappear on their own.
- Sometimes may secrete a waxy, cheese-like discharge if ruptured.
Tip: If you’re uncertain about any skin condition or have concerns, it’s always advisable to consult a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and guidance.
While it may not be possible to prevent milialar entirely, the following tips can be helpful in reducing the risk of their development:
- Use oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers and makeup.
- Avoid heavy, greasy creams and cosmetics near the eyes.
- Cleanse gently and exfoliate the skin regularly to unclog pores.
- Shave carefully using proper technique to avoid injuring the skin.
- Wear sunscreen daily and limit unprotected sun exposure.
- Keep your skin well-hydrated to prevent excess dryness.
- Remove makeup thoroughly before bedtime and discard old makeup.
- Treat any underlying skin conditions like eczema.
- If you are prone to milia, sometimes called millia, consider avoiding intensive facials or chemical peels which may worsen them.
Treatment Options for Milia or Milialar
In most cases, milialar does not require treatment, and many resolve spontaneously within weeks to months. However, if the bumps persist or cause distress, several treatment options are available:
- Prescription Retinoid Creams: Creams containing tretinoin, adapalene, or tazarotene can help dry out and slough off the milia.
- Microdermabrasion: This technique uses fine crystals to gently exfoliate the outer skin layers and stimulate healing.
- Chemical Peels: Applying a mild glycolic or salicylic acid solution helps soften and remove the lesions.
- Electrocautery: This involves burning off the milialar with a hyfrecator cauterizing device, with the use of a local anesthetic.
- Manual Extraction: A dermatologist can open the cyst with a sterile needle and squeeze out the contents.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the bumps with liquid nitrogen to eliminate the lesions.
- Laser Ablation: Using laser energy to destroy the cysts.
- Surgical Removal: In some cases, a dermatologist may opt for surgical removal by cutting open and draining the milia, sometimes requiring stitches.
Important Note: This information is provided for educational purposes, and it is recommended to seek professional advice from a dermatologist before pursuing any treatment.
In conclusion, milialar, the small pearl-like cysts that can appear on the skin, are generally harmless and can be found on the eyelids and around the eyes. While they are more common in newborns, adults can also develop them, often as a result of skin damage. Milialar comes in different types, and their development is influenced by various factors, including genetics, sun exposure, skin trauma, medical conditions, medications, and the use of heavy creams and makeup.
If you have milialar and they cause you distress, there are various treatment options available, although many cases resolve naturally. To prevent milia, it’s essential to adopt proper skincare practices, avoid heavy cosmetics, no makeup and protect your skin from excessive sun exposure.
This comprehensive guide has provided you with a detailed understanding of milia, its types, development, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, and treatment options. If you have any concerns about your skin or milialar, consult a dermatologist for professional guidance. | https://www.bloghalt.com/health/milialar-milia-causes- | 1,940 | null | 3 | en | 0.999968 |
The kidneys play a crucial role in the body’s overall health by filtering out waste and excess fluids from the blood, maintaining the body’s fluid balance, and regulating electrolyte levels. When the kidneys are not functioning correctly, it can lead to various health problems, and one of the most noticeable signs is changes in the urine. Here are some common signs of kidney problems that may be noticeable in the urine:
1. Blood in the urine.
Also known as hematuria, this is one of the most common signs of kidney problems. Blood in the urine may be a sign of various conditions, including kidney stones, infections, or tumors. In some cases, it may also indicate more severe kidney problems like glomerulonephritis or kidney disease.
2. Protein in the urine.
Proteinuria occurs when the kidneys allow protein to leak into the urine. It may be a sign of damage or disease of the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli). The presence of protein in the urine may indicate kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
3. Foamy urine: Foamy or bubbly urine may be a sign of excess protein in the urine. This may be an early sign of kidney disease, and it’s essential to get it checked out by a doctor.
4. Cloudy urine.
Cloudy urine may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs are common, but if left untreated, they can lead to more severe kidney problems.
5. Strong-smelling urine.
Strong-smelling urine may be a sign of dehydration or a UTI. In some cases, it may also indicate more severe kidney problems, such as kidney stones or infections.
6. Urine color.
Changes in urine color can also indicate kidney problems. Dark or brown urine may be a sign of liver or kidney disease. Red or pink urine may be a sign of blood in the urine, which may be a sign of various conditions, including kidney stones, infections, or tumors.
If you notice any of these signs in your urine, it’s essential to see a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment of kidney problems can help prevent more severe complications and improve your overall health. Your doctor may order tests to determine the cause of the changes in your urine and develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can also help reduce the risk of kidney problems.
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Today, we will be looking at the main national legislations relating to food safety which will include the followings:
The Public Health Law (1917) now known as Public Health Ordinance cap 164 of 1958.
The Food and Drugs Decree, No 35 of 1974
The standards Organisation of Nigeria Decree, No 56 of 1971
The Animal Disease control Decree, No 10 of 1988
The marketing of Breast Milk substitute Decree No 41 of 1990
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Decree No 15 of 1993.
Having looked at the main National legislations relating to food safety, we will now go over to the Bodies responsible for regulating and monitoring food safety standards and practices in Nigeria.
This topic is essential because food safety should be our priority for healthy living. When food is dime fit for consumption, there will be no health disabilities.
Good health is as a result of good exercise and how safe the food one consumes is. Therefore, the Nigerian government set up various bodies necessary for regulating and monitoring the standard and safety of food in the country.
BODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATING AND MONITORING FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS/PRACTICES.
Federal ministry of health
National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The States and Local government.
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Having looked at the above bodies, it’s time for us to take notes of the roles each of the bodies play, so as to be aware of how you can report any case involving defaults (one going contrary).
The specific roles of these bodies are:
Federal Ministry of health :-
This is the body responsible for formulating national policies, guidelines and regulation on food hygiene as well as safety and not forgetting the monitoring of their implementation.
It is also responsible for establishing guidelines for the requirements of Nutritive value of food, and monitoring of food environments and handlers of food borne disease, the quality of public water supply as well as national and international matters relating to food.
National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC):-
NAFDAC is the parastatal under the federal Ministry of Health charged with the responsibility for regulation and Control of imported and locally processed foods and bottled water both at the federal and state government levels.
Standards Organisation of Nigeria:-
SON is responsible for the formulation of standards on the composition of imported and locally manufactured foods. Over 100 standards on food products as well as a good number of codes of hygienic practices for Food and food products have been established. These standards and codes are reviewed periodically to reflect current trends in technological and industrial development.
See Also: HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM COCOA PRODUCTION
The States and Local government :-
The state and Local government authorities, working in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, are responsible for Monitoring and regulating street food vending and outlets, catering establishments and the traditional markets food services.
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
This body is responsible for promoting good agricultural practices and new agricultural technologies in conformity with food safety policies and standards.
I hope you enjoyed the topic above? Make sure you take notes of the various bodies listed above so as to be able to carry out their agenda properly without defaulting in any way.
If you like this post, please share it with your friends to educate them too.
No knowledge is a waste irrespective of the person. If you have any question or contribution, kindly use the COMMENT section below. | https://www.agrobubble.com/blog/bodies-responsible-for-food-safety-standards- | 748 | null | 3 | en | 0.999992 |
In today’s world, weight management has become a topic of great significance as we strive to lead healthier lives. While diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices are commonly acknowledged as key factors in maintaining a healthy weight, the role of genetics in this complex equation is often overlooked. However, recent advancements in genetic research have shed new light on how our genes can influence our body weight and metabolism. In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve deep into the role of genetics in weight management, exploring the fascinating world of genetic variations and their impact on our bodies.
Understanding Genetics and Weight
Genetics, the study of genes, is the branch of science that focuses on understanding the DNA segments responsible for the development, functioning, and maintenance of our bodies. Each person’s genetic makeup is unique, with a combination of inherited genes from their parents. These genes can play a significant role in determining various traits, including body weight. While it is essential to acknowledge that genetics is not the sole determinant of weight, it can influence our susceptibility to weight gain, metabolic rate, and our response to different dietary and lifestyle interventions.
Genetic Variations and Weight Management
Scientists have identified several genetic variations that may contribute to weight management challenges. One notable example is the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) gene, which has been extensively studied in relation to obesity. Certain variations in the FTO gene have been associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of obesity. However, it is important to note that having these genetic variations does not guarantee weight gain or obesity. Environmental factors, such as diet and physical activity, also play a crucial role.
The emerging field of nutrigenetics focuses on how our genes interact with our diet. It also focuses on how these interactions can affect weight management. Researchers have found that individuals with specific genetic variations may respond differently to certain diets. For instance, some people may have a better response to a low-fat diet. Others may benefit more from a low-carbohydrate approach. By understanding these gene-diet interactions, scientists and healthcare professionals can provide personalized dietary recommendations. This can be based on an individual’s genetic profile, optimizing weight management strategies.
Read also: How To Gain Weight Effectively
Genetics and Metabolic Rate
Our metabolic rate, which refers to the rate at which our bodies burn calories, is influenced by our genetics. Certain genetic variations can impact basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thermogenesis. This is the process of heat production in the body. Individuals with a naturally higher BMR may find it easier to maintain a healthy weight. This is due to their bodies being able burn more calories at rest. On the other hand, those with a lower BMR may need to be more vigilant about their calorie intake and physical activity levels to achieve the same results.
Read also: Ways To Loose Weight Permanently
The Future of Genetic-Based Weight Management
As advancements in genetic research continue to unfold, the field of weight management holds great promise for personalized strategies based on an individual’s genetic makeup. Genetic testing and analysis can provide valuable insights into an individual’s genetic predispositions, allowing healthcare professionals to tailor lifestyle interventions accordingly. By considering an individual’s genetic profile, personalized dietary and exercise plans can be developed to maximize the chances of success. However, it is important to remember that genetics is just one piece of the puzzle. Lifestyle choices still play a crucial role in weight management.
In conclusion, genetics undeniably plays a role in weight management, influencing our body weight, metabolic rate, and response to dietary interventions. While genetics can provide valuable insights, it is important to adopt a holistic approach to weight management that incorporates healthy eating habits. Also regular physical activity, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the role of genetics can help individuals develop personalized strategies that work best for them. Thus increasing their chances of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. As genetic research continues to advance, the future of weight management may hold even more possibilities for personalized interventions that take our genetic predispositions into account, ultimately helping us lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. | https://log.ng/health/role-of- | 844 | null | 3 | en | 0.999962 |
We are having more portion of hair on scalp than the body parts like legs, arms, underarms, thighs, chests, mustache, beard, eyebrows and eyelashes and the texture and length of scalp hair also differs from the body hair. To understand the texture and growth of human hair let us have look on the anatomy of hair.
Human hairs come out from the hair follicles which rest within the fatty layer of the human scalp. We believe that hair grows as the single strands but it is just a misconception as the human hair grows in the natural grouping of 1-4 hairs per grafts.
The topmost part of the hair is the strands which can be seen over the scalp and these strands come out from the hair follicles that have an individual base called hair bulb. The entire growth of hair occurs in the bulb and even the nourishment of hair also happen throws the hair bulb from the blood vessels within the dermis. The hair cells separate and develop to produce the hair shaft and the most surprising fact about the hair is that the hair develops and remain in the soft form under the epidermis but it gets hardens when coming out from the scalp.
What are the parts of human hair?
There are five main parts of the hair that can be defined as follows
- The dermal papilla is the part which is responsible for hair cycle and the growth. it is comprised of androgen receptors which make it sensitive for the presence of DHT
- Matrix is the part that surrounds the dermal papillae. The matrix contains all cells that are needed for the growth of hair and for the development of hair parts. Matrix and dermal papillae are called as hair bulb in the combined form.
- Outer root sheath is the third most important and outer part of the hair. This part covers the hair follicles inside the dermis and transit through the epidermis.
- The fourth important part of the hair is the inner root sheath which comprised of further three parts such as Henley layer, Huxley layer, and cuticle. The parts of this inner root sheath are responsible for the stabilization of hair means it secures the hair from loss and let them grow with strength.
- The hair shaft is the fifth important part and it is made up of three layers named as medulla, cortex, and cuticle.
Hair growth cycle
Hair is made up of the protein called keratin and during its lifespan hair passes through the three phases of the hair cycle as follows
- Anagen is the growth phase of the hair cycle. In this phase, most of the growth of hair occurs at a given time period which can be of several years
- Catagen is the transitional phase in which hair follicles get shrink and the hair growth slows down. This phase remain for a few weeks
- Telogen phase is the phase that remains for a few months and during this phase, hair get detached from follicles and new hair take the position of older hair and enter into the growth phase | https://vjclinics.com/hair- | 619 | null | 4 | en | 0.999992 |
The corneal tissue has several characteristics that make storage and transplantation easier, and the eye bank plays an important role in the whole process of corneal retrieval, storage and transplantation.
A compatible graft cornea tissue can restore or improve vision if you have a damaged or diseased cornea.
It is also called corneal grafting is a surgical procedure in which the damaged or diseased cornea of a person is replaced by a healthy and fresh cornea from another person.
1. Penetrating Keratoplasty (full thickness cornea grafting)
2. Lamellar Keratoplasty (partial thickness cornea grafting) anterior or posterior lamella
Corneal transplantation or Keratoplasty is the most commonly performed and also the most successful grafting technique used worldwide. Its success rate depends upon acceptance and rejection of the graft. Almost 10% of corneal grafts show tissue rejection.
In 1905, Dr. Eduard Zim performed the first corneal surgery and had success, and it was the first of any kind of transplant surgery. Today, keratoplasty is considered the most often performed and most successful organ transplantation technique worldwide.
The success of this surgical procedure has not been an easy going path.
In 1813 K Himly suggested replacing the opaque human cornea with another animal.
1824 F Reisinger suggested replacing the opaque human cornea with the clear animal cornea and termed this.
1910- 1950- VP Filatov known as father of Keratoplasty studied systematics of Keratoplasty suggested use of cornea as a donor tissue.
1974- Development of corneal storage media. Tudor Thomas, a clinical teacher, conceived the idea of a donor system for corneal grafts and an eye bank was established in East Grinstead in 1955.
1. Optical: To improve visual sharpness by replacing the damaged host tissue by clear healthy donor cornea tissue.
2. Reconstructive: To preserve corneal integrity in patients with stromal thinning and ectasia.
3. Therapeutic: To remove inflamed corneal tissue unresponsive to treatment by antibiotics.
• Fuchs' dystrophy, which is a degeneration of the innermost layer of the cornea- it's a hereditary condition.
• Keratoconus- a cornea that bulges out.
• Lattice dystrophy
• A thinning or tearing of the cornea
• Cornea scarring, clouding or swelling caused by an injury or infection
• A corneal ulcer, which is often caused by trauma, such as a scratched cornea
• Complications caused by previous eye surgery.
A thorough eye exam for conditions that might cause complications after surgery.
• Measurements of your eye doctor determine what size donor cornea you need.
• A review of all medications and supplements Treatment for other eye problems.
• Need to treat those problems before your surgery.
Surgical procedure for cornea grafting
Keratoplasty can be done by following procedures
Endothelial keratoplasty (EK)-
In this type of corneal grafting, the innermost layer of the cornea is replaced by the surgeon with a fresh and opaque corneal tissue. It is performed on those people who have corneal endothelial disorder or deterioration and conditions which damage endothelial tissues. In this type of surgery, air or gas bubbles are used to hold or push the fresh endothelial tissue within the underlying corneal tissue, which will support the corneal tissue.
DALK DEEP ANTERIOR LAMELLAR KERATOPLASTY (DALK)
As we know cornea has five thin layers, in this kind of corneal grafting, surgeon removes four layers leaving behind the fifth one. In this technique, the eye doctor injects air to lift the corneal layers and separates the outer layers of the cornea. Then the surgeon removes and replaces these layers. DALK is the most common procedure for people with corneal scars and keratoconus. Healing time is shorter in this type as compared to other keratoplasty procedure.
Also called as full thickness transplant.
In this surgical method, the whole damaged cornea is replaced by compatible fresh tissue from the donor. The cornea is held from different places or corners with 16 or more stitches. This is carried out if the patient has a DALK transplant and it hasn't worked and also has damaged stromal and corneal layers. After the surgery, stitches should not be removed for almost 3 months. Vision improves as healing proceeds. A special instrument is used to make this precise circular cut.
The donor cornea, cut to fit, is placed in the opening. Your surgeon then uses stitches (sutures) to stitch the new cornea into place. The stitches might be removed at a later visit with an eye doctor.
Artificial cornea transplant (Keratoprosthesis) -
In some cases, if people aren't eligible for a cornea transplant from a donor cornea, they might receive an artificial cornea (Keratoprosthesis).
1. Risks are similar to other interocular procedures but it also includes some other complications which include graft rejection, detachment or displacement of lamellar transplants and primary graft failures.
2. Also have risk of infection, as cornea doesn't have blood vessels, it heals very slowly, the wound or cut can cause for infection with microbes, so antibiotic prophylaxis is prescribed.
3. Bleeding in eyes in severe case.
4. Retinal problems like retinal detachment and swelling.
5. Increase in eyeball pressure causing glaucoma.
Corneal grafting is a smooth surgical procedure, usually takes 2 hours and its success depends upon corneal acceptance and rejection. Corneal transplants can improve eye vision significantly or may it not work that well. So another surgery has to be followed in case of failure.
1. Contact lenses may help remove the need for corneal grafting in corneal disorders.
2. Phototherapeutic keratectomy
3. Corneal collagen cross linking
Corneal grafting or transplantation is essentially the first transplantation that ever took place.
A Centre of Excellence in Eye Care for 37 years, Bharti Eye Foundation was conceptualised and nurtured by Dr. S. Bharti in 1985. The hospital has been accredited for patient safety and quality of care by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) , a constituent Board of Quality Council of India. All super-speciality eye treatment services and investigations are available under one roof.
Week-Days: | 9am - 6pm |
Sunday: | CLOSED |
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Last updated on August 30th, 2019 at 08:57 am
Corvey Museum Palace lies in Hoxter. Which is North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The Palace is found by Emperor Louis the Pious in 815-822. It origin started back in the days when the Saxon War was fought. However, Charlemagne or Charles I or Charles the Great was the winner. He is King of the Franks. However, a plan was made to set-up an Abbey. Although this plan was only executed during the reign of his son Louis the Pious.
History of Corvey museum palace
The first Monks were welcome in 816. Which were from the Benedictine Abbey of Corbie Abbey in Picardy, France. That was dedicated to Saint Peter. The issue of the location made the Monks move in officially in 822. To a location called Villa Huxori. This place was then Nova Corbeia a Latin word meaning “New Corbie”. In old German but the pronounciation is “Corvey”. So this was how the name came about.
ALSO, READ ABOUT THE EMIR PALACE OF BAUCHI
Corvey grew rapidly as a result of the gift and donation that was made by individuals. An Abbey school was founded in 823. Also, the library was also establish. Corvey produce the highest number of scholars then. Although the 30 years’ war devastated the Abbey. And in 1665 Christoph Bernhard Von Galen became the administrator. Then there was a reconstruction of the Abbey. In 1792 Pope Pius VI raised the Corvey in a Prince-bishopric manner. However, it was not seen as Benedictine Abbey anymore.
The Era of Prince-Bishopric
Afterward, there was a change from Prince-Bishopric to the Princely Palace. This was during the Biedermeier era. Corvey was use as compensation for the territory lost in the west of Rhine. Since it was awarded to Victor Amadeus. He rebuild the building as a Schloss (palace). This was in the period of 1815-1834. His successor Victor von Hohenlohe Schillingfurst. However, was giving the title Herzog von Ratibor und Furst von Corvey. Which means Duke of Ratibor and Prince of Corvey. This is how Corvey became a palace and property of the Hohenlohe family.
The residential rooms giving to Viktor Amadeus. And the wife Elise were in the west-wing of the convent building. Today Corvey is manage between two owner. Which are the Catholic Parish and the Duke. But this has not make it very easy.
Culture and Tradition of Corvey museum palace
Corvey in 9th and 12th centuries had a very strong cultural. It was also the spiritual, economic and political center in northern Europe. The Christianisation of the northern and eastern regions of the continent was majorly in Corvey. Today it is the cultural focus in its location. Also, it is the most important heritage site. It a 7,000 square meter site with a museum. Which is it most important cultural and tourism institution in East Westphalia-Lippe. The special music festival perform in the Imperial Hall, the perfect work of art and other number of the event draw a large number of visitors every year to the site.
Work hours in Corvey museum palace
Corvey is open on first of April to 1 November at 10 am daily. Except for October which Monday’s are not included. Its door is open to anyone who wants to book an appointment out of the Palace schedule time. There are majorly three tours a day in Corvey. The 11hr and 12hr tour is called the World Heritage Tour WHT. There is also the 15hr. This place is use as a conference center, hotel and for wedding ceremony.
Corvey museum palace Awarded UNESCO title
It cost a lot as the owners spent a lot of money to develop the old Imperial Abbey. To what it is today. The advice of Doctor Wimberk, the charitable act of Duchess Alexandra and every other individual; and both meetings and other activity brought this success. However, Corvey Museum Palace has made more than 35% increase. From visitors since it was approve as UNESCO World Heritage title in 21st June 2014. Also it is the 39th on the list in Germany to be giving this award. | https://www.townstovillages.com/corvey-museum-palace/ | 927 | null | 3 | en | 0.999983 |
There are check grammar online free tools that you can use to know if you correctly write the apostrophe or not. It is also important to know about rules in using apostrophes in names so that you will not have a hard time in writing.
Apostrophes in Names Rules
You will use apostrophe with “s” for possessive singular nouns: You will use the apostrophe with the letter “s” in showing possessive form of the singular noun, even if the singular noun is ending with the letter “s”.
- Harold’s crayon
- Dennis Plath’s poetry
- Big Jones’s game show
- Peter Thomas’s report
- Grace Beckham’s husband
You will use apostrophe without the letter “s” for possessives of plural nouns: In forming possessive of plural noun that is already ending with the letter “s”, you will only need to add the apostrophe.
- Johnsons’ café ( in here, possessive apostrophes tell that the care belongs to the Johnsons), (if plural noun doesn’t end with the letter “s”, you need to add apostrophe with “s”.
- Children’s clothes ( the clothes belongs to the children)
- Women’s meeting (the meeting belongs to the women)
Check Punctuation: Pluralized Family Name
If you want to know more about using apostrophes with names, this page will guide you. If you want possessive of pluralized family name, you need to pluralize the first and simply make name possessive using the apostrophe.
Smiths’ car, Joneses’ home. Usually, if the last name is ending with hard “z”, you will not add “-es” or “s”. What you only need to do is to add apostrophes in plurals such as the Chambers’.
When it comes to compound possessives, the placement of the apostrophe will depend whether nouns are acting together or separately.
Cecilia’s and Danny’s old cars are in their basement.
(It means that every of them have 1 old car and in terms of ownership, it is a separate matter.)
Cecilia and Danny’s old cars are in their basement.
(This tells that Cecilia and Danny are sharing ownership on the card. The possessive which is indicated by the letter “s” belong to entire phrase and not just to Cecilia.)
Here is another example to understand compound possessives in terms of names.
- Clark and Peter’s expectation is the same.
- Clark’s and Peter’s expectation is the same.
(It means that expectations of them are different. You signify a separate ownership in writing compounded proper nouns in possessive form.)
Another thing is that is one of possessors in compound possessive is personal pronoun. You need to put both of the possessors in possessive form or you will make something silly. For example:
- John and my car towed last night
- Peter’s and his father was not so close when they were young.
Possessives with Appositive Forms
If possessive noun is being followed by appositive, the word explaining the noun or the words that renames, an apostrophe plus the letter “s” should be added to appositive and not on the noun. For instance:
- You must get Peter Garcia, the lawyer’s signature.
- Keep in mind that you need to make constructions with caution or you end up that looks silly.
- John wrecked his best friend, Amy’s car.
There you have the rules on how to use apostrophe so that you will be guided whenever you will write something. Knowing the rules will help you not to have a difficult time. | https://www.apostrophechecker.com/how-to-use-apostrophes-in-names/ | 843 | null | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
What is a balance sheet?
A balance sheet is a powerful financial statement that offers a precise picture of a company’s financial status at a specific time. It provides an insightful summary of the company’s assets, liabilities, equity, and the key elements of its financial health.
Who should use the balance sheet?
Anyone who wants to understand a company’s financial position clearly should use the balance sheet. This includes investors, creditors, business owners, financial analysts, and accountants.
Why do investors and creditors use a balance sheet?
Investors and creditors use balance sheets to examine a company’s creditworthiness and financial stability. In contrast, business owners and managers use it to monitor their company’s financial performance and make informed investment decisions.
Why do financial analysts and CFOs use a balance sheet?
Financial analysts use it to analyze a company’s financial trends and compare them to its competitors. They also use it to calculate key financial ratios, such as the debt-to-equity ratio, which helps them assess a company’s financial risk.
Why do accountants use a balance sheet?
Accountants use it to prepare other financial statements and ensure the company’s accurate and up-to-date financial records.
Why is a balanced sheet prepared?
A balance sheet helps various stakeholders of a company. It helps investors, creditors, finance analysts, auditors, etc., understand a company’s financial health and stability.
It is prepared because-
- It provides a complete overview of an organization’s financial health at any given time
- It helps examine the status of the solvency or liquidity of the company.
- It also assists in determining the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations.
- It allows the analysts to examine the company’s financial health and performance.
- It facilitates comparisons with previous periods and other companies in the same industry.
- It gives you the information crucial for making informed investments, expansions, and operations decisions.
- Helps in identifying potential areas of risk for the company.
What happens if you don’t prepare a balance sheet for your company?
While preparing financial statements may not spark joy in everyone, neglecting to prepare a balance sheet for your company could lead to less-than-pleasant consequences.
Here’s what could happen if you skip out on this essential financial task:
- With a balance sheet, impressing potential investors with your fiscal responsibility will be easier.
- Your company’s financial performance will be harder to track than a squirrel in a forest.
- Lenders may not be thrilled about loaning you money without a formal statement of your company’s financial position to demonstrate your financial stability.
- You could face legal and financial penalties if you fail to comply with accounting standards.
Uses of balance sheet
- It can help investors and lenders assess the risk of investing in or lending to a company by examining its assets, liabilities, and equity.
- It can also aid management in making decisions about resource allocation, such as how much to invest in capital expenditures or how much to pay out in dividends.
- By comparing balance sheets over time, stakeholders can track the financial progress of a company and identify any areas of concern.
- You can use it to calculate financial ratios, such as the debt-to-equity ratio, which can provide insight into a company’s financial leverage and solvency.
- Additionally, a balance sheet can be used to prepare other financial statements, such as the income statement, cash flow statement, etc.
What expenses are included in the balance sheet?
Mostly, expenses are recorded on the income statement. However, there is one type of expense that gets recorded on the balance sheet- capital expenditure. These expenditures are typically related to long-term assets and are known as “capex.”
What is Capex?
Capex or capital expenditures are expenses used for acquiring or improving long-term assets like property or equipment. They’re not immediately expensed and instead are recorded on the balance sheet as an asset. For instance, a manufacturing company buying new equipment would be a capital expenditure and recorded on the balance sheet as an asset.
The relationship between Capex and the balance sheet
Capital expenses are recorded on the balance sheet as assets rather than as an expense on the income statement. Specifically, capital expenditures are recorded as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E) or as intangible assets, depending on the type of asset being acquired or improved.
The amount of capital expenditure is added to the cost of the asset on the balance sheet, and this cost is then depreciated over the useful life of the asset.
For example, if a company buys a new machine for $40,000, the cost of the machine is recorded on the sheet as a PP&E asset at the $40,000 purchase price.
Why is Capex recorded on the balance sheet?
Capex is recorded on the balance sheet as an asset as it allows the company to spread the cost over the life of an asset. This allows the company to more accurately reflect the true cost of using it as an asset over time. This also provides a more accurate picture of the company’s financial standing.
Types of balance sheet
There are three types of balance sheets-
- Comparative balance sheets: A comparative balance sheet compares the financial position of a company over two or more periods. By comparing two financial statements side-by-side, stakeholders can see changes in a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity over time.
- Vertical balance sheets: A vertical balance sheet lists a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity in a vertical column. It is useful for understanding the overall financial structure of a company, as well as the relative importance of each category of assets, liabilities, and equity.
- Horizontal balance sheets: A horizontal balance sheet lists a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity in a horizontal row. This format is typically used for comparative purposes, with the financial data for two or more periods displayed side-by-side.
Balance sheets also have two format types- report form and account form.
- Report Form: In this format, the assets are listed first, then the liabilities, and then equity. This is the most common format and is typically used by businesses in the United States.
- Account Form: In the account form, the assets and liabilities are listed side by side. This format is more commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world.
Understanding the balance sheet
A balance sheet is a financial statement that presents the financial position of a company at a specific point in time. It provides a summary of a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
Understanding this official statement of financial condition is essential for financial decision-making. It enables investors, analysts, and managers to evaluate a company’s economic viability, assess its risk levels, and identify potential growth opportunities. In other words, it concisely represents what a company possesses, what it owes, and what remains as its residual value for its shareholders.
The balance statement follows the accounting equation. This equation states that the value of total assets should always be equal to the value of liabilities plus equity. This means that the value of the total assets listed on the balance sheet should be the same as the total value of the liabilities and equity.
Quick Read: Expense Accounting
How does examining a company’s balance sheet help?
Examining a balance sheet can help you gain insights into the company’s financial health and performance. It can tell you crucial things about the company, like if the resources are being utilized well and if any changes are needed to optimize spending. For example, a high level of debt relative to equity could indicate financial risk, while a large amount of cash could indicate strong financial standing.
What are the components of a balance sheet?
The three components of the balance sheet are assets, liabilities, and equity. The two major components are assets and liabilities.
An asset is a resource that is owned or controlled by an individual, company, or organization that has economic value and is expected to provide future benefits.
Types of assets
There are two types of assets based on their duration of cash conversion.
- Current: These are expected to be converted into cash within one year
- Non-current: These are expected to provide economic benefit beyond one year.
There are two types based on their nature.
- Tangible: Assets that can be physically perceived and identified, like buildings, vehicles, etc.
- Intangible: Assets that cannot be physically perceived and identified, like patents, trademarks, etc.
Common assets found on a balance sheet
- Accounts receivable
- Property, plant, and equipment
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Marketable securities
- Deferred tax assets
- Investments in other companies
- Intangible assets, such as patents and trademarks
- Prepaid expenses
Quick Read: 6 Best Cash Flow Management Software
Liabilities are what a company owes to others and represent the obligations and debts that must be repaid in the future.
Types of Liabilities
We can classify liabilities into two types: current and long-term.
- Current liabilities: They are due within one year or before the company’s operating cycle end, whichever comes last. These are typically short-term obligations that must be paid off quickly and may include items such as accounts payable, salaries and wages payable, taxes owed, and short-term loans.
- Long-term liabilities: They are due more than one year in the future. These are typically larger obligations that will take longer to pay off and may include items such as long-term loans, bonds payable, and lease obligations.
Learn more about liabilities here.
Examples of Liabilities found on a balance sheet
- Long-term debt
- Deferred revenue
- Unearned revenue
- Accounts payable
- Notes payable
- Accrued expenses
Quick Read: 10 Best Accounts Payable (AP) Software
Equity is the portion of a company’s value that is owned by its shareholders and reflects the value of the company’s assets that are not subject to any liabilities or obligations to others.
Types of Equity
In accounting, equity is typically listed on a balance statement and is composed of two main components: common stock and retained earnings.
- Common stock – It presents the initial investment made by shareholders in exchange for ownership in the company.
- Retained earnings – They give you the portion of a company’s earnings that have not been paid out as dividends but have instead been reinvested in the business or held as reserves.
Examples of common equity found on a balance sheet
- Common stock
- Preferred stock
- Additional paid-in capital
- Retained earnings
- Accumulated other comprehensive income
- Treasury stock
Quick Read: 9 Best Accounting Software for Small Business
Balance sheet format
This is the basic sample of a balance sheet format. This may differ based on the company’s needs and accounting standards.
XYZ COMPANYBalance Sheet | |||
[Date- __/__/__] | |||
Assets | Current Liabilities | ||
Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable Inventory Prepaid expenses Other current assets | Current Liabilities Accounts payable Accrued expenses Short-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Other current liabilities | ||
Fixed Assets Property, plant, and equipment Intangible assets Other fixed assets | Long-Term Liabilities Long-term debt Other long-term liabilities | ||
Total Liabilities | |||
Equity | |||
Common stock Retained earnings Other equity | |||
Total Assets | Total Liabilities and Equity |
Balance sheet formula
The balance sheet formula states that a company’s assets must be equal to the sum of its liabilities and equity. This formula is the basis for creating a balance sheet, which provides a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a specific point in time.
This is the balance sheet formula:
Assets = Liabilities + Equity
According to this formula, you can see that the total asset value of a company must always remain equal to the combined value of its liabilities and equity.
How to make a balance sheet?
Follow these steps to create a balance sheet.
- Determine the date for the balance sheet
The current date that you want to prepare the balance sheet for.
- Make a list of all the assets
Categorize assets into current assets and non-current assets.
- Determine the total value
Add up the value of all of the assets to get the total value.
- List all of the liabilities
Categorize liabilities into current liabilities and long-term liabilities.
- Determine the total value of liabilities
Add up the value of all of the liabilities to get the total value.
- Calculate equity
Deduct the total liabilities value from the total assets to get the equity value.
- Organize the information
Put the assets on one side of the balance sheet and the liabilities and equity on the other side. Make sure that the total assets equal the total liabilities and equity
- Review and analyze
Check to make sure that the balance sheet is accurate and complete. Analyze the results to evaluate the financial health of the company.
Balance sheet example
Best practice approach for balance sheet
It is vital that you follow balance sheet best practices to avoid inaccuracies, data contamination, and inconsistencies. After all, it is the document that is going to help your finance team make future financial decisions.
Here are the best practices that can help you create a perfect balance statement–
- Accuracy is key: It’s important to ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date. This means checking all figures and calculations and verifying that the information included is correct.
- Consistency is crucial: Consistency will help you ensure that the information is comparable across different periods, which is important for tracking changes in a company’s financial position over time.
- Separate accounts: Keep separate accounts for each type of asset and liability, such as cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. This will help maintain a clear record of where money is coming from and going.
- Organize well: Make sure that the sheet is organized in a clear and concise manner.
- Regular review and analysis: Regularly review and analyze the sheet to ensure that it accurately reflects the financial position of the company. This will help identify any potential issues or areas for improvement and can inform decision-making for the company’s financial future.
Quick Read: Cash Accounting – What It Is and Why You Need It
How can Happay help you manage your expenses?
Happay is an end-to-end expense management solution that integrates with your existing systems to give you complete control of employee spending. It gives you a 360-degree overview of your company’s major recurring spending and also supplements your financial decision-making with crucial information.
Quick Read: 10 Best Expense Management Software and Tools
A balance sheet is a financial statement that gives you a summary of a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at any time. It gives a concise overview of the financial health of a company and aids in decision-making regarding investment or lending. A lot of people use this financial statement including creditors, investors, accountants, company leaders, etc. Overall, it is a valuable instrument for anyone seeking to comprehend a company’s financial position.
It is called a balance sheet because it balances the company’s assets with its liabilities and equity.
Its is to provide a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a particular moment in time by showing its assets, liabilities, and equity.
A balance sheet typically includes the following items: assets (current assets and non-current assets), liabilities (current liabilities and non-current liabilities), and equity (common stock and retained earnings).
It is neither a debit nor a credit. Rather, it is a financial statement that shows the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
No, a it is not an asset. It is a financial statement that presents the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
Yes, you can create your own balance sheet if you have the necessary financial information about your assets, liabilities, and equity.
You can learn balance sheets easily by understanding the basic accounting principles and practicing with examples and exercises.
The seven main features include-
6. Net worth
7. Financial position.
The accounts included in a balance sheet are all the asset, liability, and equity accounts that the company has.
Balance sheet in accounting is a financial statement representing an organization’s total assets, liabilities, and equity at any given time.
Yes, you can get CapEx (Capital Expenditures) from the balance sheet. CapEx is usually included in its non-current assets section.
Capital expenditures are typically listed on the asset side under the non-current assets section.
Discussion about this post | https://happay.com/blog/balance-sheet/ | 3,568 | null | 3 | en | 0.999992 |
Apples can be a healthy snack or ingredient. However, it is not advisable to eat the seeds, as they contain small amounts of a chemical that produces cyanide, which is highly toxic.
Eating one or two apple seeds by accident, or drinking juice that contains a few pulverized seeds, is unlikely to cause problems. But if a person or animal consumes a lot of apple seeds, it could make them sick.
The seeds of other fruits, including apricots and pears, also contain the same chemical. People can eat these fruits safely by avoiding the seeds, pits, or kernels.
This article explores scientific research into the safety and risks of eating apple seeds.
Yes, apple seeds can be toxic. They contain
Cyanide is very poisonous. However, it is important to note that for there to be any harmful effects, a person would have to eat a significant amount of crushed apple seeds, which is unlikely to occur.
People have used cyanide as a poison throughout history. It works by interfering with oxygen supply to cells. The symptoms become apparent in
Mild symptoms of cyanide poisoning include:
- dilated pupils
More severe poisoning can lead to:
Eating a few apple seeds is unlikely to cause symptoms. However, eating or drinking large quantities of ground or crushed seeds could result in cyanide poisoning if the dose is high enough.
A lethal dose of cyanide is around 50–300 milligrams (mg). A 2018 analysis of previous research states that a person would have to eat around 83–500 seeds to develop acute cyanide poisoning.
However, the exact amount of cyanide that will make someone sick depends on their body weight and tolerance. The variety of apple and condition of the seeds are also factors.
An older 2015 study of apples in the United Kingdom found that the amygdalin content was highest in the varieties:
- Golden Delicious
- Red Delicious
- Royal Gala
Varieties such as Braeburn and Egremont Russet had the lowest amounts.
Nevertheless, it is probably a good idea to remove the seeds from all apples before giving them to young children or pets.
Apple juice will not contain cyanide if it does not contain pulverized seeds. But if the juice or smoothie contains whole crushed applies, it may contain some amygdalin or cyanide.
The products that did not contain cyanide had undergone pasteurization, which is a type of heat treatment that kills germs. Cyanide has a very low boiling point, so heating it causes it to vaporize, reducing the amount in foods.
The 2015 study of apple juices found that the amygdalin content in commercially-available products was low, at between 0.01 and 0.007 milligrams per millileter (mg/mL). The authors conclude that this is unlikely to cause harm, but still recommend removing apple seeds before juicing.
Many other plant-based foods contain cyanide-producing compounds. Previous studies have found
Again, though, it is only the seeds that pose any risk. The fruits are safe to eat.
However, the species influences how much amygdalin these foods contain. For example, bitter almonds contain
Processing methods are also an important factor. As with apple juice, heating foods that contain cyanide causes the toxin to vaporize, making roasted or cooked almonds safer than raw almonds. A
Apple flesh and peel can be a valuable part of a healthy diet. But chewing or crushing apple seeds releases amygdalin. In the stomach, this compound produces a
People can easily avoid the amygdalin in apple seeds by removing them or eating around them. Choosing apple drinks that have undergone pasteurization is also advisable, particularly for children.
If a person accidentally eats a few apple seeds, it is unlikely to cause any harm. But in sufficient quantities, cyanide-producing compounds from any plant could be risky. Seek help if a person has eaten a large quantity of apple seeds or develops symptoms after eating apple seeds. | https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318706.php | 828 | null | 3 | en | 0.999996 |
Ever got a report from school, family members or neighbours telling you your child is a bully?
I guess your heart probably sank; you had a rush of emotions, or you felt sad and disappointed.
Did you think you have been a bad parent? Did you judge yourself hard by saying you are not great or good at this parenting job?
Mum, calm down and maybe take a glass of cold water, no one was born ready for this role, and no one received a manual ahead of time so they can get it right.
It’s OK to drop balls, it’s OK not to know what to do, and it’s also OK to not get it right all the time, but what’s not OK is not wanting to be better or ask for help when you need it.
So, you get that call or report to say your child has been bullying other children; what’s next?
Before you rush and react, it’s essential to know that children are not bullies because they are bad children. Let’s see why they started this habit.
- It could be a way of getting your attention and you haven’t been able to get it through other means, not that it’s an excuse or we should condone it.
- They just want me to be part of the cool clique, and so they end up hurting others.
- They have been bullied somewhere else and want to try and get back power.
- The child does not fully understand how the other children feel.
- The child might be using that as a defence mechanism because she perceives others as hostile.
Now we have looked at how they get into bullying, let’s see how we can help them overcome the habit of bullying others.
Ways to help a child overcome the habit of bullying
1. TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION:
Suppose you get a report about your child being a bully, the first thing to speak about it. Have open, honest and transparent communication about the situation. Be ready to hear the child’s side of the story, be vulnerable about how you feel about the situation.
This will help understand why and how the child got to this point and find a solution.
As mentioned earlier, children might mirror what they see at home. Check to see that there are no harmful interactions within the house; people yell at each other, name-calling and inappropriate displays of anger. Reanalyze how your behaviours as parents influence them too. Eliminate every hostile atmosphere and begin to promote a positive environment within the home.
3. USE LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES:
Your child needs to understand that bullying is a choice and there are consequences for their actions. Punishments should not be vague but must tailor to solving the issue. For example, parents can withdraw their privileges if such privileges fuel the act of bullying; this could mean removing them from a position that they hold for a time or an internet and phone ban in the case of cyberbullying for a time too. The end game is to help them realize and learn that a healthy relationship is possible, and having some measure of power over others should not influence how you treat them.
4. SEEK HELP :
Walk with the school if they have disciplinary measures to help correct this behaviour and in cases where counselling or therapy is needed, please follow through. Make sure the child is fully aware and involved when taking this action, remember communication should be ongoing.
5. SKIP THE RAGE :
Shaming the child is not a solution but might make the situation worse. Skip telling the whole family and anyone who cares to listen about the child’s bad behaviour. In this age where the internet is like the in thing, you can drop your problem. Some parents put up pictures of the child and ask the world to pray for them. The child can feel embarrassed, but no change will come.
6. MONITOR PROGRESS:
Be deliberate about following up with the school and therapist as they work with your child to know how they are doing. Getting feedback can also help you handle things at home. If the child engages more in cyberbullying, have their passwords so you can do routine checks. The parents shouldn’t do this secretly, and the child should be aware from the get-go that you will be checking in.
7. MAKE IT RIGHT:
Once you have explained the consequences of what the child had done, they should be made to apologize to the person they hurt. In addition, the parent should be willing to issue an apology to the parents of those other kids and the school. This will further enforce your stand on the matter, and the child can also learn that apologizing when in the wrong doesn’t bring you down.
8. PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Stay connected with your kids in the place of prayer, and before starting the correction process, pray for them to understand and their hearts to be receptive to change.
It may seem challenging when the news first hit, but it is easier to handle when equipped with the correct information to handle the situation best.
Children with whom you keep open communication will most likely give you information about themselves even in adolescence.
You can check out this post; 9 Ways To Help A Child Cope With Bullying.
Remember that motherhood is a journey made easy when we have the right people in our corner. 🧡
So, click this link to go to the fantastic world of motherhood http://bit.ly/AMumandMoreFBFamily
Or send me an email to join our Exclusive WhatsApp Family.
Keep being #fabulous 💋
I am rooting for you.
Most importantly parents have to deal with this in love and understanding. Prayers should not be left out.
With prayers all things are possible. Thank God my children are not too involved in bullying and since I caution them,they were calm and result to reporting
Hmmmm! Thanks for the tips | https://amumandmore.com/ways-to-help-a-child-overcome-the-habit-of-bullying/ | 1,253 | null | 3 | en | 0.999998 |
Just about every week, it seems, a new study warns of another potential health risk linked to soft drinks.
The most recent headlines have raised concerns that diet sodas boost stroke risk. Diet and regular sodas have both been linked to obesity, kidney damage, and certain cancers. Regular soft drinks have been linked to elevated blood pressure.
Several hundred soda studies have been published over the last two decades, but most of the ones done in humans (as opposed to mice or rats) relied on people’s memories of what they drank.
Observational studies like these can point to possible concerns, but they can't prove that sodas do, or don’t, pose a health risk.
If you drink sodas -- especially if you drink a lot of them -- what are you to make of all the headlines? Do you dismiss them, as the beverage industry does, as bad science and media hype? Or is it time to put the can down and take a hard look at what you're drinking?
Another Day, Another Soda Study
In the past six months alone, dozens of studies examining the health impact of drinking sugary beverages or diet soda have been published in medical journals. Some suggested a relationship; others did not.
Sometimes, the media coverage of these studies took the researchers by surprise.
That was the case for epidemiologist Hannah Gardener, PhD, of the University of Miami. In February, she presented early results from her ongoing research at a health conference, and was completely unprepared for the media attention it received.
The story appeared on all the major networks, in most major newspapers, and on the Internet, including WebMD.
Most reports cautioned that the findings were preliminary and did not prove that diet sodas cause stroke.
But Gardener says many media reports overstated the findings. And even when the stories got it right, she says the headlines often got it wrong by leaving the impression that her research proved the diet soda-stroke connection.
“It was just an abstract presented at a meeting. It hasn’t even been published yet,” Gardener tells WebMD. “We are still working on the analysis. I don’t think the level of press attention it received would have been warranted even if it was a published paper.”
Gardener's team attempted to control for known heart attack and stroke risk factors, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, but she concedes that these factors could have influenced the findings.
Purdue University behavioral sciences professor Susan Swithers. PhD, had a similar experience in 2004, following the publication of her study in rats suggesting that no-calorie sweeteners like those in diet sodas increase appetite.
Swithers says she was shocked by the amount of news coverage her study received.
“Frankly, we were stunned,” she tells WebMD. “It really was a small study.”
The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) sees sugary drinks as a major factor in the obesity epidemic and favors taxing them.
CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson, PhD, says sugary soft drinks deserve to be singled out in the battle against obesity because they are the biggest single source of empty calories in the American diet.
“According to the USDA, 16% of calories in the typical American’s diet come from refined sugars and half of those calories come from beverages with added sugar,” Jacobson says. “Sodas used to be an occasional treat, but now they are part of the culture.”
New York University professor of nutrition and food studies Marion Nestle, PhD, says there is plenty of evidence that sodas have contributed to America's growing girth, especially among children.
Nestle says pediatricians who treat overweight children tell her that many of their patients take in 1,000 to 2,000 calories a day from soft drinks alone.
“Some children drink sodas all day long,” she says. “They are getting all of the calories they need in a day from soft drinks, so it’s no wonder they are fat.”
“The first thing that anyone should do if they are trying to lose weight," Nestle says, "is eliminate or cut down on soft drinks."
Obesity Culprit or Scapegoat?
The American Beverage Association (ABA) argues that sodas are taking too much of the blame for obesity.
“A calorie is a calorie, and what the data clearly show is that Americans are eating too much and taking in too many calories, period,” says Maureen Storey, PhD, the ABA's senior vice president of science policy.
Not everyone agrees with that. Sugary soft drinks, in particular, have been shown in many studies to be associated with overweight and obesity, as in a review of 30 studies published in 2006 by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. Many of the studies included in that review showed that overweight children and adults drink more sugary beverages than normal-weight kids and adults, and several studies found that the more sugar-sweetened drinks people drank the greater their likelihood of becoming overweight.
At the time, the ABA criticized the review, claiming in a news release that the Harvard researchers “chose to ignore critical articles and studies that contradicted their hypothesis,” such as a 2005 study finding no link between soda and obesity in Canadian children.
Yale University researchers also examined the obesity issue, combing through 88 studies.
They found that people tend to eat more calories on days when they drink a lot of sugar-sweetened drinks, and that soda drinkers tend to be heavier than people who don't drink soft drinks.
The researchers hypothesized that the body does not easily recognize calories derived from beverages, so people end up eating more. But the Yale study wasn't designed to prove that.
As for diet sodas, nutrition researcher David L. Katz, MD, who directs the Yale Prevention Research Center, told WebMD in November 2010 that the research as a whole suggests sugar substitutes and other non-nutritive food substitutes have little impact on weight. “For every study that shows there could be a benefit or harm, there’s another that shows no ‘there’ there,” Katz says.
Patterns of Bias?
The ABA says the vast majority of studies supporting a soda-obesity link were done by researchers with strong anti-soda biases. Storey also says many of these biased or poorly done studies are covered by news media, while studies showing no link don't get the same attention.
“All too often, studies that don’t show a relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages and obesity or other health concerns are not reported, while the ones that show even a very weak relationship are,” she says.
Obesity researcher Kelly Brownell, PhD, who led the Yale study and supports taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, sees bias on the other side of the debate.
“Studies that do not support a relationship between consumption of sugared beverages and health outcomes tend to be conducted by authors supported by the beverage industry,” Brownell wrote in a 2009 New England Journal of Medicine article supporting a soda tax.
One such study, funded by the British sugar industry group The Sugar Bureau, examined sugar and soft drink consumption among 1,300 children in the U.K. The study found no evidence that soft drinks alone affected children’s weight.
Rachel K. Johnson, RD, PhD, MPH, is a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and an American Heart Association spokeswoman. She served on the American Heart Association's 2009 panel that recommended limiting added sugars, including those in drinks.
Johnson says she does not believe the science linking sodas to obesity and other health issues has been misrepresented or over-reported.
“I don’t think anyone would say that limiting sugar-sweetened drinks is the only solution,” she says. “But to me, it is an important step in the right direction.” | http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/sodas-and-your-health-risks-debated | 1,689 | null | 3 | en | 0.999973 |
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It is estimated that up to 20% of women worldwide may have PCOS, making it one of the most common hormonal disorders in women. Despite its prevalence, PCOS is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, which can lead to significant health problems.
The symptoms of PCOS vary widely and can include irregular menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, acne, and weight gain. Women with PCOS may also experience other hormonal imbalances, including elevated levels of androgens, insulin resistance, and high levels of inflammation. PCOS can also cause infertility, as the ovaries may not ovulate regularly or may not release mature eggs.
The exact cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is evidence that PCOS runs in families and that certain environmental factors, such as exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may contribute to the development of the disorder. Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of androgens, which are male hormones that are also present in females in smaller amounts. This excess androgen production can lead to the development of cysts on the ovaries, as well as other hormonal imbalances.
Diagnosis of PCOS typically involves a combination of medical history, physical exam, and blood tests to assess hormone levels. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, may also be used to check for cysts on the ovaries. The diagnostic criteria for PCOS have evolved over time, and there is ongoing debate among healthcare providers about the most appropriate criteria for diagnosis.
Treatment for PCOS depends on the individual and their specific symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Weight loss has been shown to be particularly effective in reducing insulin resistance and improving fertility in women with PCOS. Medications may also be prescribed to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce androgen levels, and manage insulin resistance. Hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill, may be prescribed to regulate menstrual cycles and manage symptoms, particularly in women who are not trying to conceive.
For women trying to conceive, fertility treatments such as ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization may be necessary. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove cysts from the ovaries or to correct other structural abnormalities that may be contributing to infertility. Women with PCOS who are not trying to conceive may choose to use hormonal contraceptives to regulate menstrual cycles and manage symptoms.
In addition to the physical symptoms of PCOS, women with the disorder may also experience emotional and psychological challenges. PCOS can have a significant impact on body image and self-esteem, particularly in women with excessive hair growth or acne. Women with PCOS may also be at increased risk of depression and anxiety.
In conclusion, PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder that can have significant impacts on a woman’s health and well-being. Early diagnosis and treatment are important in managing symptoms and reducing the risk of long-term complications. If you are experiencing symptoms of PCOS, talk to your healthcare provider to discuss potential diagnosis and treatment options. With the right care and management, women with PCOS can lead healthy and fulfilling lives. | https://log.ng/health/signs-you-have-polycystic-ovary-syndrome- | 681 | null | 4 | en | 0.99999 |
Bail is an essential aspect of the legal system that ensures the temporary release of accused individuals while they await trial. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a clear understanding of the bail procedure, its significance, and how it works. So, let’s delve into the world of bail and gain valuable insights into this crucial legal process.
What is Bail?
Bail refers to the process through which an accused individual provides a financial guarantee to the court. In return, they are released from custody while awaiting trial. It serves as an assurance that the defendant will appear in bail process in court for all necessary proceedings. Failure to comply with the conditions of bail can lead to its revocation, resulting in the defendant being taken back into custody.
Bail plays a crucial role in the legal system for several reasons:
Presumption of Innocence: The concept of bail stems from the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” It allows defendants to maintain their freedom until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Continuity of Life: Bail enables accused individuals to resume their daily lives, support their families, and prepare for their defense, ensuring minimal disruption to their personal and professional responsibilities.
Reduced Pretrial Detention: By granting bail, the bail process in court helps alleviate the burden on overcrowded jails and prisons, reserving detention for those who pose a flight risk or a danger to society.
A bail hearing procedure is an essential part of the legal process, ensuring fairness and upholding the rights of the accused. It serves as an opportunity for the defendant to present their case and convince the judge that they should be granted bail. By securing release, defendants can resume their daily lives, support their families, and consult with their attorneys effectively while awaiting trial.
The bail procedure in district court begins with the arrest of an individual suspected of committing a crime. After the arrest, the defendant is taken to a police station or a detention facility for booking. During this process, the defendant’s personal information is recorded, and their fingerprints and photographs are taken.
Following the booking, the defendant is brought before a judge for an initial bail hearing. During this hearing, the judge reviews the case and determines whether the defendant is eligible for bail. Factors such as the severity of the crime, the defendant’s criminal history, and the potential flight risk are considered.
If the judge grants bail, the next step involves setting the bail amount. The judge considers various factors, including the nature of the offense, the defendant’s ties to the community, employment status, financial resources, and the potential risk to public safety. Based on these considerations, the judge determines an appropriate bail amount.
Once the bail amount is set, the defendant or their representative can proceed with posting bail. This usually involves paying the full amount in cash or using collateral such as property or valuable assets. In some cases, the defendant may seek the assistance of a bail bondsman, who posts bail on their behalf for a fee.
Upon release, the defendant must adhere to specific conditions set by the bail process in court. These conditions may include regular check-ins with a designated authority, travel restrictions, surrendering passports, refraining from contacting victims or witnesses, and avoiding further criminal activity. Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to the revocation of bail.
Once released on bail, the defendant is able to await their trial in the comfort of their home or while continuing their employment. During this period, it is crucial for the defendant to work closely with their legal counsel to build a robust defense strategy and gather evidence to support their case. The trial proceedings will determine the defendant’s guilt or innocence.
Bail, in its essence, is a mechanism that allows individuals accused of a crime to regain their freedom temporarily. It acts as a guarantee that the defendant will appear bail process in court for all subsequent proceedings. This privilege is in line with the notion that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, emphasizing the importance of due process.
While the bail procedure in district courts serves a vital purpose in the legal system, concerns regarding fairness and equality have prompted discussions for reform. Recognizing the potential socioeconomic disparities in access to bail, jurisdictions have explored alternatives such as risk assessments and non-monetary conditions to determine the necessity of pretrial detention.
By implementing evidence-based strategies, the criminal justice system can strike a balance between public safety and the preservation of individual rights. Such reforms aim to ensure that bail decisions are based on the defendant’s risk level rather than their financial resources, fostering a more equitable system.
In today’s complex legal landscape, understanding the procedure for bail from a police station is paramount. It serves as a crucial mechanism to ensure fairness, protect individual rights, and maintain the delicate balance between justice and personal liberty.
The Importance of Bail: Safeguarding Rights and Presumption of Innocence
Bail, in essence, is a legal process that allows individuals accused of a crime to secure their temporary release from custody while awaiting trial. It is a fundamental right that upholds the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” emphasizing the importance of due process and safeguarding the rights of the accused.
Step 1: Arrest and Custody
The bail process typically begins with the arrest of an individual by law enforcement officers. Once the arrest takes place, the accused is taken into custody at the police station. This initial phase involves the recording of personal information, fingerprints, and photographs, which are essential for establishing a comprehensive record.
Step 2: Consultation with Legal Representation
After the arrest, it is crucial for the accused to consult with best tier 1 law firm in India as soon as possible. A skilled attorney can provide guidance, assess the situation, and advocate for the best course of action. Seeking legal advice ensures that the accused is well-informed about their rights and options regarding bail.
Step 3: Bail Application Preparation
Once legal representation is secured, the attorney begins preparing the bail application. This involves gathering relevant information about the accused, including personal details, background, ties to the community, and any potential flight risk factors. The application is meticulously crafted to present a compelling case for the accused’s release on bail.
Step 4: Bail Hearing
The bail hearing is a critical phase in the procedure for bail from a police station. It is during this hearing that the judge carefully considers the bail application and relevant factors to determine whether to grant bail. The judge assesses the seriousness of the offense, the accused’s criminal history, ties to the community, and the likelihood of the accused appearing for future court proceedings.
Step 5: Bail Determination and Conditions
Following the bail hearing, the judge makes a bail determination, setting the bail amount and conditions for release. The bail amount varies depending on the nature of the offense, the accused’s flight risk, and the ability to pay. In some cases, the court may impose additional conditions, such as surrendering passports, regular check-ins with authorities, or avoiding contact with certain individuals involved in the case.
Step 6: Bail Bond and Release
Once the bail amount is set, the accused or their representative can arrange for a bail bond. A bail bond serves as a guarantee that the accused will appear in the bail process in court as required. It involves a payment to a licensed bail bondsman, who assumes the financial responsibility if the accused fails to comply with the bail conditions. Once the bail bond is processed, the accused is released from custody, pending the outcome of the trial.
A bail hearing is an essential part of the legal process, ensuring fairness and upholding the rights of the accused. It serves as an opportunity for the defendant to present their case and convince the judge that they should be granted bail. By securing release, defendants can resume their daily lives, support their families, and consult with their attorneys effectively while awaiting trial.
Flight Risk: The judge assesses whether the defendant is likely to flee before the trial. Factors such as criminal history, financial resources, and ties to the community are considered.
Nature and Severity of the Crime: The seriousness of the offense plays a significant role in determining whether bail should be granted. Violent crimes or offenses with a high risk of harm to the community may result in the denial of bail.
Criminal History: A defendant’s past criminal record can influence the judge’s decision. Repeat offenders or individuals with a history of failure to appear in court may face difficulties obtaining bail.
Community Ties: The defendant’s ties to the community, such as family, employment, or property ownership, can demonstrate their commitment to appearing for trial.
Public Safety: Judges consider whether releasing the defendant on bail would pose a potential threat to the community. If there is a risk of harm, bail may be denied or set at a higher amount. | https://www.swastiklegal.in/bail-procedure/ | 1,824 | null | 3 | en | 0.999964 |
The Importance of School Boards in Ontario — School boards play a vital role in Ontario’s education system, serving as the governing bodies responsible for overseeing the quality of education, ensuring student success, and fostering community engagement. With their primary focus on providing equitable and inclusive education, school boards play a pivotal role in shaping the future of students and the broader community.
In this article, we will explore the importance of school boards in Ontario, highlighting their key responsibilities, contributions, and the impact they have on the education landscape.
Table of Contents
The Importance of School Boards in Ontario: Nurturing Educational Excellence and Community Engagement
Governing Educational Excellence
One of the primary responsibilities of school boards in Ontario is to govern and regulate educational excellence. They establish policies, curriculum frameworks, and guidelines that align with the Ministry of Education’s objectives while accommodating the unique needs of their respective communities.
School boards collaborate with educators, administrators, and stakeholders to develop and implement innovative educational programs that foster academic achievement, promote critical thinking, and support the holistic development of students.
They ensure that resources, such as qualified teachers, learning materials, and technology, are accessible to schools within their jurisdiction, thereby creating an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning.
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
School boards in Ontario are dedicated to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in education. They strive to create safe and inclusive learning environments that respect and celebrate the diversity of students and staff.
School boards develop policies and initiatives that address barriers to learning, foster a culture of acceptance, and provide supports for students with diverse learning needs, cultural backgrounds, and identities.
They work to eliminate discrimination and bias, ensuring that all students have equal access to educational opportunities and resources. Through their commitment to equity and inclusion, school boards contribute to the development of well-rounded individuals who appreciate and respect differences, fostering a more inclusive society.
Parent and Community Engagement
School boards actively engage parents and the community in the education process, recognizing that collaboration between schools, families, and communities is vital for student success. They establish channels of communication, such as parent-teacher associations and advisory committees, to facilitate dialogue and involvement.
School boards encourage parental participation in decision-making processes, providing opportunities for input on matters related to curriculum, school policies, and resource allocation. They also foster partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and local stakeholders to enhance educational opportunities and broaden students’ learning experiences. This collaboration strengthens the bond between schools and communities, creating a sense of ownership and shared responsibility for the success of students.
Fiscal Responsibility and Resource Allocation
School boards are responsible for prudent financial management and resource allocation to ensure optimal utilization of resources for the benefit of students and the education system. They develop annual budgets, balancing fiscal responsibility with the needs of schools and students.
School boards allocate resources equitably, considering factors such as student population, demographics, and specific educational requirements. They strive to maximize the impact of available resources, making informed decisions regarding staffing, infrastructure development, and program offerings. Through their fiscal responsibility, school boards help create sustainable educational environments that support student achievement and well-being.
Advocacy and Policy Development
School boards advocate for students, educators, and the broader education community at local, regional, and provincial levels. They collaborate with other school boards, educational organizations, and government bodies to influence policies and initiatives that enhance the education system.
School boards articulate the needs and priorities of their communities, advocating for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and supportive policies that address emerging educational challenges. They provide feedback and insights to the Ministry of Education on matters such as curriculum development, assessment practices, and educational standards.
By being active advocates, school boards ensure that the voice of their communities is heard and that policies align with the evolving needs of students.
School boards are an integral part of Ontario’s education system, with their significant contributions impacting the quality of education, student success, and community engagement. Through their commitment to governing educational excellence, promoting equity and inclusion, engaging parents and communities, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and advocating for students’ interests, school boards play a critical role in shaping the educational landscape.
They foster collaborative partnerships, empower students, and support educators in delivering high-quality education that prepares students for future success. Recognizing the importance of school boards in Ontario is essential for fostering a strong education system that nurtures the potential of every student and contributes to the betterment of society as a whole. | https://schoolsinontario.com/the-importance-of-school-boards-in-ontario/ | 916 | Education | 4 | en | 0.999803 |
The North Sentinel Island : One of the most isolated and unwelcomed places on the Earth.
The North Sentinel Island is among the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is a group of 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal between Myanmar and Indonesia. These islands were formally a part of the Republic of India. However, India has declared a few of these islands including the North Sentinel Island closed to the outsiders in order to preserve the distinct culture of these lands.
The North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinels, a small tribe who is noted for vigorously resisting attempts of contact by outsiders and has inhabited the island for thousands of years. The island is completely untouched by modern civilization and its inhabitants kill any outsiders who try to get too close to their land. No one has ever gone or left this island without fleeing immediately or being slaughtered by the Sentinelese upon arrival. They drive off fishermen, journalists, anthropologists and government officials with their spears and arrows.
They are said to be directly descended from the first human populations to emerge from Africa and have probably lived in the Andaman Islands for up to 60,000 years. Possibly no other people on this earth are as isolated, as the Sentinelese. Their present numbers are estimated to be anywhere between 50 and 400 individual. The 28 square mile island is roughly the size of Manhattan and is low-lying, heavily forested and protected by a barrier of coral reefs.
The fact that their language is so different even from other Andaman islanders suggests that they have had little or no contact with the other people for thousands of years. The Sentinelese maintain an essentially hunter-gathering society, obtaining their subsistence through hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants; there is no evidence of any agricultural practices.
- The first real threat to the natives of North Sentinel Island appeared in 1858, when the British established a penal colony at Port Blair on nearby South Andaman Island to pacify the local tribes. They would kidnap a member of an unfriendly tribe, hold him for a short period, treat him well, and then shower him with gifts and let him return to his people.
- In 1880 a large, heavily-armed party led by 20-year-old Maurice Vidal Portman, the British colonial administrator, landed on North Sentinel and made what is believed to be the first exploration of the island by outsiders. Several days passed before they made contact with any Sentinelese because tribe members disappeared into the jungle whenever strangers approached. Finally, after several days on the island, the party stumbled across an elderly couple who were too old to run away, and several small children. Portman brought the two adults and four of the children back to Port Blair. But the man and the woman soon started to get sick and then died, probably from exposure to Western diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza, to which they would have had little or no resistance. So Portman returned the four children to North Sentinel Island and released them with gifts for the rest of the tribe. The children disappeared into the jungle and were never seen again.
- Since 1967 Indian authorities have attempted to make peaceful contact with the Sentinelese under the auspices of anthropological research. Small parties in the early 1970s were turned away by arrows. A documentary team and some police officers got the same fierce welcome in 1974: The film’s director took an 8-foot-long arrow in the thigh.
- Some government-sponsored groups made brief trips to the island in the late 1980s and early ’90s, largely under the direction of the Indian anthropologist T.N. Pandit. Mr. Pandit and his colleagues left gifts of coconuts, knives, cloth, candy, aluminum cookware, mirrors, rubber balls, beaded necklaces, plastic buckets. (video here)
Some Unintentional Contacts:
- When a Hindu convict escaped in 1896, he drifted 30 miles on a makeshift raft and washed up on North Sentinel. A search party found his body a few days later on a beach, punctured by arrows and his throat cut.
- Other unintentional encounters include on August 2, 1981,a Hong Kong freighter navigating the choppy waters of the Bay of Bengal ran aground on a submerged coral reef. The ship, called the Primrose, was hopelessly stuck. The crew stayed on their boat for a few days, when the saw native people advancing towards their ship, armed with spears, bows and arrows.T he captain made a distress call via radio and the crew were airlifted to safety by helicopter.
- The last recorded contact with the Sentinelese was in 2006, when the Sentinelese archers killed two fishermen who were fishing illegally within range of the island. The archers later drove off, with a hail of arrows, the helicopter that was sent to retrieve the bodies.
The Sentinelese even survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the deadliest in recorded history, with few or no casualties. Thought the tsunami killed more than 230,000 people in surrounding countries, it appears that the Sentinelese were able to sense the coming of the tsunami and escape to higher ground before it arrived. When an Indian Navy helicopter arrived three days after to check on their well-being and drop food parcels on the beach, a Sentinelese warrior came out of the jungle and warned the helicopter off with a bow and arrow, a clear sign that the Sentinelese did not want help from outsiders
Today anyone with a laptop and internet access can use Google Earth to spy on places that are not meant to be seen by outsiders. But when you look down on North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal, all you can make out is the wreck of the Primrose, still stuck on the reef. You can’t see the Sentinelese, their dwellings, or anything else that might shed light on how many people there are on the island, or how they live there. The dense jungle that covers every inch of the island except the beaches conceals everything: Even when viewed from outer space, the Sentinelese remains free from prying eyes.
Recommended:Â 10 Lesser-Known Facts About North Sentinel Island
STOPPED CLOCK ILLUSION: Sometimes, When You look At A Clock Time Seems To Stand Still.
A Boy Who Was A Girl Fell In Love With A Girl Who Was A Boy, Two Years back | http://www.unbelievable-facts.com/2013/08/the-north-sentinel-island-one-of- | 1,301 | null | 3 | en | 0.999975 |
Diesel power plants are standby power plants. Whereas a diesel engine is used as the prime mover to generate electrical energy is called a diesel power plant. To generate mechanical energy diesel burns inside the diesel engine, and the products of this combustion act as the working fluid. The diesel engines are coupled with an alternator if the diesel engine or prime mover rotates alternator also rotates and then produces electrical energy.
It means the alternator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Diesel power plants are very costly due to the high price of diesel. The diesel power plant is used to generate a small amount of electrical power.
We know that thermal power plants, and hydroelectric power plants are used to generate bulk electrical energy due to the cheap cost of fuel and simple construction. Diesel power plants run when load demand becomes more high than the base load and it is also called peak load power plant because it is used as a peak period (5 pm to 12 am).
What do you mean by diesel-fired power plant?
Prime mover is one of the most essential devices for electrical power plants. But in a diesel power plant, the diesel engine is used as a prime mover to generate electricity. In a diesel power plant, diesel is fired by using a diesel engine and generates mechanical energy that is converted into electrical energy by using an alternator.
Indeed, diesel plants or diesel engine power stations are used to meet the peak demand that certainly occurs in the power system. It is noted that the diesel engine power plant is not used to generate bulk electricity due to its huge per-unit cost.
Working principle of diesel power plant
Working of the diesel power plant is not the same as some other electrical power plants like a nuclear power plant, coal power plant hydroelectric power plant, etc. The working of diesel power plant or basic working principle of diesel power plant is that thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy.
This mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy to generate electricity using generators or alternators. A diesel power plant works on four main stages such as compression, combustion, expansion, and cooling.
A diesel engine works as a prime mover diesel is burned inside these combustion engines and products act as working fluids for the production of mechanical energy. Diesel engines run an alternative that converts mechanical power into electrical power.
Since the cost of production is significant due to the high cost of diesel, such power plants are used only for small power generation. Although steam power plants and hydropower plants are always used to generate bulk power at a cheap cost, diesel power plants are favored in places where electricity demand is low, adequate coal and water are not available and transportation facilities are inadequate.
To start a diesel engine one has to rotate between 150 to 250 rpm. The purpose of the initial system is to provide the required torque to achieve the required minimum cranking speed. The crankshaft is turned on when the starter motor starts to rotate the flywheel, which then starts the piston movement. There are two types of diesel power plants stationary diesel power plants and mobile diesel power plants.
Stationary diesel power plant
The four-stroke diesel engines used in stationary diesel power plants use power ratings of 110, 220, 330, 440, and 735 kW (kW). The advantages of diesel power plants are optimal economy of operation, stable operating features, and easy and fast start.
The main disadvantage is the relatively short spacing between large overhauls. Diesel power plants are mainly used to serve transmission lines or areas where water supply sources are limited and where it is not possible to build steam power plants or hydropower plants. Fixed-type diesel is usually equipped with a synchronous generator.
The economic efficiency of a diesel power plant is significantly improved if the engine waste heat (55 to 60 percent of the total heat release the engine currently has available) can be used to preheat fuel and oil or for internal heating of the power station building or adjacent premises. In diesel power plants with a high power rating (above 750 kW), waste heat can be used in a heating system that serves an entire block or an entire city area near the power plant.
Mobile diesel power plant
Mobile diesel power plants are widely used in agriculture forestry and geological exploration. In these applications, diesel power plants can be used as power sources for power or lighting networks; these can be used as main, auxiliary, or standby power sources.
In transportation, diesel power plants are a basic energy source (for example, diesel-electric locomotives and diesel ships). In mobile diesel power plants, high-speed diesel acts as a prime mover.
A mobile diesel power plant includes a diesel-electric unit itself, spare parts, appliances and accessories, a set of wires to connect to the load, and firefighting equipment. Power plants rated at 20 kW or more are usually installed in two-axis, covered trailers.
Such a mobile station has not only diesel-electric units but also power distribution cabinets (or panels), cabinets with automatic controls, remote control consoles, heating and ventilation equipment, rectifiers, and storage batteries that automatically control the feeding system.
Diesel power plant components
There are different types of essential diesel power plant components. Each component plays an important role in the generation of electricity.
- Diesel Engine
- Fuel Supply System
- Engine Air Intake System
- Diesel engine Exhaust System
- Diesel engine Cooling System
- Engine Lubrication System
Diesel engines are the main component used in diesel-electric power plants to develop mechanical power. This mechanical energy we use to run generators and to generate electrical energy. Diesel engines are mechanically connected to a generator to produce electrical power. When diesel fuel is burning inside the engine, it starts to generate mechanical power.
The combustion of diesel fuel increases the temperature and pressure inside the engine. Due to this pressure, gas is formed, this gas pushes the piston inside the diesel engine and then mechanical energy is generated. With the use of this mechanical power, the shaft of the diesel engine begins to rotate.
Fuel supply system
Diesel power plants include fuel storage tanks, fuel filters or strainers, fuel transfer pumps, day tanks, heaters, and connecting pipes. First of all diesel fuel is stored in storage tanks with the help of transport facilities (road, rail, etc.). This diesel fuel is then transferred to the day tank; the job of the day tank is to determine how much diesel the store needs for 24 hours.
If the day tank is full or excess flow occurs, the excess diesel is returned to the storage tank. Filters or strainers are used to purify diesel. The fuel is transferred to the diesel tank with the help of a transfer pump.
Diesel engine air intake system
Diesel engine air intake systems include air filters, air tanks, compressors, and connecting pipes. Air filters are used to supply fresh air to diesel engines for combustion purposes. The engine needs fresh air because the entry of dust particles into the air in the engine will have a devastating effect on the valves, cylinders, and pistons. A valve is used to increase the air pressure supplied to the compressor or supercharged engine. This will help increase the output power.
Diesel engine exhaust system
The diesel engine exhaust system consists of a silencer and connecting duct. Since the temperature of the exhaust gas is high enough, it is used to heat the air supplied to the fuel oil or diesel engine. Exhaust gases are removed from the engine into the atmosphere through the exhaust system. A silencer is usually used in this system to reduce the noise level of the engine.
Diesel engine cooling system
The diesel engine cooling system consists of a coolant pump, water cooling tower, and connecting pipe work. The heat generated due to internal combustion drives the engine. However, some of this heat raises the temperature of different parts of the engine. High temperatures can cause permanent damage to the machine. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the overall temperature of the engine. The cooling system of the diesel power station works the same way.
The cooling system is required to carry heat from the diesel engine so that its temperature is within safe limits. The water pump conducts water to the cylinders of the diesel engine to carry heat. Cooling towers are used to reuse the same water. The cooling system requires a water source, a water pump, and a cooling tower.
The pump conducts water through the cylinder and the head jacket. Water removes heat from the engine and it heats up. The hot water is cooled through the cooling tower and re-circulated for cooling. The cooling system can be divided into two types: open cooling system and closed cooling system.
Engine lubrication system
The diesel engine lubrication system includes oil pumps, oil tanks, filters, coolers, purifiers, and connecting pipes. This system provides lubricating oil to the running parts of the system to reduce wear and tear between engine parts. This system reduces the amount of water rubbing on the surface of the engine. Here the oil is stored in the main oil tank.
The oil then goes through the oil filter to remove impurities. From the filtering point, this clean oil is distributed to different points of the machine where lubrication is required. The oil is supplied to the system to keep the oil temperature as low as possible. It is then cooled through cold water through a heat exchanger and then it is fed to the engine.
Operating cost of diesel power plant
Electricity can be generated in various ways. Coal, oil, gas, nuclear energy, and water are the major electricity generation sources. But oil is one of the most expensive fuels to generate electricity. The per-unit generation cost of diesel power plants is much higher than some other conventional energy source power plants. We know well diesel is a very costly fuel. For this reason, the generation cost is higher than others.
Statistics show that the per-unit cost of diesel power plants is $0.15 to $0.32 but rental power plants per unit cost is $0.23 to $0.33 which is comparatively high. The power plant’s cost is divided into three, such as initial cost, fixed cost, and running cost. The operating cost of diesel power plants is indeed more due to the high price of diesel. Due to the higher operating cost diesel power plants are operated for the peak load. We have given a chart that can give the assumption about the per-unit operating cost.
Coal-fired combustion turbine | $0.02 – $0.04 per unit operating cost |
Coal gasification combined-cycle | $0.04 – $0.08 |
Natural gas combustion turbine | $0.04 – $0.10 |
Natural gas combined-cycle | $0.04 – $0.10 |
Wind turbine (includes offshore wind) | Less than $0.01 |
Solar energy | $0.02 – $0.05 |
Hydro electric energy | Less than $0.01 |
Nuclear energy | $0.02 – $0.05 |
Diesel power plant advantages and disadvantages
The diesel engine is used as the prime mover for the diesel power plant. Diesel is ignited inside the engine and these combustion products act as working liquids in the production of mechanical energy. Diesel engines run an alternative that converts mechanical power into electrical power. There are lots of advantages and disadvantages of diesel power plants. The advantages are given below:
- The layout of the diesel power plants is very simple.
- The diesel power plant occupies a small place.
- It can be started quickly and picked load within a very short time.
- The diesel power plant has no standby losses.
- It requires a small quantity of water to cool.
- Diesel power plant requires less staff.
- The thermal efficiency is higher than the steam power plants.
- Diesel power plants have higher running costs than hydroelectric power plants.
- The diesel power plant does not work successfully to meet the overload condition for a longer period, due to higher fuel costs and low generation power.
- It generates a small amount of electrical energy.
- The operating cost is very high.
- Maintenance costs are also very high.
Diesel power plant’s efficiency
The actual heat efficiency of a modern thermal power plant usually ranges from 35% to 49%. 2.3 Generator Damage Modern generators achieve an efficiency of 96% -99%. Most of the energy losses occur in thermal power plants from boiler heat loss, pipe heat loss, cold source loss, mechanical loss, generator loss, etc. Diesel power plants efficiency is about 35% and this plant has low standby losses.
Why Diesel Power Plant is not used as a Base Load Power Plant?
Indeed, the diesel power plant is not used as baseload power plants. Basically, a diesel power plant is used for the peak period (5 pm to 12 am). Because diesel power plants have high running costs due to their fuel. For this reason, whenever load demand is increased then diesel power plants are operated. For this reason, the diesel power plant is also called a standby power plant. | https://openread.net/diesel-power-plants-working-merits- | 2,685 | null | 4 | en | 0.999998 |
The idea that there may be life on Mars has been around forcenturies, but the theory got a dubious boost from recently released photos ofthe surface of Mars (taken by the NASA robot Spirit) apparently showing ahuman-like figure. Several Internet sites have glommed onto the image andsuggested the figure could be alive.
But what is it? Just a rock, astronomers say.
It's hard enough to accurately recognize figures and facesacross the room. Mars, depending on when you measure it, is about 35 millionmiles away. The best telescopes aren't of much help in determining surfacefeatures, and that's why NASA sent robots with cameras to Mars.
The reason many people see a figure on the Martian landscapeis the same reason that people see faces in clouds, Rorschach blots, and coffeestains. This phenomenon, called pareidolia, is well knownin psychology, and it is the cause of many supposedly mysterious and miraculousevents (including the famous "Jesus in the Tortilla"). Examples areall around us; in fact if you have a New Hampshire state quarter, you have pareidolia in your pocket or purse (take a look).
Strong evidence for this psychological explanation lies inthe fact that the Spirit image does not look like Martian life (since we don'tknow what life on Mars looks like), but instead resembles life here on Earth,specifically human life. The image is the result of human interpretation. Ifyou look around the full image of the area (not just the close-up), you willfind several rocks and features that resemble non-human Earth life, such asarmadillos and snakes. In the right bottom corner, emerging from the sand,there is what looks like a lizard face wearing goggles and an airman's helmet.
This is of course not the first time that NASA images havebeen claimed to show evidence of Martian life. A man named Richard Hoaglandclaimed that 1976 photographs of the Cydonia region of Mars showed a human-likeface and was clear evidence of aliens.
According to astronomer Phil Plait of the Bad Astronomy Website, if the image really is of a man on Mars, he's awfully small: "Talkabout a tempest in a teacup!" Plait said. "The rock on Mars isactually just a few inches high and a few yards from the camera. A few millionyears of Martian winds sculpted it into an odd shape, which happens to looklike, well, a Bigfoot! It's just our natural tendency to see familiar shapes inrandom objects."
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Even though logic and science suggest that the image is of arock and not an animal, UFO buffsand conspiracy theorists will continue to speculate.
In fact, it will actually be pretty easy to determinewhether or not the image is of alien life. In later photographs of the area,either the same shape will be there or it won?t. If it is, it's a rock (unless,of course, little Martian men can hold the same pose for weeks or months at atime).
This is exactly how the "Face onMars" was eventually disproven. On April 5, 1998, the Mars GlobalSurveyor took photographs of the same region in far higher resolution than waspossible in 1976. The new images clearly showed an area heavily eroded, andthat the "face" was simply the result of low image quality, pareidolia, and tricks of light and shadow. Hoagland's theorywas discredited.
Just don't tell that to the creepy, goggle-wearing Martiansand lizard.
Benjamin Radford is managingeditor of the Skeptical Inquirer science magazine. He is authoror co-author of three books on skepticism and science literacy. They can befound on his website.
- Video: Looking for Life in All the Right Places
- Top 10 Unexplained Phenomena
- 10 Alien Encounters Debunked | http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080124-bad-mystery-mars.html | 848 | Travel | 3 | en | 0.999962 |
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