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Question? Just ask us!
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair
InspectAPedia ® Home
PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES
AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
ANTI SCALD VALVES
ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS
BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC
BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE
BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE
BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE
CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER
CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCES
CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER
DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater
DEPTH of SEPTIC TANK
DRAIN & SEWER PIPING
FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH
FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS
FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS
GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
HARD WATER - SOFTENERS
HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE
METHANE GAS SOURCES
MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES
MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS IN WATER
ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER
ODORS SEWER GAS in COLD WEATHER
ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES
ANIMAL or URINE ODOR SOURCE DETECTION
PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types
PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH
PLUMBING NOISE TRANSMISSION CONTROL
PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & CODES
PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
PUMPS, WATER REPAIR
RELIEF VALVE LEAKS
RELIEF VALVE, TP VALVE, BOILER
RELIEF VALVE, TP VALVE, STEAM BOILER
RELIEF VALVE, WATER HEATER
RELIEF VALVE, WATER TANK
REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES
METHANE GAS HAZARDS
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES
SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS
TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR
WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
WATER PUMPS & TANKS
WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP
WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
WINTERIZE A BUILDING
How to fix a clogged toilet:
Here we explain how to accurately determine the cause of a clogged, stopped-up toilet or slow toilet drainage.
Understanding the cause of a blocked toilet helps assure that the right repair is made at the lowest cost.
Here we explain how to diagnose and repair problems with toilets, leaks, flushes, odors, noises, running and wasted water.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2015 InspectApedia.com, All Rights Reserved.
All modern toilets receive human waste, urine, feces, and are intended to dispose of that matter in a sanitary fashion.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Before launching into our series of articles on diagnosing and repairing toilet problems such as clogged toilets, toilets that don't flush properly, running or leaky or noisy toilets, toilet odors, and loose toilets, take a look at the simple connection between a typical reservoir-tank toilet and the soil stack (waste piping) in the Carson Dunlop Associates sketch (above left), and review our description of basic types of toilets
If your toilet is backing up, here we give some advice on how to proceed. For added details on alternative methods to un-clog a blocked drain, also see BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS for details of methods used to un-block a clogged drain line.
If you have had sewage back up and spill out of toilets into the building, cleanup is needed and you may face bacterial hazards. See SEWAGE CONTAMINATION IN buildings for advice.
Is the sewer line or soil stack clogged?
If flushing the toilet leads to a backup, or worse, a toilet overflow, it's possible that the toilet drain pipe has clogged, or there may be a clog right at the base of the toilet itself.
Before going to work with a toilet plunger - (as shown in our photo at page top) which is normally the first thing to try, ask some questions about just when and how the clog occurred. Because if a child or pet has dropped something into the toilet, you do not want to push that blockage further into the piping system where removing it will be more trouble and more expensive.
Our grandson, learning toilet training, flushed his peed-in underpants down the toilet. We have also found child's toys, and once, a dog's bone clogging the waste line just below the toilet. It might have been possible to fish this obstruction out of the toilet drain with a wire, but ultimately the owners simply removed the toilet to retrieve the blocking underwear.
If other building drains are working fine, but one toilet is flushing poorly, it is possible that there is a local blockage close to the toilet itself.
Brian Gilligan found this drain clog by asking Chase what happened to the missing underpants. He then removed the toilet from the floor [image], and by luck, the underpants were able to be easily retrieved - unblocking the clogged toilet drain before a backup and toilet overflow catastrophe had occurred.
How to Use a Toilet Plunger to Clear a Blocked Toilet
If no one has thrown any toys, clothes, or objects into the toilet, try using a toilet plunger. If there is sewage in the toilet you might want to wait a bit to see if the water and sewage level lowers before plunging - just to reduce unsanitary splashing.
At BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS we discuss alternative methods used to clear a blocked drain.
Tips for Success Using a Toilet Plunger
The toilet plunger, an old stand-by, is often effective if
Watch out: don't flush a toilet if the bowl is already at a high level of water or waste - you're asking for a toilet overflow if you do.
In the unattractive example at left we show sewage backing up into the bowl of a clogged toilet. Flushing this toilet with the wastewater high in the bowl means an almost certain overflow of sewage into the bathroom. That mess wioll require both a mop-up and disinfection of the area.
Watch out: if you get toilet water on your skin, wash with soap and water. Same with clothes. Do not put a dirty finger in your eye, mouth, or in a cut - you are risking an infection.
For advice on using other methods to clear a blocked drain, including mechanical removal of an obstruction, use of drain clearing chemicals, more on using a toilet plunger, using a plumbing snake, using a kinetic water ram.
If you have had sewage back up and spill out of toilets into the building, cleanup is needed and you may face bacterial hazards.
See SEWAGE CONTAMINATION IN buildings for advice.
At More Reading is our list of toilet trouble diagnosis and repair articles. You will see that some toilet problems are fixed easily and right at the toilet by a simple adjustment, while others may not be the toilet's fault at all, and may need more thoughtful diagnosis and repair.
Taking off the toilet tank top: Some of these simple toilet diagnosis steps require that you look into the toilet flush tank on the back of the toilet.
Just lift the top off of the toilet tank and set it carefully aside on the floor where you won't break it or trip over it.
If you leave the tank top on the toilet seat (as we did for this photo) you're asking for trouble, and also, it's a bit in the way.
Our sketch below shows the parts you'll see inside the toilet tank. You may want to refer back to this drawing while reading the details of each class if individual toilet problems listed above and how they are detected, diagnosed, and repaired.
This article series discusses the cause, diagnosis, and repair of toilet problems (water closet problems) such as a toilet that does not flush well, clogged toilets, slow-filling toilets, running toilets, loose wobbly toilets, and odors at leaky toilets.
Reader Question: all of our toilets are overflowing - they take turns, but the problem comes & goes
All three of our toilets are taking turns overflowing if we let them. Some days it's one, another day it's it's another and on and on~ All other house drains are perfect. What is the problem and how do I fix it. Thank you! - Cynthia 7/29/12
Cynthia the helpful observation in your note is that all three toilets overflow - telling us that there is a system problem, not a blockage at an individual toilet drain line.
We discuss slow drains and clogged or failing septic systems - onsite waste disposal systems - septic tanks, drainfields, separately at SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR.
Continue reading at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR or select a topic from the More Reading links shown below.
Suggested citation for this web page
Green link shows where you are in this article series.
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Technical Reviewers & References | <urn:uuid:41a76d8d-49f1-4b4f-9a3b-860b02be61d5> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Toilet_Clogged.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936463606.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074103-00166-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.865342 | 2,437 | 2.765625 | 3 | {
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How They Lived Between Battles
- A Temporary, Mobile City
- Medical Care
- Leisure Time
- Camp Followers
- The Bad Times
Compared to modern camps, Revolutionary War encampments were not comfortable places. But soldiers of the day were not accustomed to modern comforts! In good times, multi-day camps of the regular armies had:
- rows of tents or temporary shelters for homes, stores, and services;
- an open space for drilling;
- pasture for horses and oxen;
- wagons parked together under guard, when not in use to gather supplies; and
- cannons placed in protective groups (“batteries”) facing outward.
Camps were placed near streams for drinking and cooking water, featuring one or more mills for grinding grain into flour, with enough trees nearby for firewood. A line of sentries or “pickets” encircled the camp, far enough from the edge to provide early warning of an attack, and some of the cavalry would keep an eye on the closest enemy forces.
One historian writes of Camp New Providence (in today’s Charlotte): “There were probably 50 wagons carrying gunpowder, tents, officer baggage, or barrels of rum. The camp was a busy place. Every few hours, express riders arrived and departed carrying written status reports, strength returns, and the latest news. During the day, local farmers arrived with cattle, chickens, and wagons of produce hoping to sell for currency.”
These camps were huge by the standards of the day. The largest city in North Carolina, Wilmington, had around 1,200 people. During the 1781 campaigns here, the regular British and Continental armies had between 2,000 and 2,500 men each, plus followers. Based on today’s city populations, that would be like having two two-million-person armies moving through modern N.C.!
Anderson 2011.
A tent for the soldiers was a single piece of canvas. It was slung over a rope raised off the ground, with the ends staked down wide so they form triangles viewed from the end. As many as eight privates could be assigned to a single tent, though some would be out on duty at any given time. They slept on the bare ground or wrapped in blankets. Open-sided tents were used for selling or providing supplies, often with small folding tables and chairs. Part-time “militia” soldiers rarely even had tents or decent blankets.
The commander usually took over the nicest nearby house. If the camp was near a town, the British army forced local residents to house their officers (a specific complaint in the Declaration of Independence). If not, higher-ranking officers had larger, sometimes round tents with sides. Many officers had servants—often enslaved in the Continental Army—and were allowed to transport fancy dishware, cots, chairs, and portable writing tables, libraries, and liquor cabinets!
Unlike modern army camps, these had no kitchens with serving lines or packaged “ready to eat” meals. For every several tents there would be a fire, some with metal tripods over them with hooks for cookpots. The men cooked for themselves. They ate whatever they or the “commissary officer” could purchase from local farmers. Hunting and fishing supplemented soldiers’ diets and provided recreation.
When the armies could not purchase enough food, they would “forage” from local residents. Sometimes they would pay for these goods, though depending on which side the residents were on, that might not provide the kinds of money they could use. Often, though, foraging just meant stealing.
Typically soldiers ate only breakfast and supper, with whatever utensils and dishes they brought from home. The food might be the same you and I would eat, but, “Army food was usually provided in raw form. Staples consisted of flour, corn meal, or bread, and beef, pork, or fish. Sometimes beans or peas were provided. At Guilford Courthouse, the Virginia militia was supplied with bacon, beef, mutton, flour, corn, and corn meal.”
These were served “as is” or cooked without fancy recipes. The army could not carry a bunch of spices with it, and salt was very expensive in those days. It could not be manufactured like today, just mined like metal or evaporated from sea water. When a British general in North Carolina ordered most of his wagons destroyed so he could move faster (see “Ramsour’s Mill”), he kept three types of supplies: ammunition, medical supplies, and salt!
In long-term camps, the “bathrooms” were just open pits. As one got filled, it would be covered over and a new one dug. Otherwise men would just “go in the woods” or in streams, (hopefully) downstream from where water was drawn.
U.S. National Park Service.
Medicine had not advanced much since the Dark Ages. Doctors knew nothing about bacteria or viruses, and did not bother washing their hands between patients. The first vaccine, for smallpox, was still new and gaining trust. For wounds, doctors could do little more than remove bullets, place bandaging, or cut off the limb—all without painkillers! They believed illnesses were caused by an imbalance in four primary liquids or “humors” in the body. A primary form of treatment for many illnesses was to make someone bleed in an attempt to “balance the humors.”
Not surprisingly, more soldiers died from illness (and resulting medical treatments) than directly from war wounds.
There were no radios or TVs in those days, much less computers and smartphones! When not drilling or working, people entertained each other by playing simple games with cards or dice; told stories; sang or played musical instruments; and held running races and wrestling matches. Men often had to repair their equipment or clothes, make their own bullets, and shape flints for guns. Most could not read, and those who knew how could not carry libraries around on their backs. They had to content themselves with one favorite book, often a Bible, or writing and re-reading letters.
Both armies were careful to keep their men supplied with “spirits”—alcohol, primarily rum or brandy. Continental Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene wrote, “‘Without spirits the men cannot support the fatigues of a long campaign.’”
U.S. National Park Service.
As discussed on “Minorities in the Revolution,” people of many spiritual beliefs served in the armies. However, the Anglican Church was the official religion in Britain and dominated the colonies, with other Protestant sects represented. (Some of the larger ones in the United States, such as Moravians and Quakers, refused to fight.) The regular armies might have official chaplains that gave Protestant Christian services on a Sunday, and officers could attend local churches. Some pastors traveled with militia armies and offered impromptu services. All other believers had to tend to their own religious needs.
Women, children, and servants, free or enslaved, were present as “camp followers.” Many were wives of the soldiers, and they washed, sewed, nursed, guarded supplies, tended livestock, and made, bought or sold goods. However, since most of the men were farmers, most of their wives stayed home to run the farms.
Follower women were not prostitutes; in fact, prostitution was banned or discouraged in army camps. There are numerous cases of commanders ordering officers to ensure the followers were “of good character.” In fact, all camp followers were considered part of the army, subject to (and protected by) the same military laws—and punishments—as the soldiers. Often they were paid, received the same rations as the men, and provided some of the functions supplied today by Quartermaster units and support contractors.
Camp followers lived under the same conditions as the soldiers, good or bad. Women and servants, including enslaved people, frequently exposed themselves to the dangers of battle. They refilled canteens, treated wounds on the field, or retrieved powder and ammunition from the dead. Some were killed or maimed in the process. A few are known to have picked up arms and joined the fight.
Despite their value, camp followers were also a burden. They could slow an army’s movement and required that much more food. Just like soldiers, the threat of punishment was not enough to prevent trouble. Lt. Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis complained during the Race to the Dan that the women were “‘the source of the most infamous plundering.'”
Men too old to fight were capable of providing other services like gun repair, and even children were put to work with chores like gathering firewood and hauling water.
Sometimes refugee camps would spring up next to an army’s and follow behind its march. People were often afraid to stay home when an opposing army approached, due to violence by local partisans from the other side.
Babits, Lawrence, and Joshua Howard, Long, Obstinate, and Bloody: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2009).
When an army was on the move, there was no time to set up everything, and the number of camp followers were limited via quotas issued by commanders. Soldiers often slept in the open, even in winter. Food could be hard to come by, or would be the same thing over and over: uncooked grain, green corn, whatever they could find.
It was not unusual for armies to march 20 miles on a normal day, sometimes more, sometimes day after day. Usually for the infantry (foot soldiers) this was done on shoes of thin leather at best, and always carrying a heavy gun and all of the man’s possessions on his back. People did not typically take baths and wash clothes nearly as often as we do today, but for soldiers it could go far longer. Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, quoted earlier, went an entire month in North Carolina without taking off his clothes!
Conditions in the 1780 Continental winter camp in Charlotte were terrible, probably worse than at Valley Forge, Penn., earlier in the war. Many people had no tents, crowding under lean-tos or into crude huts with large gaps that let the rain and cold wind through. Food, wood, and winter clothing were scarce. Both Gen. George Washington and Greene wrote desperate letters to their political leaders seeking help, but those leaders often had little to give.
- Anderson, William, ‘Camp New Providence’ (EleHistory Research, 2011) <http://elehistory.com/> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- Bacharach, Joan, Khaled Bassim, Stephen Ware, and John Durham, ‘’American Revolutionary War: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Museum Collections’, National Park Service, 2002 <https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/guco/gucooverview.html> [accessed 30 March 2020]
- Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, ‘Continental Soldiers in the Revolutionary War’, History of Massachusetts Blog, 2017 <https://historyofmassachusetts.org/continental-soldiers-revolutionary-war/> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- ‘Camp Followers’, George Washington’s Mount Vernon <http://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/camp-followers/> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- ‘Colonial Medicine’ (Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, 07/92) <https://www.historyisfun.org/PDFbooks/Colonial_Medicine.pdf>
- Dunkerly, Robert M., ‘8 Fast Facts About Camp Followers’, Journal of the American Revolution, 2014 <https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/04/8-fast-facts-about-camp-followers/> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- Durham, J. Lloyd, ‘Outfitting an American Revolutionary Soldier’, NCpedia, 1992 <https://www.ncpedia.org/history/usrevolution/soldiers> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- ‘Fife, Drum, and Bugle During the Revolutionary War’, The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps <https://www.fifeanddrum.army.mil/kids_fife_drum.html> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- ‘Fighting Infection | Museum of the American Revolution | Philadelphia History Museum’ <https://www.amrevmuseum.org/read-the-revolution/history/fighting-infection> [accessed 30 March 2020]
- Hedbor, Lars D. H., ‘Better to Eat That Apple a Day: Medicine in the Revolutionary Era’, Journal of the American Revolution, 2013 <https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/03/better-to-eat-that-apple-a-day-medicine-in-the-revolutionary-era/> [accessed 30 March 2020]
- Loewen, James, Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong (New York, NY: The New Press, 2019)
- ‘Military Nursing Revolutionary War’, American Nursing History <https://www.americannursinghistory.org/military-nursing-revolutionary-war> [accessed 30 March 2020]
- Schenawolf, Harry, ‘Life in the Rebel Camp During the American Revolutionary War’, Revolutionary War Journal, 2014 <https://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/life-in-the-rebel-camp/> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- Sherman, Wm. Thomas, Calendar and Record of the Revolutionary War in the South: 1780-1781, Tenth Edition (Seattle, WA: Gun Jones Publishing, 2007) <https://www.americanrevolution.org/calendar_south_10_ed_update_2017.pdf>
- Snuff, Mary Hazel, A Study Of Army Camp Life During American Revolution, 2017 <http://archive.org/details/camp_life_during_american_revolution_1711_librivox> [accessed 22 March 2020]
- U.S. National Park Service, ‘Guilford Courthouse National Military Park’ <https://www.nps.gov/guco/index.htm> [accessed 23 April 2020] | <urn:uuid:5f2476d9-660a-4677-bcc2-29b6dc1e76db> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://amrevnc.com/american-revolution-army-camps/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304835.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20220125130117-20220125160117-00166.warc.gz | en | 0.966133 | 3,128 | 3.859375 | 4 | {
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Verb Tenses! List of 12 tenses in English with useful grammar rules and examples, including past tense, present tense and future tense. Learn these English tenses with verb tenses chart to master grammar rules in English.
In the English language, tenses play an important role in sentence formation. The tense of a verb shows the time of an event or action.
The concept of time can be split into:
- The Present: What you are currently doing.
- I eat. – I am eating.
- She goes to school. – She is going to school.
- The Past: What you did some time back.
- I ate. – I was eating.
- She went to school. – She was going to school.
- The Future: What you will do later.
- I will eat. – I will be eating
- She will go to school.
Types of Tenses
There are four types of verb tenses. Simple, Perfect, Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous and each of these has a present, past and future form.
Simple Present Tense
In Simple Present, the action is simply mentioned and there is nothing being said about its completeness.
- I eat.
- I sleep.
- I play.
Present Continuous Tense
In Present Continuous, the action is on-going/ still going on and hence continuous.
- I am eating.
- I am sleeping.
- I am playing.
Present Perfect Tense
In Present Perfect, the action is complete or has ended and hence termed Perfect.
- I have eaten.
- I have slept.
- I have played.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
In Present Perfect Continuous, the action has been taking place for some time and is still ongoing.
- I have been eating.
- I have been sleeping.
- I have been playing.
Simple Past Tense
In Simple Past, the action is simply mentioned and understood to have taken place in the past.
- I ate.
- I slept.
- I played.
Past Continuous tense
In Past Continuous, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past.
- I was eating.
- I was sleeping.
- I was playing.
Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect is used to express something that happened before another action in the past.
- I had eaten.
- I had slept.
- I had played.
Past Perfect Continous Tense
Past Perfect Continuous is used to express something that started in the past and continued until another time in the past.
- I had been eating.
- I had been sleeping.
- I had been playing.
Simple Future Tense
Simple Future is used when we plan or make a decision to do something. Nothing is said about the time in the future.
- I will eat.
- I will sleep.
- I will play.
Future Continous Tense
The future continuous tense is used to express action at a particular moment in the future. However, the action will not have finished at the moment.
- I will be eating at 9 a.m.
- I will be sleeping when you arrive.
- I will be playing at 5 p.m.
Future Perfect Tense
- I will have eaten before 10 a.m.
- I will have slept before you arrive.
- I will have played before 6 p.m.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Perfect Continuous is used to talk about an on-going action before some point in the future.
- I will have been sleeping for two hours when you arrive.
- I will have been playing for an hour when it is 5 p.m.
Verb Tenses Chart
Learn 12 English verb tenses with useful tense chart in English. | <urn:uuid:9d75a824-5809-4c75-825c-ad9710138e0a> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://eslgrammar.org/verb-tenses/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320302706.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20220120220649-20220121010649-00637.warc.gz | en | 0.963692 | 866 | 3.953125 | 4 | {
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Lotteries have been around for centuries. Some of the earliest examples of lottery tickets date back to the Han Dynasty in China, where they were used to help fund various government projects, such as the construction of the Great Wall of China. Other lottery games can be traced to the Roman Empire. During the Saturnalian revels, wealthy citizens distributed tickets as a way to raise money for public projects. The English word “lottery” is derived from the Dutch word “lot”, which means “fate”.
During the early United States, lottery games were used to fund many public projects, including the Colonial Army. In the Middle Ages, governments used lotteries to fund roads, libraries, colleges, and canals. George Washington even held numerous lotteries, and a ticket from his 1768 Mountain Road Lottery sold for more than $15,000 in 2007. Lotteries were used to fund schools, including the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, several colonies used them to raise money for local militia and fortifications. In 1758, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts used the lottery to fund an expedition against Canada.
In the United States, lottery ticket sales are heavily regulated. Since millions of dollars are spent on tickets each year, the government is concerned with keeping tickets legitimate and awarding prizes properly. If the lottery was not regulated, it would be easy for fraudulent ticket sales to take place. This would result in a higher level of forged tickets. The government also has strict rules governing the distribution of lottery tickets.
State lotteries are expanding into the internet. Currently, only a few states have authorized lottery ticket sales online, but more are expected to follow suit. There are many advantages to playing the lottery online. First, you can choose a lottery that is legally licensed in your state. You can even purchase tickets through a lottery app, like Jackpocket.
Another option is to join a lottery syndicate. By pooling your money with other lottery players, you increase your odds of winning. In some countries, lottery syndicates win over a fifth of the top jackpots. Once you win, the money is shared among the group, and you can potentially earn up to $10 million or more from the profits.
Another benefit of online lottery betting is that you can play the lottery from anywhere. Many of the top lottery websites are compatible with all devices, including mobile devices. The top lottery sites offer tickets for the most popular lotteries. However, they don’t always offer the smaller lottery games in specific states. So, you need to choose the site that fits your needs the best.
Online lottery ticket sales have become popular in many states. However, lottery tickets can be expensive. A lottery ticket can also result in an unexpected financial loss if you are not maximizing your expected utility. Even though it is expensive, you’re more likely to buy a lottery ticket if you want the thrill of winning the lottery. | <urn:uuid:039722e1-1270-4ef4-8643-ac88e8db5e58> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.bentnail.org/advantages-of-gambling-online/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510208.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926111439-20230926141439-00324.warc.gz | en | 0.973243 | 605 | 2.6875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.7466143369674683,
"reasoning_level": 2,
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In a normal pregnancy approximately 500 ml of amniotic fluid is produced. In almost seven percent of pregnancies, amniotic fluid problems develop. Imbalances in amniotic fluid volume can cause pregnancy complications. In very rare events, amniotic fluid may even pass through the placenta and enter the mother's bloodstream, causing a life-threatening pregnancy complication called amniotic fluid embolism.
Pregnant women with low levels of amniotic fluid have a condition known as oligohydramnios. Ultrasound can identify oligohydramnios, which may be caused by ineffective placental flow. Oligohydramnios may also be caused by low fluid production from the fetus' lungs and kidneys, or a rupture of the amniotic membrane,(the membrane that surrounds both the fetus and the amniotic fluid.
Complications of Oligohydramnios
In most cases of low amniotic fluid, pregnancy ends with a healthy baby. However, oligohydramnios is more serious when it occurs in the first half of a pregnancy. Low levels of amniotic fluid increase the chance of miscarriage, premature births and stillbirth. In addition, oligohydramnios, especially early in pregnancy, carries a greater risk of lung and limb defects. Insufficient amniotic fluid can compress fetal lungs and cause kidney and urinary tract problems. Overall, seven percent of infants who experience oligohydramnios have some degree of birth defects.
Treatment for Low Amniotic Fluid Levels
Treatment depends on how far the pregnancy has progressed. If the pregnancy is at term, delivery is the best treatment. If the pregnancy is not far enough along to recommend delivery, amniotic infusion may be suggested. An amniotic infusion injects additional amniotic fluid through the amniotic membrane to raise fluid levels.
Polyhydramnios is the opposite of oligohydramnios. While oligohydramnios describes too little amniotic fluid, polyhydramnios describes too much. High levels of amniotic fluid often indicate the presence of swallowing or heart defects in the fetus. Polyhydramnios may also occur if the mother has diabetes, or if the fetus experiences an infection or gastrointestinal problems.
Symptoms of polyhydramnios include unusually quick uterine growth and abdominal discomfort. High levels of amniotic fluid can also cause premature uterine contractions.
Complications of High Levels of Amniotic Fluids
High levels of amniotic fluid increase the risk of umbilical cord prolapse. Umbilical cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord enters the birth canal before the baby's head. The cord can become tangled and both oxygen and blood flow to the fetus are restricted.
Polyhydramnios can also cause the amniotic fluid membrane to rupture, resulting in premature labor. Birth defects are associated with polyhydramnios, as are premature uterine contractions. During a pregnancy with high levels of amniotic fluid, the mother may experience breathing difficulties if the enlarged uterus pushes against the lungs.
Treatment for Polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios treatment includes careful monitoring of the condition, with delivery as soon as the pregnancy comes to term. If necessary, amniotic fluid levels may be lowered with medication to decrease fetal urine output, or by means of amnioreduction, a process in which a needle is inserted through the uterus to drain amniotic fluid.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism
Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare complication of pregnancy. It occurs when amniotic fluid pass through the placenta into the mother's bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the amniotic fluid can travel to the lungs, where it causes breathing difficulties. In severe cases, an amniotic fluid embolism can cause death. Symptoms of an amniotic fluid embolism are similar to those for a pulmonary embolism.
Beers, M. H. & Berkow, R., eds. (1999). Normal pregnancy, labor, and delivery. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.
Callahan, T .L., Caughey, A. B., & Heffner, L. J. (2001). Blueprints in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2nd Edition. MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. (updated 2004). Amniotic fluid problems/hydramnios/olighydramnios.
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. (2002). Amniotic fluid abnormalities.
I've heard of where the baby has no fluid around it, but sadly no the child cannot survive. They need the fluid to help the lungs grow and mature and to help the limbs grow properly. There are some things your doctor might try, but you'd have to speak to them. If the damage is too far gone, they may do nothing. I'm sorry that you're having to go through this right now.
I also found this.. Though there are reports of serious complications and death. It always helps to get some hope
No Amniotic Fluid After 12 Weeks – I Survived
by Melissabookmark & shareI was 22 years old when I found out that I was pregnant. I was also already 7 weeks along and miscarrying a twin. At 12 weeks I went to have a CVS procedure where they take amniotic fluid for hereditary testing. This is also when I found out the sex of my child. If it was boy I didn't need to have the procedure.
The ultrasound technician looked at me and my boyfriend and told me that they were 80 percent sure that we would have a girl. I went on to have the procedure even though I knew I didn't have to. I remember the procedure feeling just like a pap smear. It was just a little more uncomfortable, and the doctor was saying there was nothing they could do as water gushed down my legs. I remember screaming for the doctor to give me my baby back. She told me there was nothing she could do and that I would miscarry in a few days.
I went to the OB in my home town, to a have a D&C (clinic abortion) and my mom had asked if there was still a heartbeat. As the doctor listened for a heartbeat there was a thump thump. Then he proceeded to tell me that I would have to get an abortion at a clinic, because they don't do anything with alive babies. I was 15 weeks when I made the appointment. I never went through with it. She still had a beat. She was alive.
Ultrasounds every week showed she had no amniotic fluid. Three different doctors told me she would never survive. This continued until I went into labor at 32 weeks. They stopped the labor for two weeks.
At 34 weeks I was having a child that everyone had said would not survive as soon as she was out of the womb. After eight hours of labor, Victorea Kay Marie was born, 4 pounds, 15 ounces. I remember hearing her cry and having some sort of relief. If she was crying than she had to be alive.
As they whisked her to the NICU my OB told me that she truly delivered a miracle, because two hours later Victorea was thriving. Besides being premature, she was breathing on her own – huge concern, because you need amniotic fluid to help lung function.
Victorea will be 3 on March 30, 2009. I named her after my great grandmother but changed the spelling to show that there was a victory in her survival. I didn't have faith before I had her, but she made me believe in myself and my decision not to terminate her, even after numerous doctors had stated what the odds were. She has no defects; she is not retarded, or has any deformities. She is special and exactly what she is supposed to be – a miracle, my miracle.
Um YES THE BABY CAN SURVIVE but they will end up putting fluid in u and prolly giving u shots to build up babied lungs and take Baby very early. My db cousin just had That happen. They took baby 2 months early and all was well She was just small. Speak to your doctor ASAP about seeing specialist and c about getting Them to build up fluid n do steroid shots. God works wanders if u ask!
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Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2013.11.43
Tymon C. A. de Haas, Fields, Farms and Colonists: Intensive Field Survey and Early Roman Colonization in the Pontine Region, Central Italy (2 vols.). Groningen archaeological studies, 15. Eelde; Groningen: Barkhuis; Groningen University Library, 2011. Pp. xi, 487. ISBN 9789077922934. $93.00 (pb).
Reviewed by Martin Sterry, University of Leicester ([email protected])
Fields, Farms and Colonists is a solid contribution to the study of central Italian landscapes and early Roman Italy and will also be of interest to scholars whose interest lies in field survey and the data they produce. This is the PhD thesis of de Haas conducted at Groningen and integrates the work of three groups of surveys in the Pontine region: the Coastal Landscape around Antium and Satricum, the Pontine Marshes or Pontinia, and the Lepine Margins around Norba. These were all conducted under the umbrella of the Pontine Region Project (PRP) to understand settlement and land-use in this region from the Archaic to the Late Republican period (580-30 BC).
The book is in two volumes, the first of which contains the main body of the text. The second volume contains a site and ceramics catalogue for the Pontinia and Norba surveys. These are intended to be used with other publications of the PRP,1 and it should be noted that this is not the publication of the raw survey data which is planned for release by digital archive via DANS, but was not available at the time of this review. Two themes structure the main text: Chapters 2-6 and 11 discuss the potential of field walking data for regional comparison and are the main presentation of the survey results. Chapters 7-10 and 12 compare the evidence from several Roman colonisations through a series of micro-histories incorporating, textual, excavation and survey evidence.
The presentation of the data are in Chapters 3-5 with highly detailed and well-illustrated analyses of the intensive surveys each with a period-by-period breakdown. These include artefact distributions, site sizes and characteristics, assemblage composition, fragmentation and periodization. The chapters then conclude with a discussion of changing patterns of settlement and land-use. Unfortunately, there are no maps on which sites are labelled (although coordinates are present in the site catalogue in the second volume); this creates a disjuncture between the discussion of the assemblage composition and the site distributions. For example, it would have been interesting to see the spatial distribution of different functional elements of the assemblages.
Chapter 6 is the main comparison between the surveys within the volume, divided into three main areas. Firstly, a frank assessment of surveying conditions highlights that, even within a small study area, farming practices and topography have a noticeable effect on the archaeological assemblages collected. Secondly, a comparison of site assemblages demonstrates that there is a great deal of variation between the different survey areas. De Haas interprets trends with respect to changing local economies and the vitality of different local centres. Thirdly, on the basis that more off-site material equates to greater manuring and therefore intensive farming, de Haas compares land-use strategies of the surveyed sites, drawing heavily upon the models of Hayes to argue for different farming methods in the different regions.2 These are intriguing results although I would have preferred a greater focus on the significance of agricultural intensification in terms of demography and land tenure.3 The discussion is detailed and nuanced and the chapter is a good demonstration of the greater breadth of research questions (as well as answers) that can be asked of intensive field survey data compared to the more traditional dots-on-a-map. However, there is limited diachronic analysis or attempt to frame these interpretations within patterns seen more widely across central Italy. In part this seems a product of the small survey areas (just 10.9km2), the need to aggregate data from different periods and some uncertainty as to just how representative the data are.
The second half of the book begins with in-depth discussions of the archaeological evidence for Antium and Satricum (Chapter 7), the area of Pontine Marshes along the via Appia, near Setia (Chapter 8) and Norba (Chapter 9). These are well-researched chapters with valuable bibliographies, especially for the collected excavation evidence. The presentation of the survey evidence is largely reduced to the number and distribution of surveyed sites by period with reference to different tile and pottery industries in the different locales and it feels somewhat sparse after the detail of the previous chapters. Although these chapters are concerned only with the archaic and Republican periods there are useful summaries of the imperial period in appendices for each chapter.
At Antium and Satricum de Haas interprets the evidence as demographic and economic decline in the rural hinterland in the early 5th century followed by a period of continuity. There is no evidence for the colonists of Satricum (385 BC) receiving plots of 2.5 iugera as has previously been claimed. However, in the mid-Republican period he interprets a growth in settlement numbers and a more dispersed settlement patterns as evidence of a growing population and more stable political situation. Finally, the late-Republican period sees further growth in settlement numbers and greater differentiation of site-types with clusters of villas developing along the coast and the marine terraces to the north of Antium, but not in the area close to the abandoned settlement of Satricum which De Haas also argues had less intensive land-use practices.
The discussion of the Pontine marshes is most notable for the striking relationship between the draining of the marsh and its rapid occupation in the mid-Republican period. De Haas considers that this may be evidence of state-organised colonisation, due to the large-scale investment needed in both infrastructure and drainage, which was not explicitly linked to the foundation of an urban colony.
In the discussion of Norba and its hinterland, de Haas tracks the abandonment of an archaic hilltop site – Caracupa Valvisciolo in favour of the plateau of Norba in the 5th century. The viewshed analysis employed is somewhat superficial and simply equates line-of-sight with control and domination.4 Rural settlement appears to follow the dominant settlement in this region until the late Republic, during which Norba was destroyed and site numbers decline.
A comparison of these case studies follows in Chapter 10, which, although short, draws out the distinctions between colonisation of the 5th and 4th centuries. The former primarily involved creating new central places (Norba and Antium) but not large demographic changes, whereas the latter was more strongly linked with land allotment and the movement and expansion of rural populations (Pontine Marshes).
The two concluding chapters mirror the two halves of the book, with the first (Chapter 11) an argument for small intensive surveys and the second a new narrative for the colonisation of the Pontine region. Through the volume de Haas has convincingly demonstrated the inherent variability of survey data and the significant contribution that can be made if these data are collected in detail. The discussions of land-use are a prime example of how archaeologists can move beyond just counting sites. However, these are arguments for ever more intensive survey techniques. They do not really address the critiques on how to explore areas of hundreds or thousands of square kilometres, nor do they explain how intensive surveys can be used to qualify the results of extensive surveys already undertaken. This is partly evident through the final chapter (Chapter 12) that presents a new narrative and discussion of the colonisation of the Pontine region. The survey evidence is used to describe changes in rural settlement density in relation to the various centres but, due to the poor chronological resolution, this is necessarily a broad-brush description. The most important parts of this discussion are the disjuncture between colonisation events and growths in rural population and the variability in forms of colonisation. Colonies did not immediately result in dramatic changes to the rural landscape in terms of new sites and potentially cadastral systems, instead rural expansion could be centuries later and it is difficult for the two to be definitively linked. Witcher has argued persuasively that greater invention is required in survey projects, and this would seem to be a missed opportunity to foreground changes in land-use, rural consumption and identity as major factors of colonisation.5
At 12 chapters this is not a light volume, nor is it easy to dip into, with the writing long-winded at times; an index would have been useful in this respect, although the chapters are intelligently arranged. The figures are well presented in a standard format, but they often appear to be converted to greyscale from colour and in some cases it can be hard to distinguish between the different shades of grey. In the reviewer’s copy, many pages were out of order and six pages could not be located at all.. It is unfortunate that these errors were not picked up in proofs although they do not appear to interfere with any critical sections of the book.
Overall this book will be required reading for anyone researching early Roman landscapes and it is a useful exploration of what can be achieved with field walking data that will be useful for anyone planning a project, especially in Italy. Additionally, the discussion chapters provide a useful summary of the archaeological and historical evidence of the Pontine Region. However, one feels that there is unexploited scope here to frame this within broader themes of the history and archaeology of Roman Italy.
1. These are published in the journal Palaeohistoria.
2. P. Hayes. 1991. "Models for the distribution of pottery around former agricultural settlements", in A. Schofield (ed.) Interpreting Artefact Scatters. Contributions to Ploughzone Archaeology. Oxford: 81-92.
3. e.g. E. Boserup. 1965. The Conditions of Agricultural Growth: The Economics of Agrarian Change under Population Pressure. London, and M. van der Veen and T. O’Connor. 1998, "The expansion of agricultural production in late Iron Age and Roman Britain" in J. Bayley (ed.), Science in Archaeology: An Agenda for the Future. London: 127-144.
4. contra D. Wheatley and M. Gillings. 2000. "Vision, perception and GIS: developing enriched approaches to the study of archaeological visibility". In G.R. Lock (ed.), Beyond the map: archaeology and spatial technologies. Amsterdam: 1-27.
5. R. Witcher. 2006. "Broken pots and meaningless dots? Surveying the rural landscapes of Roman Italy". Papers of the British School at Rome 74: 39-72. | <urn:uuid:fcce4554-5ee9-4592-bfc9-d72b0538ddf2> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2013/2013-11-43.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496665726.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20191112175604-20191112203604-00091.warc.gz | en | 0.931514 | 2,246 | 2.65625 | 3 | {
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- Celebrity Pets
Owls are awesome. Sometimes we hear their calls at night indicating their whereabouts to their mates, but we seldom actually see our neighborhood owls, because they are active at night, when we humans don't see too well. They say owls can't see during the daytime, but that's not true. They see fine in daylight, they just see incredibly well at night. Here are some more facts about owls, some of which you may not have known....
1. Owls can not rotate their eyes up and down or right to left - they can only look straight ahead with binocular vision of only a 70 degree radius. Humans have double the range of binocular vision, but an owl can see far better than we can (although not directly in front of them, as owls are quite farsighted).
2. The owls' narrow range of vision is compensated for by their ability to rotate their heads 270 degrees, including the ability to furn their heads completely upside down.
3. Most birds have two eyelids; an outer one for sleeping, and an inner eyelid for cleaning the eye. But the owl has three eyelids - an upper eyelid just for blinking, a lower eyelid for sleeping, and an inner eyelid for cleaning the eye.
4. Owls have extremely sensitive hearing, but their ears cannot be seen, as they are located behind the owl's eyes. Their hearing is so good that they can even hear their prey moving underground.
5. What are known as 'ear tufts' are not 'covers' for the ears; they are responsive to the owl's mood. For example, ear tufts tend to fluff up when the owl is being aggressive.
6. Owls approach their prey silently, aided by their soft feathers, lightweight bodies, and specialized wing shape during flight. They kill their prey with their strong, sharp talons. Watch the feathers on this eagle owl as it lands in this high-speed video by virtrunner...
7. Owls will swallow small prey whole,but their digestive systems are so efficient that they only digest what is nutritious. The rest of the animal, such as the bones and fur, are regurgitated in 'pellets.' The pellets leave clues for scientists as to owl nest locations and diet.
8. Unlike most avian species, it's the female owl that's generally larger and more colorfully plumed than the male. Females are typically more aggressive than males.
9. Do you think that a British government body got its name from a group of owls, known as a parliament?
10.Some species of owls have hairy legs and feet. This is to protect them from getting rat and snake bites!
Owls are awesome birds and the chicks are very cute, but owls are hunters and do not make good pets; just ask the bird sanctuaries in Britain how many owls they've had to rescue since the Harry Potter movies made every kid in the country want an owl! You can admire them without owning them.
That's the hoot for today! | <urn:uuid:8758682f-d2b5-4f04-92ba-2a51efa87dc3> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://petslady.com/articles/10_facts_you_probably_didnt_know_about_owls | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163049340/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131729-00090-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978731 | 644 | 3.53125 | 4 | {
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The darkened ships of Sub-Task Force Goalpost lay silently off the coast of a great continent. Ashore, lights gleamed, marking the unsuspecting target of the assault planned to take place before dawn. Suddenly, there was movement at the mouth of the Sebou River where it emptied into the sea from a long jetty. A line of four light steamers, well lit, crept out to sea directly toward the assembled fleet.
Brigadier General Lucian K. Truscott watched them warily from the deck of his command ship Henry T. Allen until the lead vessel was close enough for him to read its name, even in the dark early morning. As Lorraine passed Allen, the steamer blinkered a signal, and a young naval officer standing with Truscott translated it from the French: ‘Be warned. Alert on shore for 5.’ As the ships steamed out to open water, Truscott wrestled with the knowledge that the most ambitious combined-arms operation in history had been discovered by the enemy in its climactic hour.
Sub-Task Force Goalpost was only a single part of a larger, three-pronged invasion fleet called the Western Task Force, whose mission was to invade French Morocco. The Western Task Force in turn, was yoked to two others, the Center and Eastern task forces. The three task forces, under the aegis of Operation Torch, had the mission of seizing all of French North Africa. It was a military operation of immense complication, involving the assembly and coordination of hundreds of ships, thousands of tons of supplies and countless man-hours of planning and training under the added stress of cooperating with new allies and trying to second guess the intentions of the enemy. All this by a nation that had not even been at war a few months before. But once involved, the United States was an eager participant.
The final agreement on the Allies’ first combined military action in the European theater did not come about overnight. The self-confident Americans had arrived in England early in 1942, spoiling for the showdown with Hitler. To the horror of their British counterparts, they suggested an immediate cross-Channel attack into France. With patience and persistence, the British explained the practical difficulties of mounting such a huge operation so soon, including the fact that the Allies were losing vast amounts of shipping to German submarines in the Atlantic. Until that problem was licked, they could not build up the materiel needed for an invasion of France. On July 22 the Americans approved Operation Torch, the British alternative to an invasion of Europe.
Although the grand design of Torch had the objective of securing all of North Africa for the Allies by squeezing Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps between Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery’s British Eighth Army in the east and the combined American, British and possibly Free French forces in the west, it was not that simple. French forces in North Africa were under the command of the Vichy government, whose first concern was not to give the Germans any excuse for occupying the rest of France or her possessions. Unofficially, there were plenty of Frenchmen eager for an opportunity to actively support the Allies. Add to those two factors the element of French pride, and the Allies had a situation that was almost impossible to predict.
To find out how the French would react to an invasion of North Africa, the Allies flooded Morocco and Algeria with spies, set up an elaborate network of clandestine radios, arranged secret meetings with French officers and even succeeded in smuggling out of France the four-star general Henri Giraud, whose prestige, it was hoped, would convince the French military in North Africa not to resist the planned invasion. Even with all of this activity, however, there was still no guarantee that the landings would be unopposed.
Meanwhile, preparations for Torch continued, with the final plans calling for three separate groups of landings. The Eastern Task Force would land at Algiers, the Algerian capital, and the Center Task Force at the Algerian port city of Oran. The trickiest part of those operations would be when they passed through the Strait of Gibraltar; if U-boats caught them in that natural choke point, the Germans would have a field day. Consequently, the concern of the planners for the Mediterranean area was primarily one of deception. The third part of Operation Torch, the Western Task Force, had a number of other problems that made its task the most complicated of them all.
Placed under the command of General George Patton, the Western Task Force had the advantage of having a man at the top who would stop at nothing to see that the mission was accomplished, a quality that would be needed in the days ahead. Naval operations were in the hands of Rear Adm. H. Kent Hewitt, an easygoing man who, in the beginning, found it difficult to work with Patton, but with increasing familiarity became a solid partner.
One of the things that made the Western Task Force a tougher challenge than the others was the fact that its entire troop complement would be made up of American soldiers without combat experience. The question was often asked as to how they would perform in battle. Although there were plenty of veteran American officers whose experience went back to World War I, the U.S. Army of November 1942 was largely a new creation–its troops trained hastily after the attack on Pearl Harbor, sometimes at half-built facilities and with wooden guns.
As the weeks passed, Patton overcame problems of organization, supply, transportation, assembly and even last-minute training. On October 23, the same day that Montgomery launched his attack on El Alamein, Admiral Hewitt brought out the fleet from Hampton Roads and set sail. Elements of the invasion force left at separate times and from different places, finally assembling somewhere in the Atlantic as the troops continued to train aboard ship. At last, the armada reached the waters off Africa and once again divided into its three component parts. Operation Blackstone would land at the Moroccan port just south of Casablanca; Operation Brushwood would come ashore at Fedala, just north of Casablanca; and Operation Goalpost, under the command of General Truscott, with the most difficult mission of the three, would strike farthest north at Port Lyautey.
Although Truscott’s mission was to attack Port Lyautey, the main purpose of Goalpost was to seize the airfield outside the town, preferably by the end of the first day ashore, in order for planes waiting on the carrier Chenango to use it to support the attack on Casablanca. It was easier said than done. An attempted overthrow of the Vichy French government in Morocco had failed just before the arrival of the invading army, dashing any hopes that the landing would be unopposed. As it was, the invading troops had an obstacle course of defenses, both natural and man-made, to overcome to reach the airfield. The town of Port Lyautey actually sat well back from the coast on the southern bend of the Sebou River. As the river bent northward and then southward again, it emptied into the sea along a jetty that stuck out beyond the shoreline. Within the western loop sat the airport, guarded by a number of anti-aircraft guns. Furthermore, the river was blocked by a cable stretched across it that would need to be cut before troops could be brought up and deposited at the airport.
Goalpost would be divided into three segments, made up of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 60th Regimental Combat Team (of the 9th Infantry Division), and placed ashore at Yellow and Blue beaches in the extreme south, at Green Beach just south of the jetty, and Red Beach to the north of the Sebou. A series of ridges ran along Red Beach that the 3rd Battalion, under Lt. Col. John J. Toffey, would need to cross in order to reach Hill 58 and establish a fire-control team to support the attack on the airfield. Separate units were expected to seize a bridge over the Sebou leading into Port Lyautey on the north. To the extreme south, the 1st Battalion, under Major Percy McCarley, would have to find a narrow road that gave access between a long lagoon to the left and more ridges to the right. Three miles inland, the 1st was to establish a strong blocking force along the RabatPort Lyautey road to protect Goalpost’s southern flank from tanks known to be stationed at Rabat. Meanwhile, another unit would move northeast toward the airport.
Finally, the 2nd Battalion, under Major John H. Dilley, the ‘Go-Devils,’ would land just below the Sebou and immediately attack an old fort, called the Casbah, and its adjacent lighthouse that protected the river approaches to Port Lyautey. To get to it, the troops would have to fight their way past a single 200-yard opening in the ridges that was protected by six 138.6mm guns and sundry other obstacles, including machine guns, 75mm guns mounted on flatcars, and entrenchments.
In the early morning darkness of November 8, 1942, the Sub-Task Force, carrying 9,000 jittery troops, approached the Moroccan coast and promptly got lost. The flagship, the battleship USS Texas, ordered a change in course, and during the maneuver the other ships became confused and lost formation. In addition, ship-to-ship communications became snarled. Noticing some naval officers’ nervous behavior, Truscott asked Commodore Harold Gray if he knew where they were. ‘Well, General,’ Gray replied, ‘to be perfectly honest, I am not sure exactly where we are.’ This admission and lack of communication with his commanders aboard the other ships led Truscott to the desperate expedient of taking a launch from ship to ship to inform his commanders that no matter what the condition of the fleet, the mission was to proceed as planned, with the exception that they would begin a half hour later than scheduled.
Although the landing should still have taken place in darkness, the confusion in assembling landing craft and sending them to an uncertain shore caused the first waves to hit the beaches a little after 6 a.m.–in full daylight. And Truscott had another headache waiting for him when he returned to his ship. There, his staff informed him that a pre-recorded message from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower to the French ashore was at that moment being broadcast. The Eastern and Center task forces had landed ahead of schedule, forcing the broadcast. But what was timely for others proved detrimental to Goalpost. Now the enemy knew they were coming for sure.
As dawn began to break and the first ragged waves of landing craft began to churn toward shore, bad luck continued to haunt the mission. McCarley’s 1st Battalion missed both of its designated beaches and landed almost 3,000 yards north of Blue Beach, with its second wave coming ashore before the first. Meeting no opposition, the men sorted themselves out, hiked around the southern end of the lagoon and made their way rapidly inland to the roadway to establish their positions on the flank.
Five minutes after the 1st Battalion landed, at 5:40 a.m., Dilley’s 2nd Battalion came ashore, guided by previously placed signal lights, while enemy searchlights and red flares arced into the sky. The French coastal guns opened up on the fleet, but the guns of the destroyer Eberle extinguished the searchlights while the cruiser Savannah tried to put the shore batteries out of commission. Suddenly the Go-Devils were obliged to throw themselves flat on the beach as two Vichy French Dewoitine fighter planes swept into action.
With the roar of guns, the drone of planes, the shouts of men, amphibious tanks sinking in the surf and other vehicles struggling against the loose sand, Mehedia Beach was a mass of confusion. Truscott himself knew little of what was happening. His only information was coming from two men, Colonel Demas D. Craw and Major Pierpont M. Hamilton, who had landed with the 2nd Battalion to take a personal message to Colonel Charles Petit, commander of Vichy forces in Port Lyautey, asking him to lay down his arms and join the Allies. As soon as they hit Green Beach, the two men were to grab a jeep and race to the town ahead of the advancing troops. As they went in, they radioed Truscott, ‘ At mouth of river. Being shelled by enemy and our own Navy….On Green Beach….Troops landed and moving inland. Proceeding on mission.’
Far behind schedule, Toffey’s 3rd Battalion had finally managed to get its landing craft to shore by 6:30 a.m., but the troops had still gotten lost. More than five miles north of Red Beach, Toffey decided to abandon the original plan and make a consolidated landing where he was and march overland to his proper position. Although the initial landing was unopposed, French fighter planes appeared overhead as the troops were still getting their equipment ashore. Two were shot down by groundfire before the rest were chased away by American F4F Wildcat fighters from the carrier Ranger. Consulting his maps, Toffey determined where they had come ashore and began to lead his men up the 165-foot ridge near the coast and from there to Hill 58, five miles away.
By noon, Toffey had his naval gunfire control party set up on the hill with telephone wire strung back to the coast along a hastily constructed road. Naval fire was soon being directed onto the airfield, and the 60th Field Artillery Battalion was getting its heavier equipment atop nearby Hill 74. As midnight approached, scouting parties reported that the bridge leading into Port Lyautey from the north was heavily defended and mined.
Meanwhile, the first day on the beach was not proving to be the walkover the 2nd Battalion had hoped it would be. Facing Moroccan tirailleurs (skirmishers) and French Foreign Legionnaires, the battalion’s mission was to take the Casbah before its occupants had time to rally a defense. Unfortunately, the French were waiting for them. After a naval barrage on the old fort forced Dilley’s green troops to retreat, the Go-Devils divided into two companies. Company F crossed a lagoon to its front in rubber boats while Company E plowed through barbed-wire-entangled thickets to regroup on the far side. Through binoculars, Dilley could only see a few defenders about the lighthouse, and he ordered an attack.
Hand-to-hand fighting brought the men over the trench system until, coming under heavy automatic-weapons fire, they slowed to a halt. Then, Lieutenant Charles Dushane, Corporal Frank L. Czar and Private Theodore R. Bratkowitz rose up and ran for the lighthouse. They made it inside, and after some shooting, emerged safely with 12 prisoners.
Pressing their advantage, the Americans attacked again, only to run into stiff resistance from the tank-supported Moroccan 1st Infantry Division. Again it was Dushane and Czar who sprang into action, this time firing an abandoned French anti-tank gun at the enemy. Although their heroic stand slowed the enemy by knocking out two of its tanks, Dushane was killed and Czar was forced to retreat along with the rest of Dilley’s command as communications broke down. Near the end of November 8, fighting still raged in the village just below the wall of the Casbash.
Farther south, the roadblocks established earlier in the morning by the 1st Battalion were overrun by French tanks, endangering the whole of Sub-Task Force Goalpost. After encountering stiff initial resistance, McCarley and the rest of his battalion had managed to move inland before being stopped again by hidden machine guns. Before the day was over, Truscott had arrived on the scene and ordered McCarley to keep moving through the night to link up with the 2nd Battalion for the final assault on Port Lyautey.
The first night ashore ended with the situation still in doubt. Contact had not been established with the 3rd Battalion, Dilley’s men had failed to seize the Casbah, the airfield was still denied to Allied planes, the southern flank was extremely vulnerable, and ship-to-shore communications were out. Rain began to fall that night as Truscott sat on the beach, feeling that the operation was slipping completely out of his control. He broke his own rule and lit a cigarette, then watched as dozens more followed his example all along the darkened beach.
On the morning of November 9, the most pressing problem for Goalpost was its weak southern flank. Truscott ordered Lt. Col. Harry H. Semmes to take the seven tanks of his 3rd Armored Landing Team that had made it to shore so far and have them block the Rabat-Port Lyautey road as soon as possible. Leaving word for the rest of his command to follow as soon as they could, Semmes leaped aboard his tank and trundled off, arriving in position just before dawn. Almost immediately, he was forced to beat back a determined infantry attack from some nearby woods. When the French infantry returned, they were accompanied by 15 or so Renault tanks of the 1er Regiment de Chasseur d’Afrique.
With tank-to-tank communication inoperative and with their gunsights unadjusted, the Americans retreated behind a low rise and opened fire. Protected by their heavier armor, Semmes’ tanks had the better of the inferior French tanks and destroyed four (two of them by Semmes himself) while inflicting heavy losses on the accompanying infantry.
Meanwhile, with the help of Lieutenant R.Y. McElroy’s low-flying Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bomber doing spotter duty, the guns of the cruiser Savannah pounded the French rear assembly area, destroying a number of other tanks. With the addition of 10 more tanks, Semmes was able to weather another strong counterattack and several weaker ones throughout the rest of the day, suffering nothing more than a dud shell embedded in his tank’s armor. With French resistance waning in the south,
Truscott felt confident enough to transfer some of the tanks northward to join McCarley’s stalled drive to the airport.
In the center, Dilley’s men barely held out around the old lighthouse as officers scrambled to round up stragglers from the nearby woods and outbuildings. At last, more than 200 men were found and brought up, but too late. The French had reinforced the Casbah during the night, and they counterattacked with mortars and 75mm guns, forcing the Americans to abandon the lighthouse and settle for stalemate the rest of the day. During the action, 2nd Lt. S.W. Sprindis earned a battlefield promotion when he held back the French charge with a bazooka he fired from different positions along a wall, giving his comrades time to retreat in order.
Further confusing the situation was the appearance behind the lines of a French officer who claimed that the commander of the Casbah was requesting a cease-fire to discuss the possible surrender of the fortress. The naive Americans believed the man and sent him back, only to learn that he was simply caught behind the lines and trying to avoid capture. In the process he was able to give excellent intelligence to the commander of the Casbah when the Americans escorted him back.
The day before, Craw and Hamilton had managed to find a functioning jeep in which to begin their race throughout the streets of Mehedia Beach on their desperate mission to convince the French authorities to surrender before serious fighting began. Tragically, they had just reached Port Lyautey when they ran into a machine-gun position manned by a nervous crew who fired on them just as they rounded a corner. The jeep crashed, and Colonel Craw was killed instantly. Now Major Hamilton was a prisoner and had been taken to the local Vichy commander, Colonel Petit.
Even though their exact situation was unknown to the rest of Sub-Task Goalpost Force, Toffey’s 3rd Battalion continued with its planned operations by engaging the enemy around the airfield in an artillery duel and moving ahead with a diversionary river crossing by Company I at night. The men made it to the opposite bank but were not able to advance any farther. At the Port Lyautey bridge, Companies K and M were forced back by artillery fire, but managed to set up a machine-gun position that denied use of the bridge to the enemy.
Ordered by Truscott to keep moving during the night, and without the help of their tanks, McCarley’s three companies trudged forward through the rainy darkness. Intending to link up with Dilley near the Casbah, they lost their way in the dark and ended up in a machine-gun ambush just south of Port Lyautey. The columns split up to avoid the trap, with the hapless McCarley and his staff getting themselves captured by a squad of Foreign Legionnaires. McCarley, however, managed to escape by dawn, reaching his men in time to capture Port Lyautey the next day.
Meanwhile, another of McCarley’s companies was busy capturing a well-attended cafe near the airport while the last company, with only 60 or so men, retraced its steps and moved on the airport the next day.
Elsewhere on the night of November 9, a small boatload of determined sailors under the command of Lieutenant M.K. Starkweather moved its way silently up the mouth of the Sebou River toward a submerged boom. The boom was preventing the old destroyer Dallas from moving upriver to the airport, where it was to deposit 75 soldiers in an attempt to seize the area before the enemy knew what was happening. The airport was to have been taken on the first night ashore, and now, two days later, the situation had grown more serious. The officer chosen to command the boom-cutting party had not appeared at the scheduled rendezvous point, and so the young lieutenant had decided to proceed without him.
The men held their collective breath as they passed directly beneath the guns of the Casbah and reached the boom. There, they swiftly cut the cable, and a man was sent into the cold water to make sure there were no other obstacles beneath the surface. There were none, but as they hauled the diver aboard they were discovered, and bullets began to crack around them. ‘Let’s get the hell out of here!’ shouted Starkweather as the little boat turned tail and exited the Sebou. They had suffered numerous minor injuries, but Starkweather reported the mission was successful.
At 5:30 the next morning, Dallas began its miraculous run up the river. Loaded with 75 anxious soldiers, a riverboat pilot familiar with the river, and its skipper, Captain Robert J. Brodie, Dallas, a stripped-down ‘four-piper,’ reached the boom only to find it still moored in place by a set of anchored buoys. It was full daylight by that time, and French gunners had a ringside seat to the small drama unfolding in midriver. They opened up with everything they had, including artillery that flooded the decks with near misses and machine-gun fire that raked the destroyer’s superstructure. The boom had been cut too far to the north, where the water was too shallow for Dallas’ draft. Brodie ordered full steam ahead and rammed the boom at midriver. It parted, and as Dallas reached the first turn of the river she was obliged to return fire at some 75s on shore. She silenced them and, by accident, also destroyed an anti-tank gun that had been holding up the 1st Battalion’s tanks farther inland. After making the southerly bend in the river, Dallas encountered two ships that the French had scuttled in the river, but she maneuvered easily between them. With the 3rd Battalion’s Company I cheering her on from their position on shore, and with some air cover provided by fighters, Dallas began her final run to the airport. Suddenly, she ran aground on a hidden sandbar, but that was close enough for the soldiers, who by this time were eager to get ashore. Their exit was greeted by a rain of shells from a nearby 75mm gun, which was rapidly put out of action. One of the covering fighters dropped a depth charge on it, an innovation of Sub-Task Force Goalpost. By the time Dallas was out of danger, one of her officers could declare, ‘The hand of God was right around us.’
November 10 proved to be the climactic day of Operation Goalpost. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions at last reached their assigned objectives and closed in to capture the airport. Earlier that morning, a wayward company of the 3rd Battalion reached some high ground overlooking the airport just in time to provide covering fire for the unit landed by Dallas, which was charging from the west, and the men of I Company supporting them from their position along the riverbank in the north. By 8 a.m. resistance had ended, and the airport was at last in American hands. By 10 a.m. Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters from Chenango were using the airfield and fuel and supplies were being ferried up the river.
In the meantime, Companies K and M of Toffey’s 3rd Battalion were still in position on the northern end of the Port Lyautey bridge. Things had not changed until Toffey had his forward artillery observer call in fire from the 60th Field Artillery, still located atop Hill 74. Coupled with rounds from the distant battleship Texas and the destroyers Eberle and Kearney they destroyed enemy batteries along the RabatTangier highway northeast of the city. After that, the French promptly blew out three spans of the bridge, which proved useless in saving the town from invasion as McCarley and part of his 3rd Battalion, supported by tanks, entered from the south and captured it. By noon, both the airport and the city were in American hands and French units were surrendering everywhere. The Casbah, however, still held.
In the early morning darkness, Dilley’s 2nd Battalion had begun advancing once more toward the Casbah, backed by self-propelled assault guns. The French retreated back to the old fort. By midmorning, the enemy trenches and machine-gun positions were occupied by the Go-Devils, but sporadic sniper fire still managed to make life treacherous around the fort.
Back on the beach, Truscott organized a force of cooks, mechanics and clerks so inexperienced that he had to take a few minutes to show them the proper way to fire their weapons before sending them out to clear the area between the beach and the Casbah of the pesky snipers. After ordering Colonel Fredrick J. de Rohan, commander of the 60th Regimental Combat Team, to take personal command of the assault on the Casbah, Truscott, accompanied by Maj. Gen. John K. Cannon, who had been sent by Patton to see how things were going for the 60th, boarded a jeep and followed the skirmishers toward the front lines.
Dilley’s men had come under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire from the fort, with Foreign Legionnaires shooting from atop the walls in the best tradition of Hollywood’s Beau Geste. Unfortunately, the flying lead was not make-believe, and de Rohan ordered up a couple 105mm howitzers to fire point-blank at the massive fortress gates.
The heavy gates held, and de Rohan was forced to rely on a more basic approach. Reinforced by 125 men of Captain Verle McBride’s 540th Engineers and 871st Aviation Engineers, the Go-Devils rushed the gates under heavy fire and were repulsed. Undaunted, they tried it again with the same bloody results. At last, de Rohan asked Truscott for the air support Truscott had once hoped would not be necessary.
The request was transferred to the Navy, which diverted a flight of planes from another mission to take on the Casbah. With the target clearly marked by palls of smoke, and the American troops pulled back to a safe distance, the planes went to work. Truscott and Cannon watched them from the native village as, one by one, they dropped their heavy bombs. As the smoke and rubble filled the air, de Rohan brought up his howitzers again and blasted open the weakened gates.
Before the fort’s French defenders could recover their wits, the Go-Devils charged through the breach, bayonets at the ready. The defenders, realizing further resistance was futile, surrendered. Almost 250 prisoners were taken by the victors, at a cost of 225 casualties.
Except for securing a strategic ridge southeast of the fort against a force of infantry and tanks, and the threat against the southern flank by reported French cavalry, which turned out to be four soldiers on horseback surrendering to an American telephone lineman, all resistance at Port Lyautey was effectively over. French soldiers were surrendering everywhere, and in Port Lyautey, Colonel Petit, who had been desperately trying to rally his men and had been captured in the process, suggested that he be remanded to the custody of his own prisoner, Major Hamilton, and subsequently ordered all his forces in the area to cease firing.
Sub-Task Force Goalpost had accomplished its mission, but it was not a pretty sight. In fact, the issue had been very much in doubt for the first few days, with nearly all its objectives unrealized. In the beginning, coordination between the Army and Navy was problematic, although much improved by the end of the operation. Inexperience was apparent during the landing and beach operations, and communications were inadequate. Even though they were hastily trained and inexperienced in combat, it was the troops themselves that overcame all the shortcomings and ultimately accomplished the mission.
This article was written by Pierre Comtois and originally appeared in the November 1996 issue of World War II magazine. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today! | <urn:uuid:c1ee6233-a078-4ac6-8417-87c80c4a7ca3> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.historynet.com/operation-torch-sub-task-force-goalpost-capture-port-lyautey/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648000.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601175345-20230601205345-00173.warc.gz | en | 0.980794 | 6,344 | 2.84375 | 3 | {
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Vienna is known for its beautiful palaces, classical music and impressive cafes, but the city isn’t all opera and art. A walk through Vienna’s historically Jewish neighborhood tells a very different story– one of both great success and devastating tragedy. (Read a brief history of Jewish Vienna).
The Jewish history of Vienna dates back nearly 900 years, so there’s no time to waste. Whether you have a week or just a few hours to explore the city’s Jewish past and present, we’ve got you covered for what to see, where to go, and (because no good Jewish trip would be complete without it) where to nosh.
Where to go
There is evidence that Jews lived in Vienna beginning around the end of the 12th century.
You can walk in the footsteps of Viennese Jews in the Middle Ages by visiting an area now called the Judenplatz, literally meaning “Jewish Square.” In the heart of Vienna’s first district, this was the center of Jewish life at the time. Today, the site is home to the Shoah memorial and the Judenplatz museum, a division of the Jewish museum.
Leopoldstadt, Vienna’s second district, has been the historic center of Jewish life in the city since 1624, when Ferdinand II sanctioned the creation of a Jewish ghetto. In 1670, Leopold I expelled the Jewish community and as a “thanksgiving” for the expulsion, the residents renamed the area Leopoldstadt (“Leopold’s city”), after the emperor. Jews were permitted to return to Vienna by the eighteenth century and settled back in Leopoldstadt, building prominent synagogues and Jewish institutions.
In 1938, following the Nazi takeover of Austria, the Jewish community was once again restricted to Leopoldstadt, and it was here that mass deportation centers were located. The Jewish community was nearly wiped out during the Holocaust, and only one synagogue, the Vienna City Temple, escaped the destruction of the Kristallnacht pogrom.
In recent years, a small Jewish community has grown and Jewish life in Vienna has been revived. Leopoldstadt became Brooklyn’s official “twin city” in 2007.
The community is centered around the Vienna City Temple in Leopoldstadt, which is open to visitors for guided tours. In the area, you can also visit Hamakom Jewish Theater, pass by the memorial for the Leopoldstadter Tempel, the the largest synagogue in Vienna prior to the Holocaust, and learn about the Sephardic Jewish community of Vienna.
Most of the city’s kosher restaurants and bakeries are also located here.
Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna
The Jewish Museum Vienna highlights Jewish life and culture in Austria from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its main exhibition begins in 1945 and showcases the development of the nearly destroyed Jewish community until its present-day “modest but highly dynamic presence.” The exhibition also challenges Austrian post-war politicians and government in their response to the Jewish community.
Sigmund Freud Museum
One of Vienna’s most famous Jewish residents was Sigmund Freud, the father of modern pyschology. The Sigmund Freud Museum is located at the “birthplace of psychoanalysis,” the address where Freud lived and worked for 47 years before he had to flee from the Nazis in 1938. It displays the family’s private rooms and Freud’s practice.
Though the museum is a fascinating look into Freud’s personal and professional legacy, it’s also a testimony of his escape and the Nazi presence in Vienna. The rooms themselves contain few original pieces of furniture, a deliberate choice to commemorate that Freud took everything with him when he fled.
A walk through Hitler’s Vienna
In many ways, Austria had a unique role in the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria-Hungary and was raised near Linz. In the early 1900s, he moved to Vienna in hopes of studying fine art, but was rejected from art school twice. It was in Vienna that Hitler first became exposed to racist rhetoric, underpinning his eventual rise to dictatorship.
Immediately following WWII, Austria was reluctant to acknowledge its role in the Holocaust. Famously known as the “Austria victim theory,” its slogan was “Austria– the Nazis’ first victim.” The founders of the Second Austrian Republic believed the 1938 Anschluss (Nazi annexation of Austria) was an act of military aggression by the Third Reich and since Austrian statehood had been interrupted, the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not and should not be considered responsible for the Nazis’ crimes in any way.
The victim theory insisted that all Austrians, including those who strongly supported Hitler, had been unwilling victims of the Nazi regime and were therefore not responsible for its crimes. Nazi veterans took an honorable place in society and the struggle for justice by Austria Jews was seen as an attempt to smear the entire nation. It was not until after the 1980s that Austria began to take responsibility for its Nazi past.
Today, you can take a WWII walking tour of Vienna to understand the city’s influence on Hitler and see the spots that were once key Nazi offices, such as the once Gestapo headquarters which are used today as a standard commercial building, or the principal detention center where a total of 40,000 Jews were held prior to deportation, which is today an elementary school.
You can also take a day trip to Mauthausen Concentration Camp, a couple hour drive from Vienna and visit the museum and memorial.
Historically, Vienna’s famous coffee houses were spots for creative thinkers to debate politics and ideas. In 2011, UNESCO declared Vienna’s cafes a cultural treasure, calling them places “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.”
In 1913, Hitler, Trotsky, Tito, Stalin and Freud all famously lived a stone’s throw away from each other in Vienna. Hitler and Trotsky (separately) frequented Cafe Central, while Freud was a regular at the famous Cafe Landtmann– also the old haunts of Vienna’s Jewish intelligentsia.
Where to eat
20 of the best Jewish/Israeli/Kosher restaurants in Vienna from a Jewish Viennese food expert here.
How to spend Shabbat
The Chabad House of Vienna hosts weekly Shabbat meals and offers help planning your stay in Shabbat-friendly accommodations.
Vienna has an Eruv as of 2012. | <urn:uuid:5dad0289-cbc3-40ac-b8e6-8928e8c7d5d9> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://jewishunpacked.com/the-ultimate-jewish-guide-to-vienna-what-to-see-eat-do/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764495001.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20230127164242-20230127194242-00651.warc.gz | en | 0.968762 | 1,401 | 3.34375 | 3 | {
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Without a basic understanding of astronomy, a solar eclipse might be a pretty scary thing. Throughout history, many civilizations assumed solar eclipses where prophecies of terrible misfortunes to come. A king may die. A plague may be unleashed. All very dramatic (and terrifying) stuff. A thousand years later, and armed with our knowledge of planetary motion, we have come to learn that while still very impressive, an eclipse isn't a demon eating the sun, but simply a geometric phenomenon that can be easily explained and predicted. However, even with this knowledge, eclipses have actually been proven to rain-down punishment on a significant number of mortal humans who have dared to view them directly.
Every 18 months, like a Medusa in the sky, a total solar eclipse is viewed from somewhere on earth, and every 18 months a massive increase in the number of patients presenting to local hospitals with eye problems is recorded. Yes, eclipses are one of nature's most impressive tricks, but also one of its (many) harmful ones. Even though their frequency of once per 18 months makes them not uncommon, they seem to only pass over the same region of the planet once every 300 years, making them a truly once in a lifetime event. Maybe this is why people go against everything they've been told in their lifetime up to that point, and decide that now is the time to start staring at the sun. Or maybe its because we assume that since the sun is going to be 80% blocked by the moon (which is what Calgary's eclipse is going to bring) that the sun operating at 20% capacity won't really be that bright. Well that is wrong. That's like saying you're okay with only killing 80% of the bacteria on your hands before making dinner. 20% of a trillion microbes is still an astronomically large number, just like 20% of the sun is still unbelievably bright.
The sun is essentially a nuclear reactor the size of which none of us can comprehend burning right above our heads. The byproduct of the reactions that go on in the sun produces light of all wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays. The atmosphere and ozone layer block most of the lethal wavelengths from entering earth. Of the wavelengths that do get to earth, humans can only perceive a very tiny band of them in the middle of the range, what we call the visible spectrum (ROYGBIV). But even though we can't perceive them, we are also being inundated with infrared light and ultraviolet light. And because an eye that is staring directly at the sun functions a lot like a magnifying glass being held up to the sun in an attempt to start a fire (ie condensing light to a pinpoint), all the wavelengths that do enter the eye are being focused to a small, extremely energetic pinpoint. This focal point is on top of a layer of sensitive tissue known as the retina (which contains the sight enabling cells known as the rods and the cones). The ultraviolet wavelengths (and the visible wavelengths to a lesser extent) can cause oxidative stress to these cells, initiating a cascade of changes in the cells that culminates with permanent damage to their ability to create sight (a leading cause of macular degeneration). The infrared wavelengths, on the other hand, can actually pass through the photoreceptors only to get absorbed by the highly pigmented "backing" to the retina (termed the retinal pigment epithelium). These highly pigmented cells easily absorb the infrared, but by doing so begin to heat up in the process, and essentially start cooking the retina in that spot. Staring at the sun for as little as a few seconds can cause this devastating effect, and since there are no pain receptors in the retina, there is no "ouch" moment to remind you to look away.
This is why anybody viewing a solar eclipse needs to have a filter in front of their eyes that blocks 99.997% of all wavelengths, to be deemed safe. Turns out, this is hard to achieve. Most of the DIY solutions that people have used over the years to view eclipses fail to meet this standard (like squinting, shocking I know). Although most (looking though polarized filters from 3D glasses or even using unexposed camera film) meet the standard when it comes to UV and visible light, they fail miserably when it comes to the infrared portion. Even a shade 12 welders masks (which is too dark for most welders) still doesn't block enough of the infrared light to be deemed safe. That is why the only two safe ways to view the solar eclipse are to use eclipse approved glasses that sport the stamp "ISO 12312-2" on the side, showing that they meet the proper safety standards, or by creating a pinhole device to project an image of the sun onto a piece of paper. And in light of the numerous counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold online, I'd stick to the pinhole method, that is unless I want to walk around the rest of my life with a blindspot in the central 10 degrees of my vision (stick your thumb out at arms length, the size of your thumbnail equals the central 10 degrees most likely to get damaged by staring at the sun. Doesn't seem so bad, until you remember that those 10 degrees are always exactly on top of whatever you're looking at).
Dr. Burke is an optometrist practicing at Calgary Vision Centre. Opinions above do not constitute medical advice, and readers should consult with their optometrist if they have questions or concerns about their eye health | <urn:uuid:a657611c-a373-47c9-a967-da4601b4355c> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://calgaryvisioncentre.com/news/2017/8/19/it-is-a-really-bad-idea-to-look-at-the-solar-eclipse-without-eclipse-glasses | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912205597.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20190326160044-20190326182044-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.958186 | 1,128 | 3.171875 | 3 | {
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Supporting SEND Children in the Home
Children all over the UK are accessing learning portals, the internet, online classes. But for many children whose additional educational needs mean that they are unable to access the world of online learning without substantial support, the online classroom can be less than inclusive.
Many children who attend special schools come into daily contact with nurses, physio, intensive educational support which is tailored towards their individual needs. So how can this transfer to the home environment? In truth, it can’t, however, I hope some of these tips and suggestions might help.
Tip One- Access your school’s website:
Special schools across the country have a wealth of knowledge about the students that they teach, and the schools are continually updating and amending learning activities which are suitable for your young person. If you have a timetable of the school week, use it if it helps, many students like a sense of routine and familiarity. However, these are extraordinary times, some activities will take longer than others and not every day will work out the same. Spread the activities out, there isn’t a fixed timetable, your young person might like structure, however, if you find that your young person likes to be more active in the morning swap any exercise session to the morning and leave calming reading or paper activities to the afternoon. If you have the technology to skype or facetime one of their school friends, getting your young person to show their finished work to a friend will result in a sense of community.
Tip Two- Be creative and connect the learning to real life:
Look at their EHCP Targets and use them to build learning and at the same time help around the home. For example, for a maths target, it goes without saying that cooking or baking is always a fabulous way to discreetly teach maths in addition your young person could count out cutlery, counting tins in the cupboard or weigh any ingredients for the evening meal. For a literacy target, identifying labels on tins, recognising products for online shopping. For a recognition of colour target, sorting out laundry. For a writing target, designing a simple poster of positive words which can go onto a front window. Being active can include a simple circuit in the garden using tins as weights. Communication targets are really tricky in this lockdown situation, however, where possible with support your young person can talk or see a friend or family member using technology available at home, or if that is unavailable a simple board game which needs communication to work such as a simple matching game. Talk to the other parents and swap ideas, you will be surprised how many ideas are out there.
Tip Three- Create a Sensory Environment
Students with SLD or PMLD will have as a large part of their week a sensory diet. This can be challenging to replicate at home, however, here are some suggestions which we hope you find useful.
- Make a texture sensory box, of no more than two or three different textures which the children can explore. Support the child in choosing what they would like in the box, scarves, wool and sponges make great sensory materials. In addition, you can use the objects for visual tracking.
- Music time, using objects like pots, pans and tins to beat out a rhythm which is loud and quiet, fast and slow while you sing a nursey rhyme or song. Listen to Classical music online, you don’t have to listen to all of it just a little sample. Ask the student to describe what they see when they listen to it.
- Make a simple scented playdough, there are hundreds of recipes online. Making the playdough also uses fine and gross motor skills.
- If there have been any home exercises sent home keep going with them as best you can.
Tip Four- Relaxation and Wellness:
Meditation and calming activities are really important for helping SEND students. Most schools take part in some sort of daily calming activity, one of the most popular in schools is peer massage. You can find the peer massage script online simply search for ‘Peer Massage Routine’ or email your child’s school for a version. Once your child has received the massage session, they might like to repeat on you! However, you can also blow bubbles, this is a great way on focusing on your breathing by taking a big deep breath in and blowing out slowly watching the bubbles float away. Make a mindfulness jar, fill an empty clean jar with water to about three quarters full and add some glitter, fasten the lid firmly and shake the jar, your child can then watch the glitter as it swirls and settles. Do a body scan, the body scan is an easy one to teach to children:
1. Your child lies down on their back on a comfortable surface and closes their eyes.
2. They then need to squeeze every single muscle in their body as tight as they can. Squish their toes and feet, squeeze their hands into fists to make their legs and arms as hard as stone.
3. After a few seconds, release all their muscles and relax for a few minutes.
4. Think about how their body is feeling throughout the activity.
Each child is different, and the experiences we are going though as a whole are new for us all. The tips above are good starting point for supporting their emotional, sensory and learning needs. Keep the home-learning system flexible and communicate challenges with peers with whom you can share ideas, ensuring your child doesn’t miss out on any learning. | <urn:uuid:c7217345-ee75-4deb-8237-3110bf0263bc> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://www.bettshow.com/bett-articles/supporting-send-children-in-the-home | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488556133.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20210624141035-20210624171035-00573.warc.gz | en | 0.961969 | 1,146 | 2.796875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.0327141284942627,
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Writing a Science Lab Report of Outstanding Quality
Have you conducted an experiment in class and now need to write a report about the research you have performed? Having that awkward feeling that you have not understood anything? Do not know how to fulfill the writing requirements? Need guidance and assistance?
BookwormLab.com has got a way out for you! Our team of professional writers, who hold diplomas in various fields of science will give you a hand of help and rescue you from all the horrors of report writing. Place your order with us and stop worrying about the deadlines and writing assignments!
Benefits of Getting a Science Lab Report Example
If you take into account the fact that a science lab report has a specific structure, it will be way easier to learn from a visual science lab report example, where you will find the following sections:
When working on your science lab report, ask yourself the following questions:
- What do you want to discover or find out?
- How will you approach the research?
- What materials have been used in the experiment?
- What was the overall procedure of the experiment?
- Did everything go okay or was there something wrong?
How Can a Science Lab Report Template Help?
A science lab report template will be a useful tool and give you an idea of all the report components. The introduction provides a general outlook on the experiment, gives background information about the aims and objectives of the investigation.
In the methodology section you have to explain how the experiment was carried out in detail. Here you have to give a specific description (time, place, conditions, equipment, chronological order of your actions) and retell the process of conducting the experiment.
The results section is extremely important for your lab report, because this is where you have to announce your discoveries. You can present summarized data with the help of graphs, charts or tables.
The discussion section is probably the trickiest one. You’ve got to evaluate and analyze what you have found out and discuss it in terms of the material you have included in your introduction. This will be the last paragraph of your lab report and it will provide conclusions to your work.
How to Handle the Process of Writing a Science Lab Report?
For lots of students writing a science lab report might seem like a very tricky and difficult task, which requires lots of efforts to be invested into it. One must keep in mind that for writing science lab reports or biology lab report you must possess the following qualities and skills:
- critical thinking
- deap knowledge of your topic
- strong writing skills
The main aim of a scientific paper is to provide new data and material for further researches. When teachers assign lab reports to students, they want them to demonstrate how they have learned the theoretical material and how well they can match theory with real life experiments. | <urn:uuid:da270349-3d39-4f93-a087-4bbbf17074bc> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://thecozone.org/index-472.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00666.warc.gz | en | 0.938146 | 579 | 2.796875 | 3 | {
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} | Education & Jobs |
Shaken baby syndrome is a severe form of child abuse caused by violently shaking an infant or child.
Shaken baby syndrome can occur from as little as 5 seconds of shaking.
Shaken baby injuries most often occur in children younger than 2 years old, but may be seen in children up to 5 years old.
When an infant or toddler is shaken, the brain bounces back and forth against the skull. This can cause bruising of the brain (cerebral contusion), swelling, pressure, and bleeding in the brain. The large veins along the outside of the brain may tear, leading to further bleeding, swelling, and increased pressure. This can easily cause permanent brain damage or death.
Shaking an infant or small child may cause other injuries, such as damage to the neck, spine, and eyes.
In most cases, an angry parent or caregiver shakes the baby to punish or quiet the child. Such shaking most often takes place when the infant is crying inconsolably and the frustrated caregiver loses control. Many times the caregiver did not intend to harm the baby. Still, it is a form of child abuse.
Injuries are most likely to happen when the baby is shaken and then the baby's head hits something. Even hitting a soft object, such as a mattress or pillow, may be enough to injure newborns and small infants. Children's brains are softer, their neck muscles and ligaments are weak, and their heads are large and heavy in proportion to their bodies. The result is a type of whiplash, similar to what occurs in some auto accidents.
Shaken baby syndrome does not result from gentle bouncing, playful swinging or tossing the child in the air, or jogging with the child. It also is very unlikely to occur from accidents such as falling off chairs or down stairs, or accidentally being dropped from a caregiver's arms. Short falls may cause other types of head injuries, although these are often minor.
The symptoms can vary, ranging from mild to severe. They may include:
- Convulsions (seizures)
- Decreased alertness
- Extreme irritability or other changes in behavior
- Lethargy, sleepiness, not smiling
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of vision
- No breathing
- Pale or bluish skin
- Poor feeding, lack of appetite
There may not be any physical signs of injury, such as bruising, bleeding, or swelling. In some cases, the condition can be difficult to diagnose and may not be found during an office visit. However, rib fractures are common and can be seen on x-rays.
An eye doctor may find bleeding behind the baby's eye or retinal detachment. There are, however, other causes of bleeding behind the eye and they should be ruled out before diagnosing shaken baby syndrome. Other factors must be considered.
Call 911 or your local emergency number. Immediate emergency treatment is necessary.
If the child stops breathing before emergency help arrives, begin CPR.
If the child is vomiting:
- And you do not think there is a spinal injury, turn the child's head to one side to prevent the baby from choking and breathing in vomit to the lungs (aspiration).
- And you do think there is a spinal injury, carefully roll the child's whole body to one side at the same time (as if rolling a log) while protecting the neck to prevent choking and aspiration.
- Do not pick up or shake the child to wake him or her up.
- Do not attempt to give the child anything by mouth.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if a child has any of the above signs or symptoms, regardless of how mild or severe they are. Also call if you think a child has shaken baby syndrome.
If you think a child is in immediate danger because of neglect, you should call 911. If you suspect that a child is being abused, report it right away. Most states have a child abuse hotline. You may also use the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453).
These steps can help decrease the risk of shaken baby syndrome:
- Never shake a baby or child in play or in anger. Even gentle shaking can become violent shaking when you are angry.
- Do not hold your baby during an argument.
- If you find yourself becoming annoyed or angry with your baby, put the baby in their crib and leave the room. Try to calm down. Call someone for support.
- Call a friend or relative to come and stay with the child if you feel out of control.
- Contact a local crisis hotline or child abuse hotline for help and guidance.
- Seek the help of a counselor and attend parenting classes.
- Do not ignore the signs if you suspect child abuse in your home or in the home of someone you know.
Shaken impact syndrome; Whiplash - shaken infant; Child abuse - shaken baby
Dubowitz H, Lane WG. Abused and neglected children. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 40.
Mazur PM, Hernan LJ, Maiyegun S, Wilson H. Child abuse. In: Fuhrman BP, Zimmerman JJ, eds. Pediatric Critical Care. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 122.
Review Date 2/16/2017
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. | <urn:uuid:1a08ffc4-56de-4de9-908d-92bd7dbc25f7> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007578.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578586680.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20190423035013-20190423061013-00342.warc.gz | en | 0.910697 | 1,228 | 3.515625 | 4 | {
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For general electric company, that foundation includes rigorous management oversight of oversees our internal control over financial reporting financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted acc ounting. The first and foremost difference between internal and external stakeholders is that internal matters of the company are known to internal stakeholders, but not to external stakeholders. Stakeholder power analysis march 2005 internal stakeholders are those groupings of people who operate entirely within the boundaries external stakeholders fall into three categories in their relationship to the organisation. Ge understands that ongoing engagement with employees, customers, regulators, ngos and other stakeholders is critical to understanding and managing our most material issues. External stakeholder management in the construction process licentiate dissertation, may 2003 the stakeholders in a project can be divided into internal and external stakeholders, the internal stakeholders are those who are members of the project denna studie skall ge. Primary stakeholders - usually internal stakeholders, are those that engage in economic transactions with the business (for example stockholders, customers, suppliers, creditors, and employees) secondary stakeholders - usually external stakeholders.
Stakeholder theory organizational management is largely influenced by the opinions and perspectives of internal and external stakeholders a stakeholder is any group, individual, or community that is impacted by the operations of the organization, and therefore must be granted a voice in how. Faq, governance, policies to help external stakeholders learn about at&t's citizenship and sustainability efforts, this section contains information about our governance and policies, as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions. Internal and external factors influencing the implementation and diffusion of the open innovation models: the case of the postal sector andrea stucki. Internal stakeholders external stakeholders internal stakeholders internal stakeholders are internal to the organization for example: if you have any comments/questions about stakeholders in project management, you can do so in the comments below share 169 share 58 +1 2 tweet 4.
An active and planned approach is taken to defining and understanding stakeholder relationships so they can be developed and strengthened appropriate structures and processes are in place to measure and review the quality and effectiveness of service or product delivery to stakeholders (both. The stakeholder map in higher education institutions classify stakeholders as either internal or external , similar classifications can also be found in legislation and regulations according to the stipulations of the finnish universities of applied. How to identify and define advising stakeholders within an institution. Internal stakeholders or primary stakeholders are people that that engage in economic transactions with the business external stakeholders are indirectly affected by the performance and do not engage in direct economic exchange with the business. Environmental factors in strategic planning for any business to grow and prosper, managers of the business must be able to anticipate, recognise and deal with change in the internal and external environment. Case study analysis on general electric 1 organizational strategy internal analysis4 11 capability a: and growth traits such as decisive thinking, external focus, inclusiveness and imagination at work (magee.
Examples of stakeholders in healthcare boston scientific corp , 3m co, johnson & johnson, general electric co siemens ag etc physicians: health care providers: external stakeholders internal stakeholders stakeholder influence what is a stakeholder. Click inside to find out general motor's strengths general motors swot analysis swot analysis of general motors ovidijus jurevicius | december 8 the most clean-energy patents between all automakers for more than a decade and is using them on building its new electric vehicles. Understanding organisations: identifying and managing internal and external stakeholder interests definitions: stakeholder is a person who has something to gain or lose through the outcomes of a planning process, programme or project (dialogue by design, 2008.
Engage stakeholders find expert pr professionals who specialize in internal communications and employee engagement strategy at crenshaw communications. The primary role of ge's board of directors is to oversee how management serves the interests of shareowners and other stakeholders ge's directors have adopted corporate governance principles aimed at ensuring that the board is independent and fully general electric company 41. Mcdonalds stakeholders mcdonalds stakeholders introduction mcdonald's is one of the most popular brands that the world currently has every firm or business possesses two different types of environment the internal and the external.
Introduction how big is the economic power of the industrial internet consider one analysis that places a conservative estimate of worldwide spending at $500. Nike inc is one of the most profitable companies in the world, and they have social responsibilities and activities that have to be executed this firm has a unique way to meet the needs of its stakeholders nike is dedicated to delivering new products and inspiration to athletes. Managing and partnering with external stakeholders between internal and external stakeholders by promoting a boundaryless 47 top management at general electric recently explained the company's vision for the 90s: in a boundaryless company, suppliers aren't outsiders. When one attempts to define stakeholder as a term, one will almost inevitably encounter the two subsets of stakeholder: external stakeholders and internal stakeholders. | <urn:uuid:d5fdd1b8-c31b-4202-86fe-2ec73bbd70a4> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | http://dvassignmentbhfv.cyclingjersey.us/external-and-internal-stakeholders-of-general-electric.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267864019.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20180621020632-20180621040632-00379.warc.gz | en | 0.935373 | 1,004 | 3.078125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.8792941570281982,
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History of Halloween
Everyone has their own customs and traditions with regards to Halloween. Parties and costumes are popular customs and traditions, but many people will be shocked to realize that the history of Halloween is situated strongly in various spiritual beliefs. According to the history of Halloween, the name Halloween came from All Hallows Eve, the night before All Hallows Day.
The history of Halloween can vary depending on what area you live in. Different areas have different customs and traditions that represent Halloween and their spiritual beliefs for them. The history of Halloween can be mapped through the customs and traditions of these areas.
The history of Halloween seems to have originated and evolved from the Samhain festival, which is a Celtic festival, which is also big in many areas of spiritual beliefs. Samhain celebrated the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture and allowed them to get ready for the winter by tallying and storing supplies. Parties and costumes seem to have originated from this festival as well, which involved bonfires; these parties and costumes began to be included in customs and traditions because they were an attempt to mimic any evil spirits or appease them, if their spiritual beliefs called for it, to make sure the evil spirits wouldn’t curse them. The Romans had their own customs and traditions that merged with the Celts when they took over the area.
When these customs and traditions began to move to America with immigration, they evolved further. One of the biggest customs and traditions that developed throughout the history of Halloween is trick-or-treating. The most popular of the customs and traditions involves dressing up and going to houses for candy. This is very reminiscent of “souling,” a practice that involved poor folks going door to door getting food in exchange for prayers. Souling was a major part of spiritual beliefs in Ireland and Britain, among other places. As America adopted its own history of Halloween, it became a holiday that focused more on community-building and events instead of about warding off any evil spirits.
Customs and traditions have evolved throughout the history of Halloween to become the Halloween that we know today. What used to be a holiday focusing on spiritual beliefs is an opportunity for spending time with friends at parties in costumes. Halloween is an opportunity to dress up and have fun with friends and family, emphasizing the community aspect of the holiday. Everyone can enjoy Halloween without belonging to a certain religion or having specific spiritual beliefs. Today, the biggest requirement for Halloween is to have a great costume and enjoy eating candy. | <urn:uuid:4e35aa0e-a5da-4d18-bb1d-d2c357a3d2b0> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | http://www.booyork.org/history-of-halloween.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267155561.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20180918150229-20180918170229-00425.warc.gz | en | 0.971875 | 509 | 2.796875 | 3 | {
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Summary: The common cricket is heard during warm summer nights. They are part of the environment that surrounds us, so there is little that can be done. But, we do have some choices when it comes to preventing crickets from entering our homes.
A reader asks: Crickets are abundant outside and the chirpping is driving me crazy each night. How do I get rid of them?
Dear Reader: There are many types of crickets that can be found near, around or inside homes. House crickets, for example, normally live outdoors in warm weather, but will move indoors as it gets colder in late summer. Each female can lay over 700 eggs with newly hatched nymphs reaching adulthood in about 60 days. Adult House crickets are very attracted to lights, becoming active at night crawling up the sides of houses in large numbers.
Field crickets are serious pests of field crops. They become household pests in late summer and early fall when they move out of fields and into buildings. Female crickets lay approximately 150 to 400 eggs which hatch in the spring. Nymphs grow into adults in about 90 days. They are also attracted to lights. Large field cricket swarms have been known to invade well-lighted areas covering the sides of buildings. They are found outdoors in similar places as are house crickets, especially under stones or boards, entering cool, moist basements in hot summers.
There are several types of cricket bait that work well on crickets. Some of these baits ***image2***may only be available to professional pest control applicators. Maxforce granules work well on smaller populations outside around the home, in the turf and in flower beds. House and Field crickets will readily eat it. Small amounts are sprinkled around the exterior perimeter creating a five to ten foot-wide band of treated area. The granules are small and only a little is applied with each sprinkle. The granules will be hard to see once applied, but the crickets will find it. Pay close attention to areas around down spouts and air conditioning units. Crickets are attracted to moisture. An application will last several months. Heavily infested areas may require more frequent applications.
If the cricket population is seriously advanced I strongly suggest calling a professional for help. To get quick control a professional pest management company will treat three feet up the side of your home and create a wide barrier band around the foundation using products that you simply cannot purchase. A product such as Conquer EC provides quick knockdown and excellent residual.
The combination of Maxforce granules and Conquer will help reduce the population and return you to quiet, peaceful nights.
For more cricket articles please click here . | <urn:uuid:30797cf8-f352-485d-a404-d3f34426cd03> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | http://www.asktheexterminator.com/Crickets/Cricket.shtml/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794865702.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20180523180641-20180523200641-00537.warc.gz | en | 0.961873 | 548 | 2.625 | 3 | {
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"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Home & Hobbies |
Is C++ fast?
C++ is easier to write and process fast their source codes than in C programming language. It is the programming language of high-qualityin optimizing.
C++ programming language is very efficient and dual. Cutting-edge specific huge improvements is arrived to be made through the generous lazy assessment that can appliance through countenance.
Through adroit model expression programming you can develop from place to place assigning an intermediary assessment accordingly that the subsequent calculation desired aggregate to the identical object as programming it.
C++ provides stochastic optimizers that can examine your definite performance. Numerous Scientists don’t understand this concept however C is most portable language than C++.
It is essentially miserly with memory and does not implements virtual functions. Minor belongings track earlier owing to hiding and remain also additional climbable.
Of sequence this is realistic in C disproportionately.Happening in adding to the compassionate of memory and by escaping virtual functions with the recurring technique.
Supposing if you have a scalar value of X and there is a two matrix of m and n containing a andb.Thenormal non-lazy techniques that will be to generate an intermediary matrix c and add that to a. The non-lazy technique will save the calloc ( ) and malloc ( ) functions to matrix c. Similar mechanism can occur for rearrangement and additional processes that don’t actually essential to produce complete transitional matrices.
Memory controversy is an enormous problem with numerical and statistical models as CPU speed is saved large and also memory speed.There is also program writing time arriving to writing in C++.
It also save arithmetic indexes and a complex sets of numbers also gets from arrays. Extremely as the scientist know that there is no other methods and functions that Java runs C also runs.
The example shown above is called an Eigen matrix package to allocate the intermediate memory. Many other scientists’ speech recognition algorithm in google organizations.
The library that speech recognition uses are built in C++. Therefore C++ is best in writing machine code libraries. This library written in C++ called finite state transducer library. It will also understand expression templates with the inquisitivereappearance in the resourceful matrix libraries.
There are several matrix libraries including Boost, BLAS and EIGEN that gives linear algebra so you will easily generates code regarding algebra. It also uses templates to escapegeneratingin-betweenentitiesto transpose scalar-matrix products.
FORTRAN compiler are also used this technique to work with codes.However there is an abundant addition that you must have to think about as an author of system according to the perspective of the client. C++ compilers are more dependable, consistent and reliable than java compilers.
The templates in C++ is very sensitive and implementing the techniques of automatic differentiation. Which is stimulated many scientists to approach C++. It provides probability and many other libraries including matrix libraries. Which the scientists misses to implement this in java.
Aptitude to transcribeprofligatecodes is not a perfect or everything. However in Java it is mucheasier to deploy and jar files plays an important role than executables of platform specific.
The programs of java is much and moreclean than c++.Java has built in threading functions which c++ don’t have in its implementation. C++ have a very huge and crazy header but in java it only contains some libraries to call.
C++ has a huge drawback that the functions initializes in one file including the namespace and the code is written in another file which sometimes creates problems to execute and provides output and ensuring them totallyseparate from includes.
However C++ interfaces are much simpler and easier and more explicit. C++ are very choosy in generating the texts code and still have limitations and gives warnings and errors.
While on the other hand Java programing language supports threading functions and make them built in functions. And a great concurrency library. Also provides web service plugins that gets the web scrapping and data mining functions which easily gets the websites html.
C++ compiler is very fast and accurate to runs the program, fast processing and easily managing speed.To notice the argument it is sufficient to complement a basic structure data type which is obviously a float in C++ in a last level of array index.
However possession to process the similar code and quantity whether the time processing decreases considerably it is ensured in C++ that this type of development are steadied which leads towards the further techniques.
Although if we talk about the efficiency of C++ most frequently the data types of C++ makes it efficient that the data types is stored in an entities which is int , unsigned int, float , char, long, double and wchar_tdata types. | <urn:uuid:e328de94-d52a-4340-8296-a0e34dc9a7d5> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.chelponline.com/c-fast-21564 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347413624.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200531182830-20200531212830-00577.warc.gz | en | 0.942415 | 983 | 2.9375 | 3 | {
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} | Software Dev. |
First weâll take a look at the odd one out, so speak. Reek as a noun comes to us from Old English rec or reic, which meant âsmoke from burning metal.â The Old English verb, recan or reocan, originally meant âto emit smoke.â In some dialects, reek is still used to mean âsmoke, fog or vapor.â The meanings of âan unpleasant odor or smellâ (n.) and âto smell strongly and unpleasantlyâ (v.) date from about 1710, but those definitions are the ones that most people are familiar with.
âGoodness, Buffy, what is that reek?â Joyce asked, waving her hand in front of her nose.
Buffy sighed. âSkunk demon. Whereâs the tomato juice?â
âPhew!â Xander covered his nose with a hand. âBuffster, I hate to tell you this, but you still reek.â
âXander!â Willow admonished him with a slap to his shoulder. âWhat a thing to say to a lady!â
Reeking is the present participle of reek, and is often used as an adjective.
Of course, after Buffyâs fight with the skunk demon, the cemetery was left a reeking mess.
When spoken, reek and wreak are often pronounced the same way, which leads to some confusion. The verb wreak derives from Old English as well, but from the word wrecan, which meant âto drive out or punish,â or âavenge.â The modern definitions of wreak include âto inflict vengeance or punishment upon someoneâ and âto bring about or cause, as in to wreak havoc.â
âI will wreak my vengeance upon you, Slayer, for killing my brethren!â The skunk demonâs tail lashed.
Buffy pulled out a clothespin. âAt least Iâm wearing old clothes tonight,â she said, resigned.
Wreaking is, of course, the present participle of wreck, and it sounds identical to reek above. This leads to someone reeking havoc instead of wreaking havoc, and that is a smelly condition indeed.
âThat demonâs out there wreaking havoc,â Giles said angrily, âand youâre more concerned with the state of your clothes?â
Buffy shifted uncomfortably. âThe last time I fought one of those demons, it sprayed me with its scent-mucus and it was me that ended up reeking.â
Wreck is the third word in todayâs trio, and is often confused with wreak above. Wreck can be used as either a verb or a noun. The word comes from the 1300s wrec, which is Anglo-French and referred specifically to the flotsam after a shipwreck. The verb form of wreck, meaning âto destroy or ruinâ, dates from the 1500s. Most of the modern definitions follow that meaning, concerning âthe ruin or destructionâ of anything, from buildings to oneâs hopes and dreams, or âcausing the ruin or destructionâ of something, from a shipwreck to a car wreck to bringing down a building. It can also refer to someone who is physically or mentally broken down.
âBuffyâs a wreck,â Willow said, trying to keep her voice low. âShe lost Mister Pointy and her favorite pair of shoes fighting the skunk demons.â
âYou completely ruined my notes, Buffy! All my researchââ
Buffy interrupted Gilesâs diatribe. âYou try fighting skunk demons and not getting sprayed with mucus, then we can talk about what gets wrecked.â
How to remember which is which? Well, wreck is the only one with a C, which might make you think of a car wreck and destruction. For wreak, you can use the A and think of wreak havoc. Reek is perhaps best remembered by the double EE, and pee-ew, that reeks! Once youâve got those roots down, wreaking and reeking should follow easily.
Dictionary.com here, here and here
Merriam-Webster.com here, here and here
Free Dictionary here, here and here
Etymology online here, here and here | <urn:uuid:4dd3ea9f-d786-4c97-8edf-3ad492792123> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://fandom-grammar.livejournal.com/110894.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982292151.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195812-00293-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946429 | 951 | 3.03125 | 3 | {
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In 1933, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt took his oath of office, he inherited control of a vast country with a booming population, abundant resources, the world’s largest economy, and next to nothing in the way of central government. At a time when other industrialized nations were erecting welfare states, the United States still lacked the capacity to tax most of its citizens. Its roads were mostly unpaved, its rail lines lay in private hands, its central banking system was rudimentary (a condition that had exacerbated the Depression), and local authorities—not the federal government—ran the schools and kept the peace. Foreign relations were no better. The US had entered World War I late and retreated immediately afterward, declining to claim the geopolitical spoils of the war and refusing to join the League of Nations.
How such an underdeveloped government became a leader in world affairs is something of a mystery. Where did it gain the capacity and unity of vision to become, if not a global empire, then something very much like it? How did it formulate and then act on a grand geopolitical strategy that required massive aid deployments, substantial foreign expertise, and military interventions throughout the globe? These questions are all the more puzzling because, domestically, the federal government would remain weak for decades after World War I, crippled by an entrenched and recalcitrant group of politicians who feared that any aggrandizement of the state might interfere with white supremacy in the South.
An intriguing explanation of how the US Government, politically hamstrung at home, could act with force and purpose abroad is contained in Inderjeet Parmar’s excellent Foundations of the American Century. Throughout the 20th century, Parmar argues, the weak state was supplemented by private foundations, which took on many of the functions of government. Unelected, unaccountable, and for the most part unchecked, these foundations channeled billions of dollars into positioning the United States as a world power. Immune to the vicissitudes of democratic politics, they functioned as a shadow government, implementing the goals of what C. Wright Mills called the “power elite,” the men of affairs who moved easily from corporate boardrooms to high-ranking government office, often in or around the State Department.
These men had money, often more of it than they knew how to spend. The endowments of the big three foundations—Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Ford—were drawn from the immense profits of the oil, steel, and auto industries. In part, the founding of these philanthropic institutions was a public relations strategy. John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, still the first and second wealthiest men in history, had both been targeted by the press after turning armed strikebreakers on their employees. Henry Ford, the seventh richest, at first was hailed as a new kind of industrialist, deriving his profits from technical and sociological innovation rather than from naked power grabs. But after his men opened fire on a march of laid-off workers at River Rouge in 1932, killing five and seriously injuring nineteen, Ford, too, found himself the object of public scorn. (The “despot of Dearborn” is what Edmund Wilson called him, and that same year Aldous Huxley envisioned a dystopian society run on Fordist principles in Brave New World). Four years later, Ford established his own foundation, to which he and his son, Edsel, bequeathed 90 percent of the Ford Motor Company’s stock. After Ford’s death in 1947, nearly all of the profits of his firm, one of the world’s largest, went to the Ford Foundation. The result was a form of public expenditure for which there was no public oversight.
The money itself, though substantial, never threatened to surpass the size of the federal budget. What was important was how it was spent. The trustees of the large foundations comprised a cozy group of men—well-heeled, white, and Protestant—who were raised in the same milieu, attended the same colleges (over half graduated from Harvard, Princeton, or Yale), and belonged to the same social clubs. Such men could not help but share a worldview, and for most of 20th century there was no one in the room to argue the other side. Internally united and externally unimpeded, they acted with a speed and resolve that was impossible for elected politicians. While government officials mired themselves in political debates, foundation leaders acted: they commissioned research, trained students, launched pilot projects, cultivated allies among foreign governments, and built networks of experts. By the time the government overcame its inertia on an issue, it found a smooth and well-marked trail stretching ahead through the wilderness.
It is easy to overlook this quiet trailblazing because the big foundations rarely pushed extreme agendas, at least not at home. Unlike the think tanks of today, the Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller foundations were, and continue to be, studiously nonpartisan. They sought above all technocratic order: a strong federal government, a class of experts ready to guide it, and a docile public eager to follow. Abroad, they combined their faith in the rule of experts with the belief that the ideas and institutions best suited to the poorer countries of the world were those of the United States.
At their best, the foundations ushered the nation and the world along toward a more progressive state of affairs. In 1935, the Carnegie Corporation initiated a massive social scientific survey of African-American life in the United States. Afraid that a scholar from either the North or the South would bring too many prejudices to the study, Carnegie hired a Swedish economist, Gunnar Myrdal. It turned out to be an inspired choice. Myrdal was a born politician (he had been a member of the Swedish Parliament) and was able to glad-hand nearly every social scientist concerned with race in the United States, black and white, into producing research or advice for what became a commanding 1,483-page tome, An American Dilemma (1944). More than any other work of the time, Myrdal’s work cemented the view of racial liberals that the treatment of blacks in the United States was, as he wrote, “nothing more and nothing less than a century-long lag of public morals.” The book’s findings were not new, but the resources Carnegie invested in their production endowed them with an air of authority, and they served to center the national debate about race for decades to come. Ten years after the publication of Myrdal’s study, the Supreme Court cited it in Brown v. Board of Education, and echoes of An American Dilemma could be heard in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s casting of racism as a question of morality—rather than class or empire—in his address to the March on Washington.
There is much to admire in the far-sighted liberalism that guided the best of midcentury foundation philanthropy. But, as Parmar shows, the deft sense of the public interest that guided Carnegie’s support of Myrdal faltered abroad, where the foundations’ mission of development and state-building was undermined by their commitment to maintaining U.S. hegemony. Parmar’s most disturbing revelation concerns the Ford Foundation’s work in Indonesia. In the 1960s, while Ford’s leaders were laying the groundwork for the War on Poverty in the United States and funding the development of Sesame Street, they were also bankrolling a network of social scientists and economists around the University of Indonesia who would, with Ford’s approval, participate in the campaign to oust Indonesia’s elected but left-leaning President Sukarno. Concerned that Sukarno was too accommodating of Communism, Ford’s experts came to the aid of his rival, General Suharto, who gradually took control of the government over the course of three years, starting in 1965. Suharto would go on to rule the country in a corrupt, autocratic manner for over three decades, but the greatest tragedy of his rule came in the period of his ascent, when his supporters slaughtered some half a million alleged communists.
Students at the University of Indonesia, Ford’s main recipient, played a leading role in the bloodshed and used the university’s campus as their base. Top Ford officials were aware of the massacre, but they reopened their Indonesia office (it had closed briefly during Sukarno’s presidency, in the face of Communist “agitation”) and sent more funds, even as many of their experts entered the ranks of the Suharto regime. In one exchange of letters, the foundation’s representative in Indonesia reported both the scale of the massacre and the role played by University of Indonesia students in it to Ford’s president, but celebrated the country’s “atmosphere of sustained holiday-spirit and exhilaration” and opined that Indonesia had never known such freedom. “I’m enjoying the trip. Hope all’s well in New York,” the representative signed off. Ford’s president at the time was McGeorge Bundy, who had come to the post directly after serving as National Security Adviser to Johnson and Kennedy and had been a chief architect of the Vietnam War. There is no evidence that he or any of the other officials at Ford were troubled by the reports from Indonesia.
Ford’s willingness to support dictators as long as they were anti-Communist was not unique to philanthropic foundations—it was a fault to which the entire US foreign policy apparatus was prone. But while the government supplied military assistance, the foundations built networks of experts, the “right” kind of experts who would work with the “right” kind of governments. The process began in the United States, with the provision of grants to scholars who would study the regions and topics in which the foundations took an interest. The need for this infrastructure was acute, as the United States, never having invested in training colonial officials, had achieved a position of global dominance without possessing experts in the places it now sought to control. Along with the State Department, the foundations channeled millions of dollars to US universities to establish area studies programs, with the understanding that such programs would generate men who could then advise or serve the US foreign policymaking establishment. Area studies was wide-ranging by design, encompassing language instruction, economic and political assessments of fledgling countries, ethnographic research, and graduate training. The particular endeavors that received funding, however, inevitably concerned the areas and topics that were of the greatest strategic importance to the United States.
Many observers have found something sinister about the marriage between private sector funders and academic research, but Parmar takes care to note that there is no evidence that foundations ever interfered directly with research. The relations between the foundations’ money and their political agenda were subtler than that. “It is merely the fact that a fund is within reach which permeates everything and alters everything,” British economist Harold Laski explained. “The foundations do not control simply because, in the direct and simple sense of the word, there is no need for them to do so. They have only to indicate the immediate direction of their minds for the whole university world to discover that it always meant to gravitate swiftly to that angle of the intellectual compass.”
When scholars moved outside of the circle of approved research, they found themselves cut off from the largesse that their colleagues enjoyed. Parmar relates the attempts of the eminent sociologist Robert Lynd, the first author of the influential Middletown studies of community life, to investigate democratic rather than elite-driven forms of popular mobilization. Though Lynd was as credentialed an academic as they come, foundation officials criticized his application ruthlessly, and both Carnegie and Rockefeller rejected it out of hand. The pattern was even clearer when it came to the creation of an area studies community specializing in Africa. Here the foundations spurned not an individual scholar, but a whole class of them: researchers at historically black colleges and universities. Although such institutions of higher education, especially Howard, had built up significant strength in the field of African studies, when the foundations eventually took an interest in Africa they bypassed both African American and African scholars—who they feared were too politically “prejudiced”—in favor of the mostly white programs at Columbia, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Chicago, and Northwestern.
At the same time that the foundations groomed area studies experts in the United States, they also funded foreign researchers. Here again, the emphasis was on selecting a certain kind of scholar: a “modern” thinker, deferential to US expertise, who would aid the development of a strong, anti-Communist state. If foundation money exerted a gravitational pull on scholars in the United States, it had a much stronger attraction for resource-strapped academics abroad. Foundations used grants to lure foreign scholars to the United States and to foundation centers overseas, where they would attend seminars in US culture and politics meant to engender sympathy for the United States and its projects. One such seminar at Harvard, funded by Ford and by the CIA, sought to establish what it called a “spiritual link between the younger generation of Europe and American values.” Rising European intellectuals were flown to Cambridge, Massachusetts for the summer, where they discussed the abstract and philosophical aspects of US democracy and freedom with Henry Kissinger, attended evening lectures by the leading neoconservative thinker James Burnham, and took in baseball games. The task of indoctrination was handled with a light touch. As one participant in a similar Ford-funded seminar put it, “Your propaganda is the best propaganda, because it is not propaganda at all.”
The large foundations also established pockets of sympathetic experts abroad by creating partnerships with universities in the developing world. Here again, money that might have slightly tilted the playing field in the United States had an overpowering effect in poorer nations. The full consequences of this policy could be seen in Chile, where Ford and Rockefeller, along with the US State Department, invested heavily in funding economists starting in the 1950s. Economics was a contested field in Chile due to the popularity of a strain of economic thought known as “dependency theory,” which asserted that the chief cause of Latin America’s underdevelopment was its exploitation by the United States and other prosperous nations. At their mildest, dependency theorists favored blocking the United States out of the region with tariff barriers; at their most extreme they favored Marxist revolution. In the hopes of crowding out dependency theorists, the major foundations began funding centrist and right-wing economists, many of whom pursued doctoral degrees at the University of Chicago, then as now a bastion of free-market thought. In Chile, they were known as the Chicago Boys.
The Chicago Boys’ moment came in 1973, when Augusto Pinochet overthrew the democratically elected president of Chile, Salvador Allende, in a right-wing military coup. Ford and Rockefeller–funded economists moved rapidly into the halls of government, taking up posts in the ministry of the economy and in the central bank. Attracted by the prospect of an authoritarian ruler who accepted their policies, faculty members of the University of Chicago, including free-market thinkers Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek, sped to Santiago to aid their former students. Hayek was made honorary president of Chile’s Center for Public Studies and Friedman appeared on the government’s television channel to give a lecture on economics. Under the Chicago Boys’ guidance, Pinochet privatized public assets, opened up natural resources to unregulated private exploitation, removed trade barriers, made war on inflation, and dismantled the country’s social security system. The Chilean economy’s initial success under the new policies legitimized the general economic and political approach that within ten years would return to the United States, in the form of the Reagan revolution.
The Chicago Boys’ victory in Chile was, by one measure, a ringing vindication of the foundations’ methods. Some two decades of investment in building a friendly network of experts had paid off, and once the socialist Allende government fell, a cohesive, competent group of US-trained economists had been ready to take its place. But Pinochet’s coup triggered a crisis of conscience at Ford. The concern was neither the two thousand murdered nor the tens of thousands tortured by the new government. It was rather that in the course of its revolution, the Pinochet regime had expelled non-conservative economists from their posts. Many of those ousted economists had received foundation funding—they were insiders. Ford officials were deeply troubled by the sight of one half of the foundation’s network of experts committing fratricide against the other. It called into question some of their most sacred assumptions: that expertise was apolitical and that, with a little guidance, “reasonable” men would tend to see things the same way. Chastened, Ford gave money to institutions that would shelter the purged scholars—creating, to its credit, important spaces of refuge from which Chilean thinkers criticized the regime in relative safety and laid the groundwork for a post-Pinochet Chile.
The 1970s were a turning point. As the costs of doing business with men like Pinochet grew clearer, hopes of remaking the developing world by “modernizing” it gave way to a multiplicity of often contradictory campaigns for human rights, environmental sustainability, market freedoms, women’s rights, and poverty alleviation. But the large foundations quickly found their footing, and shifted smoothly from backing strong states to pursuing market access. Since the cold war, Parmar argues, U.S. foreign policy has been shaped by the theory that, since market democracies rarely make war with one another, national security can be best protected by advancing the frontiers of globalization. This theory was first advanced by Michael Doyle, who was funded at the time by the Ford Foundation, and has since been developed by the Princeton Project on National Security, a nonpartisan group of nearly four hundred scholars and opinion leaders bankrolled by Ford and Carnegie. Vice President Joe Biden has been closely connected to the Princeton Project, and the Obama Administration’s approach to global affairs appears, so far, to follow from the Princeton model.
As the global mission of the large foundations has shifted since the 1970s, so have other features of the nonprofit world. Boards of trustees have opened their ranks to women and to racial and religious minorities. The grip of the big three has loosened as other foundations have entered the field. Today there are some fifty thousand philanthropies operating in the United States, controlling assets of over $300 billion. European, Japanese, and Australian foundations have also sprouted up in the tens of thousands, creating an overlapping, often overwhelming global network of donors, board members, and experts. And while foundations still seek to change the world by shaping and producing knowledge about it, they have also taken advantage of new information and transportation technologies to reach past traditional experts, toward local entrepreneurs, village councils, neighborhood groups, women’s organizations, and community associations of all kinds.
But surface novelty can conceal deeper continuities. Although the number of US foundations has multiplied, the most powerful are still the ones that have been bankrolled by the richest donors. Many of those donors, such as Bill Gates, number among the richest people on the planet, and the world they seek to bring about is defined by their common values. Whereas the elites who ran Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller in the midcentury saw themselves as exemplars of scientific, state-centered modernity and designed their projects accordingly, the trustees of the new generation of foundations place a notable emphasis on “entrepreneurship”— the characteristic that defines the super-rich’s sense of themselves today. And so foundations seek to save the public school system with for-profit charter schools and to alleviate global poverty with microfinance loans, even though the benefits of such approaches have been elusive.
Last September, the most powerful direct challenge to domestic inequality in decades came not from the world of philanthropy but from a handful of unfunded activists living in tents in a park in Lower Manhattan. The Occupy Wall Street movement initially commanded surprising public support and appeared as if it might break through a political logjam on such crucial issues as financial regulation, tax equity, and campaign finance reform. And yet, as the occupations continued, some foundation employees—men and women who had spent their entire careers confronting the effects of inequality—found that they were unable to publicly endorse or participate in the movement, for the simple reason that the banks being targeted were among their donors.
Funding, to the degree that it has been offered, has tended to flow in the other direction. The NYPD is able to draw on funds not only from the city but also from the New York City Police Foundation, a nonprofit that purchases special equipment and supplies counterterrorism training to the police. Its board is a collection of heavyweights in real estate, advertising, finance, publishing, health care, and energy that includes both a former homeland security advisor to George W. Bush andIvanka Trump. Among its top donors are Barclays, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase, the last of which gave the New York City Police Foundation $4.6 million in money, patrol car laptops, and monitoring software just months before the protests began. “You have a police department that is beholden to a private entity and you end up with a situation where there is absolutely no oversight and no transparency about the funding of government operations,” the associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union observed. Money, as Parmar argues, has its own trajectory. | <urn:uuid:99094dc5-f65f-4cc2-b5c8-16ad8c7a1da0> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://nplusonemag.com/online-only/book-review/the-foundation-statesmen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997901589.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025821-00165-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971072 | 4,450 | 3.0625 | 3 | {
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Whether you’re planting just one tree in the corner of a tiny back yard, or converting your urban lot into a permaculture food forest, the first step is usually picking the types of fruits, nuts, and berries that are right for you.
Trees are one of the few elements of a home garden that need any planning. You can move a garden bed in one weekend if you want to. If you don’t like how cabbage worked out, you’ve only lost a few weeks. But trees take a long time to grow, and don’t produce the first few years. It’s a much bigger time investment.
Once a tree is too big to move, the only way to move it is to plant a new one and wait 3-5 years (sometimes more!). If you planted one type and wish you had planted another? Same problem. So it’s worth taking some time to make sure you’re going to be happy with the result.
Note: Some of the information in this is specific to the Houston area, gulf coast, or southern United States. But most of it will apply anywhere.
Probably the most obvious thing to check is to make sure the trees grow in your area.
You’re probably already familiar with hardiness zones, but to quickly summarize, they tell you approximately what areas of the world a plant will grow in. It’s easy to find this information online. A good online nurshery will even send you an email if they think you’re making a mistake.
For a lot of people, the hardiness zone is all you really need to know. In the southern US states (like where I live, on the gulf coast), there are two additional things to check.
If you get an occasional freeze but it’s not common, it’s worth going beyond just checking the zone, and also checking the lowest temperature the tree can survive, usually called “cold hardiness”. This will mostly apply to subtropical plants like oranges and bananas. Even the plant is listed for your zone, if the temperature drops below this number for more than a few hours, it will usually die.
Cold hardiness applies when you’re trying to bring a plant further north than it would really like. The opposite is also a problem; sometimes you would like to plant a tree further south than it would really like. In this case, the number we care the most about is “chill hours”. Fruit trees with chill hours won’t produce any fruit unless they get a certain number of hours of cold weather. Peaches, apples, and cherries all have chill hours, although there are others.
Surprisingly, there is not as much consensus as what counts as an hour of chill as you might think. Typically you’ll hear “under 45F” as a definition. It’s not super-important because you’re not going to measure this yourself. You’re going to look it up.
In my area (south Houston), we get about 400 chill hours a year. I have some special low chill hour trees that “only” require 350 hours. That’s not much safety factor, which means: most years I’m fine, but if we have a warm winter, I don’t get any fruit from these trees. Keep that in mind when you are deciding how much safety factor to give yourself. Choosing the exact variety that you really want may mean some years you won’t get any fruit. Keep that in mind when choosing your trees.
Some people will want guaranteed production, some people will want their favorite variety. If you have room, you may be able to plant some stable producers AND your favorite but variety. If you’re only planting a small number of trees, you should probably select ones that produce without risk. And if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with lots of chill hours, you won’t have to make any trade-offs at all.
Many fruit trees are not self-fertile and will require a “pollinator” – another tree of the same type to fertilize it. Other trees are self-fertile and will produce even without a pollinator. Even so, many self-fertile trees will produce better if you provide them another plant to cross-pollinate with.
I would generally recommend you get at least two of every tree If you like apples, you need two apple trees. If you like peaches, you need two peach trees, and so forth.
However, while you have to pick the same type of tree, nothing says you have to pick the same cultivar (variety). For example, at my old house, I had two varieties of peaches: “tropic beauty” and “tropic snow”. The peaces were completely different flavors. But they satisfied each other’s pollination requirement.
When picking a pollinator, it is important to pick two varieties that flower at the same time. Many online nurseries will help you find compatible pollinators. If you don’t want to mess with it, buying two of the same variety is the easiest solution.
There are some special cases that further complicate things on a species by species basis. I’ll give two quick examples to illustrate how things can get a little complicated: muscadine grapes and avocados.
Muscadine grapes are either hermaphrodite or female. A hermaphrodite plant needs another hermaphrodite plant to pollinate it. The hermaphrodite can pollinate a female, but the female can not pollinate the hermaphrodite. So a minimum set of plants is two hermaphrodite. From there you can add females if you wish.
Avocados are hermaphrodites, but at any given time, only their male or female half is active. This severely reduce self-pollination, but still allows them to pollinate other plants. I won’t go into details here, but if you intend to plant avocados, you will certainly encounter it.
Many varieties of fruit trees are grafted. For those that don’t know, this means they have taken the branch of one plant and attached it to the root of another plant.
My default position on this sort of thing is “why are we doing that?” I’d much rather take a seed for the plant and just grow a new one, not have to find a special root stock. That is still my default choice. However, this is one of those cases where you may need to make an exception.
1) Some plants are just not readily available in non-grafted varieties. This is usually, but not always, because the plants are all clones of each other, propagated by cuttings. A designer has to work with what is available.
2) As much as it pains me to say it, in many cases the grafted plant is so much more resistant to the root-pests, drought, ans so forth, that it’s almost understandable why people only sell grafted plants when the tree benefits from them.
3) It’s possible to buy a tree that has several varieties grafted on them. For example, it’s not unusual to find 4-in-1 apple trees, that produce Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Fuji – all on the same plant. Each branch produces its own time. If you are working with a small area, this can be a game-changer.
4) Probably the big one for a non-commercial suburban orchard, it allows you to control the size of the tree. Many fruit trees are available with multiple levels of dwarfing rootstock, so you can decide what size you want the tree to be when it’s fully grown.
Probably the biggest disadvantage to a grafted root is that it will sometimes send out branches of it’s own. This is called “suckering”, or “reverting to root stock”, and it’s a huge problem with grafts. This happens most often after a freeze harms or kills the scion, but leaves the root intact. The root stock responds by sending up brances of it’s own in an attempt to regrow itself. The scion does not have to die off completely for this to happen. If the roots have more “vigor” than the scion can accept, they can respond by growing their own branches.
When new branches grow from the root stock instead of the scion, they will have all the characteristics of the root’s mother plant instead of the characteristic that we wanted from the scion. The new branches may not fruit at all, and if they do, the fruit will probably not be very good. Sometimes they have nasty thorns that were not present on the original tree.
This can happen without you noticing it. I once lost 2 grafted pomegranates in a freeze and didn’t know about it until the following October. Lesson learned. At the time, I wanted to know why they even sell them like that, without a warning label or anything. Well, I am warning you here and now.
I would consider this reason enough to avoid grafts unless you have good reasons.
When I am forced to use a grafted one because of availability, then I will pick one with the pest resistance I can get and consider using a dwarfing root stock if it makes sense. I will usually not use a graft purely for dwarfing purposes, but I have made exceptions.
Since I’ve brought up dwarfing root stock, this is as good a time as any to talk about size. You need to know how big the trees are going to get so you know how far apart to put them.
Don’t hate short trees. They are very convenient. Most people tend to think that big trees are going to be better, and if they have the room they should prefer them to small ones. These people usually haven’t picked fruit off of a 20+ foot tall tree. Commercial orchards have boom lifts and special harvesting machines. We have telescoping poles and 3-legged fruit ladders. It’s not great. Even if you are resistant to using a grafted root stock (like I am), you may want to consider making some exceptions, particularlly if you have a small area.
You can still get very good production per unit area and harvest is much easier. Squirrels and birds are also more afraid of short trees than they are of tall ones. And multiple cultivars on a single dwarfing root stock can make a small area very rewarding.
Directly related to size is spacing.
When I do my vegetable gardens, I use “bio-intensive” planting. That words means a lot of different things depending on who you’re talking to and what the context is. Here, I mean that I put the plants much closer together than is typically recommended and make it work by having very good soil.
When I designed my first orchard, I thought I would be able to apply the same technique. It was not very effective. I would highly recommend you use the recommended spacing unless you have a lot of experience. Gardens are typically attacked by insects. Fruit trees are typically attacked by birds, squirrels, opossum, and so forth. They same principles of bio-intensiveness do not apply.
Follow the nursery’s spacing instructions. If spacing trees 10 feet apart, it’s generally easier to layout if you think of the tree as a circle with a diameter of 10.
Or better yet, a circle with a radius of 5. This is particularly helpful if you are asking yourself how close together differently sized trees can be. If you have one tree with a radius of 5, and another with a radius of 7, they will be 12 feet apart.
Typically spacing will say something like 8-10 feet. As much as I would prefer picking the smaller number and getting more trees in, you will probably find you get much better results picking the higher estimate.
If you see references to “distance between rows” you can generally ignore it. We’re not designing a commercial nursery.
One trick you can do, if you want to maximize production, is to “overplant and thin” sections of your orchard. Imagine you you had two trees that were supposed to be 15ft apart, but take 7 years to reach full size. You could plant something between them, knowing that in a few years you will have to remove it, but getting it’s fruit in the mean-time. This is common for commercial nurseries, where they plant a single plant in a massive grid. In my opinion, it’s not very useful for home-scale. It’s complicates planning, adds cost and effort, and doesn’t produce enough to justify itself.
The next question to ask is: what season is the plant productive?
One of the shortcomings of my first design was all the fruit was concentrated into a few months. In late April and early May I had more fruit than I could possibly eat. In citrus season (December-ish) I had more fruit than I could possibly eat. The rest of the year I had basically nothing. This isn’t a disaster, but I would not do it again on purpose. You may not want to either.
Consider having something for every season, if possible.
Some fruits have cultivars/varieties that produce in different seasons. This is true of many fruits, but avocados are probably the best example. No single variety of avocado produces for more than a month or two. But one variety will produce for a month or two in spring, a different variety will produce for a month or two in summer, and a third variety will produce for a month or two in winter.
If you were to plant each of these varieties, you could have avocados 9 months out of the year. Remember, however, that since they are fruiting at different times, they are also flowering at different times. You will probably need 2 of each variety to insure good pollination.
This by no means applies only to avocados; they are just the most illustrative example. Many other types have cultivars that can produce potentially months apart.
The main thing to remember is not necessarily to provide a steady supply of a single fruit, it’s to provide a steady supply during the year. If you have a month where everything is producing, you may want to remove a few of those trees from your design, and replace them with some trees that will produce during a month where you have a production gap.
While researching your types and cultivars, pay special attention to pest susceptibility. For example, the pecan is susceptible to dogwood borers and the chestnut is susceptible to blight.
Sometimes a pest in that exists in one area won’t exist in your area. In some cases, a tree will only be susceptible and you can nurture it through it’s vulnerable stage. But in some cases, you simply will not be able to plant all the cultivars you might like to.
Research potential pests for each cultivar and in your area before putting a plant into the ground.
It goes without saying you should plant more of the fruits you like and less of the fruits you don’t. Keep in mind that you might like the fruit more or less than you realize when you think it all the way through.
The orange is possibly my favorite fruit, but I can only eat 1 or 2 a day, and there is no great way to preserve them. Freezing the juice takes up more freeze space than I have to spare. I’m crazy enough to have priced a machine that makes orange juice concentrate, and unfortunately, it’s not something I am probably ever going to have. This means I might not plant as many orange trees as you might otherwise think, given my love or oranges.
On the other hand, I am not a big fan of apples. Particularly not the apples that grow in my area, which tend to be the green/sour variety. On the other hand, the apples can be fermented into a hard cider that keeps for over a year. Or you can make apple sauce that keeps for years. Even though I like apples a lot less than oranges, I might plant more of them.
You can also make peach wine, and I like raw peaches almost as much as I like oranges, and I like peach wine almost as much as I like hard apple cider. Peaches are definitely an “all of the above” situation for me.
Nuts are also worth mentioning, because they keep so well. You can think more in terms of “how many do I eat in a year” instead of “how many do I eat in the season they produce”, because unlike most fruits, nuts store very well.
Blueberries do well in the freezer. Figs can be dehydrated. Grapes can be made into raisins.
I have not found jellies, and jams, and fruit leathers to be an important in calculating quantity. It’s not that I won’t make them. I will. It’s just that the quantities required to make them are trivial. You can make a year’s supply of peach jelly out of a small bucket of peaches.
So, at this point, you’re ready to make a spreadsheet with all the types of fruit and their cultivars. Only add plants that grow in your zone. Have a column to let you know if you need a pollinator, and a column for what month the fruit comes. What next?
Well, if you’re only only planting a few trees, I would say “just get them purchased and in the ground”.
If you’re going to pack the area to maximum capacity, you’ll need to do additional planning. At high capacity, knowing the sorts of spots you have available will determine what you can plan. That’s more than I can cover in this post. Hopefully I can cover it in a follow up. | <urn:uuid:b47e7f3e-62b0-4bd3-a0ab-ed4e0f39d227> | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | http://eudaimonia.blog/2021/02/03/home-scale-fruits-nuts-and-berries/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243988831.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20210508001259-20210508031259-00162.warc.gz | en | 0.961298 | 3,852 | 2.515625 | 3 | {
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What really happens if the police fail to read a suspect his rights.
Many people believe that if they are arrested and not “read their rights,” they can escape punishment. Not true. But if the police fail to read a suspect his or her rights, the prosecutor can’t use anything the suspect says as evidence against the suspect at trial.
Popularly known as the Miranda warning (ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona), a defendant’s rights consist of the familiar litany invoked by TV police immediately upon arresting a suspect:
It doesn’t matter whether an interrogation occurs in a jail, at the scene of a crime, on a busy downtown street, or the middle of an open field: If a person is in custody (deprived of his or her freedom of action in any significant way), the police must give a Miranda warning if they want to question the suspect and use the suspect’s answers as evidence at trial.
If a person is not in police custody, however, no Miranda warning is required and anything the person says can be used at trial if the person is later charged with a crime. This exception most often comes up when the police stop someone on the street to question him or her about a recent crime or the person blurts out a confession before the police have an opportunity to deliver the warning.
People are often surprised to learn that if a person hasn’t yet been arrested, the police may question the person and use the answers in court without first providing the Miranda warning.
Does a person have to respond to police questions if he or she hasn’t been arrested? Generally, no. A police officer generally cannot arrest a person simply for failure to respond to questions.
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the “right of silence.” This means that unless a police officer has “probable cause” to make an arrest or a “reasonable suspicion” to conduct a “stop and frisk,” a person approached by the police officer has the legal right to refuse to answer questions. Indeed, a person who has reason to believe that he or she is a potential suspect should politely decline to answer questions, at least until after consulting an attorney.
However, there are several exceptions to this rule.
Loitering. The “right to silence” rule may not hold true if the officer suspects the person of loitering. Laws in effect in many states generally define loitering as “wandering about from place to place without apparent business, such that the person poses a threat to public safety.” Under these laws, if a police officer sees a person loitering, the officer can demand identification and an explanation of the person’s activities. If the person fails to comply, the officer can arrest the person for loitering.
Traffic stops. Another situation where answers to police questions are usually required is when drivers are stopped for suspected traffic violations. An officer has the right to demand personal identification — usually a driver’s license and the vehicle registration. A driver’s refusal to supply the information elevates the situation to a more serious offense, for which the driver usually can be arrested. The simple refusal to answer questions is not a crime, but the refusal to supply identification, combined with the suspected commission of a traffic offense, is.
A “stop and frisk” is when a police officer stops a person to question them and, for self-protection only, carries out a limited pat-down search for weapons (a “frisk”).
A police officer may stop and frisk a person if the officer has a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is engaged in criminal activity. This is an easier test for a police officer to meet than the “probable cause” that is required to make an arrest. In one recent U.S. Supreme Court case, the Court ruled that running away from the police is enough of a reason for the police to stop and frisk the defendant.
When frisking a person for weapons, police may feel a suspicious package that the officer knows is commonly used to carry illegal drugs or some other illegal substance. This suspicion may turn into sufficient cause for a more intensive search of the person’s clothing. And, if a search produces an illegal substance, it may result in an arrest.
The almost-universal advice of defense attorneys is to keep the old mouth tightly shut when being questioned after an arrest, at least until after consulting an attorney. Suspects all too frequently unwittingly reveal information that can later be used as evidence of their guilt.
Without a Miranda warning, nothing a person says in response to a custodial questioning can be used as evidence against the person at his or her trial. In addition, under the “fruit of the poisonous tree” rule, if the police find evidence as a result of an interrogation that violates the Miranda rule, that evidence is also inadmissible at trial.
For example, if a suspect tells the police where a weapon is hidden and it turns out that the suspect provided this information in response to improper questioning, the police will not be able to use the weapon as evidence — unless the police can prove that they would have found the weapon without the suspect’s statements.
Information that is voluntarily disclosed to a police officer (after the person has been properly warned) is generally admissible at trial. The key word is “voluntary.” Police officers are not allowed to use physical force or psychological coercion to get a suspect to talk to them. In addition, any evidence that the police obtain as the result of a coerced statement is equally inadmissible. (To learn more about coerced statements, see Arrests and Interrogations FAQ.)
To learn more about Miranda, and to get answers to your questions about every part of a criminal case, read The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System, by Paul Bergman and Sara J. Berman-Barrett (Nolo).
Reprinted with permission from the publisher, Nolo, Copyright 2008, http://www.nolo.com | <urn:uuid:efe18377-e9c1-45bc-9303-675e2b452348> | CC-MAIN-2015-06 | http://www.jeremyrichey.com/criminal-law-info/police-questioning-when-miranda-warnings-are-required/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422122222204.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124175702-00172-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956525 | 1,280 | 2.9375 | 3 | {
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What Will Happen If Nucleus Is Removed From The Cell
Since the nucleus is known as the brain of the cell if it were removed the cell would die almost instantly.
What will happen if nucleus is removed from the cell. It controls all the metabollic activities of the cell as well as the formation of the cell. They cloned a mammal using the nucleus diploid from an adult tissue and placed it in the egg cell whose nucleus was removed. A structure in the nucleus. Ribosomes are site of protein synthesis where rna translated to the cell if ribosomes are.
In cell biology the nucleus pl. The cell nucleus contains all of the cell s genome except for a small. Give reasons in support of your answer. What will happen to a cell if its nucleus is removed.
In genetics and developmental biology somatic cell nuclear transfer scnt is a laboratory strategy for creating a viable embryo from a body cell and an egg cell the technique consists of taking an enucleated oocyte egg cell and implanting a donor nucleus from a somatic body cell. The nucleus controls all of the cell organelles whether it be the mitochondria. It is the brain of the cell and if the nucleus is removed from the cell than the cell won t be able to control all the activities that are to be done. Today besides sheep we have cloned monkey and cat.
Nucleus is an important component of the living cell. From latin nucleus or nuculeus meaning kernel or seed is a membrane bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells eukaryotes usually have a single nucleus but a few cell types such as mammalian red blood cells have no nuclei and a few others including osteoclasts have many. This process is called nuclear transfer. It is used in both therapeutic and reproductive cloning in 1996 dolly the sheep became famous for being the.
Here a diploid nucleus is used therefore it is asexual reproduction. What would happen if a cell didn t have mitochondria. What will happen if ribosomes are removed from the cell. Cell damage also known as cell injury is a variety of changes of stress that a cell suffers due to external as well as internal environmental changes amongst other causes this can be due to physical chemical infectious biological nutritional or immunological factors.
Cells that have no mitochondria are unable to convert oxygen into energy found in the form of adenosine triphosphate atp. Give reasons in support of your answer. Cell damage can be reversible or irreversible.
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- How To Remove Bike Chain Without Tool | <urn:uuid:ca38545d-5a6d-4f03-94ed-66d1c92c95d7> | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | https://how-to-bike-2.web.app/what-will-happen-if-nucleus-is-removed-from-the-cell.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243988961.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20210509062621-20210509092621-00044.warc.gz | en | 0.921185 | 736 | 3.546875 | 4 | {
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There has never been a time that terrorism has been so high; not only in the United States, but all around the world. The most concentrated areas of terrorist attacks are in and around the Middle East. Places like Israel, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, to name a few, see terroristic attacks with almost daily consistency. In addition to these countries, there are increasing tensions in and around the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria all have seen the effect of the Arab Spring, and these affects are spilling over to other nations around the area and across the world.
Why Is Terrorism More Frequent In Certain Areas of the World
It is well understood that terrorism is more prevalent in and around the Middle Eastern Region, but why? There are two prevailing theory's that may shed light on an answer to this question. First, many believe that inequality and economic poverty are the root cause that drives acts of terrorism (Goldstein, 2005). The second theory and one generally agreed upon in the United States, is the idea that a lack of political freedom and general human rights has caused marginalized groups to lash out in acts of terrorism (Goldstein, 2005). This idea seems to be the most prevalent, and could explain the current upheaval of governments in the Middle East. While many people in the Middle East desire to achieve equality and human rights, there are those who see countries like the United States and Israel as threats to their current way of life and belief system. This in turn fosters acts of terrorism against these nations. The reason that there are fewer acts of terrorism in the United States is that terrorists do not have the means to reach the United States as frequently as they do in areas near their area of origin. Thus, acts of terrorism are more frequent within a localized region of the world, against targets that affect the part of the world the terrorist feels hostility toward.
Commonality of Terrorist Targets
Most terrorist targets have one thing in common, high profile areas that make a statement and garner attention. Terrorists carry out their violent activities targeting particular areas or an infrastructure that is likely to result to massive loss and instill fear to the public and its government. Take for example the failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli jetliner in Kenya at the same time that terrorists bombed a hotel in Mombasa (Ross, 2002).There were 271 people on board the plan being attacked, not to mention all the people in the Israeli owned hotel (Ross, 2002). The fact that it was targeted at Isralie targets solidifies that these attacks are meant to shake government officials, and the fact that there were so many people affected shows proof of intimidation. Typically, terrorists associate Israel and the United States together, so these acts are generally aimed at targets that effect both countries. In December of 2004, al Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attack on the American Consulate in Jeddah (Global war on terror, 2004). The statement made by the terroists were geared toward both The United States and Israel; stating that "the Crusader infidel alliance, America, Israel, and its henchmen were marching against muslims" (Global war on terror, 2004).
If al Qaeda can be taken at their word, it would seem that their agenda is to be free from Western and Israeli influence, but can this be the root cause? Is the root cause of terrorism,as the United States believes, political opression? Thomas Jefferson once said, "enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppression's of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day" (Jefferson, 1816). Thus, the position of the United States has been if they give Middle Eastern peoples the means to become self sufficient, terrorism will cease. (Goldstein, 2005). On the same note, the determination must be made between those who desire freedom from oppression, and those who are influenced by their government. It is believed that many acts of terrorism are commited in order to maintain solidarity in the group that they are in rather than for any noble purpose (Jamoul, 2011). This could explane the many suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks in Iraq over the years between 2004 and the present. | <urn:uuid:db471962-0c23-4a14-b350-684509260b48> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://lardariuswebb21.com/essay/terrorism-following-9-11-attacks-13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662522741.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20220519010618-20220519040618-00609.warc.gz | en | 0.968463 | 864 | 3.09375 | 3 | {
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} | Politics |
P is for Platypus!
The platypus, picture above by Klaus on Flikr, is one of the most amazing animals on earth. It is a leftover from the Miocene period… when creatures had not split into reptiles, birds and mammals as entirely as they have today.
Consequently it has attributes of all three types of species.
It looks very much like a beaver, and has a very beaver-like tail. Its fur is waterproof and extremely dense, and when they were hunted, the fur could not easily be sewn into clothes, so was usually made into rugs.
It also has an unusual, soft, beak, shaped like a duck’s. This beak is very sensitive to vibration and electrical activity – when the platypus is underwater, hunting, it shuts down its senses of smell, hearing and sight and uses just the beak to sense the electric impulses in the muscles of its prey.
One of the most interesting things about them is that they lay eggs – the only mammal apart from an echidna (a hedgehog-like animal) that does.
Their babies hatch from eggs – but the female platypus feeds them milk. Only she does not have nipples – the milk is secreted through pores in her skin, and the baby platypuses (the word is derived from Greek, not Latin, so the plural should be platypodes, but that sounds silly, so everyone calls plural platypuses, platypuses!) lick the milk from her fur.
The male platypus has a spur, like a little tooth, behind each back foot. It is venomous – it squirts poison and can kill quite large animals, including dogs. It is used during the mating season, when the males become quite aggressive. Humans who have been caught by the spurs report that the pain is intense.
This is a (very) quick poem on platypuses:
If you like unique,
then you are in luck,
this creature’s part beaver
plus bits from a duck –
a beaver-y tail
with webs on its legs,
milk for its babies
which hatch out of eggs.
in its duck-like bill
so it finds its kill.
Most amazing of all,
though till now unseen –
it has mammal and bird
and reptilian genes!*
Poem © Liz Brownlee
*Information from LiveScience
Species Information from PlatypusFacts.
If you would like to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click here.
If you’d like to read about or buy my book, Animal Magic, full of animal poems and fascinating facts, click here. | <urn:uuid:e4563462-2434-41b6-bcb8-1cd656912209> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://lizbrownleepoet.com/2015/04/18/p-is-for-platypus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583660877.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20190118233719-20190119015719-00288.warc.gz | en | 0.963926 | 572 | 2.875 | 3 | {
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The University of Colorado Boulder is involved with five different space science payloads ranging from antibody tests that may lead to new bone-loss treatments to an experiment to improve vaccine effectiveness for combating salmonella when Atlantis thunders skyward July 8 on the last of NASA's 135 space shuttle missions.
One experiment, sponsored by the global pharmaceutical companies Amgen and UCB, will test an antibody to sclerostin -- a protein that has a negative effect on bone formation, mass and strength -- on lab mice flying on the shuttle. Researchers on the project hope the sclerostin antibody treatment will inhibit the action of sclerostin.
The research team hopes the findings may lead to potential therapeutic treatments for astronauts, who suffer significant bone loss during spaceflight, especially on long-term missions. They also might provide insight for future research in the prevention and treatment of skeletal fragility that may be caused by stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury and reduced physical activity. Amgen is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Calif., while UCB is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
There are seven co-principal investigators on the sclerostin antibody experiment, including Louis Stodieck, director of CU-Boulder's BioServe Space Technologies and a faculty member in the aerospace engineering sciences department. The research team includes a second CU-Boulder co-principal investigator, Assistant Professor Virginia Ferguson of mechanical engineering, an expert in biomaterials, including bone.
A second payload, called the Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine, or RASV, will allow scientists to search for novel gene targets for vaccine development and improvement using the low gravity of space. The principal investigator on the experiment is Associate Professor Cheryl Nickerson of Arizona State University.
The RASV experiment will be carried aboard Atlantis in sets of specially designed fluid-processing cylinders built by BioServe known as GAPs, said Stodieck. Each GAP holds eight test-tube-like devices that allow Salmonella and growth media to be mixed in space. Astronauts will operate the experiments using hand cranks to first trigger cell growth via fluid mixing and later to terminate it.
A third payload will allow researchers to examine genetic alterations spurred by cellular changes in yeast. Since some cells have been shown to undergo significant changes in microgravity -- like producing larger quantities of rare antibiotics or making large amounts of bioactive medicinal proteins -- the team will analyze 6,000 different genetically altered yeast strains aboard the payload to identify specific genes that are linked to such space-based changes. This knowledge could someday help efforts to produce new and better medicines, said Stodieck.
Led by Timothy Hammond of the Veteran's Administration in Washington, D.C., the payload will be flown inside two types of BioServe flight hardware known as an opticell processing module and a plate habitat that rides inside a BioServe Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus, or CGBA. The CGBA is an automated, suitcase-sized device developed by CU-Boulder that has been launched on more than 20 NASA space shuttle missions and which provides steady temperature control. There currently are two BioServe CGBA devices on the International Space Station, one of which will be used for processing the yeast experiment at an elevated temperature.
A fourth payload involving biofilms may help scientists understand how and why slimy and troublesome clumps of microorganisms flourish in the low-gravity conditions of space. The experiments on biofilms -- clusters of microorganisms that adhere to each other or to various surfaces -- are of high interest to space scientists because of their potential impacts on astronaut and spacecraft health, said Stodieck.
Led by Professor Cynthia Collins of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., the biofilm experiment riding inside a second BioServe CGBA will target the growth, physiology and cell-to-cell interactions in microbial biofilms. The team will examine how the formation of the three-dimensional structure of biofilms formed by microbes differs in spaceflight versus normal gravity.
A fifth payload will be used to assess the effects of microgravity on the formation, establishment and multiplication of cells in a tropical plant known as Jatropha that produces energy-rich nuts, a popular new renewable crop for biofuels. The team will be looking for genes that help or hinder Jatropha growth to see if new strains can be developed and commercially grown in "warm-temperate" areas like the southern United States. The lead scientist on the experiment is Associate Professor Wagner Vendrame of the University of Florida.
BioServe is a nonprofit, NASA-supported center founded in 1987 at CU-Boulder to develop new or improved products through space life science research in partnership with industry, academia and government. Since 1991 BioServe has flown payloads on 37 NASA space shuttle microgravity missions.
Although NASA's space shuttle program will be shuttered following the Atlantis mission, hardware and experiments developed by BioServe are manifested on various international resupply vehicles traveling to the International Space Station, as well as on U.S. spacecraft now under development, said Stodieck.
"We would be unable to carry out all of our research without the help of CU-Boulder students," he said. "Both undergraduate and graduate students play an important role in designing, building and testing spaceflight payloads, activities that can give them a significant advantage when they move on to careers in the aerospace industry."
BioServe also has flown several K-12 educational experiments on the space station, including seed-germination studies, spider web-weaving experiments, butterfly life cycle experiments and crystal garden growth experiments -- all of which have provided learning opportunities for thousands of middle school and high school students around the world. The K-12 efforts have been led by Stefanie Countryman, BioServe's business manager and coordinator of education outreach.
For more information on BioServe visit www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe/index.html.
- CU - | <urn:uuid:490d9b71-4b0e-48f0-afea-32172ed3e907> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2011/07/05/final-space-shuttle-carry-five-cu-boulder-built-payloads?qt-main=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1413558066290.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20141017150106-00234-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918495 | 1,252 | 2.921875 | 3 | {
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We love cats and dogs equally and rarely compare the two, on anything, especially intelligence. But since there is always that question out there of which pet is smarter, we thought weâd explore it, just for fun.
Dog people are certain that dogs are smarter because they are so easily trained and perform tasks for people. Cat people maintain that cats are smarter because they are their own boss and refuse to do things they don't want to do. So who’s smarter – the obedient dog or the independent cat?
It’s nearly impossible to compare dogs and cats because they have different natures. Dogs are hard wired to be social creatures, and therefore have "social intelligence" says author and professor Jeffrey Masson, Ph.D., who takes issue with the notion of intelligence of any being. He believes each species has the intelligence it needs to live in its own world. It benefits dogs to interact and cooperate with others, because in the wild it takes a pack of dogs working together to bring down a larger animal for dinner. Masson says there is a certain prejudice for dog intelligence because their social nature is more like our nature.
Dog and Cat Intelligence is Based on Their Separate Natures
Dog people place a high value on the social nature of dogs, because it serves us so well. Dogs are willing to learn to do what we want them to do.
A cat’s nature is completely different. They are independent creatures. A cat doesn't need the help of another cat to snag a rodent or bird, which is just enough for one cat’s tummy, so it doesn't make sense for them to hunt together. Cat people place a high value on cats because their independence makes them so easy to live with and care for.
People judge dog intelligence based on training
If you're basing intelligence on the ability to learn commands, the dog clearly wins. But It’s an unfair test because although cats can and do learn commands, and can even perform tricks, they are generally not all that interested. A human has to work harder at motivating a cat.
It’s no different with people. If you send two kids to dance class, one who dreams of becoming a dancer and the other who thinks dancing is ridiculous, the first will participate and learn the skills, while the other will sit and watch with disdain, or find something else to do to pass the time. So which kid is smarter? Obviously, this is no measure of intelligence.
People Judge Cat Intelligence Based on Independent Thinking
If you're basing intelligence on the ability to be an independent thinker, doing as one chooses, whether or not it meets the approval of others, the cat clearly wins. But that too is an unfair test, because to a dog, being separated, physically, mentally or emotionally, from the people or dogs he considers his pack, tops his list of "Truly Awful Things", followed closely by doing something that does not please his owner.
Again, It’s the same with people. There are some who cherish their individuality, who are not concerned with what others think of them, and would be very happy living alone, going out for social interaction as it suits them. Others thrive on being with people and would go stir crazy alone, and therefore strive to fit in with the people they care about. Which type of person is smarter? Again, this is no measure of intelligence!
The truth is, dogs are much smarter at being dogs, and cats are way smarter at being cats. | <urn:uuid:a214b74f-ca7b-4208-9ab5-2c2c8a16919c> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | https://www.petcentric.com/07-13-2009/whos-smarter-dogs-or-cats | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443736677924.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001215757-00161-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972752 | 723 | 2.546875 | 3 | {
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Geophysical surveys involve measuring the physical properties of the ground (or structure) and determining if there are any variations or ‘anomalies’ in the background readings. The occurrence of anomalies can indicate the presence of a feature(s) or changes in a material’s composition. Geophysics is a broad discipline with a wide range of techniques that can be used in a variety of sectors. The focus of our work is usually in the near-surface engineering, environmental and archaeological applications of geophysics. Near-surface, for these applications, generally applies to the upper 5 m of the ground. Greater depth penetration can be obtained but there is a subsequent loss of resolution so that only large features, such as geological variations or mine workings, can be located at depth.
There are a wide variety of geophysical techniques available, each one measuring different physical properties and each being more or less sensitive to different types of feature. The suitability of any given technique will depend on the site specific conditions and the type and composition of likely target features. Often the best geophysical survey results are obtained by utilising several geophysical techniques. It should be recognised that in certain conditions some features may not be identifiable by a geophysical survey and so guidance should be sought as to the suitability of a technique prior to the survey being commissioned.
Many sites may have multiple hazards or requirements; for example a site may have possible archaeological features, buried fuel tanks associated with its recent use and utility apparatus within and adjacent to it. Rather than treating each of these as separate issues a geophysical survey utilising a range of techniques can be carried out which could potentially identify where each of the possible hazards or features are. If the project aims and requirements are made clear prior to commissioning a survey then a more cost-effective strategy can be adopted.
One of the main advantages to using geophysics is that the entire site can be sampled fairly rapidly for a relatively low cost. The data acquired can then allow the optimal intrusive investigation to be determined which will result in more detailed, comprehensive information being obtained about a site. This will usually result in overall project cost savings.
Another major benefit to carrying out a geophysical survey is that the ground or structure is not disturbed so there is no exposure to buried hazards or chance of creating contaminant pathways. Features can be identified without the risk of damaging them, which in the case of buried utility apparatus is critical.
Phase Site Investigations Ltd will tailor the survey to meet the individual project requirements and on larger sites can undertake trial surveys to assess which techniques will provide the required results. It is a key aspect of our services that we produce concise, clear interpretations and reports. We are aware of the needs of the engineer or developer and present our results in scaled CAD plans with an accompnaying report that can be easily understood and used by non-geophysical specialists. | <urn:uuid:004eb2b6-26f8-4da0-b834-4539836988c0> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | http://www.phasesi.com/index.php/what-we-do/geophysical-surveys/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573098.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20190917161045-20190917183045-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.937452 | 583 | 3.03125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.7926628589630127,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Best Metals for Laser Cutting Projects
Laser cutting is a marvel of modern technology in the industrial and manufacturing market. It is an extremely versatile way of creating parts in a large variety of materials. Laser cutting is so versatile that it can be used to cut woods, plastics, acrylics, and metals for both structural and decorative purposes. When it comes to parts that last and resist wear and tear, metal has always been the go-to option, but there might be some options for lightweight or technical parts.
What metals can be used with laser cutters? Technology continues to advance to make this question moot. Currently, almost all metals can be laser cut, but there may be some requirements depending on the material that might be chosen. The different types of materials can be broken into 3 categories:
Each of these has different applications, requirements, and laser needs.
Ferrous metals are metals which contain iron. Other non-reflective metals are also grouped with ferrous metals. Most commonly, steel, stainless steel, and iron itself are considered for manufacturing in this category. These metals are extremely strong and versatile and are used for their strength. Materials in this category are used for structural and high-stress applications. Parts made with these metals are able to hold up under high pressure and heat with less chance of distortion.
When it comes to cutting, these materials are easily cut by a number of different types of lasers. This versatility also makes it nice for cutting. Its resiliency and non-reflective properties when it comes to laser cutting also allows for modern lasers to be able to cut pieces that are thicker than some other options. Once cut, these parts should last a long time, but they are not always the best for more delicate applications or applications where electro-conductivity is sought after. The costs of ferrous materials can very depending on the type of material and the thickness, but is usually in the middle of non-ferrous options.
Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, magnesium, copper, silver, gold, titanium, zinc, etc. With lower electrical impedance and heat resistance, these metals are used in more delicate applications where ferrous metals might not be the best option. Some materials will not survive the same conditions as the ferrous metals. For example, aluminum is a great option for lightweight gears or technical parts that won’t experience massive amounts of stress, but still need to be able to function properly for a reasonable amount of time. Copper or gold might be a better option to consider if a piece needs to be able to conduct electrical charge.
When it comes to laser cutting, these metals also are much trickier to cut and require specific types of laser in order to be cut effectively. Without the proper laser and settings, damage can occur to the piece or the machinery creating costly mistakes. Usually these materials are not able to use a standard CO2 laser and require a fiber laser to cut. Gold, silver, and copper are so unaffected by a CO2 laser that it requires a fiber laser. Even with a fiber laser, the thickness of the material that can be cut is much less than ferrous metals. Greater thickness requires longer exposure to cut the material and these metals are far less resistant to the heat and other environmental factors created by the process. The price of possible materials in this category vary greatly with aluminum and zinc often being examples of less costly options and gold and platinum being examples of some of the most costly options.
While obviously not metals, most synthetic materials (and even woods) are generally used for aesthetic embellishments and decorative pieces. That being said, polyoxymethylene, or POM, is an engineering thermoplastic that has some applications in parts production. Sometimes called Acetal or Delrin, this is a resilient plastic that can be used for technical parts and lightweight gears. It is is great at keeping its shape without warping and breaking like is seen from other synthetics such as acrylic.
POM is easily cut by a number of different lasers. It is also waterproof, weatherproof, and resistant to most acids, bases, and other solvents.
A great number of materials are applicable for creating and cutting with laser cutting. With so many options and some special requirements, it can be dizzying. Fortunately, the experts at Engineered Mechanical Systems are available to help you. They can assists you with all the latest techniques and technologies to get the best results for your budget. Get in contact with them today to start on the path to completing your project. | <urn:uuid:ca591798-b94b-4fa8-a9d4-42dcf23b67d4> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | http://www.engineeredmechanicalsystems.com/best-metals-for-laser-cutting-projects/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376823320.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20181210080704-20181210102204-00573.warc.gz | en | 0.940186 | 921 | 2.546875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.1293282508850098,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Industrial |
Pennsylvania Population, Area, and Density
The population of Pennsylvania is 12,787,209 people based on the U.S. Census Bureau's 2014 estimate. Pennsylvania is ranked number 6 out of 56 U.S. States and Territories in terms of highest population. This is 121.9% above the national average of 5,763,868 people.
The total area in Pennsylvania is 46,054.3 square miles. There state is 97.2% land and 2.9% water. The population density in Pennsylvania is 285.8 people per square mile (14th out of 56).
Population Density CalculationPopulation Density = Total Population ÷ Total Land Area
Population Density = 12,787,209 people ÷ 44,742.7 sq mi
Population Density = 285.8 people per sq mile
|Population||12,787,209 (6th out of 56)||12,702,379 (6th out of 56)||12,281,054 (6th out of 56)|
|Difference||121.9% above avg||127.4% above avg||140.8% above avg|
|Total Area||46,054.3 mi2||119,280 km2||29,474,684 acres||(33rd out of 56)|
|Land Area||44,742.7 mi2||115,883 km2||28,635,269 acres||(97.2%)|
|Water Area||1,311.6 mi2||3,397 km2||839,416 acres||(2.9%)|
|National Average||4,821.4 mi2||12,487 km2||3,085,666 acres|
|Density (people per sq mi)||285.8 (14th out of 56)||283.9 (15th out of 56)||274.5 (16th out of 56)|
|Average (people per sq mi)||434.9||415.6||398.2|
|Difference||34.3% below avg||31.7% below avg||31.1% below avg| | <urn:uuid:6c9e474e-ce43-4484-9a33-8b4b1dcde065> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.states101.com/populations/pennsylvania | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320301488.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20220119185232-20220119215232-00182.warc.gz | en | 0.779063 | 523 | 3.0625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.491294503211975,
"reasoning_level": 1,
"interpretation": "Basic reasoning"
} | History |
What are the characteristics of classical Greek architecture?
Classical architecture originated in ancient Greece and Rome, and is characterized by symmetry, columns, rectangular windows, and marble, to name a few. For centuries, architects have drawn influence from these civilizations and incorporated traditional ideals into subsequent styles of architecture.
What does classical architecture mean?
Classical architecture refers to a style of buildings originally constructed by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, especially between the fifth century BC in Greece and the third century AD in Rome. ... In the US, the Classical Revival or Neoclassical Style (1895-1950) is one of the most common architectural styles.
What influenced Greek architecture?
Ancient Greek temples featured proportional design, columns, friezes, and pediments, usually decorated with sculpture in relief. These elements give ancient Greek architecture its distinctive character. ... Another Ancient Greek architectural style that heavily influenced later architecture is the colonnade.
What is the importance of Greek architecture?
Greek architecture is important for several reasons: (1) Because of its logic and order. Logic and order are at the heart of Greek architecture. The Hellenes planned their temples according to a coded scheme of parts, based first on function, then on a reasoned system of sculptural decoration.
What are the main elements of Greek architecture?
The Parthenon, shows the common structural features of Ancient Greek architecture: crepidoma, columns, entablature, pediment. At the Temple of Aphaia, the hypostyle columns rise in two tiers, to a height greater than the walls, to support a roof without struts.
What were some characteristics of Greek architecture and art?
Three different types of columns can be found in ancient Greek architecture. Whether the Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian style was used depended on the region and the purpose of the structure being built. Many barely noticeable enhancements to the design of the Parthenon contribute to its overall beauty and balance.
What is the function of Greek classical art?
Ancient Greek art emphasized the importance and accomplishments of human beings. Even though much of Greek art was meant to honor the gods, those very gods were created in the image of humans. Much artwork was government sponsored and intended for public display.....
Who was the Greeks favorite hero?
What is Greek religion called?
Hellenic polytheists worship the ancient Greek Gods, or the Hellenic pantheon, including the Olympians, nature divinities, underworld deities (chthonic gods) and heroes.
Did Greek philosophers believe in God?
Plato and Aristotle believed in one God, who created the universe. They referred to “it” as the “Prime Mover” or “Unmoved Mover.” This same entity was later referred to as “The Causa Sui,” or “First Cause.” All of these philosophers were essentially operating in the dark, before the divine revelation of Jesus Christ.
What philosopher did not believe in God?
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980): French existentialist philosopher, dramatist and novelist who declared that he had been an atheist from age twelve. Although he regarded God as a self-contradictory concept, he still thought of it as an ideal toward which people strive.
What did Greek philosophers believe?
Socrates and Plato are two famous Greek philosophers whose ideas still impact society today. In ancient Greece, philosophers contemplated and theorized about many different ideas such as human nature, ethics, and moral dilemmas.
How many Greek philosophers were there?
Top 10 Ancient Greek Philosophers
- Parmenides (560 BC – 510 BC) ...
- Anaxagoras (500 BC–428 BC) ...
- Anaximander (610 BC–546 BC) ...
- Empedocles (490 BC–430 BC) ...
- Zeno (490 BC–430 BC) ...
- Pythagoras (570 BC–495 BC) ...
- Socrates (469 BC–399 BC) ...
- Plato (427 BC–347 BC)
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- What are some Scottish words? | <urn:uuid:fba7199c-4b03-483b-b5f5-48a4bba71d47> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://archinfos.com/library/lecture/read/15626-what-are-the-characteristics-of-classical-greek-architecture | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573399.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818185216-20220818215216-00545.warc.gz | en | 0.948101 | 1,063 | 3.671875 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.2794148921966553,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Art & Design |
Those were Adolf Hitler’s words in December of 1940, as he revealed to his senior Wehrmacht Field Marshals and Generals his plans for the invasion of the Soviet Union.
At a few minutes past 0300 on the morning of 22 June 1941, the rumble of 8,000 artillery pieces shook the western positions of the Red Army, all along the new borders of the Soviet Union. Simultaneously, more than 3,300 aircraft roared overhead on their way to attack Soviet airfields, troop concentrations, command posts, and artillery positions. The most fateful day of the Twentieth Century had begun.
In the west, the Wehrmacht of Hitler’s Third Reich consisted of 2.5 million men and more than 4,000 tanks comprising 180 divisions, organized into three massive Army Groups, which were poised to smash their ideological and political enemies, the Bolshevik dictatorship of Stalin’s Soviet Russia.
Opposing the German onslaught was more than 3 million soldiers of Stalin’s Red Army. Numerically superior to its German opponent in men, aircraft (4,000), and tanks (more than 7,000), the armies on the Soviet western boundary were nonetheless abysmally led and poorly trained. Still reeling from Stalin’s 1937-39 purges of most of its officer corps, and from the bloody humiliation of the disastrous “Winter War” with Finland in the winter of 1939-40, the Red Army was ill-prepared for war against a modern western foe.
The Wehrmacht, on the other hand, was a finely tuned weapon of mechanized warfare, having conquered Poland two years earlier, and overrun France in less than six weeks in 1940. Superbly trained and equipped with modern armor and the most advanced combat aircraft, the three German Army Groups shattered the Soviet forces opposite them. The Luftwaffe swept the Red Air Force, the VVS, from the skies and smashed it on the ground. By the end of the second day, more than 2,300 Soviet aircraft had been destroyed. The Red Army was already being shattered and destroyed piecemeal, in what would be the “great battles of encirclement” of that summer and autumn of 1941, from which few escaped death or captivity. The eradication of the VVS was nearly complete. Nearly. The Red Army almost bled to death. Almost. Yet, somehow, they held on.
Operation BARBAROSSA, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, more than any other, was Hitler’s war. It was the war of Mein Kampf, the war for Lebensraum in the East, whose purpose was to open the great steppes for colonization by the Aryan race. It was a war not just of conquest but of subjugation and annihilation, fought with a brutality that had not been seen in Europe since the Tatar conquests of seven centuries before. It was a war of unspeakable horror and unimaginable suffering, by soldier and civilian alike. Prisoners on both sides died by the millions, worked to death as slave labor, starved, or simply shot or hanged out of hand. But it was also a war of grim and fatalistic heroism on both sides. The German-Soviet conflict, when it ended in the rubble of Berlin nearly four years later, would take the lives of almost twenty-three million souls.
Some of the most enduring images of the Eastern Front, and for the Soviets the Great Patriotic War, are of columns of Russian and German prisoners forlornly marching to their fates (the Russians seemingly always in the dust of the summer, the Germans in the bitter cold of winter). And of grainy images of executions and hangings by the German SS Einsatzgruppen, and far less publicized, of the execution of suspected Russian collaborators by field units of the NKVD, the terror apparatus of Stalin’s brutal regime.
There are lessons and cautions abundant in examining this titanic struggle. Cautions about underestimating one’s enemy, his will to fight for family and homeland. The Russian soldier, deemed racially inferior and incapable of waging modern war, proved individually tough, able to endure hardship and privation in startling measure. He was also fanatical in the defense, fierce in the attack, and bore a hatred of the “blue-eyed oaf” that would be carried across the borders of Prussia with terrible effect.
The Russian was also capable of producing simple but highly effective weaponry, and of mastering its employment. The T-34 and KV-1 tanks that began to appear in the autumn of 1941 were superior to any German design. Soviet aircraft began to close the technology gap with the Luftwaffe far faster than anticipated. Soviet artillery, superior to the Germans even in June of 1941, would dominate the battlefield as the Red Army’s “God of War”. All these would surprise and confound the German commanders who were told to expect an enemy of limited intellect and poor character.
There are also many myths and misconceptions surrounding the struggle between these oppressive dictatorships. Here are two:
- The Wehrmacht was not capable of winning a short (ten-week) war against the Soviet Union.
Because the Germans did not win does not mean they were not capable of winning, or the Soviets capable of losing. Had the Ostheer kept its focus on Moscow as the main objective (the plan was to surround, not enter the city), and had Hoth’s Panzers been unleashed in the first week of August, rather than frittered away in other operations until October, the capture of the European capital of the Soviet Union was within its capabilities. Perhaps even more important than the purely political prize was the massive Soviet war industry that occupied the so-called “Moscow-Gorky Space”. Siberian forces did not begin to arrive to defend the city and its immediate area in significant numbers until late September, 1941. The capture of the Soviet war industry, which included the massive tank works at Gorky itself, and the aircraft engine factory at Kuibyshev, would have deprived the Soviet Union of its most valuable asset, the ability to replace the massive combat losses with more modern and capable equipment. Had those factories been destroyed or fallen into German hands, there would have been no MiG or Yak fighters, no Il-2 Sturmoviks, no PE-2s, or any of the other increasingly modern aircraft that would eventually sweep the Luftwaffe from the sky. There would have been no replacement divisions of T-34/76 and /85 tanks, no self-propelled guns, no artillery pieces to replace those lost in the massive battles or worn out in extensive combat. Without those factories and the hardware they produced, there would have been no rehabilitation of the VVS or of the Red Army into the juggernaut that crushed Army Group Vistula into bits and eventually subsume eastern Germany.
- The Soviet Union was capable of defeating Nazi Germany without Allied assistance.
While it is true that the Soviet Union bore the unquestioned preponderance of the weight of German arms (at various times, 80% of German combat power was employed in the East, and nearly 80% of all German losses were inflicted by the Soviets), and the suffering and casualties of the Soviet military and civilian population exceeded the rest of the Allies combined by a wide margin, Stalin’s Russia could not have won the war without Allied, and particularly American, assistance. While many are familiar with pictures of some of the 9,000 US and British tanks shipped to the Soviets under Lend-Lease, these represented only about 20% of Soviet tank production during the war. There is little question upon any examination, however, that there were two absolutely critical areas of direct assistance were the linchpins of the survival of the Soviet Union in the dark days of 1941-43, and their drive to ultimate victory in 1944-45. The first of these areas was in food production. The United States shipped more than seventeen MILLION tons of food, wheat and canned goods, to the Soviet Union whose agricultural bread basket was under German occupation. That food sustained the Red Army and Russian war industry workers when none other was available. Without it, the prospects for Soviet victory would have been slim indeed. The second item so critical to the Soviet war effort was the supply of more than half a million American trucks. Tough, six-wheel drive vehicles which carried logistical supplies from the rear areas to the front, and which mounted the famous 122mm Katyusha rocket launchers by the tens of thousands, allowed the Red Army to supply itself on the battlefield in the defensive struggles of 1942 and carried that Army to the great offensive drives that eventually smashed the German Ostheer. Those trucks represent more than 70% of total Soviet vehicle production, freeing their industries to produce the war weapons, tanks, artillery pieces, and armored vehicles that equipped the Red Army.
The final victory of the Soviet Union is, however, a testament to the tough, fierce, and brave Russian soldier. His image, the hardened veteran soldier sitting atop a T-34 with PPSh in hand, scanning for a glimpse of the hated enemy, his mustard-colored quilt uniform covered with dust and snow, will endure for centuries in the collective consciousness of the Russian people.
The German invasion of the Soviet Union has never been comprehensively treated. The subject is far too large. It is too complex and incapable of being understood, except gradually, within the context of its salient events, and those of the rest of the world during and since. A thousand volume work on the subject would still require an explanation and a qualification that such a work was by no means all-inclusive. Yet, it remains one of the most compelling subjects for historians, social and military, because of the world-altering impact of the events themselves and their decades-long aftermath. The magnitude of the struggle defies modern understanding. As does the agony of the armies and the peoples locked in the grips of that mortal struggle.
And so it is likely to remain. And it began with the flash of cannon and the roar of engines, in the morning darkness, seventy-one years ago today.
PS: I am humbled and grateful to xbradtc for allowing me the intellectual pleasure of writing on this blog. And for his unwavering faith that a Marine actually knew how to write, and that I wouldn’t eat the crayons. | <urn:uuid:f49bfdee-ffb0-4ed2-a0dd-8b080581de5e> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://xbradtc.com/2012/06/22/the-world-will-hold-its-breath/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394010437227/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305090717-00077-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971588 | 2,162 | 3.03125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.95772385597229,
"reasoning_level": 3,
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Is there plastic in your bedding?
There are so many choices to make when you buy new bedding and your main considerations are probably: will it help you sleep better and is it value for money? How often do we stop to think about the amount of plastic in our bedding and the impact that it might have on the environment before and after use?
We thought we'd take a look.
- Sources of plastics in bedding
- Polyester used in microfibre and hollowfibre bedding
- Microfibre pollution from bedding
- Memory foam bedding
- Environmental impact
- Go plastic free with scooms bedding
- Top tips for a plastic free sleep
- Key plastic pollution facts
Sources of plastic in bedding
Whether it's duvets, pillows, mattresses or even bed linen, most of us are unaware of how much plastic is in our bedding. And with a never-ending list of options, it has become more and more confusing to know how to buy the right sleep essentials whilst ensuring that we're all doing our part for the environment.
We've identified that the three main sources of plastic in bedding are:
- The synthetic fibres used to make synthetic filled bedding.
- The plastic packaging bedding comes in.
- Memory foam.
Polyester used in microfibre and hollowfibre bedding
The most common plastic found in bedding is polyester. There are many different types of polyester, but the most prevalent used in bedding is Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET. This is made from a series of chemical processes at very high temperatures using lots of energy, as well as substances extracted from oil and sometimes coal.
The very fine, synthetic fibres produced were created as a man-made equivalent to natural down. Called microfibre, hollowfibre or 'Soft As Down', they are cheap to mass produce in vast quantities.
Microfibre pollution from bedding
Microfibres are microscopic pollutants. As well as polluting the environment during the manufacturing process by using lots of energy, high temperatures and chemical catalysts, these microfibres, like other micro-plastics, can enter our rivers, seas and land food chains, as well as being present in the very air we breathe. Microfibres account for 85% of man-made debris.
Memory foam bedding
Also known as viscoelastic foam, memory foam can be found in pillows, mattresses and toppers. It was developed in 1965 by NASA to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. Memory foam is typically a type of polyurethane plastic. It is produced by an exothermic reaction between two petroleum or plant-based oils, polyols, isocyanates and reacting agents. Other additives such as flame retardants and formaldehyde-based adhesives can also be used, which may also be hazardous to the environment.
It's not uncommon to notice a chemical off-gas smell when unpacking memory foam products. Caused by VOCs, (volatile organic compounds), these have been linked to a host of respiratory health problems. Memory foam products can continue to emit gasses even after a gassing off period.
Environmental impact of plastics from bedding
Nearly 70 million barrels of oil is used each year to make polyester globally. It's a non-renewable, carbon-intensive resource that has a huge environmental impact.
Currently there are very few places where duvets and pillows made from microfibres and memory foam can be recycled. They typically end up in land fill or in the sea.
Many duvets and pillows also arrive wrapped in single use plastic packaging, which almost always ends up in our seas or in landfill.
“We have to act now to try and clear up some of the appalling damage we have made… and that is going to require positive action,” Sir David Attenborough.
Our bedding is all made from natural, biodegradable materials. And we don't use any unnecessary single use plastics in our packaging. We deliver all our products in reusable fabric bags and recyclable cardboard boxes.
Our top tips for plastic-free sleep:
- Opt for duvets and pillows made from natural materials such as goose down and wool - they are biodegradable and use less energy in production.
- Buy well and buy once. Invest in the best quality natural duvet and pillow you can and avoid bedding that is wrapped in single-use plastics.
- When your natural duvet or pillow comes to the end of it's lifecycle, you can put the feathers and wool out for nesting birds.
- If synthetic bedding is a must, then opt for recycled microfibre which is made from waste plastic PET bottles, using less energy to produce and reducing landfill.
- If you're considering memory foam pillows/mattresses, then take a closer look at what they are made of to avoid any chemical nasties such as VOCs.
- Reduce the number of times you wash a synthetic pillow or duvet to avoid it potentially shedding microfibres and introducing these into the water.
- Avoid disposing of your synthetic mattress in landfill. If it's in good condition, donate it to a charity who will recycle and reuse it. Many local authorities do not recycle old duvets, so the best advice is to put it out of the way in your loft - it may even add a little insulation.
Key plastic pollution facts
- Synthetic fibres represent one of the main forms of microplastics in the marine environment. “Of the pollution from microplastics, 71% are fibres, whilst 29% are other things like microbeads from toothpaste and facial scrubs or little fragments of mystery particles," says Peter Ross, VP of research at Ocean Wise.
- Because they are so small, treatment plants cannot effectively filter out all microfibres. Instead, many are released into the environment. A study by Patagonia and the University of California, Santa Barbara, on the microfibre in clothing, found that up to 40% of microfibres in wastewater ends up entering rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Zooplankton and other small organisms ingest microfibres, which then make their way up the food chain. Researchers have found high numbers of fibres inside fish and shellfish sold for human consumption. In one survey reported in Nature, the majority of micro pollutants were microfibres from textiles.
- Microplastics have been found in over 100 marine species, from zooplankton to whales, including mussels, crabs, fish, sharks, sea reptiles and seabirds.
- Synthetic fibres act as a magnet for harmful chemical pollutants in the environment such as pesticides or flame retardants. When marine organisms ingest the micro plastics, they also ingest the pollutants.
- Fibres retained in wastewater treatment sludge (bios solids) that are land-applied can persist in soils.
- Microfibres can fragment, become airborne and be inhaled. Airborne fibrous microplastics may also carry pollutants.
- We don't really know how long it takes for plastic to break down. It's estimated that it could take thousands of years to degrade or may never truly degrade.
- According to a recent study from Plymouth University, each cycle of a washing machine can release more than 500,000 plastic fibres into the environment.
- If plastic consumption increases at its current rate, according to National Geographic, by 2050 there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills.
- A paper published in 2011 in the journal Environmental Science Technology, found that microfibres made up 85% of human-made debris on shorelines around the world.
- The term Anthropogenic is used to mean environmental pollution and pollutants originating in human activity.
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch area of ocean approx.1.6 million km2 is more of a plastic soup than a plastic island. An article in Nature estimates that it consists of 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, the majority of which are microplastics: o 1.7 trillion pieces of microplastics (0.05–0.5 cm) o 56 billion pieces of mesoplastics (0.5–5 cm) o 821 million pieces of macroplastics, (5–50 cm) o 3.2 million pieces of megaplastics (>50 cm).
- It’s estimated that fibres are, by count, the single largest contributor to watershed plastic pollution in developed countries and account for a significant portion of plastic waste entering the ocean.
- Every year 14 million duvets, pillows and mattress toppers end up in UK landfills.
- Around 61,900 tonnes of duvets and pillows enter the waste system in the UK each year. | <urn:uuid:a2914589-1c3e-4ce5-a650-80d19877eaea> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://scooms.com/blogs/sleep/plastics-in-bedding | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400274441.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20200927085848-20200927115848-00453.warc.gz | en | 0.931317 | 1,875 | 2.59375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.612147569656372,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
What Is A WolfHawke?
Not what, but who. But let me ask a question. What is a Wolf?
A Wolf, yes. Canis lupus is the Latin name of the most common. A large animal related to our domesticated dogs. But it is wild, mind you. Wolves will run in small packs. They are strong enough to bring down big animals like elk or caribou. But they’ll usually eat smaller animals. They usually mate for life. They’re actually quite shy.
Yes, that’s what a Wolf is. Now who is this Wolf?
Who is the Wolf? What is his character?
Well, usually he’s seen as vicious and cruel, killing wantonly...
Does he – kill wantonly?
Well, no, not really. But he’s aloof, shy. He hides from humans. When he fights he’s incredibly vicious, leaving no quarter.
All right, but these are all negative. Does he have any positive traits?
Positive traits? A Wolf?
Yes. Look, they’re even more than his negative ones! He’s loyal – he’ll mate only once. He’s noble, the lord of the wilderness. He’s quick and has long endurance. He can go for weeks without food. He’s tenacious, quick, and silent. He knows how to seize the moment. And if he did not exist, then the caribou and the elk would never be kept strong by the sick and weak ones being purged from among them. A Wolf is good.
Now, tell me about the Hawk.
But you spell it with an “e” at the end.
So, old English spelling. Tell me.
A Hawk. It’s a small bird of prey related to the falcon. It usually nests in trees. It will target its prey and then attack, following its escape path. It will eat small mammals, insects, reptiles, and things like that... Farmers don’t really like them.
Did you know they mate for life as well?
Really. That’s interesting. I do know that they were often used in falconry.
Why, of course. They also can fly quite high and have excellent eyesight to catch their prey which will often sit still in order not to be noticed. Oh, and they have to be patient, too. It takes long waiting before the prey will move. But what does this have to do with a WolfHawke?
Well, we’ve been talking about character traits, right?
Both of these have many good character traits and similarly many bad ones. Well, I’m very much like both the Wolf and the Hawk in my character. I aspire towards the good traits and try to overcome the bad ones.
But what about things like gentleness, caring, love? These animals surely don’t embody those!
Hm, yes, but God can change even the Wolf and the Hawk to be like that.
So you’re WolfHawke.
Yes, I am. I am WolfHawke – and before you ask, no, this is not a Native American thing. Both the Wolf and the Hawk are also European animals. You might think of it more as a knight’s crest, a knight’s quest to become better and deeper in his walk.
So WolfHawke is...
WolfHawke is a goal, an ideal that really points to a much bigger one... towards my Liege Lord, my King, Yehoshua the Anointed One. And this is my quest: to become more like my Lord and to serve Him better. Perhaps now you will understand...
Who Is J.M. Diener?
J.M. Diener is the pen name of Joshua Wibberley. As the word "diener" is German for servant, this pen name signifies his understanding that he is a servant of the living God and does his writing in that consciousness. He has formerly written some of the short stories on this site under the pen name Josh Malcolm. In the interest of clarity, “Josh Malcolm” has been removed from the online versions of all documents in this latest update in favor of J.M. Diener, though Josh Malcolm may be retained in some of the PDF files. | <urn:uuid:e1d6ae96-5257-4081-a291-50b71f958a9f> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://www.wolfhawke.com/identity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488259200.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20210620235118-20210621025118-00027.warc.gz | en | 0.957623 | 929 | 2.75 | 3 | {
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Bone health concerns…focused largely at aging women… or even the elderly in general…is no longer a valid stereotype. Osteoporosis is gender neutral. By age 70, men experience bone loss just as rapidly as women. Now…more and more younger people are developing osteoporosis. From body-conscious enthusiasts to classic indoor-dwelling couch potatoes, whose bone-building cells become lazy in response sedentary habits. Sun exposure is a primary source of bone-supportive vitamin D…and you can’t get that indoors.
Here are some key highlights to stimulate your thinking:
Bone Health Begins with Youth Lifestyle – Osteoporosis in younger people can occur for many reasons. .. but poor lifestyle choices are usually to blame: nutrient-deficient diets, sedentary behavior, smoking, excessive alcohol intake…even too much coffee. Adolescents are Prone to Eating Poorly and hence are especially vulnerable to the nutritional deficiencies linked with osteoporosis. Almost half of our bone mass develops in young adulthood, which means good nutrition early on is vital. Soft drinks rob bones of calcium and promote inflammation, as do processed foods…also linked by many studies to poor bone health.
Nutrients that Build Strong Bones
- Avoiding processed foods and
- consuming a nutritious diet built around a wide variety of whole foods is the best strategy for building and maintaining strong bones. Variety supports food synergy: the concept that certain nutrients work together, boosting the benefits they would have as individual components.
- regular weight-bearing exercise can help to build strong, healthy bones.
- Calcium – almost all the calcium in our bodies resides in our bones. However, the results of studies on calcium supplementation and bone health have been dismal, to say the least.
- Vitamin D – which helps your body to absorb calcium.
- when researchers expanded the range of nutrients to include minerals like magnesium, strontium, fish oil, and vitamin K2, the picture changed. They found that certain combinations of nutrients work together to improve bone density, even in people diagnosed with osteoporosis.
- Vitamin K2 – a potent anti-inflammatory and is, consequently, an emerging star in the field of healthy aging. Research is showing it can protect the brain and nervous system and wage war against numerous conditions, including heart disease and cancer. It also plays a vital role in bone health, channeling calcium to your bones and away from soft tissues like the arteries, where it can be damaging.
The Best Strategy is a Healthy Diet…the sooner the better! | <urn:uuid:0ee0fbca-f3bf-479c-b3a7-28c65510be38> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://firstchiropractic.co/nurture-your-bones-now/?amp=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764495012.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20230127195946-20230127225946-00206.warc.gz | en | 0.918182 | 528 | 3.046875 | 3 | {
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Today, paper makes a long journey. The University
of Houston's College of Engineering presents this
series about the machines that make our
civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity
A word to consider next time
you open a new ream of shiny white paper is the
Arabic word rizmah. It means a bale or a
bundle. The Spanish made rizmah into resma,
and the French made reyme of it. It finally
became the English word ream -- a bundle of
twenty quires (or 500 sheets) of paper. That
word-trail matches the trail of paper almost
perfectly as it moved from the east to the west.
The Chinese invented paper
in 49 BC. They began using it as a writing material
in AD 105. By the seventh century, the use of paper
had spread east to Japan and west to Samarkand.
That was just after Islam had begun spreading
outward from the mid-East. Paper and Islam
converged when Arab forces reached Samarkand, where
paper had been in use for just two generations.
Under Arab rule, Samarkand became a paper-making
All paper is
made of plant fibers of one sort or another, and
Samarkand paper was made of mulberry fiber. Two
recollections linger with me after my visit to
Samarkand years ago. They are the beautiful mosques
and air heavy with the smell of mulberry.
The Arabs also made paper centers of Baghdad and
Damascus. The intellectual center of the world had,
for a long time, been the city of Alexandria at the
mouth of the papyrus-rich Nile Delta.
Pergamon, in western
Turkey, had become a parchment-based intellectual
center, and parchment would become Europe's writing
material. But, in the 8th century, intellectual
ascendancy passed to Baghdad, and it came to rest
on the new writing medium of paper.
Historian Jonathan Bloom drives home the importance
of that fact. Before we had cheap and abundant
paper, arithmetic involved erasing and shifting
numbers -- operations that could be done on slate,
but not paper. In AD 952, Arab mathematician
al-Uqlidisi used Indian algorithms to create neat
once-through methods that could be done on paper.
Paper drove the creation of our methods for doing
multiplication and long division.
The use of paper slowly crept westward. Cairo was
making paper by the 10th century, Tunisia and
Islamic Spain by the 11th. Paper didn't cross the
Pyrenees into Europe. Rather, it entered by way of
Islamic Sicily. It was being made in Italy by 1268.
Both Hebrew and Islamic scripture had first been
put on parchment. Both religions were reluctant to
put scripture on anything so modest as paper,
despite its strength and durability. The flow of
paper into Europe was also slowed by Christians,
who called it an infidel technology. Central Europe
didn't take up paper until the 14th century, and
England only at the end of the 15th.
Not until 1578 did paper reach Russia after its
long looping trip from China, through Samarkand,
into the Holy Land, across North Africa, up into
Europe and finally to Moscow. But the great nexus
in this glacial migration of paper was Samarkand --
ancient, sunlit, and sweetly perfumed with the
delicate smell of mulberry.
I'm John Lienhard, at the University of Houston,
where we're interested in the way inventive minds
Bloom, J. M., Revolution by the Ream: A History of
Paper. Aramco World, May/June 1999, pp. 26-39.
(See also a more recent book-length account: Bloom,
J. M., The History and Impact of Paper in the
Islamic Lands New Haven: Yale University Press,
The Engines of Our Ingenuity is
Copyright © 1988-1999 by John H. | <urn:uuid:fc8c50f4-49b0-453d-81ae-aad58128729a> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1456.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267159165.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20180923075529-20180923095929-00427.warc.gz | en | 0.943774 | 864 | 3.296875 | 3 | {
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Information on Hybrid Willow Plants
Hybrid willow (Salix spp.) plants comprise a group of trees and shrubs that are hardy, grow rapidly even in poor soils and are not bothered by pests and diseases. The tall hybrid willows make excellent windbreak hedges, privacy screens and they also control erosion. Willow hybrids can help decontaminate soil and water in wetlands and can be harvested for production of bio-energy.. Hybrid willows are not invasive and many varieties are sterile.
Many of today's large hybrid shrubs and trees were produced by botanists crossing different willow species to obtain a rapidly growing plant for bio-energy production. Large willow hybrids vary in shape from weeping trees, boxy hedge forms to rounded trees. Trees can reach 70 feet when growing conditions are optimal. The extremely rapid growth rate distinguishes hybrid willow trees from non-hybrid willows. Willow hybrids may grow 6 to 10 feet per year. The most common use of willow hybrids is as a seasonal privacy hedge, but hybrids can also serve as good noise barriers and attractive shade trees
Hybrid willows comprise not only trees and tall shrubs, but also a group of ornamental small- and medium-sized shrubs. The willows in this group include pussy willows and alpine willows. Some of these shrubs are natural hybrids, arising from cross-pollination in the wild, and others are botanist-generated. One small ornamental hybrid is Japanese variegated willow (Salix integra "Hakuro-nishiki"), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. It is a graceful, fast-growing shrub, 3 to 6 feet tall. This variegated willow makes a striking accent with its white, pink and green dappled leaves.
Willow hybrids have many characteristics of their non-hybrid parents. They have the typical narrow, lance-shaped leaves, which turn a beautiful yellow in fall. Willow hybrids also produce catkins, which are slender upright or drooping small, clustered, yellow or green flowers. But because many willow hybrids are sterile, they don't produce cottony seeds like native willow plants.
Potted hybrid willows can be planted any time of the year, if the soil is workable. Bareroot hybrids should be planted between November and May to avoid heat and drought. Dig a hole twice as large as the root ball. After placing the root ball into the hole, fill the remaining hole with a mixture of soil and compost. Hybrid willows grow fastest if the soil is moist and drains well. Water the planted willow weekly during the first growing season. Hybrid willows will adapt to dry soil, but they need to be watered regularly until established.
Hybrid willows need little pruning. Cut out dead branches and prune only to limit the size of the willow plant or to shape a willow hedge. Trim willow hedges once a year.
Based in Connecticut, Marie-Luise Blue writes a local gardening column and has been published in "Organic Gardening" and "Back Home." Blue has a Ph.D. in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and wrote scientific articles for almost 20 years before starting to write gardening articles in 2004. | <urn:uuid:61c68674-0515-4852-9ebe-abeb34dd57b8> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://homeguides.sfgate.com/information-hybrid-willow-plants-47349.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178385984.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20210309030723-20210309060723-00464.warc.gz | en | 0.947455 | 688 | 3.421875 | 3 | {
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New palm oil maps mark a milestone in transparency
New palm oil maps mark a milestone in transparency
Palm oil, the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world, is produced across a whopping 40 million hectares worldwide, an area larger than Germany. Most oil palm comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, with production increasing in Central Africa and Latin America.
But exactly where this oil palm is being grown — and more importantly, how it’s being produced — is difficult to determine from the perspective of a corporate buyer. While some oil palm is grown sustainably, other plantations clear-cut forest and degrade ecosystems.
A new initiative from WRI and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil aims to shed light on how individual oil palm concessions affect forests, information that can empower companies to manage their forests and supply chains more sustainably. Global Forest Watch Commodities, a new platform produced by WRI and more than 40 partners, combines the RSPO’s maps of certified sustainable palm oil production sites with global forest data such as tree cover loss alerts, locations of primary forests and legal land classifications. Armed with GFW-Commodities, the new RSPO maps and knowledge of their supply chains, companies can reduce the risk that the palm oil they purchase contributes to deforestation.
A need for sustainable palm oil
Palm oil production has increased tremendously in recent years. The substance can be found in a dizzying array of products, from dish soap to lipstick to muffins. While agricultural production of oil palm has helped boost economies and brought income and employment to poverty-stricken communities, it’s come at a cost.
Palm oil development has devastated significant areas of the world’s tropical forests, especially in Southeast Asia. Besides driving deforestation, unsustainable palm oil production can disenfranchise indigenous and local communities, generate waste, degrade air and water quality and drain soil fertility.
The RSPO was established in 2004 to develop a standard for the production and trade of sustainable palm oil that doesn’t contribute to significant deforestation, environmental harm or social conflict. In 2013, 9.7 million metric tons of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil were produced, representing about 18 percent of global palm oil production. RSPO membership today includes nearly 1,500 companies and organizations including palm oil growers, as well as traders, processors, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks, NGOs (including WRI) and government agencies. Lively debate among stakeholders within and outside the RSPO fosters innovation and continuous improvement of the standard.
Why is the new RSPO data so important?
Good maps and information about who manages forest land can be notoriously difficult to come by. Information — especially about who has been granted licenses to develop palm oil, timber and other commodities on forest land — is either not generated in a consistent way or is closely guarded by those who have it. WRI analysis has shown that companies, communities, NGOs, governments and even different levels of government often have different information about forest use.
For example, while the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry provides some information on where oil palm concessions are operating in the country, this information is not up-to-date. So when forest fires flared earlier this year, it was difficult to accurately identify the landholders responsible for the burning. Malaysia makes no information about palm oil concessions public.
RSPO’s new maps — combined with Global Forest Watch’s near-real time deforestation alerts and other information — provides a much-needed level of transparency when it comes to the palm oil sector. This transparency can benefit businesses, civil society groups and other forest stakeholders.
An increasing number of palm oil buyers have committed to “deforestation-free” supply chains such as Unilever, Nestlé and Mars. With RSPO data on GFW-Commodities, these companies can verify and credibly demonstrate to their customers that the RSPO products they source meet sustainability standards. Civil society groups, consumers and other stakeholders can act as watchdogs and use GFW-Commodities to hold companies accountable if their palm oil suppliers do degrade forest landscapes. The data also can help the RSPO itself more efficiently evaluate and respond to complaints lodged against certified members.
For example, in 2005, several organizations filed complaints against RSPO member Herakles Farms/SGSOC palm oil plantation, alleging that the proposed plantation would be built in an area of high-conservation value in Cameroon. RSPO officials and members then needed to spend several months and significant amounts of money investigating the claim before the company finally resigned membership.
With GFW-Commodities, RSPO officials or members can easily zoom in on the 30,000-hectare farm in Cameroon, verify that it overlaps with areas of intact forests and is surrounded by protected forests, and see strong evidence of land-clearing (see screenshots below) — all within a few minutes. While on-the-ground audits remain the gold standard for these investigations, GFW-Commodities can help officials use their limited resources effectively. RSPO officials can also sign up to receive tree cover loss alerts in any area they choose.
Where do we go from here?
RSPO’s data release is transformative, but it still represents just the tip of the information iceberg — even in the palm oil sector. For one thing, the maps, which show RSPO-certified areas as of May 2013, will need to be consistently updated and standardized.
The RSPO data is also limited to areas that have undergone certification. Over the coming months, we’re hoping to add more data to the GFW-Commodities platform, including:
Maps from all RSPO members: While RSPO member organizations represent a very significant portion of worldwide palm oil production, not all members’ concessions are certified. Deforestation is likely a larger issue in non-certified areas. WRI, the Zoological Society of London, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, and New Britain Palm Oil Limited recently sponsored a resolution to require all RSPO member companies to submit complete maps of all their growing operations, regardless whether certified. These maps are due to the RSPO by September, and we expect to publish them through GFW-Commodities.
Maps from smallholder producers: The new RSPO maps only account for about 70 percent of the total estimated certified sustainable palm oil produced. Much of this gap likely is filled by production from associated smallholder producers not under the direct control of RSPO member companies.
Maps of other forest commodities: Palm oil is just one crop out of many that put pressure on the world’s forests. We hope the palm oil sector will demonstrate how transparency can support the objectives of governments, civil society organizations and companies and encourage sectors such as soy, beef and wood pulp to make their maps publicly accessible.
From transparency to sustainability: Transparency is all about trust. The disclosure of these maps help us understand where palm oil is being produced and by whom. This then enables us to further investigate how it is being produced and whether production is consistent with commitments that have been made. We are building analytical functionality into Global Forest Watch Commodities to support this kind of assessment.
There is still a long way to go to make oil palm a truly sustainable crop across the world. But the steps taken by the RSPO to release concession data bodes well for the future. As more and more companies heed the call for transparency, we can look forward to a data-rich future with greater accountability and hopefully, great sustainability. | <urn:uuid:cf3ba370-1365-47d6-b1c1-814497c6f49c> | CC-MAIN-2018-13 | https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/06/17/new-palm-oil-maps-mark-milestone-transparency | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257648177.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20180323024544-20180323044544-00770.warc.gz | en | 0.951806 | 1,566 | 3.203125 | 3 | {
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Yesu Babu of Vambay Colony in Vijayawada is 12. He has lost both his parents to AIDS. His younger brother is positive. There are almost 2 million AIDS orphans like him in India. But the national and global response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in India has virtually ignored children, reports Shelley Seale
Imagine you are a 12-year-old boy. You live in India, on the outskirts of a town called Vijayawada. Your name is Yesu Babu.
Your home is a tiny two-room concrete block, approximately 200 square feet, in a slum known as the Vambay Colony. Imagine that you share this small home with your grandmother, Durgamma, and your 9-year-old brother. You live with your grandmother because your parents died of AIDS – first your father, who brought the infection home, in 2001; then your mother in 2004. There was no one left to take care of you and your brother except your elderly grandmother, who never expected to be raising two more children at this age.
Soon you learn that although you are HIV-negative, your young brother is HIV-positive. He begins to grow ill. He battles many infections. He cries in the night when he’s sick and calls for his mother. There is no one else to provide an income for this new family that has formed. So you let your brother go to school, although for what future is painfully unclear, while you go to work.
You are 12 years old. You know you should be in school. You should have a childhood, but it has been traded in far too soon for adult work and worries, for hardships that no 12-year-old should ever have to face. But what can you do? There is no one else. There is no other way. From a normal life with a mother and father, school, a childhood, possibilities – to this previously unimagined reality.
This is your new normal. Imagine.
The children are everywhere in India. They fill the streets, the railway stations, the villages. Many of them are homeless, overflowing the orphanages and other institutional homes to live on the streets. Amidst the growing prosperity of India, there is an entire generation of parentless children growing up – 25 million in all, with nearly 4 million more being added each year. Many are trafficked into prostitution or child labour in conditions amounting to slavery. They are invisible children, shunned by society and often their own families. Left to fend for themselves, they are virtually unnoticed by the world.
Nowhere is this more true than among the nearly 2 million children who have lost their parents to AIDS, the most AIDS orphans of any country and expected to double within five years. India is now home to the largest HIV-positive population in the world with 5.7 million infected, accounting for 15% of all cases globally. In May 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported that India had overtaken South Africa to become the first non-African country to report such alarming numbers. The disease is silently spreading and reaching critical proportions. Almost 1% of people in India’s six most populous states are HIV-positive, and 20 out of 37 states show high-prevalence areas. The sheer size of India’s population – more than 1 billion – makes a widespread AIDS pandemic almost unimaginable. The one percentage figure is deeply disturbing to health officials because it is regarded as the tipping point, at which a smoldering health crisis can explode into an epidemic of vast magnitude.
Sitting in her small house, Grandmother Durgamma spoke to me about her life. “It is very hard taking care of my two grandchildren. I have leg pains, I cannot run with them. I want to take care of them but it is hard. I am only one. I am always thinking about their futures. If something happens to me, when I die, what will happen to them? I don’t need anything for myself. I am living only for my grandsons.”
Hers is a familiar story in Andhra Pradesh, the epicenter of the crisis with the highest infection rates in the country. The pandemic has created a secondary human rights crisis – the orphaning of children on a massive scale. UNAIDS reports,“Orphaning remains the most visible, extensive, and measurable impact of AIDS on children.”
The trend of grandparents raising grandchildren has become so prevalent – as many as 40% of these orphans live with their grandparents – that VMM (Vasavya Mahila Mandali) and similar organisations have started what they call Granny Clubs. These are social and educational networks of women (and some men) like Durgamma who are caring for orphaned grandchildren. The granny clubs generally have 10 to 15 members who meet once a month, with social time and education about various topics. At one meeting, they might learn about HIV medications and treatment; at another, the subject might be nutrition. The time is also used to make friendships, share problems, and offer solutions.
“Sometimes we play games or sing,” Durgamma told me about her club. “We have become friends, like sisters, and we support each other. We are older people who have watched our children die. We share our joys and our sorrows.”
Ramulamma is another active granny club member in Vambay Colony. She lives with her granddaughter and great-grandson Krishna, who is HIV-positive. Krishna was so tiny I would have guessed him to be a boy of four or five years old; when I inquired I was told that he is nine. Krishna’s mother, the breadwinner of the family, was at her job as a hotel maid in Vijayawada the day I visited. She earns Rs 40 per day, although it costs her Rs 10 to travel into town and back. They are a family with three generations affected by HIV: Krishna’s father died two years ago, and his grandfather died just the month before my visit, both from AIDS. Krishna and his grandmother gazed at me listlessly as we spoke, both of them with the same vacant, hopeless eyes. In Vambay, it seemed death was not a feared stranger but a constant, familiar companion.
VMM provides doctor care and medicine every month for Krishna, as well as a local physician who is available for immediate needs, but he is not on ART therapy currently because he is not deemed sick enough. In India, CD4 blood count levels must be 200 or below to qualify for ART drugs – the level at which HIV is medically considered to have become full-blown AIDS. Only 7% of HIV-positive people were receiving any Anti-Retroviral Treatment in 2005. In the United States, ART is started well before this time to prevent AIDS, generally at CD4 levels of 300 to 350. Krishna continues to have regular blood tests so that ART drug treatment can be started as soon as his condition qualifies.
In spite of their plight Krishna and Yesu are among the lucky children because they have family to live with. For every child fortunate enough to live in a family home there are a thousand more who have nowhere to turn. Those without any kinship ties – or whose families refuse to take them in because of the stigma of AIDS – often end up in institutional homes, forming child-headed households, or simply on the streets. They are the missing face of AIDS, these children left behind.
India’s crisis is acute in part because the country has done little to protect children affected by HIV/AIDS, and has no provisions at all for those orphaned. At the VMM office before my visit to Vambay Colony, Keerthi Bollineni said that the national and global response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in India has virtually ignored children. It is a sentiment I heard over and over, from every organisation and social worker I talked to. Resources for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS have increased in recent years, but funding for these programmes is nevertheless small. An enormous gap exists between what is needed and what is actually being done to address the needs of children affected by AIDS.
The response to AIDS in India has focused primarily on high-risk target groups: the sex trade, truckers who spread the infection from town to town, and drug users. 80% of AIDS funding goes toward prevention in the high-risk populations, and only 20% to caring for children and families living with HIV. Kanika Singh, Executive Director of Heroes Project India, confirmed this. “Young people and women are the two vulnerable groups today. One out of every three people infected with HIV is a woman, and 80% of these women are housewives. That has a direct link to children. They unknowingly pass on the infection to their child.” Mother to child transmission is the most common source of infection in children at a rate of 30,000 per year, but they are also acquiring HIV through blood transfusions, syringe injections, and consensual or non-consensual sexual contact. But, added Kanika, “Nobody talks about HIV-positive children.”
Stigmatised through no fault of theirs, these children are far more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. A Human Rights Watch investigation uncovered discrimination on a constant basis: segregation and expulsion from schools, refusal of treatment by doctors, rejection from orphanages and even their own family homes. “Children are being turned away from schools, clinics and orphanages because they or their family members are HIV-positive,” reported Zama Coursen-Neff, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch. “If the Indian government is serious about fighting the country’s AIDS epidemic, it should stop ignoring children affected by AIDS and start protecting them from abuse.”
Becoming orphaned is not the only way children are affected by this epidemic. There is also a devastating impact on their emotional and psychological wellbeing. “They are missing their entire childhoods,” said Dr Deeksha Pillarisetty, Medical Director of VMM. “They go immediately into adulthood at a very young age.” VMM estimates that 25% of children affected by AIDS live in child-headed households, a trend of particular concern. Dr Pillarisetty described the trauma these children face with no adult support. They are the most common caregivers for sick parents and eventually watch those parents die – after which they all too often must step into adult roles themselves, becoming the guardians of younger siblings or working to support their remaining family. They may be denied their property and inheritance rights, often face discrimination from their neighbours, and must deal with fears for their own health. Alarming new evidence by UNAIDS found that orphans and vulnerable children have a higher risk of exposure to HIV than non-affected children.
Girls are especially vulnerable. They are more likely to be removed from school to care for sick parents or other family members and are often the last in the family to receive medical care. Loss of family income can push them into the sex trade and inability to control safe sex, even within marriage, puts them at a disadvantage. Less access to education, sexual abuse and child marriage all place girls at higher risk of becoming infected. Many families marry daughters off at increasingly young ages so the girls will have someone to care for them after their parents die. Parents are also afraid of HIV rendering them unmarriageable, a finding that the Human Rights Watch investigation corroborated. This has the added effect of creating a lot of very young widows. Dr Pillarisetty sees a lot of girls widowed by the age of 18. One of them was married at the age of 13, widowed at 14, and is now 15 years old and living with HIV. Often these widows are blamed for the husband’s death and outcast by his family.
On the flip side, the potential impact these children will have on the epidemic as they grow up is also an area of concern. As they become sexually active, the lack of education about transmission and prevention and poor role models are likely to contribute to the spread of the infection. Missing family ties, they often form unhealthy attachments in which they are vulnerable to abuse. “They just want a relationship – it doesn’t matter what kind it is,” Dr Pillarisetty said. “There is nobody for them, nobody wants them. They are very traumatised.”
There are more children living in India today with HIV-positive parents than children already orphaned. If those parents are not treated and continue to die the worst impact on children is still to come, and scarcely comprehensible.
The face of India’s future if it fails in the battle against HIV lies in a small village called Cherlopalem in rural Andhra Pradesh. Cherlopalem is home to 30 families of dalits, a farming community surrounded by lush green fields that now stand empty. Three-fourths of the residents have been affected by AIDS. Seven people have died within the past eight months and dozens more are in the last stages, leaving many children behind without any sort of supervision. On April 8, 2007 the Eenadu newspaper reported, “The village, known for its hardworking lifestyle, is now ravaged by a cureless malady.” The article accused officials of doing nothing. The remaining residents confessed that they knew nothing about the “dreaded disease”. They do not know how it transmits or what precautions will protect them.
Cherlopalem is a microcosm of the ability of AIDS to unravel the social fabric of entire communities. It is clear that a failure to address the looming crisis in India will have dire consequences for the country, its children and the world for generations to come. A childhood cannot wait for the AIDS epidemic to subside, for poverty to be eradicated, for adults and governments to act, for the world to notice them.
(Shelley Seale is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. She is researching a book titled The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India, on India’s 12 million orphans)
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When stoves were the hot new thing
- The Dwyers were key figures in building Detroit%27s reputation as the %22Stove Capital of the World.%22
- In the 1830s%2C roughly 2%2C000 Detroiters burned 200%2C000 cords of wood in their hearths a year.
- By 1908 there were 12 companies in Detroit manufacturing stoves%2C employing 7%2C500 people.
- Cookbooks changed as women could now bake dishes that would have been difficult in a hearth.
Long before Detroit became known as the Motor City, it was world famous for another iron product: stoves. In the 19th century, Detroit's four large stove manufacturers produced more than ten percent of stoves sold around the globe. Indeed, Detroit became known as the "Stove Capital of the World." Three of those four companies were founded by brothers Jeremiah and James Dwyer.
Jeremiah Dwyer was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1837. His Irish father, Michael Dwyer, was a farmer. The Dwyers moved to Detroit in the 1840s, where they settled on a farm in Springwells, now southwest Detroit. In an interview much later in life Jeremiah said his farming neighbors spoke only French, which he learned to speak; however, he had no interest in his father's farm. Only one thing held his attention.
In 1850 as a 13-year-old old boy on his way to school he passed the Barclay Iron Works. He said he was captivated, even obsessed with the red, glowing rivulets of molten iron that skilled men, called "molders," carefully hand-poured from long-handled ladles into sand molds, which in those days were laid in rows outside in the company's yard. Until the early decades of the 20th century, iron molders were an elite group of well-paid craftsmen. They were highly respected artisans of an ancient profession, the aristocrats of the plant floor.
At night when the molds had been filled with molten iron they gave off an eerie reddish beauty that shimmered with heat under the stars. Young Dwyer watched alone from a distance and decided he wanted to be an "iron man."
Detroit's early foundries
In the 1840s Detroit became a western center for iron, copper, brass and other metal foundries. Early firms included the Fulton Iron and Engine Works; Cowie, Hodge and Co.; Buhl Iron Works; Detroit Forge, and William Barclay's foundry that Dwyer passed as a boy.
The largest of them all was the Detroit Locomotive Works, on Larned at Third , where they made a variety of things, including locomotives. However, most of these early companies were small. They cast parts and built engines for the steamship industry, later for the railroads, and other miscellaneous applications such as boilers, gears, parts for carriage makers, and agriculture. By the Civil War some firms, such as Fulton Iron, were casting artillery pieces.
Jeremiah Dwyer wanted to be a part of that growing metals industry as an iron molder. At the same time he kept up on news about a burgeoning industry emerging in New York State: manufacturing cast iron stoves. From the 1840s until the Civil War almost all U.S. stoves came from New York, where the casting sand was said to be superior. So Dwyer apprenticed in New York state, working at stove makers in Buffalo, Rochester, and Troy, and became a journeyman iron molder.
Interviewed in 1906, Dwyer said: "I was apprenticed for four years and was in fact articled. The indenture was a carefully worded, formidable document. Someone had to go on my bond. I pledged myself to maintain good habits, avoid gambling houses, saloons, and all undesirable companionships, agreed to be diligent, truthful, honest, industrious, and abide faithfully by the terms of the contract."
Dwyer began full time work at $2.50 a week, as a foreman for Geary and Russell Foundry in Hamtramck. It was primitive, dangerous work; horrifying injuries were common. Dwyer damaged his lungs from the intense heat and smoke, and had to take work elsewhere for some time.
The world before stoves
Until the Civil War, Detroiters and most Americans still heated their homes and cooked meals using an open hearth. While there was a romantic ideal of the hearth as the spiritual center of the home, the cook had little control over the heat of a hearth, and rudimentary cooking tools left women with limited choices for meals. In addition, cooking on a hearth was exhausting, smoky, and dangerous.
Putting all that aside, the growing problem with hearths was their inefficiency and fuel cost: They burned 10 times the amount of wood as a wood-burning stove. A cookbook from 1803, "The Frugal Housewife," discussed this problem: "All the culinary processes were carried on with one immense open grate, burning as much fuel in one day as might do the same work for ten. The cook and the furniture of the kitchen get a proportion of this heat, the articles to be dressed another portion, but by far the greatest quantity goes up the chimney."
And in Detroit wood was getting expensive. If you lived on land with trees, most likely the menfolk and the work horse spent winters hauling sledges loaded with cord wood for the hearth. If you did not, fuel became an issue.
In the decade of the 1830s, roughly 2,000 Detroiters burned 200,000 cords of wood in their hearths a year. As the city expanded, more trees were cleared for land while more people were still arriving. This meant the cord wood had to be carted farther and farther from woods to market, raising the price. The areas around Detroit had been cleared and cord wood was now shipped from the north or Canada.
The first recorded heating stoves in Detroit were shipped from Pittsburgh in 1797 and sent to the military's Garrison Station. In a letter dated Sept. 30, 1797, Pittsburgh's Quarter Master General John Wilkens wrote to Matthew Ernest in Detroit: "By boat which went a few days ago, I sent twenty stoves for the use of the garrison in Detroit. These will aid in making the soldiers more comfortable and save firewood."
Stoves enter elite homes
"Generally every shilling expended by the husband for the accommodation of his wife in her domestic operations is returned to him fourfold ... it will be in the order, peace, and happiness of his family. ... Where conveniences are found in a family, there are generally bright looks, happy feelings, and industrious hands." —Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1839
In winter some households rented stoves for heating. In 1830 two prominent Detroiters, C.C. Trowbridge and Judge Solomon Sibley, bought stoves for their homes and from that moment on, Detroiters wanted stoves.
The earliest stoves in the U.S. were large, blocky cast-iron boxes. The first ones were sold to the elite; Thomas Jefferson had one of the first stoves installed. Initially they were designed and sold as heating stoves, like space heaters, for drafty commercial areas such as hospitals and hotels. Later stoves were adopted for smaller rooms in homes and soon thereafter, with flat, cooking tops added for kitchens. (A cooking stove provided heat only to surface burners while a kitchen range also offered an oven below.)
Jeremiah Dwyer saved $3,000 and with a bank loan got started on his own iron foundry to make stoves. Along with his brother James, he took over a manufacturer that was facing bankruptcy. As Dwyer stated: "The firm had been trying to make reapers and stoves. Never a more unwise match. The sort of iron used for reapers is exactly the opposite the kind for stoves."
He established his stove manufacturing company, the Detroit Stove Works, in 1861, on the corner of Mount Elliott and Wight, near the Detroit River. There, he built his first simple, four-burner cook stove, which he called "The Defiance."
"It's gratifying to be able to announce that a new manufactory is now to be permanently and successfully established in our city," declared the Detroit Free Press. "It has long been a matter of surprise that in a state like Michigan there has never been a permanently foundry for the exclusive manufacture of stoves."
Working morning to night
Dwyer was a true workaholic: He began at dawn with a crew of 50 to cast the iron and assemble stoves, and then at night he delivered finished stoves to retailers or agents in Detroit. After hours he walked through the plant as the factory night watchman and slept in a small wooden house next to the "manufactory." He worked so hard he nearly killed himself with "pulmonary exhaustion" and had to retire to the South for a year to recover.
He returned to Detroit and got right back to making stoves.
In 1866 the Detroit Stove Works received outside capitalization and Dwyer expanded the operation, moving to a new facility on East Jefferson. The business now employed 90 men and was putting out 30 to 40 stoves a day.
However, for a second time Dwyer began to suffer heart problems, so he sold his interest in the Detroit Stove Works and spent a year resting in the South. He returned in 1871 and joined the newly formed Michigan Stove Company as operational manager. Eventually he became president.
An explosion of patents
Stoves were really America's first mass-marketed, had-to-have durable good. The market was wide open. Traveling salesmen and agents hit the roads. The industry was competitive in the extreme and design was seen as the way to beat your competitors.
Professor Howell J. Harris in his fascinating study of the stove industry called "Conquering Winter" states that in the late 1840s, the U.S. Patent Office issued almost 90 percent of all design patents for stoves, and it remained above 50 percent for the next decade.
Everything was patented, even scroll or flower designs for certain models. At the same time the stove manufacturers differentiated their products through functional features, such as plate warmers, water tanks, adjustable racks, and hundreds more, all patented.
Since the heating stoves were to sit in parlors and bedrooms, they could not be big, black iron monstrosities but needed to be tasteful, like pieces of furniture.
Manufacturers and their designers relied on cast iron's ease of bas-relief decoration. Simple decoration also served another purpose: it disguised some of the imperfections unavoidable when casting stove plate. Stove patternmakers selected designs to capture the spirit of the times, scenes like the opening of the Erie Canal or the Battle of Lake Erie. There were Egyptian themes, patriotic scenes, knights of the round table and more. They gave the stoves exotic names, such as the "Antelope," "Occident," and "The Golden Age."
Detroit stove manufacturers displayed their stoves during the 1869 Michigan State Fair, where 30,000 people passed through the Domestic Hall to see rows of working stoves, whose combined heat made the exhibit unbearable for most.
Real cooking options
American housewives and families were proud of their kitchen stoves. A hearth may have been homey, but the kitchen stove provided real cooking options. Nationally known cookbook author, columnist and cooking instructor Maria Parola described the functionality of a stove from the 1890s: "With proper management of dampers, one ordinary-sized coal-hod of anthracite coal will, for twenty-four hours, keep the stove running, keep seventeen gallons of water hot at all hours, bake pies and puddings in the warm closet, heat flat-irons under the back cover, boil tea-kettle and one pot under the front cover, bake bread in the oven, and cook a turkey in the tin roaster in front."
Cookbooks soon changed as women could now regulate heat in ovens and on ranges. New recipes for soufflés, tarts, pies and cakes appeared that would have been difficult to impossible in a hearth.
Of course, a stove did not spell the end of hard work in the kitchen for the women. Susan Stasser in her book "Never Done" reports on a study of coal stoves done in 1899 which found that during a six-day period, "twenty minutes were spent in sifting ashes, fifteen minutes in carrying coal, and two hours and nine minutes on blacking the stove to keep it from rusting." During those six days, "292 pounds of new coal were put in the stove, ... 27 pounds sifted out of the ashes, and more than 14 pounds of kindling" were hauled. To keep one fire burning through the winter required 3-4 tons of coal.
The famous giant stove
Stove companies never missed an opportunity to promote their products. To grab attention at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, George H. Barbour, vice president of the Michigan Stove Co., had his woodcarvers replicate on a gigantic scale a Garland brand model kitchen range built by the firm. Factory superintendent William J. Keep designed the huge stove and had it carved in oak.
It measured 25 feet high, 30 feet long, and 20 feet wide. Painted to look like metal, it stood at the Chicago exposition on a platform 20 feet high over an exhibit of regular stoves.
After the exposition was over the giant wooden stove sculpture was brought back to Detroit and stood on the property of the Michigan Stove Co. Later it was moved near the entrance of Belle Isle. Over the years it was moved around the city, ending up at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. In 1998 the giant stove was restored but in 2011 it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
By 1908 there were 12 companies in Detroit manufacturing stoves, including Peninsular Stove Co., started by James Dwyer in 1881. While several were small entities, the stove industry in Detroit employed 7,500 people. Detroit was consuming 80,000 tons of iron to produce 450,000 wood, coal, and coke stoves and ranges, and 250,000 gas stoves, an innovation first displayed in Detroit in 1866. The Michigan Stove Co. exhibited the first electric stove at the Chicago Exposition in 1893.
Tailoring for tiny markets
Jeremiah Dwyer learned early that stoves popular in one part of the country would not sell in others. Regions of the United States and sometimes very small areas needed special accommodations to the stove to make it work properly. In some regions gas pressure could be weak; homes built on hillsides had to cope with winds that produced odd drafts in the ventilation; some areas had only anthracite coal, others bituminous, and some had only wood. Armed with this knowledge, the big stove manufacturers managed to accommodate tiny market segments and still make money.
The manufacturers ornamented with spun brass, nickel, aluminum, tiles, buttons, knobs — anything that might catch a customer's eye. The designs were influenced by traveling salesmen who interacted with retailers, dealers, or customers, and provided manufacturers with a constant stream of market research. The industry held trade shows in Chicago, where they scrutinized competitors' stoves.
This grassroots information drove the design process and was probably more important competitively than a company's production capabilities. Sixty years after 13-year-old Jeremiah Dwyer watched molders pouring iron by hand, the craft process was unchanged, with men hand casting iron parts in 1906.
However, designs were regarded by the companies as seasonal style, much like furniture or clothes fashion, and were short lived. As Dwyer stated in an interview in 1906: "The stove business is a hard one to handle. There is an immense amount of detail and one style follows another with rapidity. I often compare it to the millinery [hat] business. Patterns that sell well today have little or no demand next season; and there is endless rivalry bringing out new models."
The results of all these continuously changing styles were enormous catalogs and increasing expense. Detroit Stove Works offered more than 800 models and Michigan Stove Co. had more than 700, which were typical of the catalogs of the times. If you visited the Detroit Stove Works or other stove companies you might be shown the cavernous "exhibit room" that housed upwards of 900 actual stove samples made over years but still sold.
Author Howell J. Harris explained that over time, management at the top level of stove firms began to get involved in extensive discussions of the designs, an activity that would rarely happen in other businesses. But they feared unpopular designs could bankrupt a company.
How to make a stove in 1898
After a design drawing had received approval, several intermediary steps followed to ensure the stove would look as good as the drawn concept. In pattern rooms the stove was initially molded into wax, plaster, or clay models for further evaluation. Once approved, expert woodcarvers, typically Germans or Swiss, hand carved pine panels based on the original drawings. Wax was pressed onto the wood panels to produce an impression which was in turn cast with plaster. From these impressions were cast the iron "master patterns" used for part production. The iron molds were ground and highly polished and prepared for the foundry.
The immense mold rooms were very popular, and Detroiters were welcomed to take tours; most large firms had viewing galleries above for visitors. The mold room was a kind of dark, hellish environment with pig iron and scrap melted in enormous cupola furnaces, a haze of blue smoke and sudden echoing noises. Most molders were covered with black grime and soot, and due to the heat in the room, few wore shirts. They were paid by the piece, not by the hour; if a cast panel had a flaw it was scrapped and the molder was not paid, so there was intense focus on the process. Few talked.
In 1890 the Michigan Bureau of Labor Statistics surveyed the Detroit iron industry, including some of the stove companies. It found 3,920 men employed. Most plant workers were very young, starting at age 13; the majority were between the ages of 16 and 20, and only a tiny percentage worked past the age of 50. Most were Germans or had German parents. Many supported families. The majority earned between $7.50 and $10 per week, and they worked without vacation, 52 weeks a year.
In the good foundries the molders followed rules of order to prevent accidents; at other foundries foremen might carry billy clubs to keep men on task. Molders worked in teams of two. One man hammered the iron patterns into the casting sand to make a perfect impression of two panels, while the other clamped a wooden box frame (called a flask) around the sand to keep it together when the liquid metal was to be poured.
When the molten iron had reached the right temperature, bells clanged to make everyone aware of the danger. Men moved down the long aisles between the wood frames, picked up the long handled iron ladle which weighed 50 pounds, now filled from the furnace with 40 more pounds of glowing, sparking cherry-red molten iron. Aisles were grated to prevent slipping.
After the parts were cast, they were cleaned, polished and some plated with aluminum or nickel. Another trade group called "mounters" assembled the stoves in "setting up rooms," after which stoves were then crated and held in vast warehouses until shipped by boat or train.
Here a Dwyer, there a Dwyer
In his later years Jeremiah Dwyer was the gentleman giant: tall, handsome with white hair and white beard, patient, innately courteous, living in a resplendent mansion on Jefferson. Patents he owned on the baseburner heating stove made him and his family a fortune. His Michigan Stove Co. had branches in Chicago, Buffalo and New York, and its Garland stoves also were sold by agents in London, Paris, Berlin and Constantinople.
He was Mr. Dwyer on the job, but to family and friends, Jerry. He was chairman of the board of the Michigan Stove Co., but he knew each employee and their families.
And he hired family at every opportunity. In fact, by the 1880s most of the Detroit stove companies were started, owned, or managed by a Dwyer. At his death in 1920, his brother James was president of the Detroit Stove Co. and his sons and nephews were everywhere: John M. Dwyer, vice president, Peninsula Stove company; William A. Dwyer, president, Art Stove company; Emmitt Dwyer, vice president, Michigan Stove Co.; Edwin L. Dwyer, treasurer of Peninsular; William H. Dwyer, former treasurer of Peninsular; Jeremiah Dwyer Jr., superintendent at Peninsular; Albert E. Dwyer, purchasing agent at Peninsular; James M. Dwyer, treasurer at Peninsular, and, Francis Thomas Dwyer, with Ideal Manufacturing, a stove supplier.
Detroit stove companies began to merge at the change of the century, and people turned away from cast iron stoves for steel enameled stoves. Automation was being introduced, which spelled the end of the 19th century skilled trade groups, such as the molders and mounters. And the excitement of automobile manufacturing had replaced the public's interest in cast iron stoves.
On Jan. 30, 1920, Jeremiah Dwyer passed away at age 83. His coffin was carried by men from the plant floor of the stove works.
In 1927 the Detroit Stove Co. merged with the Michigan Stove Co. to form the Detroit-Michigan Stove Co. It continued making stoves for many years, its most profitable being in the late 1940s. In May of 1955 the Detroit-Michigan Stove Co. merged with Welbilt Stove Co. of New York to become the Welbilt Corp. A month later, after 92 years, the Detroit Stove Works was closed and operations moved to Masbeth, New York.
The Garland stove brand from the old Michigan Stove Co. continues to this day as a division of Manitowoc Food Service. Garland is now a premier line of commercial restaurant grills and ranges for the food service industry.
Bill Loomis is the author of two books on Detroit. His third book "On This Day in Detroit" is to appear on bookshelves in the Fall of 2015. He is a regular contributor to WUOM 91.7 FM's "Stateside with Cynthia Canty." | <urn:uuid:dd95f847-826a-4d4b-a98c-bc1256570140> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan-history/2015/01/24/stove-capital-detroit-history/22234051/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154163.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20210801061513-20210801091513-00115.warc.gz | en | 0.98127 | 4,750 | 2.9375 | 3 | {
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Impro’s sand casting expertise is globally recognized. The sand casting process involves creating a mold from a three-dimensional sand pattern, then filling the mold cavity with molten metal, which is then cooled and solidified.
The benefits of sand casting are numerous.For example:
- There are minimal restrictions on the shape, size, and material.
- The process is extremely efficient, and uses dry sand, green sand, or chemically bonded sand.
- Sand casting is a great alternative to die casting because it allows for low- or high-volume production.
Sand casting processes use sand-based molds to create custom designs and complex metal parts. The molds themselves are expendable after production, and the casting process works with nearly any metal alloy.
How Sand Casting Works
The sand casting process is carried out through the following six steps:
- Creating the design pattern. Before creating the mold, our team can help create a reusable pattern. This preform helps plan the mold and product details. The pattern also allows for some thermal contraction during the process.
- Adding metal delivery details to the design. The pattern must match the design specifications and incorporate carefully designed passages to allow molten metal into the mold during later stages. These gating and riser features ensure the alloy can entirely fill the mold before the metal starts to harden and that no complex detailing remains hollow or half-formed. They also drive thermal contraction factors to acceptable loss areas, allow for gas venting, and prevent errors in the actual product portion of the casting.
- Creating the mold. Sand is a refractory material that stays stable at high temperatures—a beneficial property for a molding material. Sand also holds the weight of the alloy but allows for easy breakage after the casting hardens. Manufacturers can also form the sand into highly detailed, nonreactive molds.
- Pouring the casting. Manufacturers use the in-mold metal delivery system to pour molten metal into the mold. The metal fills both the product portion and the gating and risers of the mold.
- Shakeout processes. The molten metal needs to cool and harden for varying periods of time depending on the material, design complexity, and the method of cooling. Once the metal solidifies, operators break the sand mold to remove the finished product.
- Finishing and final steps. During this stage, manufacturers apply all of the finishing steps to get the part ready for delivery or assembly. This includes cutting away the gates, risers, and runners, sand-blasting or grinding the metal to the required degree of smoothness, and any necessary machining.
Advantages and Applications
Advantages of using sand casting include:
- Low costs for equipment and tooling
- Recyclable excess material
- Easy forming of large or complex parts
- Short lead times
- Many material options
Some of the most common applications include the production of components such as:
- Engine blocks
- Engine manifolds
Impro’s Sand Casting and Production Capabilities
Impro’s experience in creating high-end, geometrically complex sand castings from high-grade materials is beyond comparison. With our experienced staff and state-of-the-art facilities, we offer both machine and manual molding operations for resin sand casting. We produce parts in low or high volumes and pour castings ranging from 0.5 kilograms to 20 tons. Our green sand castings range from 0.5–30 kilograms.
Impro’s inspection capabilities are top of the line. We offer on-site testing capabilities such as:
- Spectrographic and manual quantitative analysis
- Metallographic analysis
- Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers hardness inspection
- Mechanical property analysis
- Low and normal temperature impact testing
- Cleanliness inspection
- UT, MT, and RT inspection
We have made significant investments in top-grade inspection and testing equipment to ensure that we provide only the highest quality products. For example:
- Our Speck spectrometer checks 28 chemical elements.
- Our Zeiss metallurgical microscope produces high-resolution images 1,000 times magnified.
- Our Zeiss cleanliness meter determines particle size and quantity to ensure materials meet or exceed the international standard.
- We use GE ultrasonic detectors to discover flaws.
- We use X-ray machines and accelerators that can scan castings with 200 mm maximum wall thickness.
Our services are varied and extensive. We offer material advisory service and development, as well as advice from our technical experts on design and casting. We do 3D CAD drawings, simulations, and component machining. We also offer cavity fill, solidification, tension, and distortion services. We provide assembly, testing and qualification, heat treatment, and surface treatment. From start to finish, we have you covered every step of the way.
Impro is dedicated to the quality of our work, and our commitment to excellence ensures the highest customer satisfaction. As a global leader in high-precision, high-complexity, and mission-critical casting and machined components, we strive to meet and exceed the needs of our customers. To learn more about our sand casting services and capabilities or to discuss options for your next project, reach out to the team today. | <urn:uuid:bbeded9b-76a9-4102-9f7c-9b1e8fd29d2d> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | http://www.gflysz.com/sand-casting/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250614086.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20200123221108-20200124010108-00324.warc.gz | en | 0.887012 | 1,089 | 2.703125 | 3 | {
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Tips on how to grow companion plants and edible flowers to build diversity into your garden. The secret to growing a thriving vegetable garden is to follow nature.
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A quick look at any healthy, living system reveals a clamor of diversity: plants of different kinds keeping company while a mix of good bugs and bad ones busy themselves with the routine of daily living. You’ll find a variety of birds and most likely a host of creatures you don’t recognize — but they’re part of the puzzle too.
When a garden is designed as a slice of life, the rewards are greater than a colander of snap peas or a bumper crop of tomatoes. Your garden is your most immediate touch point with nature, a welcoming place to play and contemplate, and when you look to companion plants such as edible flowers to build diversity, you now have a greater variety of robust and aromatic ingredients to savor from garden-to-table.
When we build diversity into our gardens by way of edible flowers and companion plants (including herbs), we’re creating habitat. It’s now a mecca for birds, bees, and butterflies. It’s a place to play, contemplate, and share. And together our patchwork of gardens make a difference.
Companion Planting Basics
You may have heard it said that carrots love tomatoes but should never be planted with dill. Or that beets and mustards should never be planted side by side. I almost always grow basil near tomatoes because they improve their flavor (or so I’ve found). These theories may be true. It makes sense that there’s chemistry between plants, generally following along the lines of affection, tolerance, and dislike. However, I find it helpful to consider companion planting as a means for natural pest control, building soil ecosystems, and creating habitat for pollinators.
Grow bush or pole beans below sunflowers to naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. Inter-plant calendulas and onions with vegetables to confuse pests like carrots flies and cabbage white butterflies, throwing them off the scent of their preferred host plants. Place nasturtiums in the corners of beds or plots to lure aphids away from your more prized edibles, and embrace chaos. Or at least a little bit of chaos. You’ll soon find that cultivating diversity in your garden with companion planting makes caring for it easier and you get flowers!
Organic Gardening Ideas
- Plants to Grow in a Skincare Garden
- Easy to Grow Vegetables for Beginners
- Creating a Wildflower Meadow
Flowers for Growing & Eating
There are a host of edible flowers that double as fabulous companion plants. Chive flowers offer the same onion flavor as their leaves and are some of the first to bloom in spring, providing forage for early season bees. Grow sunflowers for their seeds. Leave some for the birds and put the rest away for a winter snack.
Nasturtiums produce bright, peppery blooms that toss beautifully into salads and are a favorite of bumble bees. (You’ll often see them crawling in only to fly out moments later weighed down with pollen.) Throw the leaves in with your greens and pickle the green seed pods — they’re perfect, homemade capers when you need them in a pinch.
And there’s more! The list of edible flowers that fill the role of companion plants is lengthy. Below are some of the edible flowers I find most versatile.
15 Edible Flowers for the Vegetable Garden
- Calendula (pot marigold)
- Bee Balm
- Pea & bean flowers
- Lemon balm
- Viola (pansy)
- Monarda or Bee balm
- Really herbs of any kind (coriander, oregano, basil, etc.)
About Emily Murphy
Emily is an expert gardener and author of Grow What You Love and Grow Now. She is a writer, photographer, and cook. She grew up gardening, studied ethnobotany, environmental science, and garden design. Many of her years have been dedicated to garden education, teaching and running school gardens and supporting community gleaning programs. | <urn:uuid:7cd6c027-5f69-4ed9-9fbe-1fc89e431e94> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://lovelygreens.com/companion-plants-edible-flowers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500251.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205094841-20230205124841-00844.warc.gz | en | 0.924249 | 922 | 2.671875 | 3 | {
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If you’ve ever read online that root canal therapy causes cancer, don’t be alarmed—it doesn’t. What it does do is save a deeply decayed tooth that might otherwise be lost.
Tooth decay is caused by acid produced by bacteria, which dissolves enamel to create a hole or cavity. But it doesn’t stop there: decay can move on to infect the tooth’s innermost layer, the pulp filled with nerves and blood vessels. Unchecked, the resulting infection can travel through the root canals to eventually infect the bone.
A root canal treatment stops the infection before it goes this far. After administering a local anesthetic, we drill a small hole into the tooth to access the pulp chamber and root canals. We then remove all the diseased tissue, disinfect the space and then place a filling within the empty chamber and root canals to prevent further infection. We then seal the access hole and later crown the tooth to further protect and stabilize it.
It’s no exaggeration, then, to say that root canal treatments have saved millions of teeth. So, for all its beneficial effect, why is it considered by some to pose a health danger?
The germ for this notion comes from the early 20th Century when a dentist named Weston Price theorized that leaving a “dead” organ in place would harm the body. Since a root-canaled tooth with the pulp’s living tissue removed is technically no longer viable, it fit the category of “dead” tissue. Thus, according to this theory, maladies like cancer could arise because of the “dead” tooth.
Unfortunately, this theory has found a somewhat new life recently on the internet, even though it was thoroughly investigated and debunked in the 1950s. And as late as 2013, a study published in a journal of the American Medical Association found no increased cancer risk after root canal treatment, and even some evidence for a reduced risk.
So, if your dentist recommends root canal treatment, rest assured it’s needed to save your tooth. Rather than harm your health, it will improve it.
If you would like more information on root canal treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Canal Safety.”
“That kid is growing like a weed!” Every proud parent likes to hear something like that about their child: It means they’re growing up—and it shows!
As nature takes its course, your child will physically transform into an adult. And that also includes their mouth: By the time they enter early adulthood they will have had two sets of teeth and their jaw structure will have changed dramatically.
All of this happens without you needing to do anything. But there can be bumps along the road like tooth decay or abnormal bite development. For that, you can and should intervene by preventing or at least slowing the formation of such situations.
The best way to do this is to form a partnership with your child’s dentist. Like any partnership, each party contributes something to the relationship.
For you that means first and foremost keeping up your child’s regular oral hygiene practice. This should start even before they begin showing teeth. As an infant you should start wiping their gums after each feeding with a clean wet cloth to hold down bacterial growth. When teeth appear, you can graduate them to brushing and flossing, teaching them along the way to do it for themselves.
You can also boost their dental health by cutting back on sugar consumption, which feeds bacteria. Besides monitoring their snacks, also avoid sending them to bed with a bottle filled with a sugary liquid (including formula, breast milk, or regular milk). And be sure you provide them a nutritious diet filled with tooth-strengthening foods.
On your dentist’s part, they provide regular cleanings that help ensure decay-causing plaque doesn’t build up on the teeth. They’ll also monitor for any signs of decay, and provide treatment when necessary. To further protect them against decay, dentists can apply sealants and topical fluoride to your child’s teeth, especially if they appear to be at high risk. And they’ll also be watching for early signs of a bite problem: Early intervention could prevent or at least minimize this development.
With that kind of solid partnership, your child’s normal dental development can proceed as smoothly as possible. Avoiding the possible pitfalls will help them achieve optimal oral health now and throughout their lives.
When a woman learns she's pregnant, her first thought is often to do everything possible to protect the new life inside her. That may mean making lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol or quitting smoking.
Some women may also become concerned that their regular dental visits could pose a risk to their baby. But both the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Dental Association say it's safe for pregnant women to undergo dental exams and cleanings—in fact, they're particularly important during pregnancy.
That's because pregnant women are more susceptible to dental infections, particularly periodontal (gum) disease, because of hormonal changes during pregnancy. The most common, occurring in about 40% of expectant mothers, is a form of gum disease known as pregnancy gingivitis. Women usually encounter this infection that leaves the gums tender, swollen and easy to bleed between the second and eighth month of pregnancy.
Untreated, pregnancy gingivitis could potentially advance below the gum line and infect the roots. It could also have an unhealthy effect on the baby: some studies show women with severe gum disease are more prone to give birth to premature or underweight babies than women with healthy gums.
But it can be stopped effectively, especially if it's treated early. Regular dental checkups and cleanings (at least every six months or more frequently if your dentist recommends) can help an expectant mother stay ahead of a developing gum infection.
With that said, though, your dentist's approach to your care may change somewhat during pregnancy. While there's little concern over essential procedures like gum disease treatment or root canal therapy, elective restorations that are cosmetic in nature might best be postponed until after the baby's birth.
So, if you've just found out you're pregnant, let your dentist know so they can adjust your care depending on your condition and history. And don't be concerned about keeping up your regular dental visits—it's a great thing to do for both you and your baby.
If you would like more information on dental care during pregnancy, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Dental Care During Pregnancy: Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene Is More Important Than Ever.”
Multi-platinum recording artist Janet Jackson has long been known for her dazzling smile. And yet, Jackson admitted to InStyle Magazine that her trademark smile was once a major source of insecurity. The entertainer said, “To me, I looked like the Joker!” It was only after age 30 that the pop icon came to accept her unique look.
Jackson is not alone. A study commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontists found that more than one third of U.S. adults are dissatisfied with their smile. But there’s good news—modern dentistry can correct many flaws that can keep you from loving your smile, whether you’re unhappy with the color, size, or shape of your teeth. Here are some popular treatments:
Professional teeth whitening: Sometimes a professional teeth whitening will give you the boost you need. In-office whitening can dramatically brighten your smile in just one visit.
Tooth-colored fillings: If you have silver-colored fillings on teeth that show when you smile, consider replacing them with unnoticeable tooth-colored fillings.
Dental bonding: If you have chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth, cosmetic bonding may be the fix you’re looking for. In this procedure, tooth colored material is applied to the tooth’s surface, sculpted into the desired shape, hardened with a special light, and polished for a smooth finish.
Porcelain veneers: Dental veneers provide a natural-looking, long-lasting solution to many dental problems. These very thin shells fit over your teeth, essentially replacing your tooth enamel to give you the smile you desire.
Replacement teeth: Is a missing tooth affecting your self-confidence? There are several options for replacing missing teeth, from a removable partial denture to a traditional fixed bridge to a state-of-the-art implant-supported replacement tooth. Removable partial dentures are an inexpensive way to replace one or more missing teeth, but they are less stable than non-removable options. Dental bridges, as the name implies, span the gap where a tooth is missing by attaching an artificial tooth to the teeth on either side of the space. In this procedure, the teeth on both sides of the gap must be filed down in order to support the bridgework. Dental implants, considered the gold standard in tooth replacement technology, anchor long-lasting, lifelike replacements that function like natural teeth.
After coming to embrace her smile, Jackson asserted, “Beautiful comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors." If you don’t feel that your smile expresses the beauty you have inside, call our office to schedule a consultation. It’s possible to love your smile. We can help.
For more information, read Dear Doctor magazine article “How Your Dentist Can Help You Look Younger.”
You depend on your family dentist for most of your oral care. There are some situations, though, that are best handled by a specialist. If you or a family member has a deeply decayed tooth, for example, it might be in your long-term interest to see an endodontist.
From the Greek words, endo ("within") and odont ("tooth"), endodontics focuses on dental care involving a tooth's interior layers, including the pulp, root canals and roots. While general dentists can treat many endodontic problems, an endodontist has the advanced equipment and techniques to handle more complex cases.
The majority of an endodontist's work involves teeth inwardly affected by tooth decay. The infection has moved beyond the initial cavity created in the enamel and dentin layers and advanced into the pulp and root canals. The roots and underlying bone are in danger of infection, which can endanger the tooth's survival.
The most common treatment is root canal therapy, in which all of the infected tissue is removed from the pulp and root canals. Afterward, the empty spaces are filled and the tooth is sealed and crowned to prevent future infection. General dentists can perform this treatment, primarily with teeth having a single root and less intricate root canal networks. But teeth with multiple roots are a more challenging root canal procedure.
Teeth with multiple roots may have several root canals needing treatment, many of which can be quite small. An endodontist uses a surgical microscope and other specialized equipment, as well as advanced techniques, to ensure all of these inner passageways are disinfected and filled. Additionally, an endodontist is often preferred for previously root-canaled teeth that have been re-infected or conditions that can't be addressed by a traditional root canal procedure.
While your dentist may refer you to an endodontist for a problem tooth, you don't have to wait. You can make an appointment if you think your condition warrants it. Check out the American Association of Endodontists webpage www.aae.org/find for a list of endodontists in your area.
Advanced tooth decay can put your dental health at risk. But an endodontist might be the best choice to overcome that threat and save your tooth.
If you would like more information on endodontic dentistry, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Why See an Endodontist?”
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THE important writing of the Victorian period is to a large extent the product of a double awareness. This was a literature addressed with great immediacy to the needs of the age, to the particular temper of mind which had grown up within a society seeking adjustment to the conditions of modern life. And to the degree that the problems which beset the world of a century ago retain their urgency and still await solution, the ideas of the Victorian writers remain relevant and interesting to the twentieth century. Any enduring literature, however, must transcend topicality; and the critical disesteem into which so much Victorian writing has fallen may be traced to the persistent notion that the literary men of that time oversubscribed to values with which our own time is no longer in sympathy. Yet this view ignores the fact that nearly all the eminent Victorian writers were as often as not at odds with their age and that in their best work they habitually appealed not to, but against the prevailing mores of that age. The reader who comes to the Victorians without bias must be struck again and again by the underlying tone of unrest which pervades so much that is generally taken as typical of the period. Sooner or later he begins to wonder whether there is any such thing as a representative Victorian writer, or at any rate, whether what makes him representative is not that very quality of intransigeance as a result of which he repudiated his society and sought refuge from the spirit of the times in the better ordered realm of interior consciousness. Since, however, any tendency to exalt individual awareness at the expense of conventionally established attitudes ran counter to the concept of the role of the artist which the Victorian age tried to impose on its writers, there resulted a conflict which has been too often ignored, but which must be taken into account in reaching any satisfactory evaluation of Victorian literature. This was a conflict, demonstrable within the work of the writers themselves, between the public conscience of the man of letters who comes forward as the accredited literary spokesman of [ix/x] his world, and the private conscience of the artist who conceives that his highest allegiance must be to his own aesthetic sensibilities.
Most Victorian writers still thought of themselves as men of letters in the full meaning of the term. Victorian literature was predominantly a literature of ideas, and of ideas, furthermore, brought into direct relation with the daily concerns of the reading public. To a degree now inconceivable the influential literary types of the nineteenth century were expository in character-the essay, tract, and treatise. The student who wishes to understand the Victorian world begins with such works as Past and Present, The Stones of Venice, On Liberty, Culture and Anarchy (text). The assumption that a writer's first responsibility is to get into close correspondence with his audience induced a great many of the original thinkers in the period to turn aside from their fields of special knowledge, to the end of making their theories more generally accessible. So Mill, Carlyle, Ruskin, Arnold, Morris, Huxley, after achieving distinction along specialized lines, gave up exclusive concentration on these in order to apply the disciplines they had mastered to subjects of the broadest human import. Or, to consider the novel, Dickens, George Eliot, Disraeli, Kingsley, Mrs. Gaskell, and Charles Reade all quite evidently chose themes with an eye to their social significance.
Yet, paradoxically, it becomes increasingly difficult to think of the great Victorians as other than solitary and unassimilated figgres within their century. Deeply as they allowed themselves to be involved in the life of the times, familiarity seemed only to breed contempt. Their writings, inspired by a whole-hearted hostility to the progress of industrial culture, locate the centers of authority not in the existing social order but within the resources of individual being. Nor was this procedure merely a reaction to the isolation which is traditionally visited on prophets without honor, although for many the years brought disillusionment and bitterness over the debacle of cherished programs of reform. The prestige of a Carlyle or Ruskin or Newman may almost be said to have risen in inverse proportion to the failure of their preachments. [x/xi] At the core of the malaise which pervades so much that is best in Victorian literature lies a sense, often inarticulate, that modern society has originated tendencies inimical to the life of the creative imagination. By mid-century the circumstances of successful literary production had begun to make demands on writers which strained to the breaking point their often very considerable capacities for compromise. Among novelists the careers of Dickens and Thackeray epitomize the all but intolerable difficulties of reconciling popular appeal with artistic integrity. A new generation, led by Rossetti and Swinburne, was to resolve the dilemma by an outspoken assertion of the artist's apartness; but for the writers who came of age in the 1830's and 1840's no such categorical disavowal of social commitment was admissible. As a result, there is recognizable in their work a kind of tension originating in the serious writer's traditional desire to communicate, but to do so without betraying the purity of his creative motive even in the face of a public little disposed to undergo the rigors of aesthetic experience. Even when, as was too often the case, their love of fame overcame their artistic restraint, traces of the initiating conflict remain imbedded in what they wrote; and it is these constantly recurring evidences of a twofold awareness which, perhaps more than any other trait, give its distinctive quality to the writing of the Victorian age.
In criticizing Victorian poetry it is necessary to keep this ambivalence in mind; and this is especially true for Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold, the poets who touched their period at the greatest number of points. The history of nineteenth century English poetry records a gradual, but radical shift in the relationship of the artist to his public with the three poets just mentioned occupying a position at dead center of the forces which were in opposition. A divorce between the artist and society first became conspicuous as an element of the Romantic movement; but even though they had to endure abuse or neglect, the Romantics did not in any sense think of themselves as abdicating the poet's traditional right to speak for his age. Blake, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley, [xi/xii] Keats were all, it is true, keenly sensitive to their generation's reluctance to pay attention to what they were saying, but they accepted isolation as a necessary consequence of their revolutionary program. That they should confess defeat, with the alternatives either of self-withdrawal or compromise, never seriously occurred to them. On the contrary, they declared open warfare on the prejudices which would dispossess them and continued to assert that the poet's vision is transcendently of intellectual and spiritual truth. Before the end of the century, however, the conflict thus resolutely engaged had been lost, and the artist had come to accept as a foregone conclusion his inefficacy as of his contemporaries. In compensation, he now espoused the aesthetic creed which goes by the name of art for art's sake, and with Pater and then Wilde as his apologists and Rossetti and Swinburne as his models, embraced his alienation from all but a coterie of initiates persuaded like himself to value the forms of art above its message.
Between the Romantics and the Pre-Raphaelites lie Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold, leading the poetic chorus of the great Victorian noonday. And by virtue of this midway position between the two extremes represented by the schools of poetry which came before and after, their work brings into sharp focus the choice which has been forced on the modern artist. In the common view, these mid-Victorian poets, either unable or unwilling to maintain the spirit of bellicose selfsufficiency which sustained their Romantic forbears, achieved rapprochement with their audience by compromising with the middle-class morality of the time, and in so doing deliberately sacrificed artistic validity. So flagrant a betrayal of the creative impulse, the argument then continues, provoked a reaction in the following generation, whereby the pendulum swung back towards the belief that art is and must be its own justification irrespective of ulterior motive. But this version of the poetic situation in the nineteenth century gravely misrepresents the real meaning of an endeavor on which Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold were alike engaged. For each [xii/xiii] of them was ultimately seeking to define the sphere within which the modern poet may exercise his faculty, while holding in legitimate balance the rival claims of his private, aristocratic insights and of the tendencies existing in a society progressively vulgarized by the materialism of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Thus it came about that the double awareness, which so generally characterized the Victorian literary mind, grew almost into a perpetual state of consciousness in these poets through their efforts to work out a new aesthetic position for the artist.
The literary careers of Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold present a number of striking parallels which, since their poetic endowments were so divergent, can only be explained in terms of influences impingeing on them from the outside. In the early manner of each there is an introspective, even a cloistral element which was later subdued in an obvious attempt to connect with contemporary currents of thought. Of the three, Tennyson succeeded most quickly in conforming to the Victorian ideal of the poet as popular bard; his reward was the laureateship as Wordsworth's successor. Browning's progress in public favor was more gradual, but the formation of the Browning Society in 1881 signalized his eventual arrival within the select company of Victorian idols of the hearth. Less versatile in poetic range, Arnold became a full-fledged man of letters and won the prestige of the Oxford Professorship of Poetry only after turning to prose; and it is perhaps worth pondering whether his inability to bring his poetry into closer accord with the demands of the age does not account for the fact that he has attracted a greater amount of serious critical attention in recent years than either Tennyson or Browning.
The Victorian writer, of course, had to acclimate himself to a reading public vastly bigger in size and more diverse and unpredictable in its literary requirements than any that had existed hitherto. There is something astonishing, even slightly appalling, in the unselective voracity with which the Victorians wolfed down In Memoriam and Bailey's Festus, The Origin of Species, and Samuel Smiles' Self-help, the novels [xiii/xiv] of Dickens and the tales of Harriet Martineau. The ill success of their first volumes early awakened Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold to a realization that under existing conditions originality was no passport to artistic acclaim. The critics were for the most part hostile; but it was the disapprobation of intimate friends which carried the greatest weight. For while the poets might turn a deaf ear to the voice of the age as it spoke through the weekly and monthly journals which had feebly replaced the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews as arbiters in literary matters, the well-intended strictures of a Hallam or Elizabeth Barrett or Clough were another matter. And friends and foes were at one in their insistence that the poets take a broader view of their responsibilities as men of letters. In general, their work drew reproof on three counts, one major and two incidental thereto. It was unduly introspective and self-obsessed and as a result it was too often obscure content and precious in manner. All three faults are chargeable to immaturity; but as attributed indiscriminately to Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold, thev carry additional implications suggestive of the tyranny which the age was to exercise over its artists. For the invariable in- ference in the attacks on these poets is that their faults could easily be remedied by more attention to normal human thoughts and activities, and correspondingly by less infatuation with their own private states of being.
The experiments in the narrative and dramatic modes to which Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold turned so early in their careers were certainly undertaken out of a desire to counteract objections of this kind. Yet it is apparent from the vagaries of their critical reputations that they were never sure enough of their audience to be able to estimate its response with any degree of reliability. The appearance of a Maud or Sordello or Empedocles on Etna, interspersed among more admired efforts, is continuing evidence that the best will in the world could not compensate for temperamental variances with prevailing tastes which went much deeper than the authors themselves always recognized. That they should have professed impatience with the often obtuse and [xiv/xv] ill-considered estimates of their poetry is not in itself surprising; but it is to be noted that as time went on they tended increasingly to transfer this resentment to the reading public at large. In their later days Tennyson and Arnold would have agreed with Browning's statement in "Red Cotton Night-Cap Country" about "artistry being battle with the age/ It lives in!" There is, of course, an element of the disingenuous in such professions of disdain for popular favor; and their assumed indifference cannot disguise the fact that all three poets were keenly sensitive to the fluctuations of their literary stock. In this respect they were no more than exhibiting an awareness natural to men of letters possessed of an inherent belief in the instrumentality of literature as a social force.
Yet again, the conventional explanation does not cover the facts; and we are brought back to the dichotomy which emerges from any close analysis of the relations between the artist and society in the Victorian period. The hallmark of the literary personalities of Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold alike is a certain aristocratic aloofness, a stubborn intractability which is likely to manifest itself at just those points where the contemporary social order assumed automatic conformity with its dictates. Thus, their refusal to be restricted by current suppositions is less often a subterfuge to cover a fear of failure than a forthright avowal of the artist's independence from societal pressures whenever these threaten to inhibit the free play of his imaginative powers. Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold never went to the lengths of the poets who came after in disassociating themselves from their audience. On the other hand, there is a fundamental error in the prevalent notion that they uncritically shared most of the foibles that, rightly or wrongly, are attributed to the Victorians. Such an opinion overlooks that quality of double awareness which we are now to investigate as the crux of the Victorian literary consciousness.
With these remarks as a starting point, it is proposed in the ensuing chapters to survey the artistic careers of the three poets, testing for each in turn the truth of the following statements.
1. In their youthful poems Tennyson, Browning, [xv/xvi] and Arnold revealed the habits of mind, the emotional and intellectual leanings, the kinds of imaginative visionin other words, the native resources at the disposal of each.
2. Subsequently, from a desire to gain a wide audience for their work and hence to play an influential part in the life of the times, all three poets showed a willingness to make concessions to literary fashions with which they were temperamentally out of sympathy.
3. Resolved, nevertheless, that conformity should involve as little artistic loss as possible, Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold perfected remarkable techniques for sublimating their private insights without materially falsifying the original perceptions at the heart of their creative impulse.
4. The identification of these insights, along with the recognition of their concealed but vivifying action within poems ostensibly concerned with subjects of different and sometimes contradictory import, draws attention to the true centers of poetic intent in Tennyson, Browning, and Arnold, and thus provides a basis for reassessing their total achievement.
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Masters Athletes may have some nutritional needs that differ from those of younger athletes. By Masters, we’re referring to athletes over age 40. This is currently the cut-off for Crossfit. Here’s what we know about Masters and protein:
- Masters athletes may need more protein than younger athletes regardless of sport.
- Consuming more protein may slow normal loss of muscle mass that occurs over time.
- Masters athletes doing resistance training may need more protein than younger people because they don’t synthesize muscle proteins as quickly.
Masters Athlete Nutrition: what we know today.
The amount of FDA recommended protein stands at about 0.66 grams per kilogram of body weight. This number was derived by looking at many studies of people. Some of the studies looked at the average amount eaten by healthy people. Others looked at nitrogen balance: how much comes in vs how much comes out. People who lose more nitrogen than they take in through food are said to be in negative nitrogen balance. For these studies, the recommended amount would be the amount where the amount of nitrogen coming in is equal to the amount leaving (urine). There are a number of limits with these approaches. They do not answer the question of “what is best”. They have not focused on athletes or older adults. Weight lifters and others trying to add muscle have traditionally eaten a lot of protein. Way more than 0.66 grams/kilogram. Eating more than the recommended amount of protein doesn’t seem to hurt. Just don’t leave out other nutrients.
Scientists who work in this area have concluded that 0.8 g/kg is better for masters athletes than the old level of 0.66 g/kg. Many people will find number low and may get upset about. Don’t worry if you’ve just had a WTF moment. After all, we’ve been urged to consume at least a full gram of protein, 1.2 g/kg or even more. This may be perfectly valid if you are interested in strength gain or preservation of muscle mass during aging. We simply don’t know what is “optimal.” “Optimal” will, of course, depend on many different factors. The increase from 0.66 g/kg to 0.8 g/kg is 25%. That is a big jump.
Here’s what may help preserve or increase muscle mass for masters athletes
- Eat more than 0.8 g/kg/day to increase strength (you have to lift too.)
- Get some protein soon after a training session
- Some recommend taking 5 g/day of creatine monohydrate. There is some evidence that it can boost strength gains and help increase fat free mass. Keep in mind that creatine can also increase water retention. Some of the gains in fat free mass may just be water.
- For endurance: sadly, there is no evidence that carb loading helps.
- Carbohydrates are important. If your body doesn’t have carbohydrates it will use some of your protein for energy. It will use fat too, but it will also use muscle.
What kind of protein is best for Masters Athletes?
There is a lot of research showing that red meat increases risk of cancer. I know a lot of people like red meat. But evidence says: avoid it. If you do eat red meat avoid grilling or charring it. Burning food creates carcinogens. Cooking fats at high temperatures produces acrolein. Acrolein may contribute to development of Alzheimers. Vegetable protein (beans and nuts) seems to lower risk of cancer. It also seems to lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. The paleo diet is against beans. There is really no reason not to eat beans other than that some popular diet books put them in the “bad” category. Beans should be well-cooked. If you are not used to eating beans . . . you will probably get better at digesting them peacefully. You may even get good at it.
It looks like masters athletes need more protein than others. The recommended increase from 0.66 g/kg/day to .80 g/kg/day is a 25% increase. Until we know more, increasing your protein intake may help you maintain or increase muscle mass. Limit red meat. Many people seem to be devoted to red meat, but the vast majority of research indicates it is a risky protein source. Avoid fish high in mercury (tuna, swordfish). Mercury accumulates in the body over time and has been linked to a number of poor health outcomes. Increasing protein intake with vegetable protein is a healthy strategy.
Tarnopolsky MA (2008). Nutritional consideration in the aging athlete. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 18 (6), 531-8 PMID: 19001886
Bazzano LA, He J, Ogden LG, Loria C, Vupputuri S, Myers L, & Whelton PK (2001). Legume consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in US men and women: NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Archives of internal medicine, 161 (21), 2573-8 PMID: 11718588
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SpaceX, the visionary aerospace organization established by way of Elon Musk, continues to captivate the world with its terrific achievements in house exploration. In a latest show of technological prowess, SpaceX dazzled the globe with a brilliant double rocket launch.
This article delves into the important points of this amazing feat, shedding mild on SpaceX’s groundbreaking initiatives and the future of area exploration. Join us as we discover the grandeur of the SpaceX launch and its implications for our experience into the cosmos.
The SpaceX Launch Extravaganza
The double rocket launch that left the world awe-inspired took location on a historical day for SpaceX. Two Falcon nine rockets have been scheduled for launch, every carrying a special payload, placing the stage for a superb show of engineering brilliance.
SpaceX Launch Keyword: SpaceX Launch
The First Rocket: Starlink Deployment
The first rocket to embark on its trip was once tasked with deploying an array of Starlink satellites. SpaceX’s formidable Starlink venture targets to grant high-speed net get right of entry to to underserved and far off areas throughout the globe. With this launch, they inched nearer to making this imaginative and prescient a reality.
The Falcon 9, with its signature black and white exterior, ignited its engines with a fiery roar and ascended gracefully into the cosmos. The payload of Starlink satellites, neatly packed in the rocket’s payload bay, would quickly be launched into orbit, increasing the constellation that guarantees to revolutionize world net connectivity.
The Second Rocket: Astronomical Discovery
The 2d Falcon nine rocket, standing tall on the launch pad, had a exceptional mission. This time, it carried a payload that stirred the hearts of astronomers and area fanatics worldwide. Nestled inside its shielding fairing was once a state-of-the-art telescope, developed in collaboration with a famend area agency.
As the countdown reached its climax, the rocket blasted off with a thunderous roar, carrying the valuable telescope into the cosmos. Once in orbit, this high-tech instrument used to be set to liberate the secrets and techniques of our universe, reading far-off galaxies, exoplanets, and cosmic phenomena with unparalleled precision.
The SpaceX Innovation Keyword
SpaceX’s unrelenting dedication to innovation was once at the forefront of this double rocket launch. Their reusable Falcon nine rockets have redefined the economics of house travel, dramatically lowering the price of accomplishing orbit and beyond. This leap forward in rocket science has opened doorways to extra prevalent launches, making house exploration greater handy than ever before.
Implications for Space Exploration
SpaceX’s double rocket launch is no longer simply a impressive show of technological know-how however additionally a window into the future of area exploration.
Affordable Space Travel
With the profitable deployment of Starlink satellites, SpaceX strikes nearer to realizing its intention of presenting high-speed web worldwide. This now not solely connects the unconnected however additionally generates income that can be reinvested in in addition house exploration endeavors.
Advancing Astronomical Discoveries
The telescope launched in the 2d rocket guarantees to be a game-changer for astronomers. Its superior abilities will permit us to delve deeper into the mysteries of the cosmos, doubtlessly main to groundbreaking discoveries that reshape our perception of the universe.
Elon Musk’s imaginative and prescient for human colonization of Mars takes a step nearer to actuality with every profitable SpaceX launch. The not pricey Falcon nine rockets play a pivotal position in decreasing the fees related with interplanetary travel, making area colonization a tangible opportunity for future generations.
SpaceX’s dedication to reusability would not simply keep money; it is additionally an environmentally accountable choice. By lowering the want for new rocket manufacturing and limiting house debris, SpaceX contributes to a extra sustainable future for house exploration.
SpaceX’s double rocket launch used to be a enthralling show of human ingenuity and technological advancement. With one rocket pointed toward expanding world net get admission to and the different at pushing the limits of cosmic revelation, SpaceX keeps on leaving a permanent blemish on the house investigation scene.
As the world watches in wonder, SpaceX has tried that the sky is presently not the limitation anyway basically the beginning of our outing into the universe. With development at its center and a devotion to the improvement of humankind, SpaceX is certainly at the cutting edge of the new innovation of house investigation. The future is bright, and the stars have by no means been closer.
People also ask
Where did Falcon 9 launch from?
Falcon nine rockets usually launch from a range of SpaceX launch facilities, consisting of Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex forty (SLC-40) in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Did SpaceX launch in Texas?
Yes, SpaceX has launched from Texas. SpaceX’s Texas launch facility, recognised as the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site or the SpaceX Starbase, is placed close to the village of Boca Chica. This facility is exceptionally used for trying out and development, inclusive of the Starship spacecraft. While launches have been performed from Texas for trying out purposes, operational Falcon nine launches have been greater regularly launched from Florida or California.
What rockets launch from Texas?
Rockets that have been launched from SpaceX’s Texas facility encompass prototypes and check vehicles, such as the Starship spacecraft. Falcon nine launches for operational missions have been extra usually carried out from different SpaceX launch sites.
Where in Texas did SpaceX launch?
SpaceX has launched Falcon nine rockets from numerous locations, however if you are in particular referring to launches from Texas, these launches have specially happened at the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site close to Boca Chica Village.
How many times has Falcon 9 landed?
Falcon nine rockets had executed severa profitable landings. The actual range of profitable landings may also have modified seeing that then due to subsequent launches. SpaceX has been working on reusability, and many Falcon nine first ranges have been efficiently landed and refurbished for future use. You might also want to test the present day statistics to decide the modern-day remember of Falcon nine landings. | <urn:uuid:beb2966d-8eaf-4685-8f12-df70d6650733> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://theforbesdaily.com/spacex-dazzles-with-double-rocket-launch-the-forbes-daily/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100972.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209202131-20231209232131-00098.warc.gz | en | 0.915885 | 1,261 | 2.671875 | 3 | {
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Create a winter wonderland with Australian rice flower
Lots of our native plants flower in winter. Grevilleas and callistemons are probably the most well-known and widely grown native flowering shrubs, but there are plenty of others that are well worth growing.
One of my favourites is the Australian rice flower, ozothamnus diosmifolius, which is native to eastern Australia from north Queensland as far south as the Geelong area in Victoria.
Ozothamnus grows as a woody shrub to about 2m, and is usually found in heathland and in rainforest margins. The leaves are bright green and quite fine, about 10-15mm long and 1-2mm wide.
The pink or white flowers form in tight heads at the ends of the branches. It is their appearance when in bud that gives rise to the common names of rice flower and sago bush. They usually bloom from mid to late winter and into spring.
Ozothamnus are easy to grow in most well-drained soils in a sunny position. In heavier soil, you'd be wise to plant them on a mound. They are drought tolerant once established and don't seem to be bothered by pests or disease. Mulch well to conserve moisture but keep the mulch away from the stems.
Prune heavily after flowering and lightly tip prune thereafter to encourage more branches to form. Because they flower on the ends of the branches, more branches means more flowers. Don't prune after Easter, as you will be removing the flower buds that are beginning to develop.
They grow quite quickly, and in good conditions will reach their full height of 1-2m, depending on the particular variety, in a season. But do remember that pruning will produce more flowers, so don't just let them shoot up with only a few branches. Because they form an attractive, shapely bush, you can grow them as a single feature specimen in a garden bed or pot, or you could use them as a hedge.
If you want to dry the flowers, pick the stems when the buds fill out and just before the flowers open. Then place them in a cool dark place (not in water) until they are dry. If the stems wilt, it means you have picked them a little early.
Ozothamnus are a good choice if you are trying to increase the biodiversity in your garden as they are attractive to bees, butterflies, insects and birds. They also look great, and the cut flowers last for ages.
Got a gardening question? Email [email protected] | <urn:uuid:77620f05-c3a1-4297-9c8d-ad540d9472ad> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/create-a-winter-wonderland-with-australian-rice-fl/3788066/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400187390.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20200918092913-20200918122913-00555.warc.gz | en | 0.964458 | 543 | 2.890625 | 3 | {
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- Although all three conditions can lead to heart attack, people with stroke or peripheral artery disease were less likely to receive preventive treatments to prevent heart attack than people with coronary artery disease.
- Stroke survivors were more likely to report poor health care satisfaction and more emergency room visits.
- Patients with peripheral artery disease had the highest out-of-pocket health expenses of the three conditions.
Embargoed until 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 16, 2020
DALLAS, May 16, 2020 — Although several artery-clogging diseases increase the risk of heart attack, prevention efforts are unequal, according to research presented today at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care & Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2020. The virtual conference, May 15-16, is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in quality of care and outcomes research in cardiovascular disease and stroke for researchers, health care professionals and policymakers.
Researchers found that patients with peripheral artery disease or stroke were less likely than those with coronary artery disease to receive recommended treatments to prevent heart attack. All three are types of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 2016 AHA/ACC guidelines recommend aspirin for patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events, while 2018 guidelines from multiple organizations note that statin therapy reduces the risk of atherosclerotic events.
Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and a major contributor to cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which occurs when cholesterol, fat and inflammatory cells build up and form plaque that blocks the arteries and impedes blood flow.
Depending on the location of the blockage, atherosclerosis increases the risk for three serious conditions: coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. Coronary artery disease results from damaged heart arteries and can cause a heart attack. A common type of stroke occurs when clogged arteries block blood flow to brain. Peripheral artery disease results from damaged arteries in the extremities, often the legs, and can lead to pain during walking and, in severe cases, amputation.
“Our study highlights the need for public health campaigns to direct equal attention to all three major forms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” said senior study author Erin Michos, M.D., M.H.S., associate professor of medicine at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. “We need to generate awareness among both clinicians and patients that all of these diseases should be treated with aggressive secondary preventive medications, including aspirin and statins, regardless of whether people have heart disease or not.”
Since atherosclerosis can affect arteries in more than one part of the body, medical guidelines are to treat coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease similarly with lifestyle changes and medication, including statins to lower cholesterol levels and aspirin to prevent blood clots. Lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, being physically active, quitting smoking, controlling high cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, treating high blood sugar and losing weight. What was unclear was if people with stroke and peripheral artery disease received the same treatments prescribed for those with coronary artery disease.
This study compared more than 14,000 U.S. adults enrolled in the 2006-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a national survey of patient-reported health outcomes and conditions, and health care use and expenses. Slightly more than half of the patients were men, the average age was 65, and all had either coronary artery disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease. These individuals were representative of nearly 16 million U.S. adults living with one of the three forms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Compared to participants with coronary artery disease:
- participants with peripheral artery disease were twice more likely to report no statin use and three times more likely to report no aspirin use;
- additionally, people with peripheral artery disease had the highest, annual, total out-of-pocket expenditures among the three atherosclerotic conditions;
- participants with stroke were more than twice as likely to report no statin or aspirin use; and
- moreover, those with stroke were more likely to report poor patient-provider communication, poor health care satisfaction and more emergency room visits.
“Our study highlights a missed opportunity for implementing life-saving preventive medications among these high-risk individuals,” Michos said. “Peripheral artery disease and stroke should generally be treated with the same secondary prevention medications as coronary artery disease.”
Limitations of the study include that it relied on medical diagnosis codes in health records, which could have been incorrectly coded, and did not include health information about people who live in nursing homes or who are incarcerated. Also, the study did not include information about medication changes over time or why people were not taking the recommended medication.
The lead author is Martin Tibuakuu, M.D. Other co-authors and disclosures are listed in the abstract.
- Available multimedia is on right column of release link https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-attack-prevention-lags-for-people-with-stroke-peripheral-artery-disease?preview=ea618491f0215b7a44e94f1a09ca113e
- Healthy lifestyle, managing risks are key to preventing heart attack, stroke
- Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention
- Follow news from the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care & Outcomes Research 2020 via Twitter: @HeartNews #QCOR20
Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173
Bridgette McNeill: [email protected]
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) | <urn:uuid:30fc32e6-b605-41c3-9a74-9133691a9730> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-attack-prevention-lags-for-people-with-stroke-peripheral-artery-disease | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320302715.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20220121010736-20220121040736-00549.warc.gz | en | 0.937881 | 1,464 | 2.78125 | 3 | {
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Study 12 of 13 on Proverbs
There was once a poor young man who was diligent in all that he did and he spent his free time learning from the wise rabbi of the village. But one day he was given the opportunity to study more in a formal university of great stature. He made his name and then his money and then came back to his village to display his power and wealth. His first stop was to the rabbi of his youth. “Rabbi, I have seen the world. It is more than anything even you can imagine. I have experienced much, I have done more, I am all that I have made me.” To which the Rabbi took the hand of his old student and asked him to look out the glass window… “What do you see my son?” asked the Rabbi….. “Why the village, of course.”…then he took him to a mirror and asked him again “What do you see, my son?” to which the man stood taller and said “Why, me, of course.” “Ah!” Commented the rabbi… “All it takes is a little silver and you can’t see the world around you. That then is when you stop learning.”
Scriptural Basis: Job 38–40:2; Ps. 104:24; Proverbs 30; Luke 18:9–14; 1 John 1:9; Rev. 3:14–18.
Key Text: “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matt. 5:3, NKJV).
1. How would you define “humility” in the Christian’s life?
2. What does Proverbs 30:3–6 suggest about the power, majesty, and mystery of God?
3. What are some things in nature itself that show us how God sustains our existence?
4. How can the study of nature teach us about the character of the Creator?
5. Dwell more on the prayer in Proverbs 30:7–9. Look at the balance there. How do we find balance in all that we do? Why is this so important?
6. In what everyday ways can we be sure that we don’t fall into this same trap as that of the Pharisee in Luke 18:9–14? | <urn:uuid:f276fbda-7c90-4bc0-a8a5-05ab0f3fc2f9> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | http://www.youminister.com/index.php/video/ssu2015-1-12-the-humility-of-the-wise/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267160454.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20180924125835-20180924150235-00396.warc.gz | en | 0.983869 | 507 | 2.515625 | 3 | {
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Question about Miller Spectrum 375 Cutmate Plasma Cutter 903891
Are there any safety measures to consider while using a plasma cutter?
There are a few things about plasma cutting safety that are different from general welding safety tips This short list of plasma cutter safety tips is geared toward light duty plasma cutting using compressed air not large industrial units that use gas mixtures and water cutting tables. Electric Shock Can Kill - Operating a plasma cutter completes an electric circuit between the torch and the workpiece. The workpiece and anything touching the workpiece are part of the electrical circuit. - Never touch the torch body, workpiece or the water in a water table when the plasma system is operating. Voltages & Currents - Plasma cutter output voltages are much greater than welding voltages, usually 100-200 volts. Precautionary Measures - Do not pick up the workpiece, including the waste cutoff, while you cut. Leave the workpiece in place on the workbench with the work cable attached during the cutting process. - During plasma cutting operations do not move the work clamp. Wear insulated gloves and boots, and keep your body and clothing dry. - Do not stand, sit or lie on or otherwise touch any wet surface when using the plasma cutter system. - Insulate yourself from work and ground using dry insulating mats or covers big enough to prevent any physical contact with the work or ground. If you must work in or near a damp area, use extreme caution. Work Cable - Ensure metal-to-metal contact between work cable and workpiece or work table. - Work cable clamp should make contact with clean metal free of rust, dirt, painted surfaces, etc. - Do not attach work cable to the piece that will fall away when the cut is complete Plasma cutter Arc Rays Plasma cutter arc rays produce intense visible and invisible (ultraviolet and infrared) rays that can burn eyes and skin. Protective Clothing - Guantlet gloves, safety shoes and hat. - Flame-retardant clothing to cover all exposed areas. - Cuffless trousers to prevent entry of sparks and slag. - Remove combustibles, such as a butane lighter or matches, from your pockets before cutting. Noise Levels of Plasma Arc Cutting - Plasma arc cutting systems can generate noise levels in excess of 120 dB during high-amperage cutting operations. - Ear protection should be used when operating or working near plasma arc cutting operations. Toxic Fumes & Gases Plasma arc cutting can produce toxic fumes and gases that deplete oxygen and cause serious injury. - Keep the cutting area well ventilated or use an approved air-supplied respirator. - Do not cut in locations near degreasing, cleaning or spraying operations. The vapors from certain chlorinated solvents decompose to form phosgene gas when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Pacemakers & Hearing Aids - Pacemaker and hearing aid operation can be affected by magnetic fields from high currents. Pacemaker and hearing aid wearers should consult a doctor before going near any plasma arc cutting and gouging operations Overall Plasma Safety - The plasma arc cutting process can be very safe. - By paying attention to safety standards and correctly setting up and operating the system, plasma arc cutting poses no more a threat than most welding processes.
Posted on Aug 27, 2008
Turn off to change any consumables.
Posted on Nov 30, 2011
a 6ya Repairman can help you resolve that issue over the phone in a minute or two.
Best thing about this new service is that you are never placed on hold and get to talk to real repair professionals here in the US.
click here to Talk to a Repairman (only for users in the US for now) and get all the help you need.
Posted on Jan 02, 2017
SOURCE: spectrum 2050 plasma cutter .
Check compressed air pressure is in limits otherwise unit will cut out. Try adjusting the pressure up. also make sure the supply pressure is correct as it may not be your plasma cutter at fault.
Posted on Aug 02, 2010
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Step 2: Please assign your manual to a product: | <urn:uuid:d0e64492-8849-4689-b524-f66de45d099f> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://www.fixya.com/support/t976718-plasma_cutters_question | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891814700.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20180223115053-20180223135053-00596.warc.gz | en | 0.891611 | 973 | 2.65625 | 3 | {
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This set of Power Electronics Aptitude Test focuses on “Single-Phase FW AC-DC-4”.
1. An SCR has the peak forward voltage = 1000 V. Find the maximum voltage that the SCR can handle if employed in a B-2 type full controlled converter circuit. Use factor of safety (FOS) = 2.5
a) 500 V
b) 400 V
c) 200 V
d) 1000 V
Explanation: In M-2 type configuration maximum voltage handled is Vm
Therefore, 1000/2.5 = 400 V.
2. A single-phase full converter bridge, is connected to a RLE load. The source has a rms voltage of 230 V and the average load current is 10 A. Find the firing angle for which the power flows from AC source to the DC load. Consider E = 120 V, R = 0.4 Ω.
Explanation: We have,
Vo = E + IR
Vo = 2Vm/π x cosα
Substitute the given values to discover α = 53.208°.
3. A single-phase full converter bridge, is connected to a RLE load. The source has a rms voltage of 230 V and the average load current is 10 A. Find the firing angle for which the power flows from the DC load to the AC source. Consider E = 120 V, R = 0.4 Ω, L = 2 Henry.
Explanation: We have,
Vo = E + IR
Vo = 2Vm/π x cosα . . . (i)
Substitute the given values to discover α = 124°
Note that as the power is flowing from DC to AC E has to be negative.
E = -120V.
Use 1 to find the firing angle.
4. For the below shown converter configuration, find the expression for the average value of voltage across the resister R with Vs = Vm sinωt and firing angle = α.
a) Vm/π cosα
b) 2Vm/π cosα
c) Vm/π (1+cosα)
d) 2Vm/π (1+cosα)
Explanation: Vo = Vo = 1/π x [∫ Vm sinωt d(ωt)] where the integration would run from α to π.
5. A single phase full controlled bridge converter is connected to load having R = 0.4 Ω, E = 120, L = 0.2 mH, Vs = 230V. The RMS value of load current is 10 A for a firing angle of 53.21°. Find the input power factor.
a) 0.5043 lag
b) 0.5391 lag
c) 0.6120 lag
Explanation: Io = Irms = 10A
Vs x Irms x cosɸ = E Io + Irms2 R.
6. A single phase full converter feeds power to a RLE load with R = 6 Ω and E = 60 V. Find the average value of the load current when the supply voltage is 230 V rms AC and a firing angle = 50°.
c) 12.1 A
d) 6.05 A
Explanation: Vo = 2Vm/π cosα = 133.084 V
I = Vo – E/R = 133.084-60 / 6 = 12.181 A.
7. A single phase full wave mid-point SCR converter, uses a 230/200 V transformer with the centre tap on the secondary side. The P.I.V. per SCR is
a) 100 V
Explanation: PIV for M-2 is Vm = √2Vs = √2 x 200.
8. In a single phase full converter, for discontinuous load current and extinction angle β > π, each SCR conducts for
Explanation: Each device would conduct for β-α.
9. A single-phase two pulse converter feeds RL load with a sufficient smoothing such that the load current does not fall to zero. If the resistance of the load circuit is increased then the
a) ripple content is not affected
b) ripple content of current increases
c) ripple content of current decreases
d) load current may fall to zero
Explanation: If the resistance of the load circuit is increased then the ripple content of current increases.
10. In case of controlled rectifiers, the nature of the load current (continues or discontinuous) depends upon the
a) type of load and firing angle
b) only on the type of load
c) only on the firing angle
d) it is independent of all the parameters
Explanation: It depends on both as firing angle will decide how fast and how much current flows. The load R, Rl or RLE can also effect the current depending upon the values of L and E.
Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Power Electronics.
To practice all areas of Power Electronics for aptitude tests, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers. | <urn:uuid:c8417fe6-02e1-421e-831c-3d21921418a4> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://www.sanfoundry.com/power-electronics-aptitude-test/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887692.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20180119010338-20180119030338-00255.warc.gz | en | 0.799427 | 1,094 | 3.28125 | 3 | {
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Date of Award
Doctor of Philosophy
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Donald C. Erbach
Use of the conservation tillage system known as ridge-till has steadily increased for corn and soybean production. It is important to plant rows at the same location and to rebuild the ridges in the same location every year. Without a system to guide along the previous ridge, "guess" rows become wide in places and narrow in others. This causes plants to be damaged during cultivation and yield to be lost during harvest;An automatic guidance system based upon two position-sensing systems was designed to follow a desired path. The position sensing system generates and transmits radio signals to a pair of repeaters through a main antenna. Returned signals from repeaters are used to determine the tractor position in the field. A microcomputer calculated the lateral position error, determined the proper steering angle, and controlled a stepping motor to steer the tractor. The lateral position error was determined by comparing the present measured position with the desired tractor position. A control algorithm was developed based upon the kinematic behavior of the tractor. The control algorithm determined the steering angle which would reduce the lateral position error. The position error of the front wheel at the "looking-ahead" next measurement position, the current front wheel angle, and the angle difference between the tractor yaw and the slope of curvature of the desired path were used to determine the steering angle;The steering control algorithm was evaluated for different front wheel turning ratios and sampling distance intervals through use of computer simulation. Experiments were conducted to verify the algorithm under field conditions. A John Deere 4430 tractor was equipped with the automatic guidance system. Paths considered for the field experiments were a 70-m straight line path, a sinusoidal path with a 5-m amplitude and 50-m period, and a 5-m step path. Position error at the tractor front wheel and at a three-point-hitch mounted implement was analyzed. Maximum absolute error, RMS (Root Mean Squared) error, and percentage of measured points where the absolute error was greater than 50 cm were calculated. Results showed that acceptable precision for field operations requires a guidance system with a position-measurement error of less than 5 cm. More accurate position and tractor yaw angle measurement, and faster error processing are required to improve the field performance of the guidance system.
Digital Repository @ Iowa State University, http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/
Chang Hyun Choi
Choi, Chang Hyun, "Automatic guidance system for farm tractor " (1988). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 8836. | <urn:uuid:a865a449-50c0-45e2-b397-1bb85b74def4> | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/8836/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107919459.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20201031151830-20201031181830-00378.warc.gz | en | 0.914065 | 546 | 2.53125 | 3 | {
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The Casual Gardener: Some native Irish plants have plenty of appetite for insects
Carnivorous plants are treasured for both their drama and their exoticism...
IT BRINGS a whole new twist to the ‘Waiter, there's fly in my soup' joke but over recent years scientists have been exploring the potential of adding insects to the human diet as a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to mammal and poultry meat. They've taken their lead from carnivorous plants which have long utilised the nutritious value of various insects.
While typically we would associate carnivorous plants with tropical regions, there are in fact 10 natives living in the wild across Ireland – for the time being at least. They generally inhabit boglands, those marginal places fashioned by nature over centuries where the ericaceous earth holds few nutrients. Sustenance, and nitrogen in particular, must be found elsewhere and its substitute is not drawn up through the roots but instead ingested from the carcasses of dead insects.
Various species of sundew, butterwort and bladderwort can be found across the island to a greater and lesser degree, while pitcher plants from North America thrive in the bogs of Co Roscommon, having been introduced more than a century ago.
They're not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when we want a bit of exotic plant life for the house or garden but carnivorous plants will bring a whole new dimension to your enjoyment of gardening. They'll prove especially popular with children – of all ages – their insect-eating behaviour imbuing them with a menace we rarely associate with plants.
The best-known carnivorous plants are the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), sundew (Drosera), Sarracenia and Nepenthes.
The Venus flytrap is probably the most spectacular of the group. The leaves of this carnivore consist of two hinged jaws that slam shut, the closing mechanism triggered by contact from an insect or small spider. The plant is not easily fooled, however, and to be sure that the prey is present, they must touch the six sensor hairs on the leaf twice. If they're touched once, the leaves don't snap shut.
Sarracenia and Nepenthes are both known as pitcher plants and employ the same method to catch prey. They take their common name from the long, deep receptacle that can range in length from a few centimetres up to more than 30cm. The ‘pitchers' are distorted leaves that have nectar on the lips to attract insects. The prey is lured deeper inside before the unlucky ones find themselves free-falling down a wax slide into the bowels of the plant, where their desperate struggle activates glands inside the pitcher, prompting the release enzymes. Over a couple of days, the insect is digested leaving only a casing behind.
Drosera (sundew) form perfect rosettes on the ground and are equipped with red tentacles with a sticky, glistening drip at the end. This gives the flower its common name. Its prey gets stuck in the drip and is pushed by the agile tentacles towards the leaf surface, where it is digested.
Generally, gardeners will opt for indoor varieties but be mindful of their natural habitat and ensure they get lots of sun and are kept damp. They prefer to drink rainwater, or distilled or soft tap water. If you live in an area with hard water, boil it and leave to cool before serving.
For environmentally conscientious gardeners, providing the appropriate growing medium that replicates the optimum growing conditions in the wild – ie peat – will present a dilemma but rest assured there are solutions.
Most carnivorous plants are herbaceous so their traps will wither over winter only to re-emerge in the spring and as they catch their own meals they never need feeding. | <urn:uuid:9acee33c-b291-467b-8ee2-cc808f0fa6cc> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | http://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2019/08/17/news/the-casual-gardener-some-native-irish-plants-have-plenty-of-appetite-for-insects-1685883/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347441088.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20200604125947-20200604155947-00235.warc.gz | en | 0.948802 | 788 | 2.8125 | 3 | {
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} | Home & Hobbies |
This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Pleurisy happens when the pleura becomes irritated or swollen. The pleura are 2 thin layers of tissue that surround your lungs and line the inside of your chest cavity. There is a small amount of fluid between the pleura that helps the layers move easily when you breathe. When the pleura is irritated or swollen, the layers rub together as you breathe.
Call 911 if:
- You have sudden, intense chest pain that feels different from your symptoms.
- You are breathing fast, feel confused, or feel like you are going to faint.
Seek care immediately if:
- You cough up yellow, green, gray, or bloody mucus.
- You feel more short of breath than usual.
- Your lips or fingernails turn dusky or blue.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- Your pain gets worse, even after treatment.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
- You have a fever.
You may receive any of the following:
- Cough medicine helps decrease your urge to cough. A cough suppressant may help if a dry cough is causing you pain.
- Antibiotics may treat pleurisy caused by a bacteria.
- Steroids may be given to decrease inflammation.
- NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. This medicine is available with or without a doctor's order. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinner medicine, always ask if NSAIDs are safe for you. Always read the medicine label and follow directions. Do not give these medicines to children under 6 months of age without direction from your child's healthcare provider.
- Prescription pain medicine may be given to decrease severe pain if other pain medicines do not work. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you ask for more medicine.
- Take your medicine as directed. Call your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Follow up with your healthcare provider as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
- Splint your pain when coughing. Hold a pillow or folded blanket tightly over your chest when you cough or take a deep breath.
- Find a comfortable position that allows you to decrease pain and breathe easier. You may find it comfortable to lie on your the side that has pleurisy. Change your position frequently to prevent complications, such as worsening pneumonia or lung collapse.
- Do not smoke. Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and cigars can cause lung damage. Ask your healthcare provider for information if you currently smoke and need help to quit. E-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco still contain nicotine. Talk to your healthcare provider before you use these products.
- Get early treatment for conditions that cause pleurisy.
- Get vaccinated. Ask your healthcare provider if you should get a flu and pneumonia vaccine. These vaccines may prevent infections that cause pleurisy.
© 2015 Truven Health Analytics Inc. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or Truven Health Analytics.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you. | <urn:uuid:63957cb4-9eeb-4f70-92cf-20a7a4bec7de> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.drugs.com/cg/pleurisy-discharge-care.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461861727712.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428164207-00029-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903411 | 825 | 3.09375 | 3 | {
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} | Health |
December 20, 2021 • Sam Grabel
There are few more iconic board games in the world than Monopoly. Although it was patented on December 31, 1935, by a man called Charles Darrow, it’s one of those pieces of pop culture that feels like it’s been around forever—in other words, for as long as it takes to play Monopoly. The game has become synonymous with capitalism and, on the surface, tests players’ business acumen and savvy; the end goal is to win by bankrupting your opponents. However, as we’ve seen with other patent claims—such as Alexander Graham Bell’s patent for the invention of the telephone—there’s a tawdry history of intrigue lurking in the proverbial community chest. Let’s dig in and find out exactly how Monopoly, now available in countless versions, first came to be.
First things first, credit where it’s due: The game that we now know as Monopoly was first envisioned as The Landlord’s Game by a woman named Elizabeth “Lizzy” Magie. Magie was a progressive feminist who bucked traditional gender roles of the era—she remained single into her 40s, owned her own house in a suburb of Washington, D.C., worked as a stenographer and secretary, wrote poetry, performed onstage as a comedienne and, in her free time, was a political activist who taught classes after work.
At the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. was grappling with what a modern capitalist society would look like. In previous decades, the country had gone through an intense period of industrialization facilitated in part by magnates such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan. Magie saw massive wealth disparities between the working class and these men, who had come to be known as “robber barons.” She set out to craft a message that was not in favor of this unrestrained capitalism but, in fact, a warning against it.
To that end, Magie came up with “a practical demonstration of the present system of land-grabbing with all its usual outcomes and consequences… as it contains all the elements of success and failure in the real world, and the object is the same as the human race in general seem[s] to have, ie, the accumulation of wealth.”
Magie drew up two sets of rules for her game: one anti-trust set, where all the players were rewarded for each other’s success, and another set that more closely resembled the rules we know today, where the goal was to buy up as many properties as possible and push your opponents into bankruptcy and out of the game. The second set was meant to highlight the moral superiority of the first set. However, that wasn’t how things played out; reflecting the arc of human history, it was the pro-capitalist and individualist version that won out over the collectivist one.
Magie eventually took her game to the patent office in 1903, and in 1905, she published a version of The Landlord’s Game with the Economic Game Company of New York City. Over the next few decades, the game became quite popular with fellow progressive thinkers and on college campuses, including at Wharton, Harvard and Columbia. At the time, board games were becoming more and more popular, as members of the middle class had more leisure time, and it was common for people to make up their own versions of the game using names of properties that were familiar to them. One such group of players were Quakers from Atlantic City, who created a version to include landmarks around the New Jersey resort town.
Enter Charles Darrow.
Down on his luck like many during the Great Depression, Darrow was unemployed when he joined his friends in a parlor in Philadelphia to play a new game their hosts had recently acquired. Darrow and his wife, Esther, were enthralled by the game, and their hosts, Charles and Olive Todd, made them a version of the board so they could continue playing on their own. The version of the game Darrow learned was the one the aforementioned Quakers had created and, to Darrow’s knowledge, had no written rules.
Darrow saw an opportunity. He codified the rules as he’d learned them and took what he thought to be his version of the game to Parker Brothers, who purchased the game and gave Darrow royalty rights to future sales. Darrow falsely took credit for inventing the game, claiming that its invention was “a freak [accident] … entirely unexpected and illogical.” He went on to make millions from the game, while Parker Brothers lauded him as its inventor.
As the game gained popularity in the mid-’30s, in true monopolistic spirit, Parker Brothers set out to purchase the rights to other similar games, including Magie’s version. They paid her a mere $500 and did not give her the option of royalties. At the time of her death in 1948, Magie remained uncredited for her invention.
The story of the game’s origins remained, like its true inventor, in relative obscurity until the 1970s, when an economics professor called Ralph Anspach created his own version of an Anti-Monopoly game. Ironically, Parker Brothers sued him over the adaptation, and a legal battle ensued. While researching his defense, Anspach uncovered Magie’s story and used it to his advantage. He eventually won the decade-long legal dispute and, in the process, brought to light the previously buried story of Lizzy Magie, the anti-monopolist who created the game that became Monopoly.
In History Factory’s 43-year history, we’ve rebranded every 10 to 12 years, with… Read More
“Nostalgia is denial,” claims Paul, the cultured, fiancee-stealing heel in Woody Allen’s film… Read More
You could lament the Great Resignation, fretting about the millions of jobs going unfilled as… Read More | <urn:uuid:b76ff297-ad8b-4855-b543-0b0af46cf34b> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.historyfactory.com/insights/this-month-in-business-history-monopoly/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500215.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205032040-20230205062040-00363.warc.gz | en | 0.983935 | 1,278 | 3.515625 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.9304306507110596,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Games |
If you want a standard of reality with which to compare these passages of Abbey-Theatre rhetoric, you have only to turn to Lady Gregory’s own notes at the end of Irish Folk-History Plays, where she records a number of peasant utterances on Irish history. Here, and not in the plays—in the tragic plays, at any rate—is the real “folk-history” of her book to be found. One may take, as an example, the note on Kincora, where some one tells of the Battle of Clontarf, in which Brian Boru defeated the Danes:—
Clontarf was on the head of a game of chess. The generals of the Danes were beaten at it, and they were vexed. It was Broder, that the Brodericks are descended from, that put a dagger through Brian’s heart, and he attending to his prayers. What the Danes left in Ireland were hens and weasels. And when the cock crows in the morning the country people will always say: “It is for Denmark they are crowing; crowing they are to be back in Denmark.”
Lady Gregory reveals more of life—leaping, imaginative life—in that little note than in all the three acts about Grania and the three about Brian. It is because the characters in the comic plays in the book are nearer the peasantry in stature and in outlook that she is so much more successful with them than with the heroes and heroines of the tragedies. She describes the former plays as “tragic comedies”; but in the first and best of them, The Canavans, it is difficult to see where the tragedy comes in. The Canavans is really a farce of the days of Elizabeth. The principal character is a cowardly miller, who ensues nothing but his own safety in the war of loyalties and disloyalties which is destroying Ireland. He is equally afraid of the wrath of the neighbours on the one hand, and the wrath of the Government on the other. Consequently, he is at his wits’ end when his brother Antony comes seeking shelter in his house, after deserting from the English Army. When the soldiers come looking for Antony, so helpless with terror is the miller, that he flies into hiding among his sacks, and his brother has to impersonate him in the interview with the officer who carries out the search. The situation obviously lends itself to comic elaborations, and Lady Gregory misses none of her opportunities. She flies off from every semblance of reality at a tangent, however, in a later scene, where Antony disguises himself as Queen Elizabeth, supposed to have come on a secret visit of inspection to Ireland, and takes in both his brother and the officer (who is himself a Canavan, anglicized under the name of Headley). This is a sheer invention of the theatre; it turns the play from living speech into machinery. The Canavans, however, has enough of present-day reality to make us forgive its occasional stage-Elizabethanism. On the whole, its humours gain nothing from their historical setting. | <urn:uuid:b65bacf9-62e1-484a-9721-90f237b5b33e> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/12600/107.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398468396.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205428-00258-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983717 | 658 | 2.625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.884351968765259,
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} | Literature |
#AceHistory2Research – TURKEY – March 30 – More than 50 million Turks are heading to the ballot box on March 30 to elect the mayors of cities and districts as well as muhtars (headmen) for villages and neighborhoods in the Turkish Republic’s 18th local elections( HurriyetDailyNews)
Turks last went to the polls to elect local representatives on March 29, 2009.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) received the most votes in the 2009 elections with 38.9 percent of the vote, although the figure was down significantly from the total it received two years earlier in general elections. The Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِيّهٔ عُثمَانِیّه Devlet-i Aliyye-i Osmâniyye, Turkish: Osmanlı İmparatorluğu), sometimes referred to as the Turkish Empire or simply Turkey, was an empire founded by Oghuz Turks under Osman Bey in northwestern Anatolia in 1299.
With the conquest of Constantinople by Mehmed II in 1453, the Ottoman state was transformed into an empire.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, in particular at the height of its power under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful states in the world – a multinational, multilingual empire, controlling much of South-East Europe, Western Asia, the Caucasus, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
At the beginning of the 17th century the empire contained 32 provinces and numerous vassal states, some of which were later absorbed into the empire, while others were granted various types of autonomy during the course of centuries.
With Constantinople as its capital and control of vast lands around the Mediterranean basin, the Ottoman Empire was at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for over six centuries. It was dissolved in the aftermath of World War I; the collapse of the empire led to the emergence of the new state of Turkey in the Ottoman Anatolian heartland, as well as the creation of modern Balkan and Middle Eastern states.
From 1894–96, between 100,000 to 300,000 Armenians living throughout the empire were killed in what became known as the Hamidian massacres.
The Second Constitutional Era began after the Young Turk Revolution (3 July 1908) with the sultan’s announcement of the restoration of the 1876 constitution and the reconvening of the Ottoman parliament.
It marked the beginning of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
This era is dominated by the politics of the Committee of Union and Progress, and the movement that would become known as the Young Turks. | <urn:uuid:d3ce83eb-af7b-4329-af00-87b4a6c233fd> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://history2research.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154878.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20210804142918-20210804172918-00220.warc.gz | en | 0.968099 | 581 | 3.359375 | 3 | {
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J. G. Frazer in The Golden Bough notes the pagan origin of Christmas: “It was a custom of the heathen to celebrate on the 25th December the birthday of the sun, at which they kindled lights in token of festivity. Accordingly when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true Nativity should be solemnised on that day … Augustine exhorts his Christian brethren not to celebrate that solemn day like the heathen on account of the sun, but on account of him who made the sun.” (p. 472). Frazer argues (pp. 833 & 842) “If the heathen of ancient Europe celebrated, as we have good reason to believe, the season of Midsummer with a great festival of fire, of which the traces have survived in many places, it is natural to suppose that they should also have observed with similar rites the corresponding season of Midwinter; for Midsummer and Midwinter, the summer solstice and the winter solstice, are the two great turning points in the sun’s apparent course through the sky, and from the standpoint of primitive man nothing might seem more appropriate than to kindle fires on earth at the two moments when the fire and heat of the great luminary in heaven begin to wane or to wax … Indeed with respect to Midwinter celebration of Christmas we are left to conjecture; we know from the express testimony of the ancients that it was instituted by the church to supersede an old heathen festival of the birth of the sun, which was apparently conceived to be born again on the shortest day of the year, after which his light and heat were seen to grow till they attained their full maturity at Midsummer … In modern Christendom the ancient fire-festival of the winter solstice appears to survive, or to have survived down to recent years, in the old custom of the Yule log.”
But there are other elements to this pagan festival which are not fully drawn out by Frazer who mentions the general and widespread worship of the sacred oak but fails to pursue the question of why the Yule log is invariably oak. Robert Graves in The White Goddess explores the question further and provides much evidence of the tree cult through out all religions (e.g. sacred groves) and even in Christianity there is the tree of knowledge and the tree of life and death (the cross). The oak is associated with many different deities: the Greek god Zeus, the Roman Jupiter, the Egyptian Osiris, the Bronze Age Llyr (coming to the Britons between 1600–1400 BC) and his Anglo-Saxon counterpart [several words illegible]*, and the Arthurian legends. The holly appears in the Romance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In the words of Graves “The Green Knight is an immortal giant whose club is a holly bush. He and Sir Gawain … make a compact to behead one another at alternate New Years – meaning Midsummer and Midwinter.” The same theme appears in many places: two rival kings pledged to kill each other, each to reign for half the year, the holly at Midwinter and the oak at Midsummer. The important element is that the rivals are the two faces of the one figure – Janus with a dark side and a light side.(Something Christianity has forgotten in separating God and Satan into two warring opposites rather than two aspects of the same deity. Indeed Saturnalia according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary is an ‘Ancient-Roman festival of Saturn in December observed as a time of unrestrained merrymaking with temporary release of slaves, predecessor of modern Christmastide.’)
Thus, putting the sun and the trees together we have the waxing and the waning of the sun ritualized as death and rebirth (resurrection) of the tree god/king. In Midsummer the sun has reached its peak and now wanes, losing its strength as winter (death) tightens its grip on the land. So the green knight/holly king of the waxing year, spring and summer, is beheaded to rise again as the dark god/oak king of the dying half of the year. The king is dead, long live the king. Yet this festival is one of gaiety and bonfires because out of the death of the spring and summer flowers will come the fruits of autumn. Death is only the other face of life.
Correspondingly, Yule or Midwinter marks the end of the reign of the waning sun. The oak king is ritually killed, the holly king is born – the star child – Yule is therefore a nativity celebration. But because the holly king is a baby the twelve nights of his youth are presided over by the spirit of the oak symbolized by the mistletoe (which grows on oak) wand of the Christmas Fool, the Lord of Misrule or the Lord of the Dance. Who leads the merrymaking, the dancing, and who turns the world upside down, permits all rules to be broken, makes slaves the master and calls on all to forget their cares and be joyful. The fool is jester, wizard (Merlin) and Father Christmas all in one character.
Over all this presides the Lady – the triple goddess of so many religions – maid, mother and crone. She is variously called Mary, Diana, Kali, Isis, Cerridwen, the Muse. In the words of Graves: “She has a son who is also her lover and her victim, the star-son of the waxing year. He alternates in her favour with (her lover) of the waning year, his darker self.” At Yule she is worshipped as mother who brings out of the underworld the promise of light in the darkness, the star child conceived of the dark lord but who will become her lover and bring life, hope and fertility to the land again.
All this is simply given as background to the Christmas play which can be very simple without any need for the above lengthy and complex set of ideas. The following suggested format contains all the essential elements.
© The Estate of Ronald M. White | <urn:uuid:586a9873-895f-472a-ad37-b2e0a932fa11> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://ronaldchalkywhite.org.uk/other-mss/the-midwinter-festival-of-yule/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398449258.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205409-00325-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958123 | 1,285 | 3.21875 | 3 | {
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Murraya paniculata, or orange jasmine, is a pleasant tropical plant with a sweet smell and flowers that bloom year-round. Though the plant is often grown as a small ornamental tree or a hedge, it also will flourish in pots and containers if well-shaped and cared for.
The orange jasmine derives its name from the fragrance of its small flowers; they give off a sweet smell that resembles orange blossoms and will waft through your house quite nicely. These waxy flowers will show throughout the entire year and are very attractive to bees. They also begin to bloom quite early in the plant’s life.
Though M. paniculata is not a citrus plant, it superficially resembles one: its flowers give off a citrus-like smell, and its small red fruits—which attract birds—look like kumquats. These tropical plants need lots of sun to thrive and should be pruned, but they respond well to container gardening and are perfect for any sunny area in your house as long as you give them the proper care. You may also find orange jasmine listed as orange jessamine or chalcas, and it’s one of many jasmine plants that make good houseplants. If you’re looking to cultivate it, make sure the specimen you’re examining is M. paniculata.
- Light: This tropical plant loves full sun, though it can tolerate some shade. It's perfect for a sunny windowsill.
- Water: It should be kept moist, but make sure not to saturate its soil. Regular watering is necessary.
- Temperature: High, tropical temperatures. Orange jasmine is not frost-tolerant.
- Soil: Weakly acidic soil is good: for best results, plant in clay soil. Also, make sure the soil drains well. It should be moist, but not damp or soggy.
- Fertilizer: Feed it periodically from the beginning of spring through fall. You can use any fertilizer designed for evergreen shrubs.
M. paniculata can propagate by cuttings or by seed, but it will be easier to plant by stem-tip cuttings. Take a cutting, ideally from part of the jasmine without any flowers, then remove the leaves and place it in a sterile, well-drained, warm rooting medium such as peat or sand. Consider using a rooting hormone to increase the jasmine’s chances of success. The cuttings can be transplanted into a container once rooted where the young plants will begin to grow very quickly.
This fairly vigorous plant will benefit from repotting once it’s begun to outgrow its container, but make sure not to damage its fragile root system in the transplant process. Water the root ball before you repot it, then pull it out with the soil in one piece. Trim away dead material and cut it back, then replant and backfill with soil.
Orange jasmine is just one of lots of varieties of jasmine that can make great houseplants. The most popular is probably J. polyanthum, which is a fragrant vining species that sprout pink blossoms. However, many other jasmines are widely cultivated, including primrose jasmine (J. primulinum) and common jasmine (J. officinale).
Orange jasmine should be pruned, especially when it’s still young and growing quickly. It can be cut into many shapes, including a small tree or a hedge, but pruning it somehow is crucial to help the plant achieve its best form. Though the jasmine doesn’t have any major disease problems, it is susceptible to several pests, including scale and soil nematodes: keep an eye out and use a good pesticide if necessary. This makes a great decorative container plant if trimmed right and can even be used as a bonsai plant or in a topiary because it responds so well to pruning. As long as you give it the proper care, your jasmine should reward you well. It even has medicinal qualities: the Native Americans traditionally used its leaves to treat illness. | <urn:uuid:57624281-b5d5-4a93-91eb-a823aa5668d9> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://www.thespruce.com/grow-orange-jasmine-indoors-1902398 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496668585.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20191115042541-20191115070541-00376.warc.gz | en | 0.936378 | 877 | 2.59375 | 3 | {
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"reasoning_level": 1,
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} | Home & Hobbies |
April 11, 2011
Host: Ted Simons
- Every day, thousands of pounds of produce rots in our landfills, producing the greenhouse gas methane. A Utah company that has expanded into Arizona has come up with a solution. EcoScraps takes that rotting produce and turns it into high-grade soil that is sold in local nurseries. Brandon Sargent, one of the founders of EcoScraps, will talk about what his company does.
- Brandon Sargent - EcoScraps
Ted Simons: Produce is one of those food items you constantly have to replenish because it doesn't last long. That problem is multiplied for food banks and stores. Once produce goes bad it mostly goes to the landfill but one company is turning rotting fruit and vegetables into high grade soil. I will talk to one of the founders of Ecoscraps, but first here's a look at the company's Tempe facility.
Mike Sauceda: Every day Americans throw out tons of food including fruits and vegetables that produce usually ends up in a landfill where it rots and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. Three friends had an epiphany one day leading them to a solution to that problem. While eating at the buffet they noticed food going to waste and thought there must be a better way.
Brandon Sergent: See that steam in there?
Mike Sauceda: So they started researching composting and were soon doing it in a parking lot of an abandoned motel starting a company called Ecoscraps. They started selling their product, organic soil, to nurseries and it became so successful that they opened up this facility near McClintock and Curry in Tempe. At their Tempe location they get 10 tons of rotting produce a day and have processed 400,000 pounds of it. All that rotting produce has turned into high grade organic soil. Most of the discarded produce comes from food banks, grocery stores and distributors, taking it to Ecoscraps saves those organizations money because they don't have to haul to it a landfill. Ecoscraps soil can be purchased at valley nursery, sold under the name harvest Plenty.
Ted Simons: And here now to talk more about Ecoscraps is Brandon Sergent, one of the founders of the company. Thanks for joining us tonight on Horizon.
Brandon Sergent: No problem, thank you.
Ted Simons: How does this work? We kind of got an indication there of folks, do you collect the food? Do they bring it to you?
Brandon Sergent: Different arrangements with different people but basically, whether we go out and get it or they bring it to us, we get the food at our yard. We run it through some special machinery which basically pulverizes it. We mix it with a carbon supplement in order to really kind of start that composting process. We are cranking out between 30 and 40 cubic yards a day of compost that we make every single day. The product itself heats up over 100 degrees within 24 hours. And then we start aerating. We have some special aeration machinery we use as well and it takes, between two and three months to fully mature.
Ted Simons: So basically, you have got the rotting stuff. You mix it with, what, the special formula there?
Brandon Sergent: Carbon supplement. We use untreated wood shavings, you just have to make sure your nitrogen and carbon is balance in order for it really work. We have a special formula that we have. We mix it together and it just starts going to work. The microorganisms start eating everything and it's pretty cool.
Ted Simons: That's fascinating. How do you make sure it's properly balanced? Because anything could get in there and screw the whole thing up, I would think.
Brandon Sergent: You got to -- there's different types or different things that you have to have balance. You have to balance the micro and macronutrients. We do add a mineral mix in order to make sure that's all properly balanced for your end results and plants. You have to balance the PH. A lot of times down here we get a lot of citrus so we have to add things that are alkaline in order to properly balance that out for your plants because your plants don't want something that's really acidic either. And just different things like that. We also have to make sure that the moisture is balanced as well. That's one of the reasons why we do it indoors. We can control, if it's raining or if it's really hot outside, we can control the moisture of our piles.
Ted Simons: I was going to say, it sounds unusual to have something like this indoors. Is it?
Brandon Sergent: Yeah, it is unusual. But because of that, we're able to turn out a higher quality product. We are able to test it and keep all those things balanced from start to finish.
Ted Simons: Is it the kind of things where it has to be tested periodically over time? How long does this process take by the way?
Brandon Sergent: It takes between two and three months. Different things, you know, take longer to compost than others. But we get it tested at the end for maturity, for pH, for nutrients and then package it and send it out.
Ted Simons: Where do you send it out to?
Brandon Sergent: To local nurseries. You can buy it at almost any of the local independent nurseries here around town. We also have done quite a few things with community gardens and things like that, where our end product would be used.
Ted Simons: We kind of got an indication where this idea got started in the intro piece here. Give us more info, if you will. It sounds like a bunch of guys sitting around at a buffet saying, "Hey, that stuff's going to waste."
Brandon Sergent: Well so in truth, one of my partners Dan, he kind of thought of the idea. It's his thing. And I got brought on shortly after that along with Craig who is the third partner. And we just did a lot of business plan competitions. I remember, back in the early days, I would take my pickup in between classes as a student up at BYU and in between classes I would go to grocery stores and pick up produce and then we would go compost it at night.
Ted Simons: Really?
Brandon Sergent: Yeah.
Ted Simons: So this is what you did for nun.
Brandon Sergent: Well, for fun. I saw a lot of opportunity as far as a business goes. I have always been very fascinated with business and with things being able to scale. And this is, it's the sweetest business because, one, we are taking waste, trash, making something that's not only good, but one of the best products out on the market. You know, it's far better than any of the metro chemical based competitors. It is sustainable. We are being able to make money off this business and do something that's great. Help our people. Help the community. It's just a really great overall business.
Ted Simons: I was going to ask you, was this the kind of thing you always dreamed of doing? Producing compost?
Brandon Sergent: No. I never -- I didn't even really know anything about compost or horticulture, I knew what a pH was from science class but that's about it. So I really had to learn a lot to make this work. Because I'm out talking every day with nursery owners, people who have been in the industry 40 years. And I am happen to talk to them on an equal basis. I have had to step my learning up in this field. But, yeah. It's a lot of fun. I really do enjoy it.
Ted Simons: The idea that, I know some communities are experimenting with yard waste, palm fronds and whatever.
Brandon Sergent: Yeah.
Ted Simons: There's not the same thing. You need fruits and vegetables.
Brandon Sergent: Fruits and vegetables. In order to keep our end product consistent from bag to bag we got to keep our recipe consistent. That doesn't mean composting yard trimmings is bad. That's actually very good, and we actually teach free composting classes at some of the nurseries where we stress, hey, compost your yard, your leaves, your kitchen scraps and everything like that. We teach people how to balance that so they can also be sustainable.
Ted Simons: Are you working with any cities to get, you know, if they -- I don't know. Just get residents who have a lot of fruit trees in there yards?
Brandon Sergent: We are working toward something with the city of Tempe to get some bins placed out in the community. Right now we don't have anything like that. But I think it would be a really great thing to put together.
Ted Simons: All right. Brandon, good luck. Thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate it.
Brandon Sergent: Thank you.
Five Communities Project
- The Center for the Future of Arizona has launched the Five Communities Project, an effort to help communities secure funding to implement their action plans in areas such as job creation, education, the environment and civic engagement. CFA Chairman and CEO Dr. Lattie Coor discusses the project’s goals.
- Dr. Lattie Coor - Chairman and CEO, Center for the Future of Arizona
Ted Simons: The center for the future of Arizona is looking for communities with bold new ideas to create jobs, educate the public, and make Arizona a better place to live. To that end the center recently launched the five communities project, an effort to help local communities of all kinds find the funding they need to achieve their goals. Here with more on the program is Dr. Lattie Coor, the president and CEO of the center for the future of Arizona. Nice to see you again. Thanks for joining us.
Dr. Lattie Coor: Nice to see you, Ted. Thanks for having me here.
Ted Simons: A little overview there of this five communities project. Give us some more detail.
Dr. Lattie Coor: Happy to do so. Let me start if I may with the Arizona we want, which a year ago when we released it, identified two very significant things about Arizonans. Even before we got into the issues that they would like the policies they would like to see adopted, first, citizens in Arizona love this place passionate about it, loyal to it. Far more than any of the other places around the country where the Gallup policy has done its work. But they are not very engaged in their community. That we found very, very significant. Secondly, we found there was very significant disconnect between citizens and their elected officials. Only 10% felt their elected officials were doing a good job. Only 10%, they felt their elected officials were representing their interests. And so in our task to take this Arizona we want into action, on this instance, we want to go right into the communities themselves to ask people to focus on the things that mean the most to them. They will relate for the Arizona we want. They will relate to job creation and education and environment and relationship to growth and health care. Build to choose projects -- but to choose projects individually with a single group or together with several groups and make a proposal about what they would like to do with those.
Ted Simons: And a proposal would wind up, if successful, getting some kind of funding to help achieve these goals?
Dr. Lattie Coor: We will choose five out of all of those who submit ideas. We will start with a group of semi-finalists, let's say roughly 20 communities. Help them refine their plan down to 10 finalists and then with those 10 finalists we will get a full proposal from them. In the meantime, we will work with national foundations that are interested, not only in helping the larger policy rather than in a state -- arena in a state but helping people in communities to give voice to what they want to see happen.
Ted Simons: So what kind of money are we talking about here?
Dr. Lattie Coor: Well, it's always hard to know in advance. It depends on the size of the community and by the way, a community can be any one of a number of things, as long as it has a geographic boundary. Could be a school district, could be an economic development district, could be a neighborhood, could be a whole municipality. We expect the projects to be somewhere in the 25 to $100,000 a year range and our commitment with those we find, for the five we choose, is to find national foundation funding for three years of implementation for the successful communities.
Ted SImons: Obviously, a smaller community can use that money and have much more of an impact with that kind of money than a larger community. But again, that kind of money, how much impact can it make?
Dr. Lattie Coor: Depends on the quality of the project. It could have an implement impact if it brings large numbers of people together, has them focus on what they are doing. Remember, engagement means not only accomplishing the policy goals, but increasing the involvement in the political process. In registering to vote. In turning out to vote. In staying informed about the issues of your community. Those are all things that we believe can come from this project.
Ted Simons: It's more than just voting and volunteering, then, in other words.
Dr. Lattie Coor: It's being a knowledgeable, active, engaged citizen in your community.
Ted Simons: Is that what you mean? I know you use this phrase, "Improvement through citizen involvement." Is that what you are talking about here?
Dr. Lattie Coor: It is. We were so interested in the fact that, of the eight goals in the Arizona we want, goals like job creation and education, water management, health care access, infrastructure, that two of the eight goals had to do with civic engagement and citizen connectedness. 1/4 of all eight goals. And in that we discovered that Arizonans do, are in the bottom 10 states in terms of registration to vote, turnout to vote. The degree to which they are informed about policy issues. And so the citizen connectedness part in a community we think brings a very significant value in and of itself.
Ted Simons: Why do you think that is, why do you think people love this place but don't want to get involved?
Dr. Lattie Coor: I think there's several factors. The newness of people. Remember, Arizona, Phoenix today, greater Phoenix today, is larger than Arizona was 20 years ago. So it takes a while for things to settle in. People to get settled in. I think it's also the fact that we have not found ways to keep people as fully informed with new media, with new means of communication. Young people, for example, are not as actively engaged as they historically have been.
Ted Simons: Is that unique, though, to Arizona?
Dr. Lattie Coor: Well, the data shows as we look at all of the states across the nation, that we perform in the -- at the low end of the 50 states. So to a degree, it's present. I think relative to 20, 30 years ago, in all parts of the country, but more so in Arizona.
Ted Simons: OK. So we have cities, communities, neighborhoods, what have you, all applying for this, all developing proposals. They do have to reflect your report, though. Correct?
Dr. Lattie Coor: They have to take whichever issues are important to them as they relate to the larger goals of the Arizona we want. But the larger goals of the Arizona we want are right down the center of what everyone says out to be the kind of future they want for Arizona. So it is job creation and improving education and keeping young people in Arizona, one of the goals. Keeping talented young people in Arizona where people found that it was really a serious issue for us. So we asked them to relate them to the larger goals but most importantly, to find them in terms of what's important to their community.
Ted Simons: As far as -- I know there's some workshops here to help get these communities kind of up to speed and knowing what exactly you are looking for. How do we get more information on these workshops?
Dr. Lattie Coor: We are going to start the workshops this week. There will be six of them around the state. The first one is here in the valley on Wednesday, East Valley Partnership is joining us in hosting it. The one the next day is in Yuma. Go to our website, the Arizonawewant.org. You will find the entire five communities program described there and there's a little link to the workshops themselves that will give the location, the date, the time, all of the details about the workshops.
Ted Simons: Last question. Why are you doing this? I mean, you have had quite the career. You have made an impact in a lot of lives over your years. Some folks would think, it might be time to hit golf course or something. Why are you doing this?
Dr. Lattie Coor: I love this state. This state has been good to me and my family. My family goes back to territorial days. We have seen the promise. We have seen the opportunity. And we see some dysfunction going on now in terms of the kind of civic health you need to have a state be as good and successful in the years ahead as it has been in the past. And I am pleased to have an opportunity personally to try to do something about that.
Ted Simons: Thanks for joining us. We appreciate it.
Dr. Lattie Coor: My pleasure.
SB 1070 Ninth Circuit Court Ruling
Guests: Category: Immigration
- A federal judge’s decision to enjoin key parts of SB 1070 from taking effect has been upheld by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney Julie Pace provides legal analysis of the Court’s decision.
Ted Simomns: Good evening and welcome to "Horizon." I'm Ted Simons. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a ruling by U.S. district court judge Susan Bolton that put four parts of Senate bill 1070 on hold. That ruling comes almost a year after Governor Brewer signed the controversial immigration bill into law. State Senate president Russell Pearce, the architect of SB 1070, said "The liberal makeup of the panel makes decisions like this utterly predictable." Pearce also said, "SB 1070 is constitutionally sound and that will be proven when the U.S. Supreme Court takes up this case and makes a proper ruling." Here now to talk about today's ruling is local employment attorney Julie Pace. Nice to see you again, thanks for joining us.
Julie Pace: Nice to see you.
Ted Simons: All right. What did the Ninth Circuit look at? What did they find?
Julie Pace: Yes. Well, we go back to July 28th of 2010 when judge Bolton looked at SB 1070 and she upheld six sections and those were -- she denied them, I should say. She issued what is called a preliminary injunction and stopped them going into the law. The federal government, the U.S. government came in and appealed four of those sections. Those went to the Ninth Circuit to review. And that's what we got a decision on today. So the Ninth Circuit has decided that those four sections should be upheld as being unconstitutional.
Ted Simons: Let's talk about some of those sections here. The first one requiring undocumented folks to carry papers.
Julie Pace: Correct.
Ted Simons: What the court is saying that's preempted by federal law?
Julie Pace: Preempt lied Federal law. So ut can't be done. It's up to the Federal government to determine who is here and who is removed from our borders.
Ted Simons: What about another one was requiring police to check status and hold until verified no matter how long it takes.
Julie Pace: Yeah, they basically again, the Ninth Circuit upheld these as being unconstitutional that it is up to the Federal government to make those decisions and make those rules. They also noted that there may be times obviously for Federal government to cooperate with local and state law enforcement officials, but not in the manner it was written in this bill. It was upheld.
Ted Simons: Another one dealt with police determining if a person committed an offense that could lead to deportation. Again, they don't necessarily think that's going to hold water.
Julie Pace: Correct. They have said it's unconstitutional. So four of the provisions that went up, the judges were unanimous on 3-0 on two of them but two of them there was a dissenter so there is some room for discussion as it moves up the ladder for the next review.
Ted Simons: Who was the dissenter and what was the thought behind it?
Julie Pace: The makeup of the panel, people ask me sometimes is we had three judges at the Ninth Circuit. One was Judge Nonnan, appointed by President Reagan. Judge Bea appointed by Ppresident Bush and he was the decider on two matters and then Judge Piaz was appointed by President Clinton. So again I think you’re going to see some you know we’ll see some-- We will see what happens as it moves up if it does move up for more appeals.
Ted Simons: I noticed that the court mentioned again the preemption by Federal law. But the idea of 50 states having 50 different immigration enforcement plans, along with Federal enforcement that was noted as well.
Julie Pace: Yeah. I think that the decision went a little further than some people might have expected because people have been looking with all these decisions and all the state laws that have been enacted to regulate immigration people have been waiting for some guidance by courts as to what is the role of states and the Federal government with this immigration issue? So this court today has two kind of sweeping comments. One is that it's a threat to businesses in the country to have 50 states enacting all of their own immigration laws. They made that comment. And the second comment that was really interesting that was a little broader than the decision is that they noted that there is no binding authority for states to be able to enact and regulate immigration laws. So those are two big decisions or comments in this decision.
Ted Simons: Were those a surprise? You think they went further afield than some folks had thought?
Julie Pace: Well, yeah. I think that saying there's no binding authority for states to enact these kind of laws and to force the Federal government to comply with what the state would like is interesting. I think it forces it right back to the Federal government and Congress to start dealing with the immigration and enact the laws to have uniformity across the country and stable for the business and communities and police officers to know what is expected.
Ted Simons: I notice the one judge who dissented said Congress may have, may have intended for states to help enforce some aspects of immigration law. Talk to us about what that means.
Julie Pace: I think that's the issue. There's this big tension about how far can local law enforcement go with states are frustrated with immigration to actually take over the Federal government's role with their Federal immigration system? So there is this tension. And I think that's what he's speaking to. That's what keeps, is going to keep moving up the ladder from legal cases to discussions to professor talking about it, how far is too much for local law enforcement? Do we expect too much from local law enforcement to try to take these on? Of course we all expect cooperation. But this went too far. And I think it will keep going in that direction. I think when the U.S. Supreme Court continues to look at these things and give guidance because the Federal government has preempted this area. It's, immigration is their area to control.
Ted Simons: When he mentioned the intent of Congress may have been X, Y, or Z, the intent of Congress behind, how much does that play into it?
Julie Pace: Well, that's a good point. In SB 1070, remember that there was a statement of intent in the beginning. And the state of Arizona said in that law it was the intent to have attrition, to force people to leave and get scare by the laws or threaten the by the law and leave on their own. Interestingly in this decision today, they said that's not Congress's intent and that's not been a spoken intent so it contradicts what the Federal government or Congress has said about their intent. Though they noted that statement of intent in SB 1070 contradicts and is inconsistent.
Ted Simons: Senator Pierce we read a couple of quotes, he also noted the Ninth Circuit is the most overturned circuit in the nation? Is that true?
Julie Pace: They're overturned quite a fair amount compared to other circuit courts.
Ted Simons: OK so as far as an appeals process by the state what do they do? They go to the full court? What happens?
Julie Pace: Generally, they have a choice. They can appeal directly or they can ask for an en banc review when they ask all the ninth circuit panelists to review the decision by the three panel court and then they will issue a decision either affirm or modify it or you might see some more dissenters or people who join. Then what happens is they issue their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and as you know the U.S. Supreme Court takes very little cases so it really has to be ripe and ready for review. And usually when there's a conflict between the Ninth Circuit and some other circuit on a key issue. So it's a challenge to get to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ted Simons: Interesting. Timetable for all this? When the appeals process? Forget Supreme Court, just going through appeals.
Julie Pace: A few months for sure, three to six. It depends on if the Ninth Circuit takes the en banc review it can take a long time for them to issue a decision, so it can be three, six, a year out.
Ted Simons: OK and we should note the case is still alive. What we are talking about here is basically don't do this now until we figure out what's going on. Correct?
Julie Pace: Correct. SB 1070 has lots of parts that went into effect and is still law in Arizona but these four sections are stayed and they can't be enforced for now.
Ted Simons: Just for now as the case moves on.
Julie Pace: Right.
Ted Simons: All right. I think we got it. Thanks for joining us. I appreciate it.
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Mario Jimenez Sifuentez. Of Forests and Fields: Mexican Labor in the Pacific Northwest. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2016. 264 pp. $27.95 (paper), ISBN 978-0-8135-7689-3.
Reviewed by Michael Karp (Bard High School Early College)
Published on H-Environment (August, 2016)
Commissioned by David T. Benac
Mario Jimenez Sifuentez’s Of Forests and Fields provides a detailed and fascinating account of Mexican labor in the Pacific Northwest between the 1940s and the mid-1990s. In crafting his narrative, Sifuentez relies primarily upon oral histories, which he supplements with newspapers, government reports, and union records. In examining the labor of ethnic Mexican workers in the Pacific Northwest, Sifuentez provides important context to the larger history of Chicana/o history by showing that “Mexicanization” of rural communities occurred much earlier in places like Oregon. By exploring the bracero program, Tejano culture, and farmworker unionization efforts in the Northwest, he convincingly argues “that place matters” (p. 3). Interestingly, Sifuentez demonstrates that ethnic Mexican farmworkers found unique allies in the Northwest, ranging from anticapitalist reforestation workers to Nisei onion growers who provided year-round work. By engaging with several fields of scholarship, Sifuentez has written a richly textured history of ethnic Mexican laborers in the Pacific Northwest.
The opening chapter details the bracero program, which brought over forty thousand workers to the Pacific Northwest between 1942 and 1947. Sifuentez shows that braceros in the Northwest went on strike more often and received better wages than their counterparts elsewhere in the United States, in large part due to their geographic isolation and distance from Mexico. Additionally, braceros in the Northwest engaged in a range of occupations, including agricultural labor, railroad work, and a variety of tasks for the National Forest Service. One of the most interesting sections of the book is drawn from oral histories that Sifuentez uses to explore bracero social life, which gives readers a vivid depiction of workers’s life outside the fields. The bracero program ended in the northwest in 1947, but the program led to large-scale immigration of Mexican and Mexican American immigrants to the region following World War II.
After exploring the bracero program, Sifuentez turns his attention to the Texas-Mexican diaspora in Oregon. Like the braceros before them, Tejanos created a vibrant social culture in the Northwest by holding dances, founding businesses, and fighting for their own public spaces. Fascinatingly, Japanese American farmers became one of Tejanos’ strongest allies, providing year-round work in Oregon’s onion fields. Nisei growers also provided housing and recreation for Tejanos in the region.
The remainder Of Forests and Fields details the establishment and growth of the labor movement among ethnic Mexican workers in the Northwest. The roots of labor resistance in the Northwest began with the Willamette Valley Immigration Project (WVIP). In particular, the WVIP worked with ethnic Mexican workers in their dealings with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). As the INS stepped up deportations, the WVIP provided legal assistance, successfully advocating for clients under the Fifth Amendment right to “due process” in all criminal and civil cases at the federal level.
In their work advocating for workers facing deportation, WVIP became involved in labor organizing. Activists in WVIP first became involved in labor organizing by working with ethnic Mexicans who labored for the National Forest Service’s reforestation programs during the late 1970s and 1980s. White environmental activists initiated reforestation efforts in the region, and for many years, received the best contracts from both federal and private contractors. Over time, however, competition came from contractors who employed undocumented workers, who faced low wages (or none) and horrendous working conditions. While white environmentalists working in reforestation programs initially supported and advocated for ethnic Mexican’s rights, they came to resent use of immigrant labor, severing the possibility of an interracial labor movement in Oregon’s reforestation industry.
The WVIP’s work with immigration reform and reforestation workers laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Pineros y Campesinos Unidos Noroeste (PCUN)—the most successful union in the region’s history. By using the Special Agricultural Workers (SAW) provision of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, PCUN developed a highly efficient program for immigrants to apply for—and in many cases obtain—legalization in thousands of cases. As a result, PCUN gained immediate traction with immigrants, and union membership grew rapidly. While PCUN never won union recognition early on, the union won ethnic Mexican farmworkers better wages, among other concessions from growers. Like the United Farm Workers, PCUN worked with unions and progressive organizations—including the LGBTQ community—to create strong opposition to growers who mistreated farmworkers. To this day, PCUN has continued to maintain a progressive labor movement in the Pacific Northwest, although immigrant laborers still face low wages and poor living conditions.
Of Forests and Fields provides a new and detailed history of ethnic Mexicans’s lives and labor patterns in the Pacific Northwest following World War II. Sifuentez has paved the way for scholars to more readily engage with the ways in which Mexican and Mexican American labor fits into a larger environmental history of the United States.
If there is additional discussion of this review, you may access it through the network, at: https://networks.h-net.org/h-environment.
Michael Karp. Review of Sifuentez, Mario Jimenez, Of Forests and Fields: Mexican Labor in the Pacific Northwest.
H-Environment, H-Net Reviews.
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|Jerry Don Bauer
Joined: Nov. 2012
|Quote (OgreMkV @ Dec. 04 2012,16:15)|
|Quote (Jerry Don Bauer @ Dec. 04 2012,15:55)|
|Quote (Henry J @ Dec. 04 2012,13:34)|
|Quote (Jerry Don Bauer @ Dec. 04 2012,10:16)|
|Are you really saying that there is not ONE individual that speciates when an entire population does?|
Yes, I am saying that.
Outside of some special cases like the one somebody else just mentioned, it goes something like this:
A species can accumulated changes over generations, these changes can add up.
Over a large number of generations, these changes can add up to enough to call it a different species, different than what it was many generations previously.
There is no point in which an individual is not in the same species as its recent ancestors.
It typically takes a lot of generations to accumulate enough change to justify calling it a new species.
If different subsets of a species evolve separately, i.e., without a significant amount of interbreeding, they can become different enough to call them separate species.
In the normal case there simply isn't a sharp boundary that might be jumped over in an instant. The observed boundaries between species are there because those species have been diverging for a long time, and have accumulated a lot of differences.
Where on earth did you GET this?
Let's start at the bottom....what does the word speciation mean:
"Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise."
Stop right there as we need not complicate it any further at this point.
So, when does this new biological species arise? It arises when the definition of Earnt Mayr's (did I spell it right this time?) definition FOR a given sexual species is met:
organisms which can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring.
"Scientists have a pretty good handle on what constitutes a species for sexually reproducing animals: the biological-species concept. According to this concept, a species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable and fertile offspring."
AS LONG as the group we THINK are speciating can still interbreed with the population as a whole and meet the above definition with the old population, NOTHING has speciated........
And there is nothing mystical about it...the moment the new species can no longer viably interbreed with the old population, it becomes a new species.....NOT a minute before.
There you have it...it's not hard to wrap our heads around.
But there is a slight problem here....if our definition for a sexual species is correct.....it DOES NOT HAPPEN.....Experimentation shows that when a hybred IS produced that might meet the criteria, the offspring is ALWAY non-viable (it doesn't live) or it is infertile like mules and ligars.
So it would have been impossible for our little scenario to ever occur in the first place.
Second.....there MUST be individuals that number among this new, pretend population, or we don't have a population at all...How do you think it logically possible to have a population of organisms that are a new species, yet not to have ANY individuals comprising that population who have speciated? That's just nuts.
THIS KIND of illogical thinking is EXACTLY why you people are Darwinists.
No disrespect meant toward any one person, but considering you people as a group, as Voltaire once commented, "common sense is not so common.”
So to you Jerry, Lions and Tigers are the same species. Right?
Because they can mate. They can have offspring and those offspring are fertile.
You are wrong. Ligers are fertile.
|According to Wild Cats of the World (1975) by C. A. W. Guggisberg, ligers and tigons were long thought to be sterile: in 1943, a fifteen-year-old hybrid between a lion and an 'Island' tiger was successfully mated with a lion at the Munich Hellabrunn Zoo. The female cub, though of delicate health, was raised to adulthood.|
In September 2012, the Russian Novosibirsk Zoo announced the birth of a “liliger”, which is the offspring of a liger mother and a lion father. The cub was named Kiara.
10^ Guggisberg, C. A. W. "Wild Cats of the World." (1975).
11^ Katia Andreassi (21 September 2012). ""Liliger" Born in Russia No Boon for Big Cats". National Geographic.
|At the Alipore Zoo in India, a female tiglon named Rudrani, born in 1971, was successfully mated to an Asiatic Lion named Debabrata. The rare, second generation hybrid was called a litigon (/?la??ta???n/). Rudhrani produced seven litigons in her lifetime. Some of these reached impressive sizes—a litigon named Cubanacan (died 1991) weighed at least 363 kilograms (800 lb), stood 1.32 metres (4.3 ft) at the shoulder, and was 3.5 metres (11 ft) in total length.|
Reports also exist of the similar titigon (/?ta??ta???n/), resulting from the cross between a female tiglon and a male tiger. Titigons resemble golden tigers but with less contrast in their markings. A female tiglon born in 1978, named Noelle, shared an enclosure in the Shambala Preserve with a male Siberian Tiger called Anton, due to the keepers' belief that she was sterile. In 1983 Noelle produced a titigon named Nathaniel. As Nathaniel was three-quarters tiger, he had darker stripes than Noelle and vocalized more like a tiger, rather than with the mix of sounds used by his mother. Being only about quarter-lion, Nathaniel did not grow a mane. Nathaniel died of cancer at the age of eight or nine years. Noelle also developed cancer and died soon after.
So where's your species now?
I swear, the more I get to know you, the more I come to think that you are on here to INTENTIONALLY mislead and dupe the readers.
Ligars CANNOT have viable, fertile offpring with one another to propagate a species because MALE ligars do not have sperm.
But you already knew that, didn't you ... :O
"Male ligers do not produce viable sperm, but females can be fertile"
Of course, female ligars can be bred back, but certainly not in ANY MANNER that would propagate a new species with the male ligars. | <urn:uuid:e4beda12-8366-4e00-a900-45a72cad35e3> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.antievolution.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=50cb0ab22b6397d9;act=ST;f=14;t=7424;st=390 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982298977.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195818-00012-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951138 | 1,427 | 2.828125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.756014108657837,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
100 years of life-changing discoveries
Flu is caused by a virus, maternal antibodies are passed to the infant through breast-milk, finding the first neurotransmitter, acetylcholine: just three of the discoveries made at the Medical Research Council’s National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in the last 100 years.
The NIMR celebrates its centenary this year (2014) just a year before it will cease to exist as an independent entity and be subsumed within the new Francis Crick Institute near St Pancras, London.
To celebrate this anniversary the Institute has produced A Century of Science for Health. This book tells the story behind the scientific achievements of the National Institute for Medical Research, revealed through testimonies, photos and archive materials.
I had not thought about the evolution of animal research facilities, despite witnessing myself the changes in zebrafish facility management where hand-feeding has been largely replaced by a robot but chapter 13, Animal research and welfare soon revealed much earlier developments.
Images of rodent cages (p.204) from the 1920s to the 1940s show the development from something you might knock up at home to a recognisably modern layout with a built-in bottle and food hopper designed in 1947 by Douglas Short.
Much later, by 2002, it was NIMR technicians who invented the now ubiquitous and award winning transparent red plastic ‘Mouse House’. Mice cannot see through the red plastic walls of this housing so feel secure and technicians can make visual checks without disturbing the mice.
I take dry animal food pellets completely for granted, but their original formulation was another area of NIMR innovation. Douglas Short and George Gammage gave their names to SG1, a high protein diet for rabbits and – when supplemented with hay and greenstuffs – for guinea-pigs. They had conducted trials and used human grade ingredients to come up with a feed that would both maintain breeding condition and have a long shelf-life. In fact it was so good that animals tended to overeat, which led in turn to the development of automated feeding systems that rationed the food.
Of course, research animals are produced for research and often scientists want batches of animals at the same time. In the 1950s Hilda Bruce began work on the synchronisation of oestrus in mice. She knew that pregnancy in mice could be blocked by replacing the stud male with a different male, even if the new male was not in sight or sound of the females, suggesting an effect mediated through smell.
To help confirm the idea Hilda asked skilled perfumers to visit NIMR and sniff pieces of cloth that had been exposed to different mouse strains.
‘The perfumers had no difficulty in distinguishing the different strains as all had a unique aroma; they even commented that four of the strains were quite similar – all of which had been bred from one original colony. They also noted that the CBA strain had a wonderful and pleasantly musky smell which could be of commercial interest in perfume manufacture!’ (p.208)
The NIMR facilities also went through a series of developments from sheds on a farm to the purpose built environmentally controlled facilities of today. The earliest animal breeding facilities were easily recognised as such and sometimes staff faced protests.
‘The old ladies used to stand outside and call out… One of our chaps was coming in one day and one of the old ladies called out “You are working for the devil”, so he said, “Well tell him to pay me more money”. And she hit him on the head with her umbrella.’(p.199)
Leavened as it is with personal anecdotes and images from the archives A Century of Science for Health is an ideal book to browse and because of the breadth of work that happened at NIMR, it gives a very good, if appropriately idiosyncratic, view of the history of science of the last century.
The whole book or individual chapters can be downloaded here: A Century of Science for Health.
A Century of Science for Health, Editor, Julie Clayton. Chapter 13: Animal research and welfare written by Alan Palmer with contributions from Kathleen Mathers. | <urn:uuid:0f629748-a445-4728-b9ea-0efb09ee7e3e> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/staff-blog/100-years-of-life-changing-discoveries/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891815034.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20180224013638-20180224033638-00187.warc.gz | en | 0.967379 | 864 | 3.09375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.8790879249572754,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Health |
ECTE433/ECTE833: Embedded Systems
FPGA Design Project
Due date: Thursday, 14 May 2021, 16:30 AEST (Week 10)
Assessment weight: 20%
marks: 20 This project allows you to practice the FPGA
design skills learnt in the lectures, laboratories and tutorials, as
there is no better and more exciting way of understanding the material
than applying it to solve a practical problem. The project has two
tasks: Task 1 is compulsory for all students, whereas Task 2 is optional
and attracts bonus marks.
Project Task 1: Integer Divider (compulsory, 20 marks)
Division is an essential but difficult operation in embedded systems.
In integer division, the relationship between the inputs (numerator and
denominator ) and the outputs (quotient Q and remainder R) can be
= × + , where ,,, and are all unsigned integers
and 0 ≤ ≤ ሺ − 1ሻ. The numerator is also known as dividend, and the
denominator is also known as divisor. For background information on
integer division, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_algorithm.
This project requires you to develop a high-speed FPGA design for
• The device has three input signals: ‘N’, ‘D’, and ‘start’.
Signals ‘N’ and ‘D’ are unsigned integers. The bit-width of ‘N’ and ‘D’
is W bits, where W is a parameter specified in the PreLoadFcn function
of the Simulink MDL file. W can be set to 8, 10, 20, 32 and so on.
Signal ‘start’ is a Boolean variable. When signal ‘start’ goes HIGH,
calculation should begin. It is assumed that signal ‘start’ will not go
HIGH again until calculation is completed.
• The device has four output signals: ‘Q’, ‘R’, ‘valid’, and ‘clock_count’.
• Signal ‘Q’ is the quotient, and signal ‘R’ is the remainder. They both have a bit-width of W.
When the device finishes calculating ‘Q’ and ‘R’, it should make the
Boolean signal ‘valid’ go HIGH for exactly one clock cycle.
Output signal ‘clock_count’ should store the actual number of clock
cycles used for calculating ‘Q’ and ‘R’. For example, if calculation
starts at clock cycle 2 (‘start’ = HIGH), and finishes at clock cycle 20
(‘valid’ = HIGH), then ‘clock_count’ = 20 − 2 = 18.
• The design
must be created using MATLAB Simulink and Xilinx System Generator. The
following built-in Xilinx blocks must not be used: Divider Generator,
Divide, Black Box, MCode, Mult, CMult, Natural Logarithm, Reciprocal,
and Square Root.
• Xilinx ISE version 14.4, MATLAB 2012b, Windows 7 or 10 64-bit are the assumed platform.
Page 2 of 3
Moodle, there is a template file ‘Project_Template.mdl’ that contains
the necessary input/output ports and start-up parameters. While you are
free to move the existing input and output blocks in the template file,
do not modify their parameters. Rename the template file to the form of
‘Project_StudentID_Surname.mdl’ and start your work. For example, for
student Jay Beta, ID 1122333, the design file should be
Table 1: Testing the integer divider.
Test Case W N D Q? R? 1 8 18 3 6 0 2 8 18 7 2 4 3 16 1350 5 270 0 4 20 202103 9 22455 8
Create also a text file with name ‘Project_StudentID_Surname.txt’ that
stores information about your design’s performance (clock counts and the
numbers of Xilinx blocks). The file should have the following format
where the blue text is relevant to your submission. Adhere to the strict
formatting because during project marking, this file will be first
processed by a computer program. Student = Jay Beta Student ID =
1122333 Clock count for Task 1 Test Case 1 = 15 Clock count for Task 1
Test Case 2 = 16 Clock count for Task 1 Test Case 3 = 20 Clock count for
Task 1 Test Case 4 = 30 Number of Mux blocks = 2 Number of Counter
blocks = 2 Number of AddSub blocks = 2 Number of Register blocks = 9
Number of Concat blocks = 3 Number of Slice blocks = 5 Number of
Relational blocks = 5 Number of Logical/Expression/Inverter blocks = 5
Number of Delay/Constant blocks = 2
encourage outstanding efforts by students, a design competition is
organized and the top 5%, 10%, or 15% solutions for Project Task 1 will
be awarded extra 3 marks, 2 marks, or 1 mark, respectively. These
solutions should also be at level-5 in operation, algorithm, and
presentation (see Table 2).
• The competition criterion is the
processing speed. Firstly, submissions are short-listed according to the
number of clock cycles (clock_count) used to process the test cases in
Table 1 (Note: Designs entirely based on the table-lookup approach are
not acceptable). Secondly, an undisclosed test case will be used to
select the competition winners.
• When two submissions have the same speed, ranking is based on the quality of presentation and the resource usage.
Page 3 of 3
Task 2: FPGA Graphical Application using VHDL/Verilog (optional – 3
marks) Develop a graphical application to be run on the Spartan-3E
Starter Kit. You are free to choose which application to implement. It
should involve writing VHDL or Verilog code for the FPGA board to
interact with at least the VGA monitor and one input device. The input
device can be the keyboard or the mouse. Example applications (graphic
games) are shown at:
• This project task is optional. Students who are able to complete this project task will be awarded extra 3 marks.
For this project task, study ‘Spartan-3E Starter Kit Board User Guide’
and other resources available on Moodle. Search also the Internet for
reference VHDL/Verilog code for the Spartan 3E Starter Kit.
guide The project will be marked out of 20 using the rubric shown in
Table 2. This is not a group project. Submitting work that is not your
own will result in a mark of 0 and other penalties according to the
University Rules. Letting other students copy your work will result in
the same penalties.
Table 2: Marking rubric for the project.
Level 0 (0%) Level 1 (20%) Level 2 (40%) Level 3 (60%) Level 4 (80%) Level 5 (100%)
- Works most of
the time, except
for some test
- Some output
signals are not in
- Works perfectly.
- Performance file
(TXT) is correctly
- Meets all design
either slow or
Algorithm is fast
Algorithm is fast
- Algorithm is
for both speed
- Better than or
equivalent to the
No visible effort
to document the
effort, but still
- Inadequate use
- Blocks/wires are
used, but content
- Do not follow
- Blocks are
generally laid out
- Main signals are
should be clearer
- Concise, clear
- Design is
- Blocks are
- Suitable use of
- Follow correctly
• Log onto Moodle site for ECTE433 and ECTE833.
• Follow the links: Project Project submission.
For Project Task 1 (compulsory), submit two files:
‘Project_StudentID_Surname.mdl’ and ‘Project_StudentID_Surname.txt’. Use
the relevant StudentID and Surname for you.
• For Project Task 2
(optional), submit file ‘Project2_StudentID_Surname.zip’ that contains
ISE project file, source code, BIT file, and readme.txt. File readme.txt
briefly describes the graphical application and the steps to test it.
Have fun designing! 学霸联盟 | <urn:uuid:4edca7a8-f4b9-4276-8e5b-df0581564e44> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.xuebaunion.com/detail/1359.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100724.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20231208045320-20231208075320-00662.warc.gz | en | 0.798498 | 1,905 | 2.75 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.199352979660034,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Abstracted Section from Harry’s Cosmeticology, 9th Ed.
By Charles Warren
Pigments impart color to the final formulation. They can be of two types: absorption pigments of interference pigments. Absorption pigments give color by absorbing part of the visible light spectrum. Their observed color results from reflection of the nonabsorbed light spectrum. Combining absorption pigments needs to consider the reflected light colors in order to avoid overlap of reflected light wavelengths and absorbed wavelengths. This is termed “subtraction color composition.” It is illus- trated by a trichromatic schematic showing that blue is the result of light absorption in the yellow or that red is the resulting color of light absorption at red wavelengths. Combining red and blue absorption pigments will yield a green shade instead of magenta. A good example of this color composition system is the CMY (cyan/ma- genta/yellow) system widespread in the printing industry. In a subtractive system, one starts from a neutral white light spectrum and each pigment removes a specific wavelength region from the white spectrum, leaving its remaining colors .
Figure 26.3. RGB and CMY trichromic color composition systems.
On the contrary, additive colors are obtained when pigments are the actual source of the color shade. Interference pigments act by selective reflection of a wavelength from the visible spectrum, and as such, pigments act similar to a light source. In this system, using a red and blue light sources will give a magenta light. In the additive composition system, one starts here with an empty light spectrum (dark). Each interference pigment adds a source of light to this dark background, which color relates to the reflective interference wavelength.
An illustration of the differences is given in Figure 26.4.
The purpose of fillers is to opacify formulations to adjust the degree of transparency from a high-coverage foundation to a sheer foundation without affecting the color shade of a formulation. Fillers can lighten a formulation (higher concentrations above 5%) and they can induce a thickening of formulations. The most common fillers are titanium dioxides (white), talc (used less now), and silica particles. The particle size of fillers also influences the optical appearance of the product on skin.
Finer particles will give a softer appearance than larger particles. Finally, silicon dioxide particles are sometimes used to bring a slight light-scattering effect in foundations applied to skin, resulting in a soft-focus effect. They are often termed “light diffusion particles” and are generally coated for secondary purposes such as more hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics. The coating can also affect the opti- cal refractive index and enhance the light-diffusion effect. In addition, the coating generally prevents any sensitization risks when applied to sensitive skin.
These ingredients are often dependent on the type and concentrations of pigments as well as fillers. Their role is to disperse and maintain a homogenous dispersion in the liquid form. Common surfactants include stearates, dimethicones, oleates, and polyoxyethylene ethers (nonionic).
Thickeners serve to bring more texture to the formulation while also reducing the risk of pigment sedimentation inside a bottle. They are used in low amounts when needed, since the pigments and fillers will bring a formulation quite high in viscosity.
Oils and silicones can be used to enhance spreadability on skin. Dimethicones are typical for spreadability while giving a dryer skin feel post-application. These compounds will also help skin adhesion of the formulation during its first minute following application. A good compromise needs to be reached in terms of time of setting of the foundation on the skin and time allowed for a consumer to evenly spread a formulation over the desired area.
Polymers are widely used in foundations for multiple reasons. They will enhance film adhesion on skin (e.g., acrylate/C12–C22 alkylmethacrylate copolymer). Poly- mers also bring stability to the foundation film by maintaining pigments evenly dispersed while providing a degree of porosity and breathability (e.g., triacontanyl PVP). As mentioned before, film breathability is very important for skin to avoid
occlusion effects. Several polymers are often combined to ensure adhesion on skin and good retention of pigments over time of wear. This last benefit is responsible for wear resistance of a foundation to avoid any rub-off or staining of consumer clothes during the daily wear time of a foundation. Lastly, polymers can also bring a mattifying effect via sebum absorption/trapping and thus prevent the development of skin shine and oily appearance.
In addition to water, pH adjusters, preservatives, and antioxidants fall in this category to address the stability of the final formulation and its good compatibility with skin. Alcohols can also be used to give a slightly faster drytime.
In case you missed it, check out our introduction to formulation and approaches for foundations and lipsticks. | <urn:uuid:c7523a60-1d67-4d47-934b-71e9f2239019> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://connect.in-cosmetics.com/ingredients-formulation/pigments-for-cosmetics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662527626.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20220519105247-20220519135247-00201.warc.gz | en | 0.904176 | 1,082 | 3.4375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.4653384685516357,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Fashion & Beauty |
Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play
March 2006, Polity
This book provides a systematic, comprehensive introduction to the analysis of computer and video games. It introduces key concepts and approaches drawn from literary, film and media theory in an accessible and concrete manner; and it tests their use and relevance by applying them to a small but representative selection of role-playing and action-adventure games. It combines methods of textual analysis and audience research, showing how the combination of such methods can give a more complete picture of these playable texts and the fan cultures they generate. Clearly written and engaging, it will be a key text for students in the field and for all those with an interest in taking games seriously.
List of Illustrations
1. Studying computer games
2. Defining game genres
3. Games and narrative
4. Play and pleasure
5. Space, navigation and affect
6. Playing roles
7. Reworking the text: online fandom
8. Motivation and online gaming
9. Social play and learning
10. Agency in and around play
11. Film, adaptation and computer games
12. Games and Gender
13. Doing game analysis
Andrew Burn is Reader in Education and New Media and
Associate Director of the CSCYM at the University of London.
Diane Carr is Research Officer of the CSCYM at the
University of London.
Gareth Schott is Senior Lecturer of Screen and Media Studies at the University of Waikato.
- A major new introduction to a popular and growing area of media
- No previous knowledge of having studied games or interactive
media is assumed, and complex theoretical approaches are made clear
and accessible for a student reader.
- The textbook is divided into 12 clear chapters and will map
closely onto course structures.
- The authors offer a good balance of theory and practice –
a full chapter is dedicated to teaching the student methods for
analysing games themselves.
- The book looks both at game texts and how they are actually
- Discusses several well-known role-playing and action-adventure
- All 'classic' games are covered!
-- Julian McDougall, Media Education Assocation
'Computer Games: Text, Narrative and Play will be
valuable for teachers and students who want to familiaize
themselves with the core concepts and important debates within the
merging field of games studies. But it does more than that -
couping format analysis of games with an ethnographic perspective
on games-playing showing how the same games studies can be read
through multiple conceptual frameworks. If recent writing in games
studies has seemed polarized, this book maps the middle ground
between the warring positions.'
-- Henry Jenkins, Massachusetts Institute of
'Computer Games challenges the notion that games are
"just for fun" by introducing a readable tome for observers and
players of Pong to Perfect Dark. A comprehensive and useful
breakdown of what students of games studies should focus on and how
they should go about doing it.'
-- Aleks Krotoski, Technology Journalist and Researcher | <urn:uuid:8a2c9e09-6342-4900-8d9e-bd641f145996> | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0745634001.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701147841.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193907-00176-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.881956 | 653 | 2.734375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9079885482788086,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Games |
Privateers and Mariners in the Revolutionary War
The 13 Colonies, having declared their Independence, had only 31 ships comprising the Continental Navy. To add to this, they issued Letters of Marque to privately owned, armed merchant ships and Commissions for privateers, which were outfitted as warships to prey on enemy merchant ships. Merchant seamen who manned these ships contributed to the very birth and founding of our Republic.
Comparison of Navy vs. Privateers in Revolutionary War
|Total guns on ships||1,242||14,872|
|Enemy ships captured||196||2,283|
|Ships captured by enemy||?||1,323|
The Patriots of Maine Fight at Sea
News of the April 1775 battles at Concord and Lexington reached Machias, Maine just as citizens were anxiously awaiting long-needed supplies from Boston. When the Unity and Polly carrying these supplies arrived, they were accompanied by the British armed schooner Margaretta, under the command of Lieutenant Moore. The escort's job was to see that in exchange for supplies, lumber was taken back to Boston to build barracks for British soldiers.
The British demanded all citizens sign a petition promising to protect British property at all times in exchange for the right to buy supplies. Since many citizens were opposed to aiding the British war effort, they were angered by this.
They decided to strip the two sloops of the supplies and at the same time to capture Captain Ichabod Jones, Lieutenant Moore and his officers after they attended church services. The British fled on the Margaretta as patriots lined the shore demanding she "Surrender to America!" The reply they heard was, "Fire and be damned!"
Forty men, armed with guns, swords, axes, and pitchforks, headed by Jeremiah O'Brien, on the sloop Unity and twenty men under the command of Benjamin Foster on a small schooner pursued the Margaretta. During the chase they put up planks and other objects to defend themselves against the Margaretta's cannon.
On June 12, 1775, near Round Island on Machias Bay the patriots crashed into the Margaretta and engaged in hand to hand combat. The British crew was disheartened when their captain was mortally wounded and lost the one hour long battle. 25 of the combatants were killed or wounded. The victors claimed "four double fortifyed three pounders and fourteen swivels" and some smaller guns.
This was considered the first sea engagement of the Revolution and the start of the merchant marine's war role.
As captain of the privateer Machias Liberty, Jeremiah O'Brien later captured two armed British schooners and delivered his prisoners to George Washington. On the General's recommendation, the government of Massachusetts appointed O'Brien to command his two prizes.
Advertisement in Boston newspaper recruiting crew for privateer Deane
who have an inclination to serve their Country and make their Fortunes.
commanded by ELISHA HINMAN, Esq; and prov'd to be a very capitol Sailor, will Sail on a Cruise against the Enemies of the United States of America, by the 20th instant. The DEANE mounts thirty Carriage Guns, and is excellently well calculated for Attacks, Defense and Pursuit --- This therefore is to invite all those Jolly Fellows, who love their country, and want to make their fortunes at one Stroke, to repair immediately to the Rendezvous at the Head of His Excellency Governor Hancock's Wharf, where they will be received with a hearty Welcome by a Number of Brave Fellows there assembled, and treated with that excellent Liquor call'd GROG which is allow'd by all true Seamen, to be the LIQUOR OF LIFE.
Because of British policy regarding import of gunpowder, the colonists did not have enough to repel the third British charge at Bunker Hill. A survey by George Washington at the time showed army stockpiles were sufficient for 9 rounds per man. By 1777, the privateers and merchantmen brought in over 2 million pounds of gunpowder and saltpeter. A typical New England privateer carried two or three African-Americans who had long found employment in the fishing industry. The General Putnam from New London, Connecticut, had 4 blacks on board; the Aurora had 3. In Salem, Massachusetts, Titus, a slave owned by Mrs. John Cabot, ran a successful business recruiting blacks as privateers.
Privateer John Manley captured the Nancy, supplying the American army with 2,000 muskets, 31 tons of musket shot, 7,000 round-shot for cannon, and other ammunition. Captain Jonathan Haraden from Salem, Massachusetts, who captured 1,000 British cannon, was considered one of the best sea-fighters, successfully taking on three armed British ships at the same time. Privateers captured countless British reinforcements and over 10,000 seamen, keeping them out of the British Navy.
In 1777 George Washington's armies totaled about 11,000 men. At the same time there were 11,000 privateers at sea intercepting British shipping in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and even between Ireland and England.
Together, the Continental Navy and privateers captured 16,000 British prisoners, a substantial contribution in comparison with the 15,000 prisoners taken by the entire Continental Army before the surrender at Yorktown. The crew of the privateers were well paid for their hazardous work, earning as much as $1,000 for one voyage, while average pay at the time was $9 per month.
Two unidentified American privateers battle two British ships
Joshua Barney was captured by the British while serving in the Continental Navy. He and his shipmates were kept on board in 3 foot high boxes for 53 days with minimal food and water. Upon arrival in England, he was imprisoned, but escaped with the help of a friendly guard. He returned to the Colonies to captain the privateer Hyder Ally, where he gained fame by tricking the British General Monk. As the two ships drew near, he shouted to the General Monk "Hard-a-port your helm," but had instructed his helmsman to do the opposite. The ships collided as planned, and Hyder Ally lashed her prize alongside.
James Forten, African-American Privateer
James Forten (1766-1843) was a 15 year-old powder boy on the privateer Royal Louis, commanded by Stephen Decatur, Sr. He was born free in Philadelphia and had already served as a drummer in the Continental Army.
The Royal Louis had a crew of 200, 20 of them African-Americans. During her first cruise as a privateer she captured a British Navy brig. On her second cruise she met the heavily armed British frigate Amphylon and two others, and was forced to surrender.
Portrait of James Forten, at right
Young James Forten expected to be sold into slavery in the West Indies, as was British custom with their black prisoners of war. However, on board the Amphylon he was befriended by the captain's son, a boy his age, who persuaded his father to send Forten to England. Forten refused to be a traitor to his country, and the captain sent him to the prison-ship Jersey [see below], along with a letter asking he be treated kindly and exchanged if possible.
Forten spent 7 months on the Jersey sharing moldy bread and foul water with a thousand other privateers. Once, he had a chance to escape by hiding in the baggage of an officer being exchanged for a British prisoner, but he allowed a younger white boy to take the space. Forten helped carry the chest off the Jersey. He was set free in an exchange of prisoners and walked home from New York to Philadelphia, where he became a successful businessman and a founder of the Abolitionist movement.
The Prison Ships
About 55,000 American seamen served aboard the privateers. When captured by the British Navy, they were given a choice: join the British Navy or prison. The conditions of captivity aboard the prison ships, mostly abandoned ships moored in New York harbor, were inhuman. The most infamous of these was the HMS Jersey. About 11,000 privateers died of disease and malnutrition, their bodies dumped onto the mud flats of Wallabout Bay, where Brooklyn Navy Yard now stands.
These Mariners lost their lives in the founding of our Nation and were a major factor in the winning of the Revolution.
Portrait of (probably) James Forten from Black Presence in the Era of the American Revolution 1770-1800, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution]
Black Heroes of the American Revolution, by Burke Davis, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, San Diego: 1976
The Black presence in the Era of the American Revolution 1770-1800, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington: 1973
Black Men of the Sea, by Michael Cohn and Michael K.H. Platzer, Dodd, Mead & Company, New York: 1978
America's Maritime Heritage, Eloise Engle and Arnold S. Lott, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1975
Pirates & Patriots of the Revolution: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Colonial Seamanship, C. Keith Wilbur, Old Saybrook, Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press, 1973, 1984
Coggins, Jack. Ships and Seamen of the American Revolution. Harrisburg PA: Promontory Press, 1969
American Prisoners of the Revolution: Names of 8000 Men held on Prison ships
Memorial to martyred mariners rededicated News article about the HMS Jersey and the Memorial
Books about Merchant Marine in Revolutionary War
www.USMM.org ©1998 - 2012. You may quote material on this web page as long as you cite American Merchant Marine at War, www.usmm.org, as the source. You may not use more than a few lines without permission. If you see substantial portions of this page on the Internet or in published material please notify usmm.org @ comcast.net | <urn:uuid:8de05a4c-0c09-4fc8-bd78-88d6fef66e38> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | http://usmm.org/revolution.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583509196.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20181015121848-20181015143348-00294.warc.gz | en | 0.963701 | 2,073 | 3.546875 | 4 | {
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} | History |
Traditional solar panels used to power satellites can be bulky with heavy panels folded together using mechanical hinges.
An experiment that recently arrived at the International Space Station will test a new solar array design that rolls up to form a compact cylinder for launch with significantly less mass and volume, potentially offering substantial cost savings as well as an increase in power for satellites.
Smaller and lighter than traditional solar panels, the Roll-Out Solar Array, or ROSA, consists of a center wing made of a flexible material containing photovoltaic cells to convert light into electricity. On either side of the wing is a narrow arm that extends the length of the wing to provide support, called a high strain composite boom. The booms are like split tubes made of a stiff composite material, flattened and rolled up lengthwise for launch. The array rolls or snaps open without a motor, using stored energy from the structure of the booms that is released as each boom transitions from a coil shape to a straight support arm.
ROSA can be easily adapted to different sizes, including very large arrays, to provide power for a variety of future spacecraft. It also has the potential to make solar arrays more compact and lighter weight for satellite radio and television, weather forecasting, GPS and other services used on Earth. In addition, the technology conceivably could be adapted to provide solar power in remote locations. The technology of the booms has additional potential applications, such as for communications and radar antennas and other instruments.
The ROSA investigation looks at how well this new type of solar panels deploys in the microgravity and extreme temperatures of space. The investigation also measures the array's strength and durability and how the structure responds to spacecraft maneuvers.
"When the array is attached to a satellite, that spacecraft will need to maneuver, which creates torque and causes the wing, or blanket, to vibrate," explains principal investigator Jeremy Banik, senior research engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. "We need to know precisely when and how it vibrates so as not to lose control of the spacecraft. The only way to test that is in space."
The investigation will monitor the array deployed in full sun and full shade and collect data on how much it vibrates when moving from shade to light. This vibration, known as thermal snap, could present challenges in operating satellites with sensitive functions, and the researchers want to learn how to avoid those challenges with ROSA.
"This structure is very thin, only a few millimeters thick, and heats up very quickly, dozens of degrees in a few seconds," Banik says. "That creates loads in the wing that could cause it to shudder. That would create problems, for example, if a satellite was trying to take a picture at the same time."
The investigation will measure power produced by the array to see how ROSA's thin, crystalline photovoltaic cells hold up during launch. In addition, researchers want to see how the array handles retraction.
"We want to show that we can pull the wing back in in a predictable way," Banik says. "A practical reason is that we have to pull it back for stowage after this investigation, but it will be good to know it can be done for future applications, potentially for a highly maneuverable spacecraft."
The intent of this investigation, Banik explained, is to compare on-orbit ROSA data to model predictions previously validated by on-ground measurements in a simulated environment.
"Recognize that we are trying to learn how it behaves - this is an experiment and not a demonstration - so we'll glean useful data even if it doesn't behave the ways we expect," Banik said.
Investigators on the ground will initiate video of deployment and retraction, and sensors embedded on the array will record data on photovoltaic performance, temperature, and accelerations.
"When launching into space, mass and volume are everything, and ROSA is 20 percent lighter and four times smaller in volume than rigid panel arrays," Banik says. "You realize big cost savings from shaving off a little mass and volume, which makes it possible to raise bandwidth on a communications satellite and, for example, make GPS more accessible and reliable for everyone."
In other words, this little array could really change how solar power rolls.
The Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) was deployed from the end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm Sunday, June 18 outside the International Space Station. ROSA is an experiment to test a new type of solar array that rolls open in space like a party favor and is more compact than current rigid panel designs. The ROSA investigation tests deployment and retraction,characterizes changes when the Earth blocks the sun, vibration and other physical challenges to determine the array’s strength and durability. ROSA has the potential to replace solar arrays on future satellites, making them more compact and lighter weight. Satellite radio and television, weather forecasting, GPS and other services used on Earth would all benefit from high-performance solar arrays. The payload will remain deployed for seven days before retracting and will be stowed back inside the trunk of SpaceX’s Dragon cargo vehicle. Note: footage of deploy is sped up 300%. Credits: NASA Johnson | <urn:uuid:5360ac7e-8650-4349-990d-e2d125891255> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=24145 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590348500712.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200605111910-20200605141910-00567.warc.gz | en | 0.939238 | 1,076 | 4.1875 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.862325429916382,
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"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Plant Science BooksOur high level plant science books bring together expert international authors under the skilled editorship of leading scientists to produce state-of-the-art compendiums of current research. Aimed at the research scientist, graduate student, medical reseacher and other professionals, these books are highly recommended for all plant science laboratories. Every plant science, microbiology and bioscience library should have a copy of each of the following books.
Edited by: Bryony C. Bonning Published: 2019
Book: 978-1-912530-08-3. Ebook: 978-1-912530-09-0, £159, $319
"essential reading for students and scholars of insect virology" (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ.); "I would recommend it to all researchers and students interested in insect viruses and advanced biotechnological applications" (Q. Rev. Biol.) read more ...
Full information at Insect Molecular Virology.
Edited by: Basavaprabhu L. Patil Published: 2018
Book: 978-1-910190-81-4. Ebook: 978-1-910190-82-1, £159, $319
This authoritative book covers a wide range of topics, the breadth of which reflects the diversity of this research area read more ...
Full information at Genes, Genetics and Transgenics for Virus Resistance in Plants.
Edited by: Adam Schikora Published: 2018
Book: 978-1-912530-00-7. Ebook: 978-1-912530-01-4, £159, $319
"recommended for anyone involved in plant science or environmental microbiology" (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ.); "an authoritative overview" (Eur. J. Soil Sci.); "recommended ... indispensable for scientists working in the areas of soil microbiology" (Southeastern Naturalist) read more ...
Full information at Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere.
Edited by: Vijai Bhadauria Published: 2017
Book: 978-1-910190-65-4. Ebook: 978-1-910190-66-1, £159, $319
Review of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics and applications in plants, in particular crop yield, drought tolerance and disease resistance read more ...
Full information at Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics for Plant Science.
Edited by: Helmut Kirchhoff Published: 2016
Book: 978-1-910190-47-0. Ebook: 978-1-910190-48-7, £159, $319
"a comprehensive guide" (ProtoView); "well and clearly written" (J. Plant Physiol.); "state-of-the-art overviews" (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ.) read more ...
Full information at Chloroplasts.
Edited by: Ronald P. de Vries, Isabelle Benoit Gelber and Mikael Rørdam Andersen Published: 2016
Book: 978-1-910190-39-5. Ebook: 978-1-910190-40-1, £159, $319
"new and well-presented book" (IMA Fungus); "specialists in the field should definitely take a look" (Biospektrum) read more ...
Full information at Aspergillus and Penicillium in the Post-genomic Era.
Edited by: Vijai Bhadauria Published: 2016
Book: 978-1-910190-35-7. Ebook: 978-1-910190-36-4, £159, $319
"essential reading ... highly recommended" (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ.); "a panorama of the application of omics approaches" (Q. Rev. Biol.) read more ...
Full information at Omics in Plant Disease Resistance.
Edited by: Jesús Murillo, Boris A. Vinatzer, Robert W. Jackson and Dawn L. Arnold Published: 2015
Book: 978-1-908230-58-4. Ebook: 978-1-910190-00-5, £199, $319
"an up-to-date overview" (Ringgold); "a timely overview ... Essential reading" (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ.); "excellent all-round information" (BioSpektrum) read more ...
Full information at Bacteria-Plant Interactions.
Edited by: Paolo Nannipieri, Giacomo Pietramellara and Giancarlo Renella Published: 2014
Book: 978-1-908230-32-4. Ebook: 978-1-908230-94-2, £199, $319
"a recommended reference" (Biotechnol. Agrom. Soc. Environ.); "a must for Soil scientists" (Fungal Diversity) read more ...
Full information at Omics in Soil Science.
Edited by: Carole Caranta, Miguel A. Aranda, Mark Tepfer and J.J. Lopez-Moya Published: 2011
Book: 978-1-904455-75-2. Ebook: 978-1-912530-73-1, £219, $360
"well-written and on the cutting edge of research" (Microbiol. Today); "a valuable source" (J Plant Phys) read more ...
Full information at Recent Advances in Plant Virology.
- Lyme Disease and Relapsing Fever Spirochetes
- Veterinary Vaccines
- Climate Change and Microbial Ecology
- Legionellosis Diagnosis and Control in the Genomic Era
- Bacterial Viruses
- Microbial Biofilms
- Chlamydia Biology
- Bats and Viruses
- SUMOylation and Ubiquitination
- Avian Virology
- Microbial Exopolysaccharides
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Pathogenic Streptococci
- Insect Molecular Virology
- Methylotrophs and Methylotroph Communities
- Microbial Ecology
- Porcine Viruses
- Lactobacillus Genomics and Metabolic Engineering
- Viruses of Microorganisms
- Protozoan Parasitism
- Genes, Genetics and Transgenics for Virus Resistance in Plants
- Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere
- DNA Tumour Viruses
- Pathogenic Escherichia coli
- Postgraduate Handbook | <urn:uuid:f49fe9f9-4ec0-4e64-9cd0-a2a57d4f5688> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://www.caister.com/plantsciencebooks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141686635.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20201202021743-20201202051743-00599.warc.gz | en | 0.724778 | 1,433 | 2.625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.578045129776001,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
For the first time ever, two countries—Guatemala and Honduras—have surpassed Mexico as the top nations of origin for immigrants apprehended crossing illegally into the United States. Along with El Salvador, immigrants from three Northern Triangle countries of Central America have made up three quarters of Border Patrol apprehensions this year.
Nearly all Central Americans cross the border and seek out a Border Patrol agent to turn themselves in to. The primary reason that they do this, rather than come to a port to apply, is that Customs and Border Protection has capped the number of undocumented immigrants it will process at ports. This means that officers will physically block their entry to the port and force them back into Mexico.
The current cap—which has no basis in the asylum laws—is about 10,000 per month, roughly half the level in October 2016. It has remained at about this level for over a year. But that’s just the overall number. For Central Americans from the Northern Triangle of Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador, the numbers of undocumented arrivals processed at ports plummeted in Fiscal Year 2019—they’ve fallen 34% from a monthly average of 2,920 to 1,938 (Figure 1).
At this pace, CBP will process 23,250 Central Americans at ports this year compared to 35,041 last year. Salvadorans are down 38 percent, Guatemalans 46 percent, and Hondurans 12 percent. This is happening at the same time that the number crossing illegally between ports has doubled for each nationality. Honduran illegal crossings have nearly tripled. The share of undocumented Central Americans processed at ports fell from 14 to 4 percent.
Unfortunately, CBP has not published full data back to FY 2016, but it has quarterly figures for unaccompanied children and families from FY 2017 to FY 2019. These two groups accounted for 86 percent of undocumented Central Americans at ports during the last two and a half years. These statistics show that CBP has reduced processing of Central American unaccompanied children and families at ports by 63 percent from the first quarter of FY 2017 to the second quarter of FY 2019. Salvadorans are down 86 percent, Guatemalan 68 percent, and Honduran 20 percent.
The initial decline in the second quarter of 2017 was caused by fewer migrants coming overall, due to the belief that the new administration would end asylum. The more recent decline is mainly because more Nicaraguans, Indians, and Cubans are arriving at U.S. borders this year, so immigrants from the Northern Triangle of Central America—Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador—have lost cap space at ports. The Northern Triangle share of undocumented immigrants from countries other than Mexico processed at ports of entry has fallen from 65 percent to 41 percent. One cause of this dynamic is that the ending of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy has forced Cubans into the regular asylum process, adding the lines of asylum seekers at ports of entry in Mexico.
The inevitable response to this exclusion at ports has been for Central Americans to walk around the ports and cross illegally. Central American asylum seekers are not safe in Mexico. Tijuana and Juarez are particularly inhospitable places for homeless foreigners, and the police in Mexico not only won’t protect them but often engage in shakedowns of immigrants themselves.
The most outrageous part of the capping of asylum seekers at ports is that it encourages illegal entries. The purported reason for the cap is that CBP lacks the resources to process them, but it lacks the resources precisely because the agency hasn’t deployed the resources or adopted the policies necessary to process them. That’s because it really doesn’t want to process them.
This is even more ridiculous when you consider that the government also lacks the resources to process asylum seekers between ports of entry—at least in the exact way that it wants. Yet the agency has adopted emergency measures to make it happen: creating temporary holding areas outside, not referring families for asylum interviews, releasing immigrants at the border without transferring them to the interior, and—believe it or not—moving officers at ports (!) to between ports. All of these measures only further encourage illegal crossings.
The government has seemingly created the perfect storm of perverse incentives at the border to perpetuate a crisis rather than defuse one. It could process people at ports and end most illegal crossings tomorrow. But its chosen policies are only making the problem worse. | <urn:uuid:d0fb1a08-a883-47b1-b80d-dfeca9cf91ee> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.cato.org/blog/amid-crisis-ports-process-34-fewer-central-americans | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400210616.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20200923081833-20200923111833-00632.warc.gz | en | 0.951933 | 898 | 2.53125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 3.02097487449646,
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} | Politics |
It was 65 years ago today that a brave group of men tried to put an end to one of the most evil men in history:
An idealistic young Catholic aristocrat, Colonel Claus von Staufenberg was assigned the key role. The key conspirators were Admiral Wilhelm Canaris (head of the Abwehr), Carl Goerdeler, Julius Leber, Ulrich Hassell, Hans Oster (Admiral Canaris’ deputy), Henning von Tresckow, Fabin Schlabrendorff, Peter von Wartenburg, Ludwig Beck, and Erwin von Witzleben. As a result of the need for secrecy, many individuals were not directly involved in the plot, but were willing to accept Hitler’s removal as demonstrated by the fact that they did not report clearly treasonous conversations. Stauffenberg was promoted to Colonel and appointed Chief of Staff to Home Army Commander General Friedrich Fromm (June 1944). This was the posuition that gave him direct access to Hitler’s briefing sessions. The overall plot was much more involved including a range of Wehrmacht officers including General Erwin Rommel. The attemp became known as the July Bomb Plot. The plan was to assasinate the key NAZI leaders (Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering and Heinrich Himmler ), then use loyal troops to seize control of Berlin and the major government buildings. This would include the important communication facilities in Berlin: telephone and signal centers and radio broadcasting stations. The key target of course was the Führer himself. Several attempts were made on Hitler’s life. At least six attempts had to be aborted. Stauffenberg decided he could kill Hitler during a military conference at the Führer Wolf’s Lair (field headquarters) in northern Poland (July 20, 1944). Stauffenberg was there as a representative of the Home Army. The idea was to kill Göring and Himmler with the same bomb. After Hitler was dead, the Home Army would seize cintrol of Berlin and then Germany. Göring and Himmler were not at the conference. Despite orders to abort the bombing, Staufenberg decided to go ahead. Stauffenberg had never previously met Hitler. He carried the bomb in a briefcase and placed it on the floor next to where Hitler was standing. He then left to make a pre-arranged telephone call. The bomb exploded and Staufenberg thought he had suceeded. Hitler had, however, moved the brirf case to the other side of a oak beam supporting the briefing table. Four men were killed. Hitler was badly shaken and his right arm injured, but he was not killed. After Hitler’s assasintion, Ludwig Beck, Erwin von Witzleben and Erich Fromm were to take command of the Wehrmacht. This effort was abandoned when it became clear that Hitler had survived.
The idea was to then negotiate a separate peace with the Western Allies. That by 1944 was unrealistic. In the end, the failure to kill Hitler and the extensive NAZi penetration of the Wehrmact led to the coup’s failure. The bulk of the Wehrmacht remained loyal to Hitler and the NAZIs. Fromm attempting to protect himself, ordered the immediate execution of Stauffenberg along with three other conspirators (Friedrich Olbricht and Werner von Haeften). They were executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the War Ministry. Stauffenberg is reported to have shouted “Long live free Germany” as he was shot.
Notwithstanding their failure, these men deserve credit for proving to the world that not everyone in the Third Reich supported Hitler’s actions.
H/T: The Liberty Papers | <urn:uuid:9e2c318e-f00d-4ffd-816a-2e19b3e1440f> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/07/20/65-years-ago-today-the-plot-to-kill-hitler/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936462577.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074102-00040-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974839 | 791 | 3.125 | 3 | {
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} | History |
In this brief guide, we will answer the question ‘How many oranges to make a cup of juice?’. We will discuss the factors that impact the number of oranges needed to make a cup of orange juice, including the variety and size.
There are, on average, three medium-sized oranges in a cup of juice.
How many oranges to make a cup of juice?
Certain factors go into making the perfect cup of orange juice. There is no fixed answer to the question, as you can add as many oranges to your cup of juice as you like. On average, you may need to add two to four oranges to make a cup of juice.
How many oranges do you actually need to make a cup of orange juice?
Depending on your preference, you could even down the sour and acidic flavor or embrace the sweet and juicy.
Size and quality of the oranges
People use different varieties and sizes of oranges to make their perfect cup of orange juice.
If you have small oranges, you will need more than three oranges. However, if you are using acidic and richly flavored oranges, three will suffice.
In some cases, size does not matter because a small fruit could have a higher acidic and juicy profile.
Conversely, some oranges may deceive you by their size. They may look big and juicy but turn out to be bland.
It could be dry from the inside with low water content. In such a case, you can expect to have a lesser than expected yield of juice.
In an instance of large and ripe Valencia oranges, 2 will make a perfect 4 oz glass of juice. Two to four oranges yield about 8 fluid ounces.
In another instance, you have 4 medium-sized oranges, where the weight of each orange is approximately 98 grams. Here, when you use a good, efficient juicer for extraction, you will collect 240 ml of juice. An average US-sized cup holds about 240 ml.
If your big or medium orange has high water content, it does not imply that you can reduce the number of oranges to make your juice.
An orange with a lot of juice does not mean that it will taste good as well. Sometimes, it has a higher water content with little soluble solids. That means it will be less sweet and tart and taste like water with a hint of orange flavor.
Other FAQs about Oranges which you may be interested in.
How many cups of orange juice would I prefer?
You can adjust the concentration according to your liking.
If you want the juice to be more dilute, you can add water to it. Or you could either add two oranges instead of three to your juice.
You can add more oranges instead of three if you prefer. If your oranges are less sweet and with a higher water content with respect to the flavor, you can make them more concentrated to maintain a standard cup of juice.
The more concentrated the juice, the better it is. Besides providing you with a more authentic orange juice, you are getting more nutrition from the oranges. Oranges are a good source of vitamin C, folate, potassium, and calcium.
Vitamin C is essential for a strong immune system, gum health, and even to let wounds heal.
Potassium is an essential micronutrient that the body needs to maintain normal blood pressure and protects the heart from diseases.
However, oranges are sometimes too sour and concentrated for you to handle, then you may prefer to add 2 oranges instead. Conversely, you could use 3 or more oranges and dilute them with water. You could even add a little salt and sugar to tone down the sourness instead.
Some people can not handle tartness in their orange juice because of sensitive teeth or even preference. If you are one of those, you can water down your juice as much as you like. Even if you reduce the vitamin content, your orange juice makes for a refreshing beverage and meets your hydration goals.
Why should you squeeze your own orange juice?
For many reasons, you may choose to squeeze your orange juice. If it does not save you money instead of the store-bought juice, it certainly has a higher nutritional value. The packaged juices may taste good and require less effort but are deprived of true nutritional value. Freshly-squeezed orange juice is more than twice as healthy and tastes better as well.
Freshly squeezed juice is easy to make, just squeeze out the juice and add some water. You can use an electric or a manual juicer, if you own neither, your arms will do just fine. Also, If you like you can add some sugar and salt to enhance the flavor.
In this brief guide, we answered the question ‘How many oranges to make a cup of juice?’. We discussed the factors that impact the number of oranges needed to make a cup of orange juice, including the variety and size. | <urn:uuid:05c97da2-7678-4261-abe4-d2698bbddc2a> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://thewholeportion.com/how-many-oranges-to-make-a-cup-of-juice/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337531.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20221005011205-20221005041205-00687.warc.gz | en | 0.942517 | 1,053 | 2.609375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.7846328020095825,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Food & Dining |
Developing High-Resolution Descriptions of Urban Heat Islands: A Public Health Imperative
GIS SNAPSHOT — Volume 13 — September 15, 2016
Jackson Voelkel, BS; Vivek Shandas, PhD; Brendon Haggerty, MURP
Suggested citation for this article: Voelkel J, Shandas V, Haggerty B. Developing High-Resolution Descriptions of Urban Heat Islands: A Public Health Imperative. Prev Chronic Dis 2016;13:160099. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.160099.
Empirically derived 1-m–resolution descriptions of (A) morning and (B) evening urban heat islands in Portland, Oregon, on August 25, 2014. Temperatures were recorded in 1-hour periods at 6 AM and 7 PM. In the morning, low-lying vegetation cover had the strongest effect on temperature; in the evening, temperatures were most strongly affected by variation in building heights. High-resolution data sets such as those used here can inform preparation for extreme heat events and public health interventions. [A text description of this figure is also available.]
Extreme heat events affect the most vulnerable human populations and are a lethal health hazard to urban dwellers globally; in the United States, extreme heat causes more deaths annually than all other weather events and natural hazards combined (1). Previous studies described urban heat islands as isolated, static, monolithic areas of cities. We challenged this contention by hypothesizing that diurnal temperature cycles and diverse landscape features create variation in places that amplify heat (2). A temporal description of urban heat islands would identify populations that are susceptible to heat stress, particularly at night, when most people are asleep and unable to regulate internal body temperatures. If public health agencies are to prevent illness and death caused by heat, they will need to know which populations are most vulnerable to heat stress, particularly at night; such information can guide timely interventions (3). Researchers lack high-resolution tools for identifying neighborhoods and households where extreme weather events might have profound and fatal effects on human health. The objective of this study was to use spatial analytics at previously unattained resolutions to answer the following research question: to what extent can we observe temporal variation in urban heat islands and the physical features that induce heat stress?
Following an established protocol (4), we collected approximately 60,000 temperature readings during 1 day of an extreme heat event on August 25, 2014, in Portland, Oregon, when the average temperature during the hottest hour of the day was in the 75th percentile of 30-year historic daily temperatures for the study region. We sampled temperatures for 1 hour at 3 times during the day (6 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM) using vehicle traverses (cars with a mounted temperature sensor and global positioning system [GPS]) in 6 predetermined sections of the city. The temperature sensor consisted of a type T fine (30 gauge) thermocouple in a plastic shade tube (12 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter) mounted on the passenger-side window approximately 25 cm above the roof of each of 5 vehicles deployed. Each temperature sensor was connected to a data-logging device with an estimated system accuracy of ±0.5°C and a 90% response time of less than 60 s in 1 m/s airflow. A GPS unit on each vehicle paired temperature measurement and location.
On the basis of a sensitivity analysis and research on landscape features that mediate urban heat, we selected 6 variables as predictors: 1) building heights, 2) standard deviation of building heights, 3) building volume, 4) canopy cover, 5) low-lying vegetation, and 6) canopy biomass. Data on the first 3 variables were derived from 3-dimensional point cloud data acquired through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). LiDAR combines a laser ranging device with a GPS system to provide highly resolved terrain measurements. The LiDAR data were extracted from the 2014 Oregon Metro Regional Land Information System (RLIS) (5). Data on canopy cover and low-lying vegetation were created from 2014 Portland LiDAR/photography flight data (5). The biomass metric was created by multiplying tree height by tree density determined by LiDAR-beam tree penetrability. Using a moving window analysis at 15 spatial extents (also known as “buffer distances”) from 50 m to 1 km, we tested the effective distances of each variable on the urban heat island, wherein each pixel represented the amount of each variable within a specified distance.
We analyzed modeling techniques (Appendix) and determined that random forest modeling (a machine-learning model available in the statistical package R [The R Foundation]) was more accurate than standard linear modeling. The values of the 90 new buffer-distance grids were spatially assigned to a randomly selected 70% of the traverse points; we tested the validity of our model by predicting the remaining 30%. This 70%–30% training model predicted a temperature for each of the 1.034 billion 1-m pixels. The models generated data on changes in mean standard error, which represents the effect of each on local temperature. Our statistical technique was run for each of the 3 one-hour data-collection periods, resulting in 3 temperature-prediction grids.
The models for the morning and evening data-collection periods predicted upwards of 98% (r2 = 0.98) and 97% (r2 = 0.97) of the temperature variation across the study region; the afternoon model had a predicting power of 83% (r2 = 0.83). Although the afternoon model was weaker, possibly because of atmospheric mixing and surface convective processes that we were unable to detect, it performed remarkably well.
In contrast with previous research findings, our models suggest that each data-collection period had unique land-use and land-cover factors that helped to explain variation (Table). In the morning (6 AM), low-lying vegetation cover had the strongest effect on temperature, and in the afternoon (3 PM), the 2 variables for building height (mean building heights and variation in building heights) had the strongest effect. In the evening (7 PM), temperatures were most strongly affected by the variation in building heights. Material science and computational fluid dynamics processes suggest that buildings absorb incoming solar radiation during the day and re-radiate it as heat at night (2) and that variation in building heights helps to circulate air. Indeed, diurnal patterns of extreme heat, documented in studies of heat mortality and urban heat islands, show that the re-radiation of heat by buildings peaks at night and places vulnerable individuals at greatest risk of death from heat. The amount of canopy cover may moderate temperatures at night because this variable is the strongest predictor in the morning.
By using these empirically derived heat measures, local land-use and land-cover variables, and spatial machine learning techniques, we described and explained variation in the distribution of urban heat islands in Portland, Oregon. High-resolution data sets and analysis such as those used here can inform preparation for extreme heat events and public health interventions (eg, information campaigns, cooling centers, tree planting programs, and surveillance) for vulnerable communities in local and regional areas. Our results also suggest that policy and environmental interventions should deploy temperature-mitigation strategies at night, when heat stress is greatest for vulnerable communities.
We thank the Institute for Sustainability Solutions at Portland State University, the US Forest Service (no. 2011-DG-11062765-016), and the U.S. National Science Foundation (no. 1444755) for providing financial support for this project. We also thank Anandi van Diepen-Hedayat for providing conceptual and grammatical clarity on an early draft of this manuscript.
Corresponding Author: Vivek Shandas, PhD, Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97201-0751. Telephone: 503-725-5222. Email: [email protected].
Author Affiliations: Jackson Voelkel, Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning Portland State University, Portland, Oregon; Brendon Haggerty, Multnomah County Health Department, Portland, Oregon.
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Table. Landscape Factors and Their Relative Contribution to Urban Heat Islands at Three Times During One Day of an Extreme Heat Event in Portland, Oregon, August 2014
|Model||Variable Ranka||Variable||Percentage Increase in Mean Standard Error||Model r2||Model Mean Standard Error|
|6 AM||1||Low-lying vegetation cover within 50 m||42.5||0.98||0.02|
|2||Low-lying vegetation cover within 800 m||38.7|
|3||Building volume within 900 m||33.9|
|4||Canopy biomass within 1000 m||33.0|
|5||Mean building height 100 m||32.7|
|3 PM||1||Standard deviation of building height within 1000 m||40.8||0.83||0.23|
|2||Standard deviation of building height within 300 m||44.8|
|3||Canopy biomass within 50 m||38.9|
|4||Standard deviation of building height within 150 m||38.7|
|5||Standard deviation of building height within 200 m||38.5|
|7 PM||1||Standard deviation of building height within 1000 m||40.0||0.97||0.05|
|2||Low-lying vegetation cover within 100 m||32.5|
|3||Building volume within 1000 m||30.9|
|4||Canopy cover within 800 m||30.9|
|5||Building volume within 900 m||30.6|
Appendix: Additional Explanation of Analysis of Modeling Techniques to Determine That Random Forest Modeling Was More Accurate Than Standard Linear Modeling
We drew our buffer distances on the basis of studies that employ land-use regression (LUR) models. These studies describe similar decay rates for predicting the implication of land-use variables on environmental stressors (6). The literature on urban heat examines the relationship between land use and temperature using satellite-based approaches and attempts to correlate changes in temperature on a pixel-by-pixel approach (7). Because our techniques provide temporal characterization of urban heat through vehicle-based traverses on a single day, satellite-based approaches (which have a lower spatial and temporal resolution) are not a viable solution. Moreover, the existing literature on urban heat applies 1-km buffers as a maximum distance at which land-use variables have a significant effect on temperatures.
By transforming our raster data into a table in R Statistical Software (using the “raster” package), we are able to append each variable at each distance to a table with our observed temperature values. This table allows us to not only create a model, but to apply that model to our rasters to predict temperatures in areas where traverses did not collect data. We would be able to create the model by examining each temperature observation point and the land use within specified differences from them, however it would prove difficult to create an output model from that scenario. This method of raster-level analysis not only speeds up the process, but gives us much greater accuracy (no conversions between vector and raster) and the ability to create an output raster of our final prediction for analysis.
Based on the results of a sensitivity analysis comparing linear regression, classification and regression trees (CART), and random forest modeling, we found strongest explanatory power using random forest modeling (8).
The processes of creating buffers on a raster (also known as a moving window analysis or focal statistics) is a common practice of data manipulation in geographic information systems (Figure).
Figure. Example of the process of creating buffers on a raster. The input data (A) is converted from vector to a raster that contains pixel values representing the results for specified distances. In this example, the raw data has the values 1 (green, representing canopy) and 0 (white, representing not-canopy). The output describes the percentage of land cover classified as canopy. [A text version of this figure is also available.]
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If and only if ‘the power of a flower can shower one forever’ with enormous benefits for the skin, then it cannot be anything less than Calendula, the one and only ‘on the dot’ flower that blooms probably on the first of the calendar month. Calendula and its oil has always been one among the best natural aid for treating numerous skin problems ranging from eczema to cracked foot.
While it looks resemble Marigold, this magical Pot Marigold called as Zergul in Hindi and Chin Chan Ts’ao in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) has been used in Ayurveda and other Complementary and Alternative Medicinal practices for treating wounds, insect bites, sunburns, vaginal infections, varicose veins, acne, warts, calluses, scabies, corns, gastritis and conjunctivitis.
Historical uses and importance of Calendula oil:
Lovingly called as ‘pot marigold’, Calendula officinalis is an arm of the daisy family, Asteraceae. Indigenous to southwest Asia and West Europe including the Mediterranean and Macaronesia, Calendula is also called as Garden marigold and Scottish marigold.
There are many misunderstanding facts between other Calendula and Marigold varieties like marsh marigold, corn marigold and desert marigold that belong to the Tagetes genus and not the Calendula genus.
The word ‘Calendula’ is extracted from the Latin word ‘calendae’, which means ‘little calendar’, ‘little weather-glass’ or ‘little clock’, mainly due to its promptness in blossoming on the new moon or on the beginning of the calendar month.
The word ‘Marigold’ means ‘Virgin Mary’ and is trusted to possess divine healing properties and even today, these flowers are used to honor Mother Mary during numerous Catholic occasions. It is also used to decorate the deities during auspicious religious gatherings in the Hindu tradition in India.
The ancient Greeks and Romans wore garlands and crowns made with the dazzling golden color Calendula flowers and these beautiful blossoms were also used in religious ceremonies and other rituals. The traditional Egyptians believed that these sacred flowers had revitalizing attributes.
The bright golden color petals were also used in textile industry as a source of natural dye for fabrics and it was also used as a natural colorant in cheese and butter varieties. These flowers are a popular ingredient in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines along with stews and soup varieties in Germany, for which it is called as ‘Pot marigold’.
Calendula is still remembered for its cordial use during the World War I and the American Civil War as a natural healing agent for treating open wounds. Calendula dressing helped in healing wounds much quicker with its antiseptic and anti-hemorrhagic properties. These flowers were dabbed directly on wounds and cuts to promoter faster healing, control bleeding and to arrest infectious growths.
Being a vital part of the Traditional and alternative medicine, Calendula has been etched in certain oldest medical scripts for cleansing toxins in the gall bladder and liver and was prescribed to treat associated digestive disorders. Till today, the world sings the glory of Calendula tea, attributed to its appetizing taste and enormous healing benefits.
Pharmacological effects and chemical constituents of Calendula oil:
Calendula oil is said to possess antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, stimulant, detoxifying, carminative, anti-tumor, anti-hemorrhagic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-HIV, hepatoprotective and emmenagogue properties.
The major chemical constituents of Calendula oil are a-cadinol, limonene, a-cadinene, p-cymene, 1, 8-cineol along with other flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, flavonol glycosides, carotenoids, sesquiterpene glucoside, amino acids, triterpene oligoglycosides, saponins, and oleanane-type triterpene glycosides.
Ayurvedic health benefits of Calendula oil:
Ayurveda is not associated only with the word ‘remedy’ and much more than that, it encompasses diagnosis of the root cause of an illness, prevention of diseases, healthy aging and longevity to love and live with nature, naturally.
Loved as the most precious gift of the God of Creation, Brahma to the Lord of Medicine, Acharya Dhanvantari, Ayurveda is in healing and harmonizing mankind for more than 5,000 years, for which it is called as the Mother of all healing methodologies on earth. This includes Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Aromatherapy, Allopathy, TCM or the Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Naturopathy.
Ayurveda is held high in India and all over the world for its holistic healing practices that defines health as the wellness of the mind, body and spirit together. Among the 4 sacred books of the Indian Hindu mythology (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvaveda), Ayurveda is a significant part of the Atharvaveda, where 114 verses talk about various health conditions, its symptoms, natural remedies and various Ayurvedic techniques for prevention and increased life span.
Dinacharya or the Ayurvedic routine recommends numerous ways for leading a hale, hearty and disciplined life. Human body is regarded as a temple, where the soul dwelling in is considered as a divine presence. This school of thought enables Ayurveda to strongly recommend practices for keeping the body, mind and spirit clean and cheerful.
Everything in this world is a part of nature and is made up of the fundamental elements, namely earth, water, fire, air and space. Every person is made up of a unique combination of these five elements, precisely called as doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). Vata (air + space), pitta (fire + water) and kapha (water + earth) make up an individual constitution, which is also called as Prakriti.
Each and every individual has a unique Prakriti just like the fingerprints, with a predominance of any of these three doshas. This doshic predominance determines the character, personality, behavioral patterns and emotional setup of an individual.
Perfect balance between doshas as per the law of nature indicates health and doshic imbalances due to sedentary lifestyle, change in food habits, weather fluctuations etc., lead to sickness. Ayurvedic remedies aim at treating the root cause of a health condition and prescribes unique medication for every person as per the Prakriti or the individual constitution.
The major Ayurvedic remedies include Ayurvedic essential oils, yoga, simple physical exercises, meditation, herbs, Pranayama (the art of balanced breathing), Abhyanga or the Ayurvedic massaging technique, Dinacharya or the Ayurvedic routine and Panchakarma (the Ayurvedic detoxification therapy).
Calendula oil is recommended for pacifying pitta and kapha doshas and for augmenting vata energy.
The most significant Ayurvedic health benefits of Calendula oil are:
As we saw above, it’s historical significance during the World War I and the American Civil War as an excellent first aid agent in healing wounds, arresting bleeding and in treating inflammatory conditions is a noble proof for its brilliance in wound healing and is called as ropana in Ayurveda, means one which heals wounds.
A 2008 study on ‘Calendula officinalis and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review’ by Matthew J. Leach, PhD, BN (Hons), ND, RN, MATMS, published in WOUNDS, A compendium of clinical research and practice substantiates that the presence of triterpenoids like faradiol and the faradiol monoester and other components including flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides and micronutrients contribute to its anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, wound healing attributes and antioxidant properties.
The major skin conditions considered for this study includes foot ulcer, dermatitis, varicose ulcer, burns, injuries, cuts, abrasions, pressure ulcer, skin ulcer and other wounds. This study also explains that Calendula officinalis has “Anti-inflammatory activity – The acute inflammatory response during the early stages of injury generates factors that are essential for tissue growth and repair.
Antimicrobial activity -Wound healing can also be delayed when microorganisms are present in large enough numbers. Therefore, reducing the bacterial load of a wound may be necessary to facilitate wound healing, as well as reduce local inflammation and tissue destruction.
An ideal agent for the prevention and control of wound infection would therefore be one that directly destroys pathogens, while also stimulating immune activity. Calendula is one agent that possesses both of these properties.
Antioxidant effect – The production of free radicals at or around the wound bed may contribute to delays in wound healing through the destruction of lipids, proteins, collagen, proteoglycan, and hyaluronic acid.
Agents that demonstrate significant antioxidant activity may, therefore, preserve viable tissue and facilitate wound healing. Calendula demonstrates free radical scavenging activity against superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals and facilitates wound healing via an important antioxidant effect.
Wound healing activity – The most important clinical endpoint in wound management is wound closure or 100% epithelialization. Given that wound closure is critically important; it is argued that any agent demonstrating significant wound-healing activity should be seriously considered in conventional practice.
Calendula, for example, may facilitate wound healing by increasing wound angiogenesis and collagen, nucleoprotein, and glycoprotein metabolism, leading to improvements in both local circulation and granulation tissue formation.”
This study concludes stating “Calendula officinalis possesses a number of properties that are conducive to wound healing, especially in a number of acute and chronic wounds, particularly for its effect on inflammation, microbial load, and epithelialization.”
With its immunostimulant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, anti-microbial, antiseptic and disinfectant properties, applying a blend of 5 drops of Calendula with 2 drops of Bay leaf oil in your mild skin care cream or with 10 drops of Coconut oil can help in healing bee stings, insect bites, sores, cuts, bruises, skin abrasions, swelling, burns, acne, scrapes, diaper rashes, athlete’s foot, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
The most adorable quality of Calendula oil is that it helps in controlling the formation of scars and diminishes stretch marks with its ability to stimulate tissue repair generation and secretion of collagen that enhances the natural elasticity of skin cells.
You can also add few drops of Calendula oil in your skin care ointments, lotions and creams or in salves, facial steams, baths, washes, tinctures and Ayurvedic essential oils for nourishing, enriching and nurturing the texture and health of your skin.
2. Calendula for circulation and inflammation:
Calendula oil has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties that assist in clearing away excess of kapha dosha responsible for fluid retention through the mutravahasrotas, means the urinary passages by promoting the frequency and quantity of urination. By this way, the excess water deposits, toxic remains, salt, uric acid and fat in the system are eliminated through urine.
The effectiveness of Calendula in enhancing the functions of rasa and rakta dhatus, which means the plasma and blood tissues contributes to its ability in augmenting proper blood circulation. This makes Calendula oil as a promising remedy in treating circulatory conditions like varicose veins, arthritis, gout and rheumatic conditions.
Thus massaging the affected or painful parts with 1 ounce of Calendula oil with 2 drops of Cassia oil and 2 drops of Black cumin oil can help in enhancing blood circulation, discarding toxic remains and fluid retention through urine and reduce pain and inflammation associated with rheumatism, varicose veins, gout and arthritis.
You can also add 2 drops of Calendula oil in warm water and use it is a gargle for alleviating sore throat, killing germs and microbes in the mouth causing bad breath, cavities, gingivitis and other gum problems.
3. Calendula for immunity:
Low immune power is the direct doorway for numerous microbes, pathogens and other micro-organisms causing various diseases and contagious medical conditions. The presence of calendulin, a yellow resin along with tannins and other chemical constituents of its volatile oil makes Calendula a promising medication for augmenting the rapid growth response of the human lymphocytes.
WBC or the white blood corpuscles are responsible for the body’s immune power or the potent to fight against pathogens, microbes or other harmful micro-organisms invading the healthy system. With its anti-microbial, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties, Calendula oil strengthens the immune system by shielding against the attack of bacteria, virus, fungi, worms etc.
Calendula oil also helps in treating inflamed lymph glands and decrease lymphatic congestion. It also aids in purging away harmful toxic remains in the body through urine with its triterpenoid components responsible for its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.
Adding 5 drops of Calendula oil in bathing water every morning and 2 drops of Calendula oil added to your hankie or your pillow cover are the best ways to strengthen your immunity through the ‘Calendula power’.
4. Calendula for digestive disorders:
Calendula oil boasts its support to various digestive functions with its astringent, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and antimicrobial properties. The ability to pacify excess of pitta energy or digestive fire makes Calendula an excellent natural remedy for soothing the lining of the stomach, intestines and the gastrointestinal tract.
Massaging your abdomen with 10 drops of Calendula oil blended with 2 drops of Calamus oil and 4 ounce of Coconut oil can help in soothing the walls of the stomach and intestines, thus pacifying irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, gastritis and other inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
This medicated massage can also assist in stimulating the functions of the liver, the organ of detoxification, thus support in eliminating microbial infections, ama or toxic remains in the stomach, intestinal worms and other pathogenic foreign bodies in the gut, which may otherwise lead to dysentery, viral hepatitis, diarrhea and enteritis.
5. Calendula for reproductive functions:
Calendula is extremely beneficial in supporting the functions of the female reproductive problems including irregular menstruation, uterine fibroids, frigidity and ovarian cysts (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
For all these special benefits, Calendula blossoms are called in Ayurveda as Striroga, one which aids in gynaecological problems; Granthi, remedy for treating the complications of tumors, and Artavajanana for aiding trouble-free menstruation.
The oil of Calendula helps in clearing excess of kapha and pitta energies in the uterus, mainly because of its effectiveness on artavavahasrotas.
A gentle massage of the lower abdomen, back and thighs with 10 drops of Calendula oil and 1 drop of Cinnamon oil and 1 drop of Cassia oil can help in promoting blood circulation in the uterus, regularizing blocked or delayed menstruation, relieving dysmennorhea or menstrual pain.
You can also use this blend in bath, especially during your menstrual cycle and the times you’re sick with menopausal symptoms.
Calendula oil functions like a tonic to the uterine muscles, aiding in balancing the estrogen hormones that are responsible for PCOS and uterine fibroids. It is also trusted to treat cysts in the digestive passage and the breasts. Calendula infusions were used in folklore remedy for fostering uterine contractions and the discharge of placenta during childbirth.
Other health benefits:
The most celebrated herbalists, Gerard and Culpeper call Marigold as a “comforter of the heart and spirits”. Calendula is also recommended safe for diaper rashes, hemorrhoids, stomach upset, people undergoing radiation therapy, abdominal cramps, fistulas, sprains and eye inflammation.
This information is only for the use of education and is not intended to diagnose or prevent any health condition or to substitute any prescription drugs or professional medical advice. We, the Essential Depot team are not healthcare professionals and this content is written only in social interest of educating the public about the richness of Ayurvedic treatment, the most trusted traditional healing system.
Calendula oil is suggested only for the use of topical application and do not take it internally. Talk with your medical expert or your Ayurvedic practitioner before choosing the appropriate Ayurvedic oils for your Prakriti or unique individual constitution and medical condition and before using them on children, nursing women, pregnant ladies and on people who are undergoing other treatments (please check on drug interactions) and on those who are allergic to specific oils.
Thought for the day:
“The marigold goes to bed with the Sun
And with him rises, weeping.”
- Calendula – Calendula Officinalis by Amanda Klenner
- Calendula Oil (How To Make Natural Skin Care Products Series Book 29) by Miriam Kinai
- Calendula by Marian Kim
- Calendula by Mindy Green
- Herbs for Healthy Aging: Natural Prescriptions for Vibrant Health by David Hoffmann FNIMH AHG
- Calendula by Wikipedia
- Calendula by The University of Maryland Medical Center
- Calendula officinalis and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review by Matthew J. Leach, PhD, BN(Hons), ND, RN, MATMS, published in WOUNDS, a compendium of clinical research and practice
- Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Calendula officinalis Linn(Asteraceae): A Review by BP. Muley, SS. Khadabadi and NB. Banarase, Govt. College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, India, published in the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | <urn:uuid:1af0d9a6-ccde-4b90-94a0-e4aa1187573a> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | http://ayurvedicoils.com/essential-oils-info-buy-purchase_calendula-oil_2431.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267863109.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20180619173519-20180619193519-00329.warc.gz | en | 0.913018 | 3,994 | 2.9375 | 3 | {
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Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math
Read the whole thing to see why. Excerpts below:
If the pictures of those towering wildfires in Colorado haven’t convinced you, or the size of your AC bill this summer, here are some hard numbers about climate change: June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average, the odds of which occurring by simple chance were 3.7 x 10-99, a number considerably larger than the number of stars in the universe.
But the real numbers we have to worry about are:
The First Number: 2° Celsius
Copenhagen failed spectacularly…The accord did contain one important number, however. In Paragraph 1, it formally recognized “the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below two degrees Celsius.”
Some context: So far, we’ve raised the average temperature of the planet just under 0.8 degrees Celsius, and that has caused far more damage than most scientists expected. (A third of summer sea ice in the Arctic is gone, the oceans are 30 percent more acidic, and since warm air holds more water vapor than cold, the atmosphere over the oceans is a shocking five percent wetter, loading the dice for devastating floods.) Given those impacts, in fact, many scientists have come to think that two degrees is far too lenient a target.
And here’s why even that teetering-on-the-edge-of-safe two degrees is all too likely to be surpassed:
The Second Number: 565 Gigatons
Scientists estimate that humans can pour roughly 565 more gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by midcentury and still have some reasonable hope of staying below two degrees. (“Reasonable,” in this case, means four chances in five, or somewhat worse odds than playing Russian roulette with a six-shooter.)
In fact, study after study predicts that carbon emissions will keep growing by roughly three percent a year – and at that rate, we’ll blow through our 565-gigaton allowance in 16 years, around the time today’s preschoolers will be graduating from high school. “The new data provide further evidence that the door to a two-degree trajectory is about to close,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s chief economist. In fact, he continued, “When I look at this data, the trend is perfectly in line with a temperature increase of about six degrees.” That’s almost 11 degrees Fahrenheit, which would create a planet straight out of science fiction.
It gets worse:
The Third Number: 2,795 Gigatons
This number is the scariest of all – one that, for the first time, meshes the political and scientific dimensions of our dilemma. It was highlighted last summer by the Carbon Tracker Initiative, a team of London financial analysts and environmentalists who published a report in an effort to educate investors about the possible risks that climate change poses to their stock portfolios. The number describes the amount of carbon already contained in the proven coal and oil and gas reserves of the fossil-fuel companies, and the countries (think Venezuela or Kuwait) that act like fossil-fuel companies. In short, it’s the fossil fuel we’re currently planning to burn. And the key point is that this new number – 2,795 – is higher than 565. Five times higher.
If you told Exxon or Lukoil that, in order to avoid wrecking the climate, they couldn’t pump out their reserves, the value of their companies would plummet. John Fullerton, a former managing director at JP Morgan who now runs the Capital Institute, calculates that at today’s market value, those 2,795 gigatons of carbon emissions are worth about $27 trillion. Which is to say, if you paid attention to the scientists and kept 80 percent of it underground, you’d be writing off $20 trillion in assets. The numbers aren’t exact, of course, but that carbon bubble makes the housing bubble look small by comparison. It won’t necessarily burst – we might well burn all that carbon, in which case investors will do fine. But if we do, the planet will crater. You can have a healthy fossil-fuel balance sheet, or a relatively healthy planet – but now that we know the numbers, it looks like you can’t have both. Do the math: 2,795 is five times 565. That’s how the story ends.
This is why the GOP’s fossil-fuels-über-alles trajectory is so horrifically short-sighted and evil. What good will those “trillions” in fossil fuel reserves do when heat and drought make growing enough vital food crops impossible? Even before that happens, you have to consider how drilling for and burning fossil fuels sucks up trillions of gallons of water, thus competing with our agricultural needs right this minute.
Bill McKibben is right. Either the fossil fuel profits go, or a world that supports human life. The right choice won’t be painless by any means, but neither is amputation of a gangrenous extremity to save your body - and yourself - from certain death. | <urn:uuid:3e33bbd9-ab93-4ed1-8b5f-0d8deb7f1e6a> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/40694_Global_Warmings_Terrifying_New_Math/comments/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394678677656/warc/CC-MAIN-20140313024437-00033-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931731 | 1,139 | 2.84375 | 3 | {
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Lincoln's Bishop: A President, A Bishop and The Fate of 330 Sioux Warriors, Gustav Niebuhr, 244pp., HarperOne Publishing, $26.99.
From The Publisher: Gustav Niebuhr's compelling history of Abraham Lincoln's decision
in 1862 to spare the lives of 265 condemned Sioux men, and the Episcopal
bishop who was his moral compass, helping guide the president's
More than a century ago, during the formative years of
the American nation, Protestant churches carried powerful moral
authority, giving voice to values such as mercy and compassion, while
boldly standing against injustice and immorality. Gustav Niebuhr travels
back to this defining period, to explore Abraham Lincoln's decision to
spare the lives of 265 Sioux men sentenced to die by a military tribunal
in Minnesota for warfare against white settlers—while allowing the
hanging of 38 others, the largest single execution on American soil.
Popular opinion favored death or expulsion. Only one state leader
championed the cause of the Native Americans, Episcopal bishop, Henry
Though he'd never met an Indian until he was 37
years old, Whipple befriended them before the massacre and understood
their plight at the hands of corrupt government officials and
businessmen. After their trial, he pleaded with Lincoln to extend mercy
and implement true justice. Bringing to life this little known event and
this extraordinary man, Niebuhr pays tribute to the once amazing moral
force of mainline Protestant churches and the practitioners who guarded
It is hard to recall what powerful moral voices Protestant church
leaders had in the formative years of the nation. Gustav Niebuhr travels
back to the Minnesota frontier of 1862 when Dakota Sioux rose up
against pioneering families and slaughtered hundreds. Citizens demanded
mass executions and deportations. Into this turmoil stepped Henry
Benjamin Whipple, the state's first Episcopal bishop.
already loudly decried the crimes and corruption of those managing
Indian affairs and warned of calamity. Now he made the case of mercy and
a deeper justice, which eventually led to meeting with President
Lincoln. Despite being preoccupied with the Civil War, Lincoln was moved
to intervene, surprisingly taking the time to review all 303 cases and
overturning the death sentence for most of the Indians. Nevertheless,
the result was still the largest single execution on American soil.
not for Whipple's vigorous campaigning, both in state and in
Washington, DC, a greater tragedy might well have occurred. His success
should haunt us: Where today do we hear these trumpet calls for justice
like those given by figures such as Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple? | <urn:uuid:d8d56357-d646-42ca-8af6-1c396237cb2f> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://civilwarlibrarian.blogspot.com/2014/05/new-and-noteworthy-sioux-on-gallows.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049274119.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002114-00179-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90985 | 558 | 2.78125 | 3 | {
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301: Literature for Children and Adolescents
Literature Home Page
Watch video labeled Children’s Poetry: "12345, Keep Poetry Alive” in class or on reserve in library, with children and prominent British poets reciting their poetry. In Angel discussion forum, write your observations about what you learned from the children and poets in the video.
Finish reading intro. to Riverside chap. 1, and pp. 42-63:
Games, Riddles, Lullabies, and Folk Songs
There are many, many version of
"John Henry" in folk songs, ballads, picture books, films,
etc. If you are interested in this African American tall tale hero, use this
link for more details. It will lead you to some online versions and interesting
For the next three classes, read Introductions and selections (as outlined below) from Riverside chaps. 2 and 3, pp. 64-158.
Required Discussion Forum Assignment:
Choose one poem from each section that you are prepared to discuss in class, and also write your observations about that poem in the discussion forums that will be set up in Angel the week of Sept. 25.
Dr. Hanlon has the following books
with fascinating illustrations (some are illustrated versions of one poem).
Feel free to borrow them in connection with your individual assignment or just
to look at: The Tyger by William Blake, The Pied Piper of Hamelin
by Corrin and Errol Le Cain, A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy
Willard, Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Highwayman by
Noyes, Pigericks by Lobel, Hiawatha's Childhood by Longfellow
and Errol Le Cain, Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl ("Little Red
Riding Hood" and other parodies).
W 9/27 Riverside chap. 2: Voices of Nonsense
Read selections by Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Heinrich Hoffmann, C. Rossetti, Ogden Nash, Theodore Roethke, John Ciardi, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and as many others as you have time for.
"The Owl and the Pussy Cat" is in your text but also at
this link with Lear's illustrations.
Riverside chap. 3: Voices of Childhood
Read at least 3 of the traditional ballads in the first section of chapter 3 and the narrative poems in the next section.
We may have time to comment on the folk songs we didn't discuss from chap. 1 today.
(Also recommended: prose adaptation by Jane Yolen, Tam Lin, on reserve)
If you prefer some other ballad not in the book, you can bring it to class and discuss it (but it must be a ballad you would read with a child or teenager). Many old ballads are available online.
Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin is in your text,
but it's online with famous illustrations by Kate Greenaway at this link.
Read at least 5 poems from each of these sections: poems of the childs world, poems of nature, poems of imagination, poems of reflection.
Concentrate on studying selections by the following authors, as well as sampling some of the poems that have no identified authors but come from oral traditions of various cultures.
Other recommended poets: N. Giovanni, C. Sandburg, e e cummings, E. Dickinson
Remember while reading this section that "Morning Has Broken" (which we listened to on the first day of class) started as a children's poem by Eleanor Farjeon in 1931, which became a Christian hymn set to an old Gaelic melody, and became a popular song sung by Cat Stevens when your professor was in college.
Optional: "The Duel" by Eugene Field, about the Gingham dog and the Calico Cat, illustrated by Mary Ellsworth. Several other poems and tales are at this site with similar illustrations, including "The Owl and the Pussycat."
General Guidelines on Poetry
Be familiar with the following terms, categories and techniques of poetry:
If you want a supplementary, concise explanation of types and techniques of childrens poetry, see Chap. 7, Poetry from David Russells Literature for Children, 2nd ed. (on reserve)
There are many other handbooks and
dictionaries of literary terms that will give you explanations of the terms
listed above, if you feel the need for more background on studying poetry (available
in the library, bookstores, English professors offices). Lukens
Critical Handbook of Childrens Literature is one example.
Think about differences between reading or studying poetry as children and as adults. Are there any differences or surprises in your reactions to poems in this anthology for children by authors that are known primarily as writers for adults (such as Shakespeare, W. Blake, C. Rossetti, T. Hardy, W. Whitman, E. Dickinson, C. Sandburg, T. S. Eliot, W. B. Yeats, R. Frost, D. Thomas, D. H. Lawrence, C. Cullen, J. Updike)? Are some poems more appropriate or appealing for children at different ages than others?
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Stanford Graduate School of Business students who came to the Schwab Center on Jan. 19 to learn about the perils facing today?s economy got a sobering history lesson.
At the end of World War II, the United States had accumulated substantial debt. But our country's economy still took off, fueled by soldiers returning home to join the workforce and by new manufacturing technologies honed during wartime that could instead be used to more efficiently build consumer goods. With the productive capacity of other nations weakened by war, the United States quickly became the go-to source for cars and other products.
Compare that scenario to events playing out today.
The nation again has a hefty debt; it has reached $14 trillion according to the federal government. But this time, U.S. products are facing stiff competition from abroad. On top of that, there?s a lingering global recession. And many highly trained Baby Boomers are taking their much-needed professional talents with them into retirement.
"This is not your grandfather's economy," Joseph Minarik, senior vice president and director of research at the Committee for Economic Development public policy organization, told students. "This is not an economy that could grow out of an enormous debt at the end of World War II. This is an economy that will have to struggle to turn the situation around."
Minarik was part of a panel of seven economic experts from the GSB and beyond who discussed their agenda-setting ideas during "The Federal Budget and an Innovative Economy."
Spending policies designed to reinvigorate the flat U.S. economy have only added to the nation's economic woes. Minarik said debt has reached an amount equal to 60% of the Gross Domestic Product, which describes the value of all goods and services the nation produces.
That spending has placed the United States alongside some other developed countries that are struggling with ballooning debt rates - nations including Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. "That shows the degree of risk we face," he explained.
When the economy improves and the current low interest rates rise, so will the government's obligations on that debt. By the middle of the century, Minarik warned, "We are not going to collect revenues that will be enough to even pay the interest on the federal government's accumulated debt. That's how bad the federal budget outlook is."
However, the panel also proposed solutions.
Boosting productivity is a mandatory step to strengthen the economy, said Lenny Mendonca, director in the San Francisco office of management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The program was sponsored by the Public Management Program at Stanford GSB, student leaders of the GSB's Public Management Initiative, and the Washington, D.C.-based Committee for Economic Development policy research group.
That won't be easy with a shrinking labor force, said Mendonca, who received his MBA and certificate in public management from the GSB in 1987. "In the next decade, we will be two million technical and analytical workers short of what we will need for even the modest growth we expect," he said.
An alternative could be boosting productivity in areas that have not yet shown productivity gains. For example, while growing international competition has forced private sector businesses to become more productive, areas including education, health care, and the public sector have remained productivity "laggards," Mendonca said. "It's a big drag on the economy."
New technology isn't needed to increase productivity levels for those areas, he said: "It's applying technologies that we have today more broadly and sharing best practices."
Other strategies include upgrading the nation's outdated infrastructure to be more energy efficient, enabling goods and services to be transferred more cheaply. "It's hard to move the full economy when we have these four very large anchors - health care, education, the public sector, and energy infrastructure - dragging behind us," Mendonca said.
Controlling corporate salaries would also have a positive impact, said Daniel Van Dyke, senior vice president and risk manager for Wells Fargo Bank and another panelist. Mortgage brokers might not have pushed risky investments that nearly brought down the economy if they'd "had some skin in the game" that linked their personal earnings to their investments, he said.
Darrell Duffie, Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance at the GSB, agreed. Rather than trying to control compensation, he recommended not awarding it all at one time, holding out some payments until several years in the future. "Corporate executives - in particular, financial firm traders - need to know that simply because they appear to have made a profit in the short run, they need to know it has to be a good trade for the long run."
That approach has an added benefit, Duffie said, providing companies with extra capital to absorb the shocks from bad trades or unforeseen economic shake-ups, "which is a further way to align the incentives of the firm with the economy." | <urn:uuid:308dbfbf-d6a0-4ea9-82ef-8a7b300645b6> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/panel-sobering-look-todays-federal-debt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496672170.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20191122222322-20191123011322-00528.warc.gz | en | 0.965014 | 1,016 | 2.625 | 3 | {
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Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severely disabling condition that can result in full or partial paralysis, as well as sensory and autonomic dysfunction. SCI has an estimated incidence of 12,000 new cases per year in the United States alone, caused primarily by automobile accidents, falls, violence and sports. Despite extensive research, an effective cure is yet to be defined.
The spinal cord is the bridge between the brain and the rest of the body, conveying motor and sensory information between them. When injury to the spinal cord occurs, these pathways are interrupted, with motor control and sensory perception being impaired as a consequence. The initial injury induces hemorrhages, ischemia, disruption of axons, and the production of neurotoxic substances that contribute to cell death and necrosis. This then triggers a second wave of damage that enlarges the lesion and increases functional impairment, as well as inflammatory responses that can aggravate injury.
In a later chronic phase, there is continued demyelination, atrophy, degeneration, and formation of cavities in previously injured areas. Glial cells from the spinal cord also react to injury by forming a glial scar that acts as both as a physical and a chemical barrier to regeneration. This is the first therapeutic target: minimizing this secondary injury greatly improves the chances of functional recovery.
However, the best therapy should be able to also repair damage. The spinal cord (and the brain) is well known for its inability to self-heal. However, the right environment can induce axons of the spinal cord to regenerate. But it is precisely in this environment that lies the main problem, since the spinal cord contains a myriad of molecules that actively inhibit axonal regeneration. The key to regenerating the spinal cord could therefore be to overcome that inhibition and stimulate the regeneration of damaged axons, allowing them to reconnect with their target cells. But regenerating the damaged axons is far from being sufficient for a full recovery. After axons start elongating, they need to find their appropriate target cells to which they were originally connected. This can be aided by supplying molecules that can help neurons find their targets.
A combination of factors contributes to the difficulty in drawing an effective treatment to SCI. Consequently, numerous strategies for spinal cord regeneration have surfaced in the last years.
Spinal cord implants
One approach is to provide a framework to bridge the gap created by SCI and guide injured axons. Spinal cord implants can give physical support to the neuronal fibers as they grow, and can also serve as a source of regeneration-promoting chemicals. These implants can be bundled with cells that may aid in axonal regeneration or even replace cells that have died. Great advances in this approach have been reported recently.
Cell transplant approaches have been extensively investigated. Neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, Schwann cells, activated macrophages, and pluripotent stem cells have all shown promising results in animal research. From this list, it becomes obvious that there is great hope in stem cell therapies.
Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into specialized cells. In the context of SCI, stem cells have shown to be able to limit secondary injury, stimulate re-myelination and the formation of neuronal connections, and overcome the inhibitory environment. However, much of the current research is still actually focused on identifying the type of cell that can promote regeneration in the safest and most effective way.
Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been gaining ground in basic and clinical research due to their multiple regenerative effects. Furthermore, they have the advantage of an easy isolation without ethical concerns. MSC-like cells can be retrieved from tissues such as bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord. MSCs have recently shown to have numerous effects that may aid in SCI therapy: they can have anti-inflammatory properties, modulate the immune system, inhibit cell death by apoptosis, stimulate neuronal protection from toxicity, reduce the levels of stress-associated and pro-inflammatory proteins and reactive oxygen species, secrete neurotrophic factors, enhance re-myelination, aid axon guidance across lesion site, decrease glial reactivity, and stimulate axonal growth.
Furthermore, in vitro research suggests that MSCs themselves may differentiate into glial and neuronal cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that administration of MSCs may lead to a beneficial effect in the recovery from SCI secondary damage. In animal models of SCI, MSCs have shown substantial effects on locomotor recovery. However, the translation of promising experimental results to clinical practice has been mostly unsatisfactory.
Although promising, these techniques are not yet ready for general use. Nevertheless, the progress of the last years keeps hope alive.
Antonic A, Sena ES, Lees JS, Wills TE, Skeers P, Batchelor PE, Macleod MR, & Howells DW (2013). Stem cell transplantation in traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies. PLoS biology, 11 (12) PMID: 24358022
Binan L, Ajji A, De Crescenzo G, & Jolicoeur M (2014). Approaches for neural tissue regeneration. Stem cell reviews, 10 (1), 44-59 PMID: 24092527
NSCISC, The 2010 Annual Statistical Report for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. 2010: Birmingham, Alabama.
Oliveri RS, Bello S, & Biering-Sørensen F (2014). Mesenchymal stem cells improve locomotor recovery in traumatic spinal cord injury: systematic review with meta-analyses of rat models. Neurobiology of disease, 62, 338-53 PMID: 24148857
Silva NA, Sousa N, Reis RL, & Salgado AJ (2014). From basics to clinical: a comprehensive review on spinal cord injury. Progress in neurobiology, 114, 25-57 PMID: 24269804 | <urn:uuid:0de1d786-b55b-4abb-88b0-b6ce11067061> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://spinalcordinjuryzone.com/info/14137/hope-spinal-cord-regeneration | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655890157.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200706073443-20200706103443-00491.warc.gz | en | 0.932329 | 1,261 | 3.53125 | 4 | {
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In this presentation, we’ll be talking about best practices in designing web forms, and tips for making forms more usable for everyone.
We’ll start with a video of Kirin Saeed, a screen reader user speaking about how her life would be easier if the web were truly a level playing field. The video is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHBvqwRAduw [I’ve removed the embedded video in order to attach my own narration of the slides.]She says: I would really like to like the web and I have to use the web for work and I have to use the web for everyday usages.But I actually dread it and that’s very sad. I don’t want to dread it; I want to enjoy it. And this particular site that we tried today on YouTube is _so_ much easier. And if Facebook could be easier, and if all these other main sites that I use could be easier, my life would be easier, because that’s what we live with, and more and more the web is going to become part of our lives. More and more the web will be able to be accessed on our mobiles, even for visually impaired people. And I’d like to be able to use that, and not to be afraid of it. And not to feel ashamed. Because the other thing is, I feel often ashamed because I can’t use it as well and I’m not that old; I’m quite young…And it becomes a battle and it should be a level playing field. The web should have created a level playing field for visually impaired people and disabled people as a whole, and what I feel sometimes the web does is it actually blocks people out and it isolates you more.As web designers and developers, we all make things for people to use. If you are not working on making your resources accessible, you are making a choice to block some people out. This can cost you and your clients or your organization money. And it causes great frustration for real people. When we talk about accessible, or universally usable, websites, we’re talking about Kirin, who we just saw. We’re talking about Jessica Cox, the pilot who has no arms who flies a single jet engine using foot controls. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK0LvmurKbU&feature=PlayList&p=8F60FB33D1E8165A ) She recently _flew a plane_ from Arizona to Wisconsin, but she might not be able to fill out your web form because you didn’t bother to make it accessible to alternative input devices. We’re talking about friends with muscular sclerosis who must use extreme effort to control a mouse, with minimal success. We’re talking about brilliant co-workers who have non-verbal learning disabilities and will spend inordinate amounts of time trying to divine what unfamiliar abbreviations, idiomatic expressions, and unclear icons are meant to convey. As we look at the variety of choices we make in the forms we create for people to use, I’ll describe the access implications of our choices, including access issues related to mundane constraints, such as being on a mobile device and fat-fingering a form field before reading it, or dealing with sun glare.
Once we’ve taken care of the first hurdle, making a form available (or accessible), we can evaluate the forms in terms of how effective, efficient, and satisfying they are to use Usability of forms can be measured by such things as successful completion, abandoned forms, completion time, number of help requests, number of errors, satisfaction after submitting the form, and common issues in call center logs. We’ll keep these in mind as we look at improving the usability of our forms.
Pop Quiz #1. Some toolbars offer the option of displaying a label below each tool. Why can labeled tools be accessed faster? (Assume the user knows the tool and does not need the label to identify the tool.) The labeled tools can be accessed faster because the label becomes part of the target. The target is therefore bigger. Bigger targets, all else being equal, can always be accessed faster.When labels are not used, the tool icons crowd together, and are easier to miss. When targets are large, you don’t have to slow down so as not to overshoot the target. Do you know what the law that describes this is called?
Fitts’s Law states, “The time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to and size of the target.” The further away a target is, the larger it needs to be to maintain access speed. Bigger things are easier to hit. This seems obvious as I say it, but do you consider the implications as you make design choices? The corners and edge of the screen are the fastest areas of the screen to access, because their size is infinite. You can use force to swoosh your pointer up to the menus on the screen edge because it doesn’t require you to stop at a certain point. The screen shot shows an example that bugs me regularly: an email OK/Cancel dialog box. I have to make my pointer stop on that little OK button. The OK/Cancel dialog box requires aiming mid-screen for a small area when I’d rather not have to use the mouse. (I’m not sure why, but even though I’ve got my mac set to tab between all form controls, not just links and inputs, I’m unable to use my tab and enter keys to control OK/Cancel dialog buttons.)
Before this presentation, I sent a survey to the group to see what kinds of forms you’re working on. People mentioned: Contact, Registration, Sign-up, and data entry—the latter including forms people use every day through which they need go very quickly. I asked about tools people are using: Dreamweaver, Cold Fusion, php, html/css, Joomla, Quark, and PDF. People also spoke of using snippets from previously coded forms, using fieldsets & legends (both for semantic value in grouping items as well as hooks for CSS), and of using Dreamweaver Spry to customize validation & error messages. I asked you about your typical workflow, which was largely to get fields identified by the client, do some layout, and to test to see if it works. Nobody said anything about identifying who will be filling out the form. So what are some things that are helpful to know about how the form will be used?
What do they need with them? Where might they be? If they’re on a mobile device, do their needs change? What will they need to do with the transaction in a month? How often will individuals use the form? How will the data be retrieved What will it be used for? It’s often a big mind-shift for clients to think in terms of the people coming to their forms. It’s far more common to be thinking of the data entry you will do in order to complete your own tasks, than to consider the experience of the people filling in the forms. Addressing recovery issues, such as what happens if a person is interrupted or needs information they don’t have with them at the moment will make your form more usable. In the last few weeks, I have twice purchased things over the internet on my phone. Neither website sent me an email copy of my receipt. If the designers had considered that I might be purchasing something for my business or that I would be on a mobile device, I would be able to supply a receipt to my accounts payable office. Another important consideration is the frequency with which people will use a form: Is the priority to make it highly efficient or to slow down the form in order to encourage well thought-through answers?
Forms are conversations. We want them to be pleasant experiences for our customers and community members. We don’t want them to be like an unfriendly checkout-counter experience. http://www.flickr.com/photos/en321/2191752992/
Our forms are stand-ins for our voice. They are what makes the web two-way. They stand between people and productivity. Forms help us close deals. Michael Angeles said, “After all, if software is to be social, then it may as well learn social skills.” So, what are some face-to-face social skill rules our forms should observe?
What face-to-face social interaction rules should our forms follow? Only ask what you need to know. (No impertinent questions! If you and I had just met, I wouldn’t ask you for your street address unless you asked me to send you something.) Be friendly. Don’t speak for others. If forms are a conversations, the questions are the website’s side of the conversation, and the form inputs are the other side. Phrase your questions accordingly. Many forms, instead of asking questions, speak in the voice of the user. For example, field labels such as: “My Address.” “Sign me up for a trial now.” “Please contact me with more information.” Speaking in the voice of the user removes the opportunity to have a conversation with the person. You also run the risk of the person reacting negatively to something being said for them. (Nothing gets me into a negative conversation with a website faster than when it pretends to know what I’m thinking. Wait. Talking out loud to your computer is normal behavior, right?)
Here’s a picture from a gas pump. “Insert Card Fully. Withdraw card quickly.” What feeling do you have when you see this? What’s going to happen if I fail to remove the card quickly enough? Perhaps not everyone gets panicky when they encounter these signs. Nevertheless, we don’t want to create that unsure feeling of “What if I mess up?” for people filling out our web forms. Our designs should reassure the user that they have control over the form in as many ways as possible. Luke Wroblewski, in his excellent book, Web Form Design,says, “Forms suck. We should design accordingly.” [ http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/books/webforms/ ]
Consider trying to make your forms a peaceful place to be. Look at this photo of a wooded Vermont lane, or close your eyes. Take a minute to think of someone extremely reassuring. Remember some time they reassured you. Did you think of someone? If not, how about Mister Rogers? Remember when he promised we would never, ever go down the bathtub drain? Our forms could strive to be that reassuring. So think of your reassuring person—that’s going to be your Reassurance Genie. When you create a form, you should do a ‘reassurance genie’ test as part of quality assurance. Call your reassurance genie to mind. What would they think of your error messages? Of your confirmation screen? The goal of our forms design, well-stated by Wroblewski, is to provide a clear path to completion.
One way we can provide a clear path to completion on multi-page forms is through the use of progress meters. The decision to do a single page versus multiple pages is not clear-cut. The drawback of multiple pages on an unfamiliar site is a lack of trust that people will be able to go back and forth between pages if needed without losing data. We must do everything we can to facilitate recovery and reassure users that they will be able to change their entries. When a form is rather long, and there are logical breaks, one might decide to do a paginated form, either with links such as ‘Continue’ and ‘Go Back’ or as a series of tabs. One way to surface a clear path to completion is to provide a progress meter. Luke Wroblewski’s book, Web Form Design, describes the essential aspects of successful progress meters: They should explain the scope of the form (that is, how many steps or pages), they should show your progress and location (that is, where are you along the path to completion), and they should accurately reflect the actual steps. It is critical that people can go back and forth through pages without losing their data, and with the ability to make changes.
Pop Quiz: Which layout is the fastest (or most efficient) to complete, among the alignments pictured in the slide (with labels right-aligned, labels aligned just above input fields, and left-aligned labels)? Wroblewski cites an eye-tracking study by MatteoPenzo in July 2006 that found top-aligned labels (shown in the center of the slide) to be 10 times faster than left-aligned labels (shown on the right in the slide). [ http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2006/07/label-placement-in-forms.php ] Why do you think that might be? There is a close association between label and input denoted by their position. (Sufficient spacing between label-input pairs is necessary to achieve the association within a pair.) The fact that the eye can see all fields by moving down in a straight line reassures that the user will not accidentally miss a field. Another benefit is that the labels are scalable: there is more space to add words to the label than in the narrower columns seen in right- and left-aligned label-field layouts. When the labels of right- and left- aligned labels are large, there is quickly awkwardly large and inconsistent spacing between inputs. A common concern about top-aligned fields is that it will use too much vertical space. Why are people concerned about vertical scrolling?
Some concerns about vertical space include that people will need to scroll to see how long the form is. (True, but I don’t know of evidence that says people mind scrolling once down and up to assess scope. If they are curious about scope, scroll, and have an easy time scanning straight down, they have the satisfaction of an answer to their concern about scope.) What else? The decision maker “wants everything above the fold.” While this is a common desire, it is based on the idea that we can predict the viewport size. Even if we know the most common browser sizes, we can not predict the size to which people will scale their browsers. When we run into such arguments, we can offer to do cheap, low-risk multivariate testing: we can use Google’s Web Optimizer [ http://www.google.com/websiteoptimizer ] to run two different versions of the page and see which is more successful. (For instance, which has a higher ratio of form completion-to-visits.) Another place where vertical screen space may be a problem is desktop applications that are a fixed height. This might be a situation where the designer opts for right-aligned labels. [ Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhinoneal/2411842658/ ]
This screen shot of a form demonstrates how top-aligned labels can lead the eye down a clear path.
This is a heat map image from any eye-tracking review of PayPal’s checkout form, showing eye fixations predominantly down a clear scan line. (The image is from http://www.etre.com, used in Wroblewski’s book, and shown here with permission, located at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosenfeldmedia/2367261378 .
This image shows an eye-track from thePenzo label alignment mentioned earlier. Here we see a form with left-aligned labels, as well as eye fixation points spread from label-to-field and back many times. While this and the proceeding image are of different forms (and one is a heat map visualization), we can see that the issue we are addressing in terms of layout is the effort the eyes and brain must make in coordinating labels and inputs. These images support the notion that top-aligned labels require less effort.
Pop Quiz: Which of these layouts of radio button options has a higher accuracy rate: the group shown left-aligned, or the group displayed in left-to-right fashion? The left-aligned options have a higher accuracy rate. With multiple radio options and less than stellar spacing between radio button-label pairs, it requires more thought to discern which label is associated with a given radio button. This depends a great deal on the spacing used by the designer. In any case, it is more frequent that people select the wrong option when they are listed horizontally rather than vertically.
Let’s talk about label tags—the HTML tags used in the code behind the form. Using a label explicitly (that is, using the ‘for’ attribute to refer to a unique ‘id’) tells a screen reader which label is associated with which input field. While the input field has focus (that is, while it is selected), the browser will recognize the connection between the label and the input. In the case shown in the slide, a screen reader will speak, “Mushrooms Radio Button not checked. One of three.” Any time this radio button has focus, it will indicate it is the mushrooms option and how many other options there are. If the code does not explicitly make the association of the label and the input, the screen reader will read “Radio button.” The screen reader will then say the text “Mushrooms” and the user will have to tab backwards in the form to select the radio button, never being sure they’ve _actually_ selected the radio button they intended to select. For more details about how screen readers read labels and form fields, see: http://www.usability.com.au/resources/wcag2/ . Form labels are crucial for accessibility. They are also a huge boon to usability.
RememberFitts’s Law? Label tags affect how much is clickable on a form. When the label tag is used, the button and the text all become clickable. Making the target area much larger will improve completion time (efficiency) and make your forms easier to use. Labels provide this benefit for checkboxes, text boxes, and other form fields. This slide shows the radio buttons surrounded in an html fieldset, with an html legend (“What flavor pizza do you prefer?”). Fieldsets and legends are a wonderful visual way to group related questions and provide a heading or individual question. Screen readers use the legend information, either reading the legend before each item inside the fieldset (as JAWS does), or to let the user know when the group of questions begins and ends (as Window Eyes does).
As a quality assurance, and accessibility check on all my forms, I use the Web Developer Toolbar’s Form Information page to look at tab order, id’s, and labels. [ http://chrispederick.com/work/web-developer/ ] The tab index is the order in which the form fields will receive focus as someone moves through the form if they are using the tab key on their keyboard. (One might do this if one can not use a mouse, or because it is a faster way to move through the form.) If the tab order is not set explicitly in the HTML, the browser will follow the order of the fields in the code. If you do any floating of form fields, be sure to set the tab index to a logical order in the HTML. The ID and the label, as we have seen are used by screen readers and to make the target area larger. ID’s must always be unique within a single page. Sets of radio buttons and checkboxes will share a common name, but the ID of each option must be unique. As you review the form information, you can review to be sure the tab index is logical, the IDs exist and are unique, and the labels exist. While you may not be coding forms, this is a useful tool for choosing online survey tools or forms plugins for your content management system. If these tools don’t make use of form labels, let the owners know that you can not use their tools until they do!
Some of you said you are using Flash and Acrobat to create forms. These forms also require attention to labels and reading order. The default setting for Flash is to have accessibility turned off. (Can you believe that?) In both of these tools, the workflow is to create the page elements and then add information to make them accessible. When instructed, each program will make a best guess at form field labels and reading order. In each case, you will invariably need to spend a good deal of time adjusting these settings to make sure everything is included and accurate. Adobe provides information on how to use the accessibility features of their software at: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility
A common technique these days is to place labels inside input fields. Sometimes the text inside the input is an extra help prompt of what to enter. Other times it is the only information indicating what the field is for. Often labels inside inputs are light gray to distinguish them from real answers. Frequently the light gray provides little contrast to make it readable by anyone with reading difficulties or trouble distinguishing color. The common behavior of the text inside the input is that it goes away when the input receives focus and the person enters any information. What if you click on the label, hit the spacebar, and the phone rings. When you come back, will you know what the field was for? Will you need to refresh and lose the other data you had already entered? A person who is blind may tab through all of the fields to see if they’re willing to fill out the form. For any fields where they start typing, when they go back through the form to fully fill it out, the labels will be gone. What if the person entered something unreadable, for example their fingers were shifted on their keyboard and they hadn’t noticed? How will you know what the question was? What if you’re on a touch device and you fat-finger the field before you read it? Labels are generally put inside inputs in order to create a cleaner-looking field, or reduce the vertical length of the form. However, the usability trade off is not worth the gain. Regarding color contrast, I recommend Gez Lemon’s Firefox Extension, the Colour Contrast Analyser. It provides a report of all of the color contrast combinations in a page, indicating which pass contrast validation tests and which do not: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7313 .
Captcha stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.”This screen shot is from Google’s account creation page. It shows a very difficult-to-read captcha word that must be typed in the field below. Sometimes, these at least offer the ability to request a new word, but not here. One could refresh the page repeatedly until getting a legible ‘word,’ but you would have to re-enter the information you had already filled in. If you have reading or vision difficulties, you can click on the wheelchair. What do you think happens if you click on the wheelchair? It plays audio of the letters. I don’t know about you, but a wheelchair doesn’t make me think of audio (or reading difficulty for that matter.) The audio is not helpful if I’m in a situation where I need my device to be silent. As a spam-reducing alternative to captcha, consider using CSS to hide a form field with an empty value. You can then use server-side form validation to check to see if a spam bot has unwittingly filled in this field. An example of this is available on our interest form: http://www.landmark.edu/institute/professional-development/interest-form.cfm and additional instructions at: http://webaim.org/blog/spam_free_accessible_forms/
Beware of dismissable error messages, like the one depicted in this screen shot. This is an example where you submit a form and a box appears with information about errors that need to be fixed. It may be worded in a very friendly matter. While most modern screen readers can read such an alert message, many people struggle with short-term memory issues. In order to fix the form errors, you must dismiss the alert message, losing your instructions about what needs fixing. This type of alert is the default for things like the Adobe Cold Fusion <cfform> tag, which is designed to reduce the effort of people creating web forms. People will be far more able to recover from their errors when they system feedback (such as error messages) is persistently available.
When error messages appear on the page after form submission, there should be a clear message at the top of the page, informing the person that there is something that needs their attention. The message should not rely only on color. Many people have difficulty distinguishing color, and the color will not be perceived by someone who is blind. While most people will not actually read the alert at the top of the page, it should include instructions for finding the specific errors in the page. Specific error messages should be displayed as part of the label tag, making explicit the association of the error message and the relevant input field for people listening to a screen reader.
Confirmation screens are an important part of the conversation between the form and the user. They should include information about what will happen next with regard to the transaction. (Only offer a promise you can keep!) Show the person the information they submitted. This information should be available. It’s very reassuring to the person submitting the information. It provides a means for people to check their submission. Provide your contact information: how can they get in touch if they made an error. If they can not contact you directly, give information about how they can adjust their submission. You can also use this opportunity to keep them on your site by providing links that may be useful based on the form they just submitted.
Thank you! While this presentation was by no means comprehensive, I hope it provokes your thinking about the effects your design decisions have. You can find me on twitter: @strottrot and at my blog: http://www.strottrot.com .
Universally Usable Web Forms
New England Adobe Users GroupNovember 3, 2009<br />Universally Usable Web Forms<br />Julie Strothman, M.S.<br />User Experience Researcher & Designer<br />Landmark College Institute for Research and Training<br />
Measuring Usability of Forms<br />Successful completion<br />Abandoned forms<br />Completion time<br />Number of help requests<br />Number of errors<br />Satisfaction after submitting the form<br />Call center: Top issues<br />
Pop Quiz #1<br />Some toolbars offer the option of displaying a label below each tool. <br />Why can labeled tools be accessed faster? <br />(Assume the user knows the tool & does not need the label to identify the tool.)<br />From Bruce Tognazinni’sAsk Tog<br />
Fitts’s Law<br />“The time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to andsize of the target.”<br />
NEAUG Survey Results: Typical Workflow for Developing Forms<br />Client identifies fields& which are required<br />Layout<br />Test<br />
Who is filling out the form?<br />What do they need with them?<br />Where might they be?<br />If they’re on a mobile device, do their needs change?<br />What will they need to do with the transaction in a month?<br />How often will individuals use the form?<br />How will the data be retrieved?<br />What will it be used for?<br />
Forms are conversations<br />“After all, if software is to be social, then it may as well learn social skills.”<br />-Michael Angeles, konigi.com<br />
What face-to-face social interaction rules should our forms follow?<br />Only ask what you need to know(Don’t be impertinent!)<br />Be friendly<br />Be patient<br />Don’t speak for the other person(e.g. “Please contact me with more information”)<br />
Labels & Reading Order: Acrobat & Flash<br />Must turn on accessibility.<br />When turned on, the software will make best guess.<br />Must review and adjust.<br />
Labels Inside Inputs<br />Not enough contrast<br />Label goes away when input receives focus<br />No recovery if your attention is diverted<br />No recovery if you fat-finger the field<br />No recovery if you are blind & want to preview the fields<br /> | <urn:uuid:89265ea7-8b66-492c-aef3-dcbe53f1fabe> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://www2.slideshare.net/strottrot/universally-usable-forms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487611089.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20210613222907-20210614012907-00564.warc.gz | en | 0.927483 | 6,157 | 2.609375 | 3 | {
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} | Software Dev. |
Music in culture is not a new thought. Many researchers have produced evidence to the fact that cultural artefacts actually have musicians displayed on them. There are evidences of music being included in everyday life. Music was included in the context of a happy occasion such as a marriage or a birth. It was also used in the context of a sad occasion such as a death. This made music a part of the everyday life of people. In addition music is different in different cultures. It differs across race and ethnicity. Black Music for instance is seen to be more hip-hop style; on the other hand American classic is preferred by a different segment. Research studies show that even infants show a preference for music based on the culture of their parents. This shows that music and culture are intertwined. Similarly it can also be said that music and religion is intertwined, as after all it was religion that led people to a way of living. In this context the PhD research would investigate the influence of religion and culture on music. This investigation would have to be narrowed down however because at present there are not much well defined elements identified as in the type of music, the time period, the religion and the culture based on a particular race or ethnicity. These would be defined by the researcher later on. It will be necessary for the researcher to also narrow down on the topic based on the selection of these elements. | <urn:uuid:70fdc018-7c73-44eb-92dc-9ec90e5c52e1> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://www.advancedthesis.ca/jia-na-da-dai-xie-lun-wen-shen-qing-bo-shi-ke-cheng-de-da-xue-yan-jiu-ji-hua-zan-ding/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652663016949.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20220528154416-20220528184416-00686.warc.gz | en | 0.821976 | 1,193 | 3.546875 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.944129228591919,
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} | Entertainment |
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps puts on Yampa Valley Science School for Routt County sixth-graders.
Steamboat Springs Editor's note: The story was updated to add organizations that also contributed scholarship funds.
Steamboat Springs Middle School sixth-grader Mac Moody pulled his blindfold over his eyes and took a couple hesitant steps forward into the grassy patch before dropping to all fours. Acting as a blind bear for this Yampa Valley Science School activity, Mac had to try to collect colored cards representing food and resources scattered across the grass at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp without the aid of sight all the other sixth-grader bears enjoyed.
When all the cards were collected and the students sat, feet hanging off a porch, a staff member asked aloud to the group, “What happened to our blind bear? How many did you get?”
“Zero!” was Mac’s immediate response.
The lesson that unlucky bears will have trouble making it through winter was part of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps' annual science program catering to Routt County sixth-grade students. The students spend a week at Perry-Mansfield immersed in a program that is tailored to enhance and, in some ways, replace science curriculum in area schools. Students get hands-on lessons, see real-world observation of textbook examples and learn the tradeoffs inherent in the management of watersheds and even the ecosystem of bears.
If we have 520 pounds of food in our ecosystem and each bear needs 80 pounds, a staff member said, what’s the carrying capacity of our ecosystem?
“I worked it out. Can I say the answer?” Mac asked. “Six bears.”
Thanks, in part, to $2,500 from the Gloria Gossard Special Grants program, Yampa Valley Science School was able to revamp its curriculum this year, said Mark Wertheimer, associate director of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.
This year, the camp is broken into three topics referred to as spheres: biosphere, atmosphere/geosphere and hydrosphere. The camp runs three weeks with a new set of sixth-graders going through the spheres each week. The curriculum is updated to stay current with what’s being taught in Routt County schools, Wertheimer said, and teachers take part in the camp with their students to further integrate the lessons with the classroom.
“As silly as some of this may seem, there is a lot of research that shows this stuff sticks with them.” Wertheimer said while watching the student bears growl and crawl across the grass.
But it’s not all silly. A highlight for students was observing life at a basic level through research-grade microscopes as part of the hydrosphere lesson. The microscopes were a donation from Jerry Johnson that are shared with South Routt schools, Wertheimer said.
Logan McAtee said the hydrosphere was his favorite lesson of the week. “I’ve learned stuff I never knew before,” he said, noting that it was better than sitting the the classroom “by far” — a sentiment echoed by Isabelle Boniface and Reilly Mewborn.
Viewing mayflies and other organisms in pond water also was a favorite part of the week for Isabelle and Reilly. But with three nights spent in the Perry-Mansfield cabins, science school also is part summer camp, complete with cabin time, campfires and plenty of skits and songs.
Reilly said she’ll remember how Yeti, a high school volunteer, asked Pebble to homecoming (complete with flowers) during campfire time. Staff and volunteers go by camp names until the end of the week.
Isabelle said she, too, will remember the campfires, along with soccer played in the evenings and skits worked on with her cabin mates.
A lot of fundraising and partnerships go into making this experience happen for Routt County sixth-graders, Wertheimer said. Rocky Mountain Youth Corps gets funding for science school from the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation, its annual Moonshine Ski & Dine fundraiser, the Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board and program tuition, which the organization works to keep as inexpensive as possible. Through grants and partnerships, the organization is able to drop the per student cost from the $265 it would take to support the camp to the $125 it asks families and schools to contribute.
This year, a partnership with Alpine Bank, Bank of the West, Vectra Bank Colorado and Yampa Valley Bank has led to about 13 full scholarships. The Kiwanis Club of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Lions Club, Ski Town USA Rotary Club and Hayden Lions Club also contributed scholarships funds. The program has fielded 27 requests for full or partial scholarships, and none of those will be turned away.
“We’ll continue to rally local support,” Wertheimer said. “Ultimately, every child should be able to come to science school.” | <urn:uuid:461a98e7-e9d1-4431-9c95-ff01321b4bbe> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2012/sep/20/sixth-graders-take-part-revamped-yampa-valley-scie/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471983019893.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823201019-00290-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967587 | 1,051 | 2.671875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.5392158031463623,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Education & Jobs |
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Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) at Anhinga Trail - where else? - Everglades National Park, Florida.
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word "anhinga" comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird. It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of 85 cm (33 in), a wingspan of 117 cm (46 in), and a mass of 1.35 kg (48 oz). It is a dark-plumaged piscivore with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. The Anhinga is placed in the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to Indian (Anhinga melanogaster), African (A. rufa), and Australian (A. novaehollandiae) Darters. Unlike ducks, the Anhinga is not able to waterproof its feathers using oil produced by the uropygial gland. Consequently, feathers can become waterlogged, making the bird barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for underwater prey, such as fish and amphibians. It can stay down for significant periods. When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers, with the resemblance of the semicircular full-spread shape of its group of tail feathers while drying them out, to that of true meleagrine males lending the name "water turkey" to it. It will perch for long periods with its wings spread to allow the drying process, as do cormorants. If it attempts to fly while its wings are wet, it has great difficulty getting off the water and takes off by flapping vigorously while 'running' on the water. Anhinga will often search for food in small groups. Most of the male Anhinga's body is a glossy black green with the wings, base of wings, and tail being a glossy black blue. The tip of the tail has white feathers. The back of the head and the neck have elongated feathers that have been described as gray or light purple white. The upper back of the body and wings is spotted or streaked with white. The bill is long (about twice the length of the head, sharply pointed and yellow as are the webbed feet. The female Anhinga is similar to the male Anhinga except that it has a pale gray-buff or light brown head, neck, and upper chest. The lower chest or breast is a chestnut color and as compared to the male, the female has a more brown back. The hatchling starts out bald but gains tan down within a few days of hatching. Within two weeks the tan down has been replaced by white down. Three weeks after hatching, the first juvenile feathers appear. Juveniles are mostly brown until first breeding after the second or third winter. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhinga) | <urn:uuid:b8506a5e-0bbd-4aa9-8bf1-433efdd76c40> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8723018 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100674.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20231207121942-20231207151942-00424.warc.gz | en | 0.94256 | 695 | 3.09375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.358029842376709,
"reasoning_level": 1,
"interpretation": "Basic reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
From Our 2008 Archives
Study Offers Clues to Link Between Arrhythmia, Sudden Death
Latest Heart News
THURSDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) — New information about the molecular mechanisms that cause cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and how it triggers sudden cardiac death has been uncovered by Rhode Island Hospital researchers.
They said their findings could lead to the development of new, genetically targeted therapies to treat and prevent fatal arrhythmias. The study was published online Thursday in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
"We are still struggling to understand why arrhythmia causes sudden cardiac death in some patients, but not others, and what underlying molecular mechanisms or abnormalities may be at play," study senior author Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the cardiovascular research center at Rhode Island Hospital and a professor of medicine at Brown University's medical school, said in a prepared statement.
He and his team developed animal models of long QT syndrome (LQTS) — a disorder of the heart's electrical system that causes fast, chaotic heartbeats — to study the various mechanisms that cause arrhythmia. The animal models included the two most common genetic forms of LQTS in humans — LQT1 and LQT2.
In both forms, faulty genes lead to production of abnormal ion channels, the proteins responsible for moving potassium in and out of heart cells so they can contract. In LQT1, the mutation is in the KvLQT1 gene, while in LQT2, the mutation is in the HERG gene.
The animals with LQT2 exhibited spontaneous arrhythmias, and some of them died suddenly, while there was no spontaneous arrhythmia or sudden death among the animals with LQT1.
The researchers believe that the electrical cause for the deadly arrhythmias in the LQT2 group is increased spatial dispersion of repolarization across the front of the outside layers of cardiac muscle. The LQT1 group did not have increased dispersion.
Koren and his team also believe that HERG and KvLQT1 may interact, and that a mutation of either one of these genes could affect the other.
"While results from animal models are not always applicable to humans, we believe our findings are a first step toward gaining a better understanding of how and why arrhythmias cause sudden cardiac death. However, there is much more that we still don't know," Koren said.
— Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Lifespan, news release, May 8, 2008
Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:6663b11c-5fd0-4723-a2d0-b5fc36546c10> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=89349 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510270528.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011750-00116-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943953 | 552 | 2.578125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9378135204315186,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Health |
New Orleans & Western Louisiana
(August 19, 1863 - October 3, 1863)
Cyrus Hussey had left for home on leave without knowing an order would be issued allowing many of the regiment to return home. The order gave thirty days furlough for two men of each company and all officers but one officer in each company. For the officers this was not as generous as it sounds because most companies were reduced to one or two. There had been a large number of resignations of commissioned officers due to disabilities caused by illness and wounds. After the fall of Vicksburg Col. Sullivan and Adjutant Robert McGill resigned as well. None of the original company commanders remained. The majority of the officers had been promoted from the ranks. Col. Sullivan’s resignation letter states “My paid Regiment is now reduced down to 358 enlisted men and 28 Commissioned Officers: There are of that number but 268 present for duty; and out of this number, but 19 [officers] present for duty. Battle, sickness & long services in the field, have principally produced this result.” (http://www.48ovvi.org/pjsre1.jpg)
The 48th Ohio had never been at full strength but they were now reduced to about one third of full strength. Efforts would be made to recruit more men to fill the ranks but new regiments were being formed and deployed closer to home in healthier climates with more opportunity for promotion. These problems were now to be compounded with the transfer of the 13th Army Corps from the Army of the Tennessee to the Department of the Gulf. The 13th Corps, now under Gen. E. O. C. Ord, who had replaced Gen. McClernand, was ordered to New Orleans, and with it the 48th Ohio. The men of the 48th, who had enjoyed the most effective leadership in the Union army under Generals such as Sherman, Grant and A. J. Smith, would now be commanded by one of the most incompetent corps commanders in the Union Army, Gen. Nathanial P. Banks. At the division level they would trade the top level of leadership provided by Gen. A. J. Smith for the more moderate competence of their formenr brigade commander, Col. William J. Landram.
Lt. Col. Parker, the sole remaining field officer was on leave and would be mistakenly listed as having resigned, thus beginning a long series of problems with the army bureaucracy which would continue throughout his career, keeping him from his duties with the regiment for most the rest of the war, and, as it turned out, most of the rest of his life. During the period Col. Parker was thought to have resigned Capt. Lindsey, the senior company commander, was promoted to Lt. Col. and placed in command of the regiment.
New Orleans City Map
Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION
New Orleans was enjoyed thoroughly by the troops. Bering and Montgomery describe the pleasures of the city in the regimental history.
“New Orleans had always been a city of great note for pleasure seekers, and the war had made but little change in that respect. Therefore, as soon as we arrived at the Crescent City, enjoyment was the order of the day. During our stay, excursion parties were made up to visit the most notable places. This, with the very light duties required of us, made it one of the most pleasant periods of our service.
To the Northern soldier, New Orleans was very attractive, as it resembled more a foreign than an American city. The houses, especially in the suburbs, occupy a position back from the streets, in front of which are shrubbery and flowers. These, with the indispensable veranda, give the dwellings a cool and inviting look. The inhabitants, who are of French and Spanish descent, interest the stranger with their peculiar manners and customs.
The French market, on a Sunday morning, is an interesting scene. It is open until noon, and is thronged with customers. The stores are open until 11 A. M., when they close for the Sabbath, the observance of which consists principally in promenading on Canal street, which is said to be the finest street in America. It is very wide, and in the center runs a street railroad, on each side of which are beautiful shade trees, which form a complete arch over the track.
Cellars and wells are out of the question in this low, marshy soil, where water is found but a few feet from the surface. In fact, the city is lower than the Mississippi river at high water, and is only prevented from being overflowed by the levee. For the same reason the dead are buried in vaults, built above the ground. The principal cemetery is on the Shell Road, half-way between the city and Lake Ponchartrain. The Lake is a great public resort, for boating and fishing.
The old battle-field, below the city, received its full share of visitors. Here Gen. Jackson, on the 8th of January, 1812, with 4,000 raw recruits, defeated 12,000 British veterans, with a loss of only five men, while the British lost seven hundred. The most curious feature was, that it was fought after peace had been declared, but the combatants had not received the news. This was before railroads, steamers or the telegraph."
The regiment continued its routine without the many who were on leave, including Cyrus Hussey, who would return for duty on the Thirty-first of August. As the men trickled into camp a few at a time, many of the arrivals are noted by Capt. Hussey.
JOHN RICHARDON'S LETTERS FROM NEW ORLEANS
WILLIAM J. SROFE'S LETTERS FROM NEW ORLEANS
Thursday August 19th
|Tuesday August 25th
On the 25th of August, the Regiment embarked for New Orleans on the steamer "Atlantic," with the 77th Ills. and Chicago Mercantile Battery, and arrived at Carrollton, five miles above New Orleans…
Map of the Area Surrounding New Orleans Including Carrollton
|Thursday August 27th
[On] the 27th, and with the Division in command of Gen. Burbridge, encamped in the old rebel. camp "De Mar." Capt. Tice arrived and took command of the Regiment. [Sept. 1st error]
|Monday August 31st
Morning clear & warm. Arrived at command about 10.00 A.M. Co. generally in good health. Glad to get back. Making out Rolls. Muster at 10.00 A.M. by Tice. Our Corps at [Camp] Carrollton. Reg’t Berths.
|Tuesday September 1
Making Rolls. Warm. My health good. Wrote short letter to my wife.
|Wednesday September 2
Making returns Reg’t inspected by Insp. Genl
He only examined arms.
|Thursday Sept. 3
Quite warm. Working on Returns. Wrote to my Wife at night. Co. Drill in Morning & Bat.[talion] drill in P.M.
Friday September 4, 1863
[New Orleans Era, Saturday, Sept. 5, 1863.]
``THE REVIEW YESTERDAY.
According to announcement in the city papers, the troops under command of Maj. Gen. Washburn, now stationed at 'Champ de Mars,' near Carrollton, were reviewed by Gens. Banks and Grant, at an early hour yesterday morning. The review was a most imposing sight, and one to be long remembered. The men under review were war-scarred veterans, who left the pleasant scenes of their homes in every part of the Union, to 'hew their way to the Gulf with their swords.' Every division, brigade and regiment, as it filed past the two Generals, surrounded by their staffs, showed the results of careful and skillful training, while the animation that gleamed from the bronzed faces of these veterans, gave evidence that they were conscious of the distinguished presence in which they were marching. In the array of officers and men who met together on the 'Champ de Mars,' the citizens of New Orleans could behold a portion of the deliverers of the Mississippi river. The opening of the great inland sea required great men and stout soldiers; and to the credit of our country let it be said, the right men were found for the work. . * * *
The review was what might be reasonably expected from the tried troops, in the presence of the two distinguished Generals. The division, brigade and regimental officers handled their men with more precision than might have been witnessed on the same field two years ago, when an attempt was made by one or two Louisiana militia Generals to review raw recruits, who had never seen even a skirmish, and many of whom are still innocent of the blood of the soldiers of the army of the United States.
The heat of the day was so intense, that many of the old citizens of New Orleans were glad to retire to some friendly shade; and yet the troops showed no signs of distress, nor even inconvenience. Such is the result of being inured to exposure. The men, coming from a northern climate, endure a heat which even an acclimated person avoids. A heartier or more robust set of men probably never passed in review under the critical eyes of Generals, who have performed great deeds, and who have more yet to do.
It was apparent to the most superficial observer, that the parade was no training-day display. The two Generals, their respective staffs, the general field and regimental officers, and the men themselves, had the bearing of the true soldier, and the tout ensemble was suggestive of genius, discipline and backbone. * * * They have demonstrated that there is no such word as fail for those who are determined to succeed. It was a proud privilege to stand on that animated field yesterday, and say, 'these are American Generals and American troops, whose deeds are about to be enrolled on the scroll of immortal fame, and America is my country.' The traitor to our flag even, must have rejoiced that his pseudo-friends had been overcome by men who have shown such bravery in arms, and such mercy and moderation in victory."
John A. Bering & Thomas Montgomery, 1880
September 4, 1863
Friday September 4, 1863 [continued]
Reviewed by Grant at 8.00 A.M. Grand Affair—troops enthusiastic. Hired servant “James Haris”—Colored—at $4.00 per month. Grant thrown from his Horse & injured.
September 5, 1863
Saturday September 5, 1863
Went to New Orleans in A.M. Bought some paper, Ink, &c. Very pleasant looking City but not much grandeur. Returned at 10.00 A.M. Finished returns. Recd a Diary from home. But had just bought this one. The Diary contained a letter from my Wife of July 27th. Not needing Diary sold it to Jess [2nd Lt. Allison].
September 6, 1863
Sunday Sept. 6th
Inspected Co. in the morning. My health good. Writing up Diary. Slight rain. Capt. Jim Williams took dinner with us. News that Sumpter, Wagner, Gregg, &c. are taken.
September 7, 1863
Monday Sept. 7th
Two hours in Bayonet exercise in morning. Battalian Drill in evening. Bering in command. Myself acting Adjt. Writing up Diary. Jess [2nd Lt. Allison] Detailed in Court Martial.
September 8, 1863
Tuesday Sept. 8th
Two hours in Bayonet exercise. Went to Lake Pontchartrain. Had a bath in salt water—very pleasant Ben with me. Went to lake in cars—returning in canal boat. Saw fine Dress Parade of 11th Ind. Court Martial in Progress.
September 9, 1863
Wednesday Sept. 9th
Bayonet rill & Bat. Drill. [Capt.] Gaunsallus [Co. F], [1st Lt.] Rike [Co. A], [Pvt. James A.] Garett [Co. A], [Pvt. William C..] Edwards [Co. A], [Pvt. John A.] Britton [Co.A] &c. joined. Wrote to Wife (today or tomorrow).
September 10, 1863
Thursday, Sept. 10th
Recd a letter from my Wife of Aug 27th—containing her photograph. She has to start to the high school in New Vienna on the 7th Inst. Bayonet & Bat. Drill.
September 11, 1863
On the [11th]9th, we moved our camp to Greenville Station, on the Carrollton & New Orleans R. R., in a beautiful grove of pecan trees.
John A. Bering & Thomas Montgomery, 1880
Friday, Sept. 11th
Quite warm. Struck tents and moved camp in Nice grove in R.R. at Greenville Station N.O.&C.R.R.—Very nice Camp. Forwarded Final Statements of [Pvt.] Eli Black [Co. A] to Adjt. Genl dated 10th. Bought Provisions. Capt. Sowry [Co. E] arrived.
September 12, 1863
Saturday, Sept. 12th
Drill as usual. Went to New Orleans in A.M. & bought Kelton’s* Bayonet Manuel, cups, saucers & spoons..
*KELTON, LIEUT. J[OHN].C[UNNINGHAM], A New Manual of the Bayonet, for the Army and Militia of the United States. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1861. 108 pp 12mo. 30 engraved folding plates at rear illustrating bayonet maneuvers.
Drill, Drill, Drill…
Soldiers in camp spent most of their time in various forms of drilling. This entailed practicing the Manual of Arms (movements with a musket while standing in place) as well as sets of facings and movements that started with the company and moved up to the battalion.
The “School of the Soldier” included the manual of arms, including standing at attention and the positions of Shoulder Arms (holding the musket at one’s side with the butt off the ground”, Right Shoulder Shift Arms (holding the musket against the right shoulder), Present Arms (saluting by holding the musket out in front, in the center of the body), and other positions. It also included facings (Right face, Left Face, About Face, etc.), alignment (Right and left dress and dress on the colors), doubling up into a column of four men across, and finally, marching. Marching included turns such as By File Right or Left, By the Right or Left Flank, and wheeling.
Once the School of the Soldier was mastered, men began practicing the School of the Company in which they learned how to form the company, how to load and fire their muskets, and how to form the company for dress parade. Firing commands included firing by rank, by file or by company. They also learned basic maneuvers with the company such as By Company Into Line and Left into Line, Wheel.
There were also special commands to deploy small squads of men as skirmishers, called Instructions for Skirmishers.
The “School of the Battalion” allowed for the movement of larger groups that included several companies (a “Battalion” could be a Regiment or even a Brigade.) Commands in the School of the Battalion were much more complicated, and allowed for moving companies through other companies, creating a battle line of several companies (e.g. Forward Into Line By Companies, Left Half Wheel, March), or moving through obstacles (e.g. By the Right of Companies to the Front, March), among others.
There existed also a “School of the Officer” in which junior officers learned how to use these commands to move men around a battlefield.
Several different systems of drill were published at the time of the Civil War and the precise commands and the ways they were executed varied somewhat among the units in both the Northern and Southern armies. For example, early in the war most Union units used Winfield Scott’s drill system of 1835, but by the time the war was well under way, “Casey’s Infantry Tactics” of 1862 had been adopted. Southern soldiers used Casey’s too, but many were trained using Gilham’s or Hardee’s systems of drill.
The real point of drilling was to make it possible for commanders to move huge blocks of men around the battlefield in an orderly manner. Constant repetition and practice made these movements second nature to the soldiers, so that even in the noise, confusion and terror of a battle, they would continue to reliably obey the commands of their officers.
September 13, 1863
Sunday, Sept. 13th
Co. inspection at 8.00 A.M.
Answered my Wife’s letter of Aug. 27th. Wrote at some length about finances & Isaac’s going to Delaware. Commenced keeping cash account of expenses.
September 14, 1863
Monday, Sept. 14th
Drill in Morning. Uncontrollable- Diarrhea. Recd letter from [Pvt.] Jim Dryden [Co. A], [2nd Lt.] Jess [Allison, Co. A], [Pvt. Jonathan] Chance [Co. A], [Serg. Maj.] Conklin & Bagley & Lenard &c. Answered [1st Lt.] Corneal [Conrad]’s letter & sent him the $1.40 I owed him. His letter quite brief & my answer equally so. Wrote him that I did not expect promotion.
September 15, 1863
Tuesday, Sept. 15th
Bad Diarrhea—ate but little & took some medicine. Recd & issued some clothing. C.&G.E.
Helped Jess [2nd Lt. Allison] make our returns of Q.M. Property for July. He resigned on account of ill health & I recommended and forwarded his application. Gen. Ord present.
September 16, 1863
Wednesday, Sept. 16
My health better. Forwarded “Inventories & Inspection Reports of Unserviceable C.&G.E. to Dept. Hd.Qrs. Regt. Inspected at 6.00 A.M. by A.A.I. Genl Rike. Bat. Drill in P.M. Capt. Tice made a number of mistakes. Jess [2nd Lt. Allison] application O.K. & gone to Corps Head Quarters.
September 17, 1863
Thursday, Sept. 17th
Warmer—slight rain in P.M.
Co. & Bat. Drill. Gen. Lawler drilled our Regiment in several maneuvers. Good drill master. His dress very common. Wrote to Messrs. Conklin, Bagley, J. H. Dryden and Josh Chance. Capt Tice tendered his resignation. No word from Jess. papers at 8.00 P.M. My health better.
September 18, 1863
Friday, Sept. 18th
Warmer—slight rain in P.M.
Co. & Bat. Drill. Quite unwell— diarrhea. Took Morphia & Quinine. Jess [2nd Lt. Allison] Resignation accepted to take effect yesterday. Inventory & Inspection Reports recd approved by Corps Comd.
September 19, 1863
Saturday, Sept. 19th
Went to City with [Lt.] Jess [Allison] in A.M. He got his pay—but has to wait till 21st for Boat.
Health not very good. Returned to Camp in evening. Tice’s resignation accepted to take today.
Recd envelop from my Wife containing My Photograph & Jess & Ben’s letters from Vicks. Wrote to my Wife & sent by mail. Weather quite good.
September 20, 1863
Sept. 20th, Capt. Tice having resigned, Capt. Bering resumed command of the Regiment. With Capt. Tice we sent our old, tattered battleflag to Columbus, Ohio, to be placed in the flagroom at the State House. After he arrived in Cincinnati he put it on exhibition in Wiswell's show-window on Fourth Street, but it has never been seen or heard of since.
John A. Bering & Thomas Montgomery, 1880
Sunday, Sept. 20th
Jess went to City in morning. Health poor—bad diarrhea.
Wrote to my Wife—note to send by Jess—enclosing Corneal [Conrad]’s letter. Capt. Bering assumed command of the Regiment. Weather quite cool at night. Wrote communication about discharge of Henry Cook.
September 21, 1863
Monday, Sept 21st, 1863
Co. drill. 1st Officers School. Bat. drill—I had charge of the Bat. Drill. & also on dress parade. Rolls came back to sign—had our our signed and witnessed them. The rolls of all the other companies wrong. Wrote to Paymaster General (24th), Maj Jordan & Maj. Maylone about false payment of E.B. Tutor & James Collier [Co. A]. Recd letter from my Wife of Sept. 2nd. She is preparing to go to school—her health good. Frost Injured crops very much.
September 22, 1863
Tuesday, Sept 22nd
Made bunlf[?]. Collun discharged. Co. & Bat. Drill, Officer’s School Col. Parker not resigned.
September 23, 1863
Wednesday, Sept 23rd
Co. Drill. Officers School & Bat. Drill. Went to City with Collun to get his money. He was paid off all right by Maj. Veddy & will start for home tomorrow in the Steamer “Empress”.
Did not get back in time for battalion drill—boys said that they had a poor drill. My health much better. Recd letter from my Wife of 8th & 9th inst from “Quinton House.” Commenced taking lessons in Music Sept. 9, 1863. Miss Adda Wright a room-mate of my Wife. My letter from Vicksburg of Aug. 28th—containing letter to Phoebe [Hussey] recd & approved. Wrote to my Wife ans. hers of 2nd&8th-9th.
September 24, 1863
Thursday, Sept 24th
1st Brigade went on boats after night. Co. & Bat. Drill.
Sent in charges & specifications against Levi Read & Wm Williams [Co. A] for desertion.
September 25, 1863
Friday, Sept 25th
Co. & Bat. Drill. Went to City to get new Regulations but they had not arrived. Read “Morgan”— a well conceived but poorly finished novel by “Buntline”. No desire to sleep at night. My mind wandering to those at home chiding me for not facing the realities of life more fairly. I am actually too fanciful—I build castles in the air. May God enable me to be satisfied with my lot.
W.A. purlock went into Hos. Cook “Jim” sick—unable to get my meals. Very favorable news from Charlestown.
September 26, 1863
Saturday, Sept 26th
Co. drill. Sent our old Flag to the Govn of Ohio by [Capt.] Tice[Co. I].
Officers School. But no battalion drill. Read “Walter Thimley.” Negro Marrage in Camp. “Martha” of the Hos. & a cook belonging 77th Ill. All seems happy.
Had a nice supper & a big dinner afterwards. Our Cooks been sick some days—doing our own work.
Nothing of much interest transpiring. Recd a letter from [Pvt. Robert] Denney [Co. A] asking for a discharge. Shaved clean exaph Mustaches.
S.F. Read [Pvt. Co A] drunk.
September 27, 1863
Sunday, Sept 27th
Morning Cloudy. Had Co. Inspection at 8.00 A.M.
Wrote long letter to my Wife.
Bering absent—had charge of dress parade. 4 of our wagons turned over to Div. Q.M.
September 28, 1863
Monday, Sept 28th
Light shower in P.M. 1st Brigade returned. Sent Harpe’s, Lislie & Time to my Wife. Battles imminent in Virginia & Tennessee-news favoeable.
September 29, 1863
Tuesday, Sept 29th
Rainy Day. Wrote to Jim Denney at Leesburg. Rumors of a big fight near Chattanooga. Results about even. Indications of moving. Expecting Paymaster. Raining all night.
September 30, 1863
Wednesday, Sept 30th
Still raining. Wrote to my Wife & sent her a bill of expenses. Wrote to Capt. Roth Stewart Pro. Mart. to have Jim Wells arrested & returned to his Co. Made out & forwarded to Q.M. Genl Returns of Co. C & G. E. for Sept. 1863, dated Oct. 1st 1863. State agent at our Regt. With pol. Books &c. for election on 13th inst.
Most everyone anxious to vote. Private James H. Dryden joined from detached service—health not very good. My health good.
Large mail came in to day but not distributed. News Rosecrans indefinite.
October 1, 1863
Our pleasant times were fast drawing to a close. Oct. 1st, we received two months' pay and were ordered on a campaign in Western Louisiana.
John A. Bering & Thomas Montgomery, 1880
Thursday, Oct 1st 1863
Recd my Wife’s letter of Sept. 12th. Her health not very good. Cool & windy.
Paid by Maj. Preston—all except Brittan and Dryden.
Recd $3.75 of D. Williams for Jess.
Recd $8.00 of E. Ray & Wess Secta “ ”.
Wrote to my Wife urging her not to quit school on account of expense. Letter to be sent with money by express.
Boys all very merry.
Paid D. Williams note on me $90.00.
October 2, 1863
Friday Oct 2nd
Went to City. Expressed $140.00 to my Wife-- $11.75 of which she is to pay to Jess Allison & $ 51.25 to Posegate—lay by $10.00 & I have $67.00 to spend. Expressed $100.00 for Joshua Tudor to Ambrose Carson, Greenfield, Ohio & $40.00 for Ike Carmin to Wm. M Carmin, Washington, Ohio.
Orders to move at 6.00 A.M. tomorrow. Sold my books for $10.00 We take nothing with us but books & clothing. Other things sent to City. Notice came from Washington concerning false musters.
October 3, 1863
On the 3d we embarked on the steamer "North America" and landed at Algiers, opposite New Orleans, where we took a night-train for Brashear City, a distance of eighty miles, at which place we arrived the following morning. We crossed the bay on a ferry boat and camped at Berwick City.
John A. Bering & Thomas Montgomery, 1880
Saturday Oct 3rd
Our move delayed time uncertain. Weather clear & cool. My health only tolerable. Got in our boats in evening. Landed in Algears. Got on cars at 10.00 P.M. & started for Braschear City. Running slow. Capt. Bering went to see his Aunt & myself in command. Attached to 1st Brigade. | <urn:uuid:2524a9b8-0a57-43a3-9b1a-5ccb3d6202b0> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://48ovvi.org/oh48hd10.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084889325.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20180120043530-20180120063530-00407.warc.gz | en | 0.964487 | 5,929 | 2.875 | 3 | {
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} | History |
There are thousands upon thousands of viruses in our various environments affecting our everyday life in a variety of ways. Many of those viruses infect humans by entering and exploiting the nasal route. Scientists at The University of New Mexico are conducting research to decipher how the immune system and the olfactory neurons present in the nose work together to quickly stop viral entry into other critical organs of the body.
For example, respiratory viruses such as influenza, rhinovirus, and neurotropic viruses, like rhabdoviruses, are known to first infect the nose and then gain entry and spreading into the brain or other organs. Another great example is the flu virus, which also first infects the nasal cavity and then spreads to the lungs. The understanding of how neurons and immune cells work together to stop infection into the lungs or the brain is a critical aspect of infection control.
Back in 2014, UNM scientists, led by Associate Professor of Biology Irene Salinas, studied rainbow trout and discovered that fish have a nasal immune system with viruses that elicit strong immune responses in the olfactory organ. Taking a closer look at the data from that study, they noticed that the expression of some olfactory receptor genes and neuronal genes were also altered in the olfactory organ as a result of a viral infection.
“This observation made us think that maybe neurons were also responding to the virus,” explained Salinas. “The next experiments involved examining different types of olfactory neurons in trout exposed to virus. Soon, we noticed that one type of olfactory sensory neuron, the crypt neurons, disappeared very quickly after the virus was delivered to the nose. Deeper investigation of this phenomenon revealed that crypt neurons were rapidly dying as soon as a receptor they express, TrkA, interacted with the virus.”
The Salinas Lab in the UNM biology department is currently investigating if the antiviral responses they found in fish also occur in mice in order to better translate the findings to possible human infections. They are also continuing to work on trout and zebrafish since fish models offer several advantages over the mouse models to study this rapid neuroimmune interaction.
This study titled, Olfactory sensory neurons mediate ultrarapid antiviral immune responses in a TrkA-dependent manner, was published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by Sepahi, et al,. and was part of the doctorate thesis of Ali Sepahi. The research is funded by both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“The most remarkable point of the immune response was that it occurred extremely fast, within minutes, a time scale that immunologists usually overlook. The immune response was fascinating, because it could not only be recorded in the olfactory organ, where the virus has just been delivered, but also in the CNS, where the virus was not present at all.” — Associate Professor Irene Salinas
Sepahi joined Salinas lab in 2013 as a Ph.D. student and his thesis focused on different aspects of fish nasal immunity and neuroimmune communication under Salinas’ supervision. Sepahi received his Ph.D. in 2018 and now works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Medical School at the University of Michigan. His current research mainly focuses on immuno-oncology and mucosal immunology on the mouse model.
Three other members of the Salinas lab, including graduate Aurora Kraus, postdoctoral researcher Elisa Casadei and undergraduate student Cecelia Kelly, are also co-authors in the study. The study represents five years of work that involved developing many new assays in the laboratory since trout had not been used for the study of neuro-immune interactions before.
The Salinas lab also teamed up with fish electrophysiologist Mar Huertas at Texas State University. The research revealed that fish can smell viruses triggered by electrical responses in olfactory neurons. The signals were then sent to the olfactory bulb in the central nervous system. Next, the researchers asked if the neuronal activation observed was paralleled with immune responses against the virus and they found the answer was yes.
“The most remarkable point of the immune response was that it occurred extremely fast, within minutes, a time scale that immunologists usually overlook,” Salinas said. “The immune response was fascinating, because it could not only be recorded in the olfactory organ, where the virus has just been delivered, but also in the CNS, where the virus was not present at all.”
These findings revealed that a neuroimmune collaboration between the periphery (olfactory organ) and the CNS (olfactory bulb) exists against viruses. It also showed that immune responses in the CNS can happen even when there is not an active infection there, but in response to distant pathogenic stimuli.
Christopher Alan Johnston an associate professor in the UNM Biology Department and co-author on the paper, produced viral recombinant proteins that allowed the team to identify what part of the virus is actually interacting with the trout olfactory neurons.
A final proof of the importance of olfactory sensory neurons in antiviral defense in fish came from a different animal model system: the zebrafish. In this case, Victoriano Mulero’s team at the University of Murcia, Spain, helped develop a new tool: a zebrafish in which the crypt neurons were ablated using a prodrug in the water. Comparing zebrafish with crypt neurons and those without crypt neurons showed that in the absence of crypt neurons, zebrafish succumb to a rhabdovirus infection more readily.
“I am a fascinated about the commonalities between the nervous system and the immune system,” said Salinas. “We use fish as a model because their olfactory system is pretty similar to that of mice and humans. Fish, however, offer a clear advantage: their olfactory organ is superficially located and therefore we can perform easy dissections and very quick in vivo experiments like the ones in this paper that are very tricky to perform in mice.”
Salinas’ research focuses on mucosal immunity, especially nasal immunity and its evolution in vertebrates. Mucosal surfaces are at the interface between hosts and the environment. The olfactory epithelium is a mucosal surface with a very unique characteristic: neurons are directly exposed to the environment. This means that neurons, which usually are not directly exposed to pathogens, are constantly interacting with microbes in the olfactory organ. Olfactory neurons, also, are one step away from the CNS, the final target tissue of many harmful viruses such as rabies or influenza.
“The findings really highlight how important nasal immunity is to keep the CNS pathogen-free. How brains respond, and therefore how we behave, appear to be influenced by the signals that our nose sends to the brain in response to danger (like viruses),” said Salinas, who is also part of UNM’s Center for Theoretical and Evolutionary Immunology (CETI). “This fascinating concept needs to be further studied.”
Additionally, these findings may have important implications for the design of nasal vaccines both for use in fish farming and for humans, according to the team. The translation of these findings to human health requires careful examination in mammalian models, project that is currently ongoing in the Salinas laboratory.The research is funded through USDA AFRI Grant 2DN70-2RDN7 and NSF IOS award 1755348. | <urn:uuid:1bc69b77-eab7-4ced-a6e8-92a1ba41b762> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | http://news.unm.edu/news/unm-scientists-discover-new-antiviral-roles-for-olfactory-neurons-in-fish | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711218.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20221207185519-20221207215519-00131.warc.gz | en | 0.962576 | 1,563 | 3.4375 | 3 | {
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} | Science & Tech. |
Every October, dating back to 1985, Breast Cancer Awareness comes to the forefront and is recognized by cancer survivors, governments and the media.
The goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is crystal clear: bring awareness, treatment, detection and funding to this dreadful disease. According to the nonprofit Breastcancer.org, about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. In 2020 alone, an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected and 42,530 women in the U.S. are expected to die from it. We have to continue to help advocate against breast in order to improve these statistics.
The American Cancer Society reports, breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the breast and the cells usually form a tumor that can be seen on x-ray or felt as a lump. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women with the exception of skin cancer. The wonderful thing about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is it helps educate the public about breast cancer. The more information we have about a disease or health challenge, the more opportunities we have to defeat it.
There is no perfect path to prevent breast cancer, but there are a few things that women can do that may lower their risk. These steps may help:
- Remain at a healthy weight level- Try and maintain a healthy weight level throughout life by balancing your food intake, eating healthy and engaging in physical activity.
- Limit or avoid alcohol- Even low levels of alcohol have been linked to an increase cancer risk.
- Increased Physical Activity- Studies indicate that increased physical activity lowers the risk of breast cancer.
- Healthy Diet- This is still under review by the experts, but some studies report diets high in fruits, vegetables, calcium rich dairy products, and low red meats might help lower breast cancer risk.
The encouraging news is that we have 3.5 million women across the United States who have survived breast cancer and many of those outcomes would not be possible without breast cancer awareness.
October is the perfect time to honor the survivors of breast cancer, and these are a few ways we should consider:
- Meet and visit with your physician- Discuss family history and individual risks.
- Spread the word- Educate yourself and those around you. Checkups, screenings and mammograms help save lives.
- Celebrate our 3.5 million survivors- Take time to celebrate your family member or friend who has succeeded against the breast cancer villain. A simple card or gift can let them know how much you care.
Thankfully, the breast cancer awareness campaign is working! Breast cancers are now being detected earlier and at a more treatable stage. Let's all chip in and do our part to help spread the word and keep our women cancer free! | <urn:uuid:efdd586c-7334-4151-baaf-657ca9cf417d> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://www.americansenioralliance.com/breast_cancer_awareness_month_is_worth_every_day | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141681209.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20201201170219-20201201200219-00214.warc.gz | en | 0.954159 | 559 | 3.171875 | 3 | {
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} | Health |
A collection of more than 18,000 volumes concerning Mississippi's natural history supports the various programs and research efforts of the Museum. The library started as a donation of materials by Miss Fannye A. Cook in 1965 and has grown to become the most complete and up to date collection of natural history materials in the state. Please call ahead to arrange a library visit.
The mission of the Library is to provide high quality information services on natural history subjects. The Library meets our clientele's information needs through a variety of services utilizing the Library and Archival collections, resource sharing with other libraries, and accessing information available electronically.
Who Uses the Library?
The Library's primary clients are the staff of the Museum and the fisheries and game biologists of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Other clients include Museum Foundation members, scientists, historians, artists, elementary through graduate students, corporations and government agencies, and members of the public with an interest in Mississippi's natural environment.
The nucleus of the Library is a collection of materials donated in 1965 by Miss Fannye Cook, the Museum's first Director. The Library houses the most complete collection of natural history materials in the state and is always seeking to provide users with access to current resources for research and learning. The collection consists primarily of materials dealing with the identification of Mississippi's flora and fauna, their habitats, conservation, and management. Materials on botany, zoology, ecology, freshwater biology, muselogy, law, and legislation, with an emphasis on endangered species, environmental impact statements, and plant and animal communities, create a remarkable body of knowledge on Mississippi's natural history. The 18,000 volume library functions as a support facility for the various programs and research efforts of the Museum and the materials collected reflect these endeavors.
A special collection of scientific reprints includes early papers collected by Miss Cook, articles on Gopher Tortoise research, freshwater mussels, and a complete collection of reprints on the botany of Mississippi. A complete collection of Museum Technical Reports, Freshwater Fisheries Reports, and Game Reports of the MDWFP is also maintained. Information is provided in a variety of formats: books, government reports, electronic materials, periodicals, videos, slides, and cd's.
The Library receives over 100 scientific journals and newsletters representing all the major natural science disciplines, with complete runs of the principle titles. Emphasis is also placed on periodicals that pertain to conservation efforts in Mississippi and the south. The current year's issues are displayed on open shelves in the reading room. After the year and/or volume are/is complete, the issues are bound and shelved in alphabetical order in the stacks.
The Library's collection is complemented by an extensive collection of archival items. The archives is comprised not only of administrative records and official Museum and MDWFP documents, but also special collections which include the Fannye Cook Papers and the WPA Papers, which contain hand colored maps and photographic documentation of the historic WPA Plant and Animal Survey of Mississippi conducted by Fannye Cook. Portions of the archives have been brought together in a special collection that documents the History of Wildlife Conservation in Mississippi. Unpublished manuscripts of early scientists who worked in Mississippi, such as Aldo Leopold, Benjamin Leonard Covington Wailes, O. P. Hay, Samuel F. Hildebrand, Eugene W. Hilgard, and Ephraim Noble Lowe are also held.
The Library's collection, products, and services have been developed in response to specific information needs of the Museum staff. Today's services include reference assistance, interlibrary loan, document delivery, verification of citations, and searching electronic information sources (commercially available databases, CD-ROM products, the Internet, and the World Wide Web).
Basic Reference Assistance is provided to anyone who visits the Library for locating factual information in the Library's collection and for assistance with detailed research work. The staff will answer some questions over the telephone.
Access to Materials
Access to materials is provided through an online catalog system. The catalog can be searched by author, title, and subject. The Library uses the Library of Congress classification system for book arrangement. Access to scientific articles is available to the public from INGENTA, EBSCOHOST, ABSEARCH and WILDLIFE & FISHERIES WORLDWIDE via the internet.
Interlibrary Loan is available for the Museum Staff and cooperators through the national computer database called OCLC, which provides access to the holdings of other libraries nation-wide.
Borrowing Privileges are reserved for the Museum's Staff, cooperators and members of the Museum, however the general public may use the collection in the Reading Room. A copy machine is located near the library and is available for making photocopies from library materials at a cost of $.25 per image.
This list of references is the best available for identifying Mississippi's flora and fauna. Most can be found at local bookstores or public libraries and all are available for use within the Museum Library. All of these books are suitable for amateur naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as scientists. There are other more technical materials useful for further research and study, which are available for use within the Museum Library. Make an appointment with the Museum Librarian to visit the Library to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of Mississippi's wildlife.
Click here for the list of books available. | <urn:uuid:5d0a18fd-650a-4d36-8041-6898535879b8> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://mdwfp.com/learn-teach/reference-library.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375100481.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031820-00287-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915893 | 1,110 | 2.890625 | 3 | {
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Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine that involves the administration of radioactive substances in order to diagnose and treat disease. The scans performed in nuclear medicine are carried out by a radiographer. This speciality of nuclear medicine is sometimes referred to as endoradiology because the radiation emitted from inside the body is detected rather than being applied externally, as with an X-ray procedure, for example.
For nuclear medicine scans, radionuclides are combined with other chemical compounds to form the radiopharmaceuticals that are widely used in this field. When administered to the patient, these radiopharmaceuticals target specific organs or cellular receptors and bind to them selectively. External detectors are used to capture the radiation emitted from the radiopharmaceutical as it moves through the body and this is used to generate an image. Diagnosis is based on the way the body is known to handle substances in the health state and disease state.
The radionuclide used is usually bound to a specific complex (tracer) that is known to act in a particular way in the body. When disease is present, the tracer may be distributed or processed in a different way to when no disease is present. Increased physiological function that may occur as a result of disease or injury usually results in an increased concentration of the tracer, which can often be detected as a “hot spot.” Sometimes, the disease process leads to exclusion of the tracer and a “cold spot” is detected instead. A large variety of tracer complexes are used in nuclear medicine to visualize and treat the different organs, tissues and physiological systems in the body.
The main difference between nuclear medicine diagnostic tests and other imaging modalities is that nuclear imaging techniques show the physiological function of the tissue or organ being investigated, while traditional imaging systems such as computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans) show only the anatomy or structure.
Nuclear medicine imaging techniques are also organ- or tissue-specific. While a CT or MRI scan can be used to visualize the whole of the chest cavity or abdominal cavity, for example, nuclear imaging techniques are used to view specific organs such as the lungs, heart or brain. Nuclear medicine studies can also be whole-body based, if the agent used targets specific cellular receptors or functions. Examples of these techniques include the whole-body PET scan or PET/CT scan, the meta iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan, the octreotide scans, the indium white blood cell scan, and the gallium scan.
Reviewed by Sally Robertson, BSc | <urn:uuid:1b799bfe-6224-4d9b-96d0-2c29ccda9cf1> | CC-MAIN-2018-13 | https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Nuclear-Medicine.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257647892.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20180322151300-20180322171300-00636.warc.gz | en | 0.93593 | 530 | 3.78125 | 4 | {
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Keeping global warming under 1.5℃ is still achievable with rapid deployment of renewables.
A new report found solar and wind can supply the world’s energy demand more than 50 times over.
By Sven Teske
However, our new research suggests the horse may have already bolted. We found even if no new fossil fuel projects were approved anywhere in the world, carbon emissions set to be released from existing projects will still push global warming over the dangerous 1.5℃ threshold.
Specifically, even with no new fossil fuel expansion, global emissions would be 22% too high to stay within 1.5℃ by 2025, and 66% too high by 2030.
However, keeping global warming under 1.5℃ is still achievable with rapid deployment of renewables. Our research found solar and wind can supply the world’s energy demand more than 50 times over.
The stunning potential of wind and solar
While our findings were alarming, they also give us a new reason to be hopeful.
We analysed publicly available oil, gas and coal extraction data, and calculated the future production volume. We worked under the assumption no new fossil fuel extraction projects would be developed, and all existing projects would see production declining at standard industry rates.
We found fossil fuel projects already in the pipeline will, by 2030, produce 35% more oil and 69% more coal than what’s consistent with a pathway towards a 1.5℃ temperature rise.
Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change, accounting for more than 75% of carbon dioxide emissions. Continuing to expand this sector will not only be catastrophic for the climate, but also for the world’s economy as it locks in infrastructure that will become stranded assets.
Ultimately, it’s not enough to simply keep fossil fuels in the ground. To meet our climate goals under the Paris Agreement, we must phase down existing production.
Solar and wind power technologies are already market ready and cost competitive. And as our analysis confirms, they’re ready to be scaled up to meet the energy demands of every person on the planet.
We mapped all the potential areas where wind and solar infrastructure can be built, and the energy potential across six continents.
Even after applying a set of robust, conservative estimates that take environmental safeguards, land constraints and technical feasibility into account, we found that solar and wind energy could meet the world’s energy demand from 2019 — 50 times over.
It’s clear we don’t need new fossil fuel development to ensure 100% energy access in the future.
Australia’s laggard status
In Australia, the Morrison government refuses to set new emissions reduction targets, and continues to fund new fossil fuel projects, such as a A$600 million gas plant in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
Despite Australia’s laggard status on climate change, there are positive moveselsewhere around the world.
The Morrison government recently announced $600 million for a major new gas plant.
The progress was evident ahead of the G7 summit this past weekend, where climate change was firmly on the agenda. Ahead of the summit, environment ministers worldwide agreed to phase out overseas fossil fuel finance and end support for coal power.
And in recent weeks, three global fossil fuel giants – Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil – faced legal and shareholder rebukes over their inadequate action on climate change.
Coming on top of all that, the IEA last month set out a comprehensive roadmapto achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It included a stark warning: no new fossil fuel projects should be approved.
Natural carbon storage is key
However, the IEA’s findings contradict our own on several fronts. We believe the IEA underestimated the very real potential of renewable energy and relied on problematic solutions to fill what it sees as a gap in meeting the carbon budget.
For example, the IEA suggests a sharp increase in bioenergy is required over the next 30 years.
This would require biofuels from energy plantations — planting crops (such as rapeseed) specifically for energy use.
But conservationists estimate the sustainable potential for biofuels is lower. They also say high volumes of bioenergy might interfere with land use for food production and protected nature conservation areas.
Our research found the exact opposite is needed: rapid phase out of deforestation and significant reforestation alongside the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
Bioenergy should be produced predominantly from agricultural and organic waste to remain carbon neutral.
Likewise, the IEA calls for an extreme expansion of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects — where carbon dioxide emissions are captured at the source, and then pumped and stored deep in the ground.
In its roadmap, the IEA expects CCS projects to grow from capturing 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (as is currently the case), to 1,665 million tonnes by 2030.
Establishing natural carbon sinks should be prioritised instead, such as keeping forest, mangrove and seagrass ecosystems better intact to draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Phasing out early
As a wealthy country, Australia is better placed than most to weather any economic disruption from the energy transition.
Our research shows Australia should phase out fossil fuels early and urgently. The Australian government should also ensure communities and people reliant on fossil fuel industries are helped through the transition.
We must also support poorer countries highly dependent on fossil fuels, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
There is new international momentum for climate action, and the future of the fossil fuel industry looks increasingly dire. The technologies to make the transition are ready and waiting – now all that’s needed is political will. | <urn:uuid:4adfeede-d975-4db2-8149-70987db06558> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://climateactionaustralia.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/even-without-new-fossil-fuel-projects-global-warming-will-still-exceed-1-5%E2%84%83-but-renewables-might-make-it-possible-auspol-qldpol-fundourfuturenotgas-stopadani-demand-climateaction-sdg1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154385.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20210802203434-20210802233434-00574.warc.gz | en | 0.92871 | 1,175 | 3.234375 | 3 | {
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We already knew Zika was dangerous, primarily because the virus causes brain defects in babies born to infected women. Now, a new study suggests the virus may also damage adult brain cells that help us learn and remember.
“This is the first study looking at the effect of Zika infection on the adult brain,” said Joseph Gleeson, co-author of the study and an adjunct professor at The Rockefeller University. “Based on our findings, getting infected with Zika as an adult may not be as innocuous as people think.”
Previous reports on the spread of the virus have said symptoms were unnoticeable or generally mild. In its discussion of the health effects from Zika infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has until now cited only birth defects, pregnancy problems and an association with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The new study presents a different possibility.
Many babies born to women infected by the Zika virus have been profoundly disabled, with brains and heads that are smaller than they should be. This condition is known as microcephaly.
Scientists from Rockefeller and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology wondered if the virus could affect the same kind of cells in adults as they do in infants, a class of cells called neural progenitors, or brain stem cells.
They tested the idea on the brains of mice, using fluorescent biomarkers.
“Our results are pretty dramatic—in the parts of the brain that lit up, it was like a Christmas tree,” Gleeson said. “It was very clear that the virus wasn’t affecting the whole brain evenly, like people are seeing in the fetus.”
Brain stem cells, he said, “are special, and somehow very susceptible to the infection.”
The finding that Zika may target stem cells of the adult brain “closely mirrors what is seen in microcephaly,” researchers said. They called for further study of the ways the virus may target the adult brain.
Another co-author, Sujan Shresta of the La Jolla institute, said the adult brain stem cells are involved in the functions of learning and memory.
"We don't know what this would mean in terms of human diseases, or if cognitive behaviors of an individual could be impacted after infection," she said.
The story of Zika has evolved considerably since health officials first connected the proliferation of birth defects in Brazil with infection by the virus, most often spread by mosquitos.
The infection that started in South America and the Caribbean is now seen worldwide. In July, health officials in Utah announced the first U.S. death from the virus.
The CDC tracks transmission of the virus, provides updates about research and offers tips about avoiding mosquito bites. The CDC says infected people usually don’t get sick enough from Zika to go to the hospital. The most common Zika symptoms are:
- Joint pain
- Conjunctivitis, or red eyes
Symptoms can also include muscle pain and headaches, according to the CDC.
For more information
The study, “Zika Virus Infects Neural Progenitors in the Adult Mouse Brain and Alters Proliferation,” was published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Prepared statements about the findings were published here and here.
No vaccine exists to battle the Zika virus, but you can take steps to avoid being infected. Talk to your health care provider about precautions and symptoms to watch for. You can find a Providence provider here. | <urn:uuid:b1c0bea5-01ea-4ce0-818f-590a9709059d> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | https://blog.providence.org/archive/zika-virus-may-damage-brains-of-adults-as-well-as-those-of-unborn | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589417.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20180716174032-20180716194032-00182.warc.gz | en | 0.963042 | 727 | 3.5 | 4 | {
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Gum disease like gingivitis is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. As stated in a JADA July 2018 publication, about 42% of adults aged 30 years old and up suffer from periodontitis. The common cause of gum diseases is the accumulation of bacteria and food residue inside your mouth. Combine these two factors, and you’ll get a build-up of plaque on your teeth.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Gum disease manifests itself though:
- Persistent bad breath
- Redness and/or swelling
- Pain on chewing
- Loose teeth
- Longer-looking teeth due to receding gum line
Once you see these signs and symptoms, you know that your gum is looking for some TLC. One of the best ways to resolve gum infection is by using activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal and gum disease
Activated charcoal is a known detoxifier. Its highly porous surface draws out food residue, bacteria, as well as the toxins they release from your mouth. It’s an inert material that balances the microbiome of your mouth by buffering its pH, lessening the acidity which causes bacterial formation.
Activated charcoal is also an active anti-inflammatory agent. Red, swollen areas gradually calm down and reduce in size as the activated carbon draws out toxins and impurities that are irritating.
How to use activated charcoal for gum disease
One way is to create a poultice by filing up a tea bag with activated charcoal. After sealing the bag, add in water until it becomes moist and press it on a tender gum area. Keep it there for a good 20-mins to an hour twice a day to draw out the bacteria and toxins.
Another is to get a piece of activated charcoal tablet and press it between your inner cheek and irritated gum. The tablet will gradually melt bringing with it all those impurities while easing down the swelling.
You can also brush your teeth using Actinera® Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Gel. It’s highly adsorbent, effectively pulling out bacteria and toxins from your mouth, leaving it clean and fresh. Your teeth will also get whiter as surface stains are removed.
Actinera® Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Gel also contains premium organic coconut oil, adding the benefit of oil pulling in your oral care. Research revealed that coconut oil significantly decreases bad bacteria in the mouth. Coconut oil is seen to be highly effective in “pulling” bacteria, viruses, and protozoa from your mouth.
Using Actinera® Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Gel regularly can help reduce inflammation, remove bacteria, and promote healing. Use it twice a day for three days, brushing with gentle strokes for 2-3 minutes. Resume after a day of rest, then continue with the regimen 3-4 times a week.
Disclaimer: Actinera® Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Gel helps in healing gum disease. However, should the pain and bleeding persist, or if your condition worsens, consult your dentist immediately. | <urn:uuid:efcbc531-1229-4e0f-b869-642f65e2b837> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://actinera.com/activated-charcoal-gum-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570987836368.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20191023225038-20191024012538-00454.warc.gz | en | 0.933263 | 628 | 2.5625 | 3 | {
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Dune Lakes, Longleaf Pines and Biodiversity
South Walton is one of Florida’s original green destinations – a true pioneer in sustainability and responsible environmental practices. Our 26-mile stretch of shoreline is recognized for its unspoiled beauty and continues to attract travelers year-round for Florida ecotourism.
Forty percent of South Walton's 56,000 acres is owned by the State of Florida and protected from future development, providing plenty of places for individual exploration as well as guided tours. The area’s four Florida State Parks and Point Washington State Forest provide miles of pristine nature where native wildlife, such as deer and fox, as well as endangered species, including the Gopher Tortoise and Red Cockaded Woodpecker, call home.
Dune Lakes – Rare Coastal Jewels
In South Walton, beachgoers are well familiar with the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But the area is also home to 15 coastal dune lakes, a geographical feature so rare that it only exists in a handful of places on Earth.
The dune lakes of South Walton were created by wind and waves thousands of years ago and are constantly evolving. They’re unusually shallow, with an average depth of about five feet, and the dunes surrounding them can get as tall as 30 feet high. Water in the dune lakes is brackish, meaning it contains a widely varying mix of salt and fresh water.
Occasionally, the water level in a dune lake reaches a critical level due to rainfall and inflows from streams. At that point, the lowest elevation of the beach gives way (locals call it a “blow out”), sending lake water into the Gulf via a temporary waterway called an outfall. Depending on tidal flows and wind conditions, saltwater from the Gulf may enter the lake along with saltwater plants and animals. The exchange between Gulf and dune lake continues until it reaches a natural equilibrium, and the connection closes again.
Because of those ever-changing water conditions, the lakes are known to be a biologically diverse, critical habitat to a wide variety of plants and animals, as well as an important natural estuary between the Gulf and upland areas.
Another key feature of South Walton’s unique ecosystem is its longleaf pine forestlands. The longleaf pine was once a dominant species throughout the southeastern United States, but rapid development and deforestation has left it on less than five percent of the land it once called home.
Today, the longleaf pine can be found on much of South Walton’s protected parkland, and the longleaf pine forest is the focus of extensive preservation efforts in Point Washington State Forest and at Nokuse Plantation, home of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center. The tree is at the heart of an ecosystem that sustains woodpeckers, tortoises, deer, rabbits, and squirrels, and its preservation is considered vital to the sustainability of many native plants and animals.
One great way to get an up-close look at this ecosystem in action is to hike or bike the Longleaf Pine Greenway Trail, an eight-mile trail that cuts east and west through the heart of the Point Washington State Forest.
- Dunes are formed by the wind and are a function of the vast amount of sand that has been deposited along our coast. Approximately 10,000 years ago, the sea level rose, trapping huge quantities of sand at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. Subsequently, the long shore transport current moved the sand west to South Walton. Dunes offer the first line of defense against wave action during storms and are a very important part of the ecosystem of the beaches.
- Sea oats are nature's dune builders and are protected by state law. Sea oats comprise more than 85 percent of plant life on the dunes. They are the only plants with an extensive root system that grows both vertically and horizontally. This unique root system not only stabilizes the core of the dune but also adds protection to the surface from blowing sand. The plant builds the dune as it grows, spreading and capturing more sand. Because of the critical role the dunes and the sea oats play to the health of the beaches, it is easy to understand why foot traffic on the dunes is extremely destructive.
- Walton County is home to two of the highest points in Florida. Located in the northern part of the county, Britton Hill is recorded as the highest point in the state of Florida, while the neighborhood of Blue Mountain has the highest elevation along the Gulf Coast.
- Beach restoration is of vital importance in South Walton for storm protection, habitat preservation and recreation. The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association recognized South Walton with a 2008 Best Restored Beach Award for its successful nourishment program.
- The South Walton Turtle Watch Program is an organization that locates turtle nests, protects them until hatching and, if necessary, helps baby turtles make it safely to the water. Posters, signs and brochures can be found throughout South Walton educating residents and visitors on ways to protect the native wildlife and vegetation. Protecting endangered species such as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle that nest along South Walton's beaches from May through October is a top priority among residents. | <urn:uuid:ba0d5589-3016-4706-a616-30f389618b3c> | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | https://www.visitsouthwalton.com/dune-lakes-biodiversity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243988774.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20210506235514-20210507025514-00594.warc.gz | en | 0.951851 | 1,090 | 3.15625 | 3 | {
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ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI: His Prayer
1181 – 1225
FIRST RECORDED WORDS of ST. FRANCIS
We have but a few pages of writing, which we can for certain be attributed to St. Francis, one of the most widely loved saints in the world and founder of the largest religious order.
It is interesting to note that his first words we have on record probably dates from 1205-6 when he was already twenty-three years old.
Fittingly his first words are prayers that he is said to have said over and over again.
Prayer of St. Francis
Most High, glorious God
Illumine the darkness of my heart,
Give me a right faith,
a certain hope and
a perfect charity
and grant me insight
so I can always observe your holy and true command.
There is no activity that Francis liked better than prayer which became for him always his first concern. Thus Francis ordered his followers to pray regularly. He told them that when they spoke with God in prayer not only were their inner feelings purified but they could attain union with the one true and highest God and even actually hear Him.
Most High, Glorious God
Francis who remains a knight at heart begins his prayer in this chivalrous courteous address of praise. In fact it is said that his prayers almost always begins and ends in praise thus making his prayers one of adoration.
Because praise and adoration makes up the core of Francis’ prayer he is able in this way to unite prayer and love enabling him to put on the mind of Christ.
The words Most High recognizes the infinite distance between God and him and in typical Francis’ humility acknowledges his nothingness before the Most High God.
It is a true humility because Francis is neither looking down upon himself nor even demeaning himself for he knows he has been chosen by God to be simple and unlearned. Rather he is admitting that God is God and he, Francis, is not; so his prayer is for the Most High to take the initiative with him. In time this perspective will affect everything he will do and become.
This deep and earnest prayer of Francis is addressed to the “Most High”, a term that we find him using over and over again the rest of his life.
When he wrote the Rule for the Franciscan order he founded, he ended it saying:
“All powerful, most holy, most high and supreme God. . .
Let all of us. . . magnify and give thanks to the most
high and supreme eternal God. . .
glorious, exalted on high, sublime, most high. . .”
An excerpt from his famous “Canticle of the Sun,” the great poem of his life that he sings in ecstasy and gratitude when he was nearing death says:
“Most High, all-powerful Good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor
and all blessing.
Illumine the darkness of my heart
Francis loved to pray for the light which would shine through the darkness of his heart which would cleanse it and the rest would follow. Thus he was constantly asking God for enlightenment over the darkness and ignorance that causes him not see aright.
In a great moment of enlightenment Francis could put on the mind of Christ and finally see the world as God sees it: That poverty will ultimately bring him the greatest and sweetest joy and content.
Give me a right faith, a certain hope
When Francis dictated the memories of his youth to Brother Leo in the Porziuncula he said:
“And he the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would simply pray and say: We adore thee O Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the world. . . after that the Lord gave me and He gives me so much faith in priests . . . I am unwilling to see sin in them because in them I see the Son of God and they are my lords.”
a perfect charity
The priest translated the first passage that Francis had opened at random in the book of the Gospels: “If thou hast an eye to be perfect, go then and sell all that belongs to thee; give it to the poor and so the treasure that thou hast shall be in heaven, then come back and follow me.”
and grant me insight
The mind of Francis was preoccupied with the paradox that in detachment, poverty and penance were perfect joy to be found. True joy derives from seeking first the Kingdom of God.
God gave him also the insight to realize that it is not war that needs to be outlawed but the love of money, the greed of the human heart that is at the root of war.
Untrained, unlettered and with a minimum of knowledge of what a preacher normally should know, Francis prayed unceasingly and continually not trusting in his own strength or wisdom but relying wholly on God; so he was granted the wisdom to grasp that the love of neighbor can only be secured when the Gospel is lived sincerely, when the Word of God moves people to make decisions that radically changes their lives.
Thus Francis instructed all his followers:
“Make all of your time a holy leisure in which to inscribe wisdom in your heart.”
So I can always observe your holy and true command
All the things that Francis prays for in this prayer – light to the darkness of his heart; faith, hope, charity, insight and wisdom are – so he can observe God’s holy and true command.
Francis’ only desire was to be obedient to God’s will in everything. Thus placing God’s will above everything else is a gift of Francis to our world today. So is his simple but eloquent first words.
SOURCES of REFERENCE
ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI
Butlers Lives of the Saints – Vol. IV pp 22 – 32
The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of SAINTS – pp 148 – 149
Pocket Dictionary of Saints – pp 195 – 196
The Watkins Dictionary of Saints – pp 90 – 92
A Calendar of Saints – p 197
All Saints – pp 432 – 433
A Year With the Saints – October 4
Butler’s Saint for the Day – pp 469 – 412
Illustrated Lives of the Saints – Vol. I pp 448 – 451
My First Book of Saints – pp 232 – 234
Saint Companions – pp 371 – 374
Saints for Our Time – pp 371 – 374
Saints of the Day – pp 266 – 267
Children’s Book of Saints – pp 205 – 210
Saints – A Visual Guide – pp 214 – 215
Voices of the Saints – pp 360 – 361
Ordinary People Extraordinary Lives – Group 7 Card 2
The Everything Saints Book – pp 90 – 91
The Lion Treasury of Saints – pp 140 – 141
The Flying Friar – pp 74 – 77
Servants of God – pp 28 – 29
Best-Love Saints – pp 74 – 79
The Way of the Saints – pp 172 – 173
Book of Saints – Part 6 – pp 20 – 21
Novenas – pp 58 61
Saints Ancient and Modern – p 80 – 87
Francis of Assisi and Teresa Kolkata – pp 13 – 15; pp 22 – 25 | <urn:uuid:e59f1d4e-55d8-44b3-9152-ede04674b801> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://ssaparish.com/2014/10/04/r-a-n-d-o-m-t-h-o-u-g-h-t-s-voices-from-yesterday-and-today-by-peachy-maramba-11/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547584203540.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20190123064911-20190123090911-00574.warc.gz | en | 0.952468 | 1,546 | 2.6875 | 3 | {
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If participating in British Science Week has left you and your students hungry for more science activities, then this may be of interest…
Bayer, which is a supporter of the BSA’s education work, has opened a new schools laboratory, Baylab. It is free to use and will be the 14th Baylab in the world and the first in the UK. It will enable pupils of all ages to spend half a day or a day in workshops that allow them to explore science in a more practical way than there is often time for as a result of timetable constraints in the school lab. The workshops include tried and tested practical work from other Baylabs and from the Royal Institution.
Here, we interview Baylab’s manager, Emma Schierbaum, about this exciting new initiative.
Why have you opened a Baylab in the UK?
“The UK is now an important hub in the Bayer world, so there’s never been a better time for us to encourage people to take up careers in science. And with Brexit becoming a reality, it’s another opportunity for us as a company to demonstrate our commitment to the science community and to the UK.”
Does it include both primary and secondary learning?
“Absolutely! The Baylab offers a high level learning environment for pupils from primary right through to secondary level, Key Stages 2-5. They’ll be able to take part in practical work to bring to life scientific concepts and principles at all levels.
Who have you worked with to create the workshops?
“We started with the British Science Association, who audited the workshops from our European Baylabs for relevance and fit with the National Curriculum. That gave us an idea of how much adaptation we needed, and we have been working to adapt the first workshops from our other labs. In the meantime, we have an agreement with the Royal Institution, who already run a successful schools laboratory in central London, to use some of their established workshops.”
How long do the workshops last? Can you accommodate more than one set of pupils in a day?
“Workshops can last from two to six hours, depending on the level and complexity. We have piloted two sets of schools per day for the shorter practicals, and are also looking at splitting up groups so that one set can work in the lab while others work in the Inspiration Space. We are focused on bringing science to life, and providing the right environment to nurture curiosity. This is going to be particularly important for primary school pupils because this gives them a first introduction to science. Most young people have already found out what they like doing by the time they go up to secondary school, so it’s really important we give them a chance to see how fascinating and exciting science can be, and spark that interest at an early age.”
How Are Teachers Involved?
“Baylab is also going to be really important as a support hub for teachers. They won’t necessarily be experts in some of the areas we are going to explore here, so it can only help their understanding and develop their knowledge in key areas. We will be developing new workshops all the time, and will also be offering holiday programmes.”
What has been the reaction so far from schools and pupils?
“To date we’ve focused on workshops that involve producing something personal to take away at the end of it; such as bath bombs, lip balms and samples of DNA that they encase in a vial to wear as a pendant. So the pupils have a real sense of achievement, and something to show their parents and friends, which has made the workshops extremely popular. They’ve all commented on how much fun it has been. Teachers have been really positive too, and some have been really surprised at the level of knowledge their pupils have already.”
What’s your background, Emma?
“I worked as the head of science at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar Junior School in Wakefield as well in the secondary sector teaching science and chemistry to A level standard for five years. I’ve got a biochemistry degree from the University of York, and commercial experience with the multinational chemical company, Croda Chemicals, in Doncaster.”
Is there anything you miss about teaching in school?
“I guess that I’ll miss building up relationships with children over time, but I hope that they will keep coming back, and I can see how they’ve progressed. The best thing for me would be if they came in not planning to pursue science subjects, and then switched to science as a result of their experience with us.”
And finally, how do teachers book the Baylab?
“There’s a booking form on the Baylab UK website, where teachers can request specific dates and workshops, or ask any questions. We’re happy to hear from all types of schools, and also groups such as Girlguiding groups in the holidays.”
You can read more about Baylab on our BSA blog. | <urn:uuid:26cdc42e-9eeb-4941-bee3-023c1a2a8f89> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | https://www.britishscienceweek.org/baylab/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891813322.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20180221024420-20180221044420-00383.warc.gz | en | 0.965904 | 1,058 | 2.78125 | 3 | {
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If you want to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico, there are some fundamentals…
Located in the northern rainforests of Guatemala, is one of the largest Mayan excavated archaeological sites ever discovered – and that site is Tikal, the capital of the ancient Mayan empire. However, it’s not just Tikal’s impressive size that draws visitors here, but also the extremely well excavated and restored temples.
These temples are some of the biggest (and tallest) from the Mayan civilisation. These well-restored temples have made Tikal one of the best ancient ruins to visit in Central America and possibly the world! Tikal is now a popular tourist destination in Guatemala. It holds a huge cultural significance to the local people making it a great place for your next holiday!
So here’s everything you need to know about Tikal including why you should visit this beautiful ancient city for yourself!
Tikal was discovered in the 1840s and by 1979 was declared a UNESCO world heritage site. The Mayan people occupied the city between 600BC and 900AD. During this time, Tikal was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Mayan empire.
The ancient city of Tikal is home to thousands of buildings that cover 222 square miles, however, only very few have been excavated. That being said, the ones that have include many of the most important temples and the entire main plaza.
In Tikal’s most prominent days it is estimated that some 60,000 people occupied both the main city and surrounding area. However, the population number has been the cause of some debate between archaeologists and the exact number is unknown.
The 5 Largest Temples of Tikal
Tikal is home to 5 huge temples. These temples range in height with smallest being 38 meters or 124 feet tall, and the tallest, Temple IV soaring a huge 65 meters or 213 feet into the air! All 5 of these temples are high enough to pierce above the tree line.
Many of the temples you are actually able to climb, and from the top of one, you will see all of the others protruding up above the trees.
There are many more temples in Tikal and it’s estimated that only 30% have been unearthed!
Still a sacred significance
These days, the city is one of the best places to remember this ancient culture, however, it is still used by local people for ceremonies. During these ceremonies, locals will light a fire in the main plaza while sacrificing goods into the flames while they dance around it to music.
Other smaller ceremonies are done by families. They will light a fire in the main square and pray and light candles. This shows that the ancient city of Tikal still holds a huge cultural significance to the Guatemalan people.
The great city of Tikal is continually being restored and the viewable buildings are continuing to grow. Currently, restorations are still being done to one of the 5 main temples. Work on the temples takes great care, time, and money. As Tikal’s popularity grows so will the city, however, there has been no better time to explore Tikal than now!
Why visit Tikal
Tikal is one of the largest and most well preserved Mayan cities. Its large size and rather recent popularity make visiting Tikal such a personal experience. Large crowds are hard to find and it is easy to find yourself wondering where nobody else is.
However, it’s also Tikal’s setting that makes it so amazing. Surrounding the ancient buildings is thick green rainforest which is home to many animals including monkeys! During a tour of Tikal, it’s very likely to see and hear Howler or Spider Monkeys swing from the trees!
In Tikal, you can climb many of the temples which are not possible in some other historic sites around the world. This gives visitors a real chance to explore and view the city from the great temples that make Tikal so magnificent.
For these reasons and many more, visitors around the world are choosing this magnificent city as their go to place to explore and learn about the Mayan culture.
Best way to see Tikal: Our Glimpse of Guatemala tour
One of the best ways to see Tikal is on our Glimpse of Guatemala tour. One of the main stops (day 2) on this tour is the great ancient city of Tikal. Here, you will be guided around the city on a full day tour while learning all about this impressive civilisation. For more information on the tour, click here! | <urn:uuid:98345b67-3aeb-40a6-b9b9-85414355ceb6> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://www.southernexposuretours.co.nz/news-and-articles/tikal-visit-guatemala/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046155458.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20210805063730-20210805093730-00168.warc.gz | en | 0.962141 | 949 | 3.140625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.762399673461914,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Travel |
Globalization exerts positive and negative impacts on health and has
been linked to reduced government expenditures on health, education,
and social programs, and restructured workplace and home life. Globalization
is altering gender roles and relationships and influencing health
determinants. Asymmetric rights and responsibilities, labor market segregation,
consumption patterns, and discrimination are influenced differently
by globalization and affect men and women’s health in distinct ways.
BackGround Balanced, equitable and sustainable development of the fisheries sector must take all social groups into account. However, the role of women in the sector has, for a long time, gone unrecognised and their voice is heard rarely among managers, policy makers and legislators.1 The lack of recognition and representation is not only unfair, but it also leads to an incomplete understanding of how the sector as a whole operates and functions.
The media strongly influence people’s conceptions and perceptions of the so-
cial environment. While providing entertainment, they also impart information, cul-
tural knowledge and values that in turn influence how people come to view themselves,
certain social groups, gender roles, etc. Thus, the media not only aid in socialization,
but by providing symbolic resources, they also exercise a form of pedagogy.
Academic Listening Encounters: Life in Society develops students’ listening and note-taking skills using a variety of recorded materials, including both informal interviews and formal classroom lectures. These engaging materials introduce students to stimulating topics in sociology, such as peer pressure, gender roles, and the influence of the media.
They also provide plentiful opportunities for speaking and discussion activities. An Audio CD with the lecture portion of the audio program is included with the book to provide extra listening practice.
as mentioned, sexual and reproductive health is a
unique sub-sector, due to its close association with
important and sensitive socio-cultural factors and
gender roles which define and prescribe appropriate
opportunities and avenues of action. the field is
uniquely sensitive and therefore must involve explicit
exploration across all areas of activity of some critical
cross cutting issues – among them gender, adolescent
health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDs.
As you begin your study of psychology, you
will find that it is different from any of your other
classes. This is because psychology is connected
to both the social sciences, such as history or
economics, and the natural sciences, such as
biology and chemistry. As a social science, psychology
explores the influences of society on
individual behavior and group relationships. As a
natural science, psychology looks for biological
explanations for human behavior.
Special emphasis in this conversation will be placed on the role international mechanisms can play as relevant drivers of
behaviour change, notably those focusing on relevant sectors and able to produce information that is responsive to the
needs of national stakeholders to promote gender equality. Speakers will show how evidence on gender equality can be
used to hold actors to account at the international level and what challenges remain.
In Afghanistan, the role of women and their position in the society are inextricably
interlinked with the national destiny. Women are symbols of family honor but also carry
the burden of embodying the national honor and aspirations of the country. Gender has
thus been one of the most politicized issues in Afghanistan over the past 100 years, where
many reform attempts rightly or wrongly have been condemned by opponents as un-
Islamic and a challenge to the sanctity of the faith and family.
The root causes of the alarming health indicators in Afghanistan are poverty and the two
decades of warfare that stalled economic and social progress and led to destruction of
livelihoods and high levels of disability.
According to Rubinow, the “one receptor-one action” model of hormone action has been overturned by the robust
evidence for action of steroid hormones through both nuclear and membrane receptors, and by the mounting evidence for
the role of co-regulators in modulation of hormone action. Rubinow argued that the same hormone may simultaneously
exert opposite effects on the same system (e.g., cell survival), and these effects can change with time. More research in
this area is needed to understand why women respond differently to the same hormonal stimuli.
In addition to the discussions on whether a two-pronged approach should be adopted, the session also offers an
opportunity to discuss which gender issues should be prioritized in a future development agenda. There has been a call
to focus on women’s strategic priorities which will help to transform women’s lives in the long-term. It has also been
suggested that the new goals should reflect an understanding that women’s poverty is, in part, a result of their socially
enforced gender roles and relations.
Cinema is meant and believed to entertain, to take the viewer to a world that is starkly different from
the real one, a world which provides escape from the daily grind of life. Cinema is a popular media of mass
consumption which plays a key role in moulding opinions, constructing images and reinforcing dominant
cultural values. The paper deals with representations of women characters in mainstream Bollywood movies.
The expansion of agriculture to open access forest lands is a major environmental
consequence of poverty, food insecurity, and landlessness in many countries, notably in the tropics.
Although nominally managed by the state, forests made accessible by the construction of roads
become de facto “open access” in the wake of logging operations by private concessionaires, who
often fail to comply with their obligations to manage the forest sustainably after harvest.
These efforts should be underpinned by a commitment to the Global Partnership for Development which has produced
important achievements, including a record volume of Official development assistance (ODA) in 2010, increased aid to
LDCs and increased South-South and other cooperation for development.
The DCF has placed emphasis on the need for aid for gender equality to be on budget and to use national systems to
promote transparency, accountability, cost-effectiveness, alignment and long-term results to promote gender equality.
In their classic account, Tim Dyson and Mick Moore linked women's autonomy to
demographic regimes in south Asia. As they describe the north Indian demographic regime, it involves
relatively high levels of fertility and infant mortality, relatively early age at marriage (which is almost
universal in north India), and relatively large gender gaps in health indicators.
Research presented by Alumit Ishai at the conference aimed to
throw light on the role of gender and sexual orientation on ratings
of attractiveness for male and female faces. Participants included
heterosexual and homosexual men and women. The results
showed that for heterosexual women and homosexualmen, activa-
tion in orbitofrontal cortex was higher for attractive male faces
than attractive female faces, whereas the converse was true for
heterosexual men and homosexual women.
Tuyển tập báo cáo các nghiên cứu khoa học quốc tế ngành y học dành cho các bạn tham khảo đề tài: Impact of recent life events on the health related quality of life of adolescents and youths: the role of gender and life events typologies in a follow-up study
The definition of gender roles is so central in Afghan society and culture, that any perceived or
planned changes require consultations not only with the household but also with the larger
community. Men and women to a large extent share the same cultural ethos and values,
including their conception of gender roles, and they seek to validate these within their
communities. Years of turmoil have furthermore left communities to their own devices,
strengthening the inherent distrust of external authorities and increased reliance upon | <urn:uuid:ef06b2e2-5112-471e-ab9d-8c1890bab380> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://tailieu.vn/tag/gender-roles.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280266.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00258-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932539 | 1,664 | 3.015625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9662458896636963,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Health |
Achievements of 1956-59 MEP regime and conflicts within
The 1956-59 MEP government set about a social revolution in Sri
Lanka. First and foremost it declared the May Day - the International
Worker's Day, a holiday in our country.
Thereafter on June 6, the MEP government passed the resolution that
made Sinhala, the official language in Sri Lanka. The UNP too voted in
favour of it and only the Tamil parties with LSSP and the CP voted
against it. By making Sinhala the official language, the rightful place
was given to Sinhala, that was dethroned after the British conquest in
Prof. Mendis Rohanadeera explains that for 2,300 years Sinhala had
been the State language in Sri Lanka, except for 53 years from 1017 to
1070, when Sri Lanka came under Chola domination. Getting the due place
to Sinhala was the culmination of the struggle carried on for 140 long
years by the people in Sri Lanka against the imperial domination.
There are some who contend that making Sinhala the official language
was the beginning of the ethnic conflict in our country. Nevertheless
this was a step broadly paralled to similar ones taken in post-colonial
countries. Thus India made Hindi the official language while allowing
regional languages such as Tamil to be used locally. It is not gainsay
that the failure of successive governments to implement at least the
provisions of the Reasonable Use of Tamil mooted, widened the gap
between the Sinhalese and the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
On the other hand making Sinhala the official language brought about
a social revolution in Sri Lanka. Prior to thereat all the high
appointments, job opportunities and other privileges were the
prerogative of the elite and opened only to the English educated who
were only 05% of the population. All those avenues were open to the
commoners only after making Sinhala the official language.
C.P. de Silva
Before 1956, the foreign policy of Sri Lanka was to follow the
dictates of the West. In 1955 the UNP government did not allow Soviet
scientists to come to Sri Lanka to observe the eclipse of the Sun. The
MEP government followed a non-aligned foreign policy and opened up
diplomatic relations with countries like Soviet Russia and Communist
China. It also abrogated the Defence Agreement with the British.
In 1957 Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas were made Universities.
As a result erudite Maha Theras like Welivitiye Soratha, Bambarande Siri
Seevalee, kalukondayawe Praggnaskera, Yakkaduwe Pragnarama, Kotahene
Pragnakiththi and Kiriwaththuduwe Praggnasara came to the forefront. For
the first time a separate Ministry was formed for cultural affairs and
there was a renaissance in indigenous culture.
The MEP government did a lot for the betterment of the commoner. The
Paddy Lands Act and the Multi-Purpose Co-operatives benefitted the
peasant. Labour Tribunals were set up to bring relief to workers. It was
the MEP government that nationalised the bus transport and the Port. The
mechanisation of the fishing industry too was effected in this regime.
The year 1956 was a landmark in other aspects as well. It was in 1956
that Martin Wickremasinghe released his classic 'Viragaya' Prof. E.R.
Sarathchandra staged his epock-making 'Maname' and Lester James Peiris
screened ground-breathing 'Rekawa'. W.D. Amaradeva in the field of
Music, Chithrasena, Premakumara and Panibharatha in dancing too were
given their due places. In the 1956-59 MEP government, the two Leftist
ministers, Philip Gunawardena and William de Silva of the VLSSP forged
ahead with a radical agenda. Philip introduced the Paddy Land Act to
emancipate the tenant farmer. His Multi-Purpose Co-operative scheme was
meant to facilitate proper distribution of produce to ensure benefits to
both the producer and the consumer.
Stanley de Zoysa
Philip re-generated agriculture with modern techniques and
re-planting programmes to increase the yield. He re-activated the
co-operative movement for the benefit of the consumer. Ministry of
Agriculture and Food in a hectic three years under Philip Gunawardena
borough change and growth virtually to every subject that came under its
P.H. William de Silva as the Minister of Industries and Fisheries
also did a yeoman service to the country. The mechanisation of fishing
industry was begun under him and as a result fish landings increased in
great proportion. For the first time he introduced a concerted policy
for the development of industries in our country. During his tenure of
office various corporations like steel, tyre, flour milling and mineral
sands were set up and while encouraging various incentives saw the
beginning of many private industries.While the Minister of Transport
Maithripala Senanayake sought to postpone the process for eight years,
pressure from Philip, William de Silva and other progressive Ministers
saw the bus transport nationalised in 1958. It is now generally
acknowledged that Philip's group was responsible for most of the
progressive measures instituted in the 1956-59 regime?
In due course there developed a conflict between the progressive
Ministers and reactionaries in the MEP Cabinet. Philip Gunawardena,
William de Silva and T.B. Illangaratna led the progressive camp. W.
Dahanayaka, C.P. de Silva, Maithripala Senanayake, R.G. Senanayake and
Stanley de Zoysa were the leaders of the reactionary group.
The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka took measures to strengthen the
reactionary elements. They got round W. Dahanayake, the Minister of
Education who was at one time a teacher at St. Aloysious College, Galle.
He was one of the protagonist of the reactionary group in the MEP
Cabinet. It was a demand all over the country that all the assisted
schools should be vested in the State. Dr. W. Dahanayake as the Minister
of Education indicated that he would not 'take over' the assisted
The Catholic priests who made a big noise about 'Social Justice' in
the 1940's did every thing possible to sabotage the Free Education
Scheme and failed. Likewise the same crowd of priests rigorously
campaigned against the Paddy Lands Act that brought relief to the tenant
farmer. In fact some students of Aquinas College of Higher Studies who
at the instigation of such priests distributed pamphlets against the
Paddy Lands Act were chased away by harbour workers.
During this time there was a conspiracy by the Catholic top brass in
the police force against Osmund de Silva, a good Buddhist who acted
impartially at the 1956 general election to oust him from the post of
IGP. They succeeded and as a result M.W. Abeykone was appointed as the
IGP. At this stage Philip Gunawardena realised that there was a
conspiracy against the government. However the first to disclose this in
Parliament was Dr. N.M. Perera. In the MEP May Day rally in 1959 Philip
Gunawardena revealed that the senior DIG Sydney de Zoysa was conspiring
against the government and requested the Prime Minister S.W.R.D.
Bandaranaike to remove him immediately. Philip had to face a criminal
defamation case over this issue.
In the first half of the year 1959, the conflict in the Cabinet
worsened. When Philip introduced the Co-operative Development Bank Bill,
the Cabinet Ministers in the reactionary camp opposed it vehemently.
Prime Minister Bandaranaike wanted to introduce the Bill himself to
bring about a settlement and Philip too agreed. Nevertheless the
reactionary Ministers initiated a Cabinet strike and insisted that they
would not attend the Cabinet meetings until Philip Gunawardena is
Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was helpless and he envisaged
the LSSP to join the Cabinet and strengthened the progressive camp. At
one time Dr. N.M. Perera and few leaders of the LSSP took up the
position that the MEP regime in spite of its shortcomings was a
socialist government and its weakening would lead to the rise of
reaction. They were opposed by the militants in the LSSP like Edmud
Samarakkody, Robert Gunawardena and J.C.T. Kotelawala. As such the LSSP
did not come to the rescue of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
In this background as a measure to get out of the situation, Prime
Minister Bandaranaike wanted to reshuffle the Cabinet by removing the
subject of Co-operatives from Philip's Ministry and Fisheries from that
of William de Silva.
Philip was to be allocated Fisheries in addition to Agriculture and
Food. The two Ministers, Philip and William de Silva however resigned
from their portfolios in protest and joined the opposition. In all 12
members of the government all of the VLSSP and 7 from the SLFP crossed
over to the opposition with them. That was the end of the MEP Cabinet
and a sole SLFP Government was formed. | <urn:uuid:da18298e-86f1-4ac8-8802-7ac76086ac90> | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/10/18/imp07.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454702032759.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205195352-00037-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945589 | 2,053 | 3.015625 | 3 | {
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A lot of evidence has pointed to the significant positive impact of feedback on student learning and performance over the last 10 years. Many schools have placed great emphasis on tackling how teachers give students feedback to ensured that it has the desired effect – improving learning.
Feedback is quite an easy aspect of teaching to collect data on. Oral feedback is easily observable in the classroom and we can record what is being said, so it forms the basis of professional dialogue afterwards in terms of its effectiveness. We can also measure when either individual or group feedback is being given. It is possible to see from the work returned to students whether the group feedback correlates with the patterns of what students are doing correctly and incorrectly in their work; to determine whether group feedback helps each individual. In terms of written feedback, samples of student work can be collected for discussion with the teacher.
Focused discussion surrounding feedback can throw up many ways that it can become more effective. The five feedback strategies below are ones that, from my recent experiences, through teacher self-reflection and coaching usually form the basis of commencing a journey to improving the effectiveness of feedback:
- Beware of the amount of feedback given to students: Giving more feedback to students does not necessarily mean better. If a student receives a piece of work back they should not have to be confronted with lots of comments. There should be two or three suggestions at most that tell the student what they need to improve upon for next time. This forces teachers to find the most important areas for improvement as opposed to highlighting everything that needs to be addressed.
- Comments should reference to why something needs to improve: While it is important to point out what needs to be improved, the student needs to understand why you are making these suggestions. Why will improving a certain aspect of a presentation, lab report or essay lead to an improved result next time. Where criteria is being used, show how the aspect to improved upon links to the next markband, so the student can see where they need to head.
- Aim to give timely feedback using student self-assessment: It can be difficult to give timely, even immediate feedback to students in certain situations such as when a test has been completed or other assignment submitted. A good way to achieve this is by getting students to engage with a self-assessment. This could be in the form of a checklist where the students can look at their work just prior to submitting it to see if they have met some of the key requisites. By doing this students will get some idea what to expect when they receive their work back later on.
- Give more formative feedback as opposed to summative feedback: Too often the feedback that students receive once the summative assessment is completed is too late. Students need feedback that they can use to improve immediately. When a task is complete and there is no opportunity to redo the task or attempt a similar task immediately or almost immediately afterwards, then the feedback cannot be used productively for the student to make progress. If there is an opportunity to use the feedback at a later date, then tell the students when they will be able to use it and ensure that you draw attention to it at the next opportunity.
- Be mindful of the language used in the feedback: While we know the tone of the feedback can significantly influence how a student receives the feedback, at times the words used in the feedback are not considered enough. Do the students understand what you are telling them? Some of the words I have seen teachers used in their feedback, the students do not understand. If this is the case, how are they supposed to make head or tail of what we are trying to convey to them. Language used in feedback should be easily understood by the student, so that they can make the necessary improvement.
Remember giving good feedback is not about the amount of time we spend on it or the volume of feedback that we give. It is whether our feedback is actually effective in improving student learning that counts.
Originally posted at http://richardbruford.com
Connect with me @richard_bruford | <urn:uuid:44867056-23b2-4f68-8fd2-cfea07e959a2> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/11570 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501171463.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104611-00143-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9595 | 826 | 3.828125 | 4 | {
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"reasoning_level": 3,
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} | Education & Jobs |
Sonography is defined as a diagnostic medical procedure, which uses high frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images of organs, blood flow, and tissues. At this point, Sonography is increasingly being used in the detection and treatment of heart attack, heart diseases, and vascular diseases that can lead to stroke. Vascular sonography is, therefore defined as the process of using high-pitched sound waves to study the blood vessels in the body. As a matter of fact, an ultrasound image provides an essential way of evaluating the circulatory system of the body. The images are captured in real-time thus helping radiologists to monitor the blood flow to organs/tissues all over the body. In addition, the ultrasound sound images help radiologists to locate and identify blockages and abnormalities like blood clot, emboli, and plaque thereby facilitating a plan for effective treatment.
Vascular refers to the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the other body organs and vice versa. Vascular diseases are unhealthy changes that occur in blood vessels. The circulatory system is very complex in function and structure. The flow of blood is influenced by a number of factors among them are elasticity of the vessel walls, vascular injuries, and the tone of vascular smooth muscle. Individuals with vascular injuries as a result of penetrating or blunt trauma can be divided into those which have direct clinical signs of arterial/venous injury and those with indirect signs. Trauma without direct signs represents a particular challenge as a result of the undetected vascular injury. In the past century, there was a conflict regarding the management of vascular trauma because many people advocated for aggressive surgical exploration. The approach led to a high rate of unnecessary surgery thus generating the need for selective diagnostic imaging to establish if operative intervention is required.
The potential for using the reflection of sonography in the visualization of the internal organs of the human body started in the late 1930s. Austrian neurologist Dussik K.T developed a sonographic transmission technique in order to visualize cerebral ventricles. When a particle is activated to vibrate in its equilibrium position, the vibration is transmitted to a neighboring molecule in the medium.
In this manner, kinetic energy is propagated from one molecule to the other thereby spreading through the medium in what is similar to sine wave pattern. The sound waves compresses and expands the medium as it travels through. An ultrasound image is created thus revealing any abnormality in the blood.
Sonography guided vascular access
Vascular access is an essential procedure that clinicians have to master. Injuries, obesity, intravenous drug use, and chronic medical conditions can make placements of vascular catheters in both peripheral and central veins time-consuming and challenging. In the recent years, there have been dramatic improvements in portable sonar technology, which includes the development of relatively inexpensive machines with adequate resolution to guide needle placement through tissues.
Transducer characteristics such as shape and frequency determine sonar image quality. For the purpose of vascular access, it is essential to use high frequency as well as small footprint transducers. As a matter of fact, the high-frequency linear array transducer offers a higher resolution of the superficial areas of soft tissues that includes veins and arteries.
The color Doppler and B-mode are the main ultrasound modes that can used to access venous tissues. The B-mode produces recognizable 2D gray scale images. Color Doppler can applied to characterize blood flow. The mode detects optimal flow of blood when the transducer is parallel to the flow. However, when the transducer is perpendicular to the vessel, the detection of flow is worst.
Optimizing image quality
Best visualization of target vessels calls for an optimal machine setting. Generally, proper transducer selection and the selection of pre-programmed vascular sonography settings offer acceptable quality of images. Moreover, other controls that can further enhance the quality of the image are focus, depth, gain, and frequency.
Proper depth adjustment offers a better target vessel imaging. Furthermore, it facilitates the tracking of equipment used through the tissue. When the depth setting is increased, the target vessel becomes smaller. Contrary, when the depth is too shallow, significant structures that surround the target vessels may be lost. That is to say, it is necessary to select the appropriate depth for the target vessel.
The brightness of an image on the screen is directly controlled by the gain setting of the sonar machine. Furthermore, it depends on the selected gains. By increasing the gain of the machine, the image is made brighter thereby easy to study. However, when the gain is decreased, the image becomes darker thus very difficult to analyze. Actually, the highest resolution of any image displayed is at the focal zone. With the use of sonar machines, it is essential to put the focus at the level of the target vessel of interest.
Physical Principles of Sonography: Doppler Effect
During the examination of blood vessels, the moving blood cells act as the reflectors. To specific, the red blood cells act as the reflectors as a result of their great majority in the blood cells. The difference between the frequency of the reflected and transmitted sound is known as Doppler-frequency-shift. If the direction of the blood flows to the transducer, then Doppler-shift is positive. Nevertheless, if the direction of blood flow is away from the probe, the Doppler-shift is negative.
The Doppler-shift can be displayed in a number of ways, which depend on the Doppler technique. The use of spectral mode is popular because Doppler tracing can be seen. Moreover, color/Doppler mode can be used. This mode displays the Doppler-shift as shades of one or more color inside the color box.
Spectral Doppler Sonography
Spectral Doppler techniques display consists of two types: pulsed and continuous wave Doppler modes. Pulsed wave Doppler mode is used in peripheral/abdominal vascular studies while continuous wave Doppler is to measure high velocities. A pulsed wave transducer contains one piezoelectric crystal.
In connection the above point, the crystal transmits pulses at regular intervals. The same crystal receives reflected signal and compares it with the transmitted reference. Pulsing the waves allow Doppler measurements to be taken from a specific region within the image field thereby allowing velocity measurements from the selected vessels. A pulsed wave allows precise localization of the volume of tissue from, which the Doppler blood flow signal is sampled in contrast with the continuous wave technique.
Duplex imaging uses pulsed wave Doppler with a two-dimensional real-time image. Normally, the location of the target volume is displayed on the B-scan tomogram. At this point, the sampling gate can be moved to the lumen of the vessel as highlighted on the real-time image. The velocity changes, which occur in each cardiac cycle, can be displayed graphically. The running time is placed on the horizontal axis. If the cursor is aligned parallel to the blood vessel, the velocity of the moving cells can be seen on the vertical axis.
During a duplex Doppler examination, the Doppler-shift can be displayed graphically or in audible form. The arteries have swish-like sounds while veins have continuous wind-blow-like sounds. The intensity of the audible sounds is directly proportional to the quantity of moving blood cells. The higher of the velocity of the flowing blood, the higher the audible sound is. In effect, pulsed wave Doppler sonography promotes the assessment of the direction, presence, and velocity of blood flow in the sample volume.
The most commonly used methods for measuring the blood flow velocity in a vessel are the maximum velocity method and uniform insonation method. In the uniform insonation method, the entire lumen of the vessel is incorporated into the gate. Nevertheless, maximum velocity method is where a small sample volume is placed in the placed in the centre of the vessel.
Color Doppler imaging
The basics of color Doppler imaging are almost similar to pulsed wave Doppler mode; however, it has a number of multiple sample volumes inside a circumscribed region known as a color box rather a visible one. The position and size of the color box on the B-mode image is determined by the operator. This type of sonography displays the two-dimensional flow information in color superimposed on the B-mode image of the vessel as well as the surrounding tissue.
Inside the color box, all the points are in a shade of red or blue rather than a shade of gray. The direction of flow relative to the transducer is illustrated on a color bar adjacent to the image. By convection, the flow the move towards the transducer is red whereas the flow away from the transducer is blue.
Color Doppler sonogram technique offers movement-information regarding a large part of the image. In point of fact, color Doppler flow imaging promotes the assessment of the presence, quality, and direction of blood flow more quickly than it does in other noninvasive technique.
Planes and Views
For the purposes of vascular access, two types of planes are used: longitudinal and transverse views. In the transverse view, the transducer plane is placed in cross section of the target vessel and the vessel is displayed on the screen as a circle. However, in a longitudinal view, the transducer plane is placed parallel to the one another and the vessel is displayed on the screen as a long tube running across the screen. On the whole, a longitudinal view allows visualization of the entire vessel of interest but requires that needle, transducer beam, and the target vessel to be held parallel to one another.
Differentiating vein and artery
Differentiating between vein and artery is important to safely perform sonography guided vascular access. The simplest way to differentiate between artery and vein is the compressibility of veins. Basically, veins compress with minimal pressure while arteries retain much of their original shape and appearance despite a heavy pressure. While performing an internal jugular vein placement, it is necessary to visualize the influence of respiratory variation on the vein diameter. Trendelenberg positioning and valsalva maneuvers make vein larger; however, it has a minimal impact on the carotid artery.
The guidance of vascular access using sonogram can be grouped as dynamic or static. In the static use of sonogram, providers apply sonogram to localize the vein and mark the site of the needle insertion on the skin. The dynamic guidance entails the use of sonogram in real-time with continuous visualization of the needle insertion throughput the procedure. The success rate for dynamic guidance is higher than those of static technique.
More from Do My Homework | <urn:uuid:1d2f2898-2ba7-4687-aac6-1d3be9ed32bb> | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | http://www.newspringseniorcommunities.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701145578.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193905-00230-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918783 | 2,219 | 3.46875 | 3 | {
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See also Controlling Invasive Plants
The invasive species listed below pose some of the greatest challenges to the preservation and restoration of High Park's natural environment. To learn more about how City staff and volunteers are dealing with these species, see Controlling Invasive Plants and High Park Stewards.
Shrubs & Trees
Dog-strangling vine, a common woodland invader, forms dense colonies, attaching to and aggressively climbing ground vegetation including tree seedlings and saplings. Shortly thereafter, vegetative growth of the vine overwhelms existing native vegetation, essentially ‘strangling’ understory species. The potential for changes in forest composition and function resulting from the spread and growth characteristics of the dog-strangling vine has been a documented threat to the long-term viability of forests in Ontario.
This species is especially difficult for land managers to eradicate due to its extensive root system that re-sprouts following cutting of above ground shoots. Manual removal and/or herbicide application are known management strategies for Dog-strangling Vine. During the first year of growth, manual removal of above and below ground growth can effectively control newly established populations. Careful attention must be applied while weeding, as it can re-sprout from any root fragments left in the soil. Given its robust growth, manual removal is generally not effective following its first year of growth and will require herbicide for successful control.
- “Forest Health Alert – Dog-strangling Vine” Factsheet MNR & Kawartha Conservation, M. Irvine and D. Pridham respectively, published by MNR, 2008
Latest news: You can learn all about dog-strangling vine and the biological control agent “Hypena” on the researchers website .
- Have you seen this plant? (Bring Back the Don Task Force factsheet)
- Fletcher Garden factsheet (pdf)
- Factsheet about disposal (pdf)
Early European settlers had the best of intentions when importing this exotic, now invasive herbaceous plant, traditionally used for its medicinal properties and as a garden vegetable, favored for its garlic taste. In addition, it is relatively easily grown and provides good nutrition, high in vitamins A and C. Garlic mustard grows in a variety of disturbed habitats, preferring woodlands and floodplains but generally speaking will grow in moist, rich soils with some shading.
Its best identification traits are the garlic-scented leaves when crushed and white flowers with alternate heart-shaped leaves on the flowering stalk. Like many herbaceous invasive plants, its rapid growth and prodigious seed crops are able to out-compete native flora by effectively shading out competitors. Garlic mustard is in fact a fungicide, destroying vital fungal (i.e. mycorrhizal) relationships which many native tree and herbaceous species depend on for water and nutrients. As a biennial it grows as a basal rosette the first year and throughout the winter, taking advantage of insulating snow and winter sunlight before flowering in early spring, setting seed soon after and dying off by July.
Since humans created the disturbances permitting garlic mustard to thrive, a suitable control or eradication initiative might include harvesting wild populations for use in the kitchen. A delicious edible pesto can be made from its leaves with multiple recipes and how-to guides available on the internet. As an evergreen, it can also be eaten fresh throughout winter.
It is important to keep in mind not to harvest garlic mustard for human consumption from dumps, ditches or roadways as resident plants can uptake and accumulate harmful pollutants discharged into the natural environment. (Collecting in the park is not permitted.)
- from The Monday Garden – publication by Sue Sweeney, “Garlic Mustard: The Invader’s Edge” issue #54, April 6, 2003 article
Chances are you’ve seen or wandered through a patch of white sweet clover given its abundance in Ontario. It is an alternative-leaved biennial wildflower growing up to 5’ tall introduced into North America from Europe as high quality forage for cattle, and still used as animal forage and as a cover crop on farms. As a nitrogen fixer, it increases soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen in the soil. Its flowers are favored by bees and other pollinators, historically planted as a nectar host plant by beekeepers. In fact, “Melolotus” in Greek means honey.
White colored flowers with small stalks are found in dense clusters in the top few inches of main stems and bloom June through August in the plant's second year of growth. As a successful invader white sweet clover has a strong and deep taproot, permitting survival in dry soils and drought conditions. Also, seeds remain viable for up to 30 years in the seedbank and will readily establish following a disturbance, further complicating eradication efforts. White sweet clover dominates successional areas including meadows, prairies, savannas, woodlands, roadsides and waste places, having the ability to colonize and thrive in a variety of disturbed habitats, even a barren, nutrient-poor quarry floor!
Left unmanaged, dense thickets form, out-competing and shading-out sun-loving native vegetation, ultimately reducing local biodiversity. At High Park, this invasive is especially problematic, responding positively to fire (i.e. prescribed burning) by scarifying or preparing seeds, thereby encouraging germination.
- Invasive Exotic Species Ranking for Southern Ontario © Urban Forest Associates Inc., January 2002,pdf
- Credit Valley Conservation factsheet
Like most invasive herbaceous species, Himalayan balsam forms dense colonies in disturbed environments, out-competing and choking out native ground vegetation, thereby threatening local biodiversity. It is similar in appearance to our native jewelweed/touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis), both with large showy flowers; Himalayan balsam has pink/purple flowers and jewelweed has orange. Generally speaking, it prefers woodlands and floodplains but will thrive in any disturbed location with moist, rich soils and some shading. Owing to its invasive profile are explosive seedpods, hurling up to 2500 seeds per plant airborne once fully matured. In fact, once mature, merely touching the seedpods demonstrates this phenomenon. Also, it can reach heights in excess of two meters and easily overwhelms and displaces native flora with its rapid growth. Seeds often end up buoyant in local watercourses where survival is relatively long, facilitating colonization in new environments downstream.
Himalayan balsam is particularly damaging to riparian areas where dense groves form monocultures; following die-back in the fall bare soil is exposed resulting in increased soil erosion and sedimentation of watercourses. Control is achieved through manual weeding, cutting stalks before seed dispersal or by herbicide application.
- Invasive Plants of BC Factsheet Balsam”
- “Invasive Plants of Ontario”Invasive Plants Fact Sheet, Stratford Naturally, City of Stratford
This woody plant species has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders (GISD, 2010). Purple loosestrife has been a beautiful and aggressive invader in North America since the 1800’s. Originally from Europe and used as an ornamental flowering plant, the seeds escaped and now have spread across much of Canada and the United States. Purple loosestrife flowers from late June to early September, relying on pollination by insects or birds to flourish, and can grow up to 6.5 feet/2m high. It has distinctive large flower spikes made up of many smaller flowers – 5 to 6 pink-purple petals surrounding a smaller yellow center. Plants can go to seed as early as late-July. The leaves are downy with smooth edges, are usually oppositely arranged in pairs that whorl around the stem.
Several control methods have been used on purple loosestrife with varying levels of success. So far, the most successful endeavour has been a biological control using beetles. In High Park, there is purple loosestrife in the wetlands that was brought under control by the introduction of beetles in 2003-2004; Galerucella pusilla and Galerucella calmariensis, eat the leaves and new shoot growth which seriously affects growth and seed production of the plant (OFAH, 2011). This was more evident in the summer of 2010, possibly because it was such a good growing season. The danger to High Park is that mature plants can reproduce vegetatively via underground perennial rootstocks that can spread quickly throughout the year. These rootstocks are extensive and can create a dense structure that chokes out other vegetation. As tiny as grains of sand, seeds are easily spread by water, wind, wildlife and humans. Germination can occur the following season and in many environmental conditions. Seeds are hardy and can lay dormant in the seed bank for several years before sprouting. The best time to control purple loosestrife is in June, July and early August when it is in flower and easy to recognize before it goes to seed.
- Global Invasive Species database
- Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Factsheet
Celandine is a biennial (sometime a short-lived perennial) wildflower introduced to North America from Europe in the 1600s for medicinal purposes and is still available in some nurseries as an ornamental. It is commonly found in woodland edges, roadsides, farm edges and waste areas and is becoming increasingly established in Ontario.
Celandine can tolerate most soil types, thriving in its preferred rich, moist soil. Stems grow up to 80cm with the best identification trait being the orange-yellow colored juice or sap contained in leaves, stems or roots that will stain clothing and cause skin irritations in some people. Flowers are yellow, 4-petalled with multiple stamens and appear in May to June. Ants are known vectors of dispersal, attracted by an elaiosome on the tiny black seeds. Elaiosomes are fleshy growths rich in proteins and fats attached to the seeds of many plant species and are favored by ants as larvae feed.
Impacts on the natural environment where celandine has established are a result of heavy shading conditions created when dense stands form; native vegetation including tree seedlings are suppressed due to a lack of sunlight penetrating the ground layer.
Japanese knotweed is among the most damaging invasive plant species in North America. Originally a garden escapee for use as a screen plant and still propagated at many local nurseries, it can be found in a wide array of disturbed habitats including woodlands, roadsides, lakeshores, fields, meadows, brownfields and other waste places. It is also known to wreak havoc along natural watercourses where seasonal flooding and subsequent erosion disturbs the root systems, dislodging rhizome fragments, transported and deposited downstream to colonize new habitats. In fact only 2cm of rhizome is needed for a new plant to establish.
Flowers are greenish-white, blooming July to September and are found in panicles in the upper leaf axils. Stems can be up to 10’ tall, mottled reddish-purple and mostly hollow. Young shoots are a fantastic edible cooked and served similar to asparagus. Widely spreading and deeply penetrating rhizomes are largely responsible for its success and proliferation, not its infrequent seed crop. These highly aggressive rhizomes can spread up to 60’ from the host, sending up root suckers along its course. Left unmanaged, Japanese knotweed will form dense groves choking out and eliminating native flora in natural areas, threatening biodiversity and impairing local infrastructure in urban areas.
Hedge Parsley has come to High Park more recently – in summer 2010 the first efforts were made to pull it. Spreading Hedge Parsley is a parsley-like biennial with a taproot and erect, ridged stems. They grow in a spreading form up to 3 feet/1m in height. Leaves are triangular shape in outline and a fern-like in appearance; alternate, pinnately divided, 2 to 5 inches long and may be slightly downy on the upper surface. The tiny, white flowers are clustered in small, open, flat-topped umbels. Its flowers attract many insects, including bees, flies, wasps, and beetles. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (black swallowtail) also feed on the foliage (Illinois Wildflowers, 2011).
Similar to the Japanese hedge parsley (another invasive plant that has not yet shown up in High Park), spreading hedge parsley lacks bracts at the base of the umbel structure. The small fruits are covered in velcro-like hairs, which attach to clothing and fur, or catch the wind, readily dispersing seeds. Hedge parsley matures quickly and re-seeds itself, usually forming dense colonies that can out-compete native vegetation. Pulling manually or mowing prior to flowering, easily controls spreading hedge parsley. Treating foliage with an herbicide is effective if done early in the spring or on re-sprouts after cutting.
European and glossy buckthorn are highly aggressive invasive shrubs or small trees growing in dense groves, suppressing native tree and shrub seedlings due to heavy shading of its foliage (Tree Canada, 2007). Berries persist on branches throughout winter and are transported by some native birds and mice who favor the berries as year-round forage, facilitating its dispersal and colonization following defecation. It was imported from Asia and Europe as a windbreak species on farms and for erosion control and is now established in many disturbed habitats, especially woodlots. Able to thrive and invade a wide variety of environments, these highly adaptable buckthorns also have prolific seed crops which rapidly germinate.
At High Park, invasive buckthorns are of particular concern in threatening the long term integrity of open oak woodlots and savannas where lightly-shaded conditions and canopy openings permit establishment in the understory.
- Tree Canada (2007) “Tree Killers – Common Buckthorn or European Buckthorn” Factsheet
- Unwanted Settlers Common Buckthorn (OIPC, unknown date)
Both euonymus species are known to invade forest understories, with European spindletree preferring the shrub layer while winged euonymus is more commonly found in forest edges.
European spindletree (Euonymus europaeus), also known as burning bush) very closely resembles and is easily confused with the provincially rare eastern wahoo or burning bush (Euonymus atropurpurea). Identification of these closely related shrubs can only be achieved when flowering, as vegetative growth characteristics are too similar. As a result, drupes should be left unless a positive identification has been verified during flowering. European spindletree has greenish white flowers in late May, compared with eastern wahoo with dark purple or maroon flowers appearing in June. Also, the spindletree holds its leaves much later into the fall in comparison to the native wahoo.
Winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus), also known as winged burning bush is distinctly different from Ontario’s rare and native burning bush or eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpurea). It is a dense, outward-arching shrub imported from Japan and produces abundant small red seed capsules with orange seeds on short stems which persist into the winter. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow with 4 petals. Stems are distinctively 4-winged, appearing square-stemmed.
Winged euonymus was first imported to North America in the 1860s as an ornamental, praised for its bright crimson-red foliage in the fall, and its propagation continues at nurseries for use in roadside plantings and in gardens. It is capable of invading a variety of disturbed habitats and is highly adaptable with a wide range of soil type and pH tolerance. As well, there are no threatening pest associations in North America and is tolerant of full shade conditions. Once established it out-competes native vegetation and forms dense colonies, thereby shading out and destroying the understory flora. Birds are the primary vector for seed dispersal, capable of carrying seeds long distances and generally germinate rapidly following defecation.
- Growing Trees from Seed - A Practical Guide to Growing Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs by Henry Kock, Paul Aird, John Ambrose, Gerry Waldron, page 123
- “Invasive Exotic Species Ranking for Southern Ontario”, Urban Forest Associates Inc., January 2002, article
This woody-perennial, vigorously growing vine you will likely see in High Park, climbing over and smothering vegetation. With alternate, tear-shaped leaves that are distinctly toothed and come to a point, Asian bittersweet has small greenish-yellow flowers, which bloom in the early summer months and begin to fruit in the fall. The small greenish-yellow fruits grow in clusters of 3-7 along the stem at the leaf axils, and split open to reveal a bright red inner fruit.
A native of Eastern Asia, Asian bittersweet is beginning to out-compete our native American bittersweet after escaping cultivation. Much like kudzu from the Southern US, it often kills vegetation from excessive shading or breakage – when it climbs high up on trees (up to 60 feet/17.3m), the increased weight can lead to uprooting and blow-over during high winds and heavy snowfalls.
Manual, mechanical and chemical control methods are all effective in removing and killing Asian bittersweet. In cases where vines are climbing up trees or buildings, a combination of cutting followed by application of concentrated systemic herbicide applications to rooted or living cut surfaces is likely to be the most effective approach. For larger infestations on the ground, a foliar herbicide may be the best choice, as manual or mechanical means could result in high soil disturbance.
- New Invasive Plants of the Midwest Factsheet
- Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
Tartarian honeysuckle is a deciduous, opposite-leaved shrub (up to 3m) among the first to leaf out in spring with white, pink or red flowers developing in leaf axils. This open woodland, old field and shoreline invader was first imported from East Asia as an ornamental and historically planted by government agencies as wildlife shrubs. Birds and small mammals are known consumers of its bountiful seed crop and are agents for its dispersal in disturbed habitats. Also, the fused together pairs of red-orange berries persist throughout winter, effectively aiding in its proliferation once consumed by local fauna.
Tartarian honeysuckle is highly effective in out-competing native ground and understory vegetation, aggressively invading disturbed habitats. It threatens the long-term biodiversity of natural environments; invasion often forms a dense understory thicket which not only prevents growth of the herbaceous ground layer but tree seedlings as well. In fact, it is now among the most undesirable invasive species in central and eastern Ontario when considering its ability to displace native flora.
- Ontario Nature, “Natural Invaders,” written by Kim Gavine (unknown date) article
Tree of heaven, closely resembling native sumac (Rhus spp.) is a fast growing, aggressive and adaptable tree originally imported to North America from China. The leaves carry an unpleasant odor and are a good identification tool if bruised or crushed. Owing to its success in disturbed environments are spreading rhizomes (i.e. roots and shoots in the soil layer), abundant production of winged seeds and secretion of allelopathic chemicals, thereby preventing the growth, or sterilizing the soil for many native species. Tree of heaven is also very tolerant of urban pollutants and as a result are often found in waste places such as ditches and roadsides where native trees aren’t able to establish. With a life span of 25 to 50 years, it can reach heights of 15 to 30 meters. Due to the rhizomatic spreading, root suckers often form groves or thickets and persist for up to centuries while providing a seed source for nearby disturbed areas.
Considered by many botanists an invasive, the exotic Norway maple is widely planted as a lawn and street tree, many of which are the full growing season red-leaved variety distinctly different from our native maples. It closely resembles sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and is easily identified by the milky white sap contained in the leaf petioles when removed from the branch. Owing to its success as an invader are results of dense canopies providing deep shading, a thick blanket of leaves which smother ground flora in the fall, highly viable winged seeds (called samaras) which readily blow into nearby natural areas and the root secretion of allelopathic chemicals preventing other native plants from establishing.
Having high shade tolerance, Norway maple produces abundant seedlings which are able to out-compete native flora in heavy shading conditions ultimately forming monocultures over time. Tolerance to harsh conditions including heavy shade and dry soils are known and favored in urban settings. Norway maple has no specific habitat preference and will thrive in any disturbed habitat. Control is achieved simply by cutting to or digging out of the ground, girdling and/or cutting any resprouts; herbicides are generally not required for successful eradication.
Authors: Andrew Dean & Emily Stairs | <urn:uuid:5fd2971d-91f3-4760-b685-135b4aba1e26> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | http://www.highparknature.org/wiki/wiki.php?n=Plants.InvasivePlants | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583513441.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20181020205254-20181020230754-00528.warc.gz | en | 0.938414 | 4,514 | 3.25 | 3 | {
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