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Box 1. Sample instructor guide for a figure used in the FotD activity. The guide shown here is for the cumulative population figure seen in Figure 1A, B (source: https:// Instructor Guide: Living Population Compared to • x-axis: Population in billions. • y-axis: Year. • Green line labeled “Cumulative births” shows births since • Yellow line labeled “Living population” shows currently • Green line increases with a higher slope than yellow line. • Both lines become exponential at ~1900. • Green line increases the whole time. • Yellow line starts level, then increases. Possible Questions to Ask • What does the author of this figure want to communicate? • Is the author effective in communicating this? • Why the break in the graph before year 1 A.D.? Break is to show scale of years better. • Why does the green line increase so much during that time? Green line increases because many years are compressed into that small space. • Why don’t the yellow line and the green line appear to increase at the same rate? • Could this graph be represented differently? (Bars/pie? Scatterplot? No shading?) We used two simple assessments to (1) gauge the impact of the treatment and control activities on students’ figure creation abilities, and (2) solicit students’ perceptions of the control and treatment To measure the impact of the FotD activities on students’ figure creation abilities, students completed a pre- and post-FotD activity figure-drawing task that read as follows: Create a figure that best represents the following: • The Fictus Fish lives in the ocean at a depth between 4 and 10 ft; a single individual has an average of 15 offspring every year. • The GelCap Jellyfish lives in the ocean at a depth between 8 and 15 ft; a single individual has an average of 300 offspring • The Mountain Whale lives in the ocean at a depth between 15 and 50 ft; a single individual has an average of 2 offspring every year. • The 7-Point Starfish lives in the ocean at a depth between 2 and 30 ft; a single individual has an average of 1000 offspring every year. This task was given to students before and after the six-week figure- set implementation. Students did not receive feedback on their pre- FotD assessment figures. Thus, their decision to make an identical or new version of their drawing for the post-assessment was inde- pendent of whether they thought their first figure was correct or incorrect. This question required that students represent three var- iables (a fictitious marine species, its reproductive output, and the depth at which it can be found) on a single figure. Student figures were scored in one of seven categories (Table 1). The rubric incor- porated the “completeness” of a figure in addition to correctness. For example, a figure that was technically correct but omitted one of the variables was not scored as correct. After designing the rubric, two members of the FotD research team (C.K.K. and P.J.T.W.) independently applied the rubric to a set of 40 student figures and provided identical scores in 38 of 40 cases (95%). The rest of the scoring of student figures was done by C.K.K. and P.J. T. W. After scoring the pre- and post-FotD figures, we conducted statistical analyses to determine whether the gains from pre- to post-FotD were different for the control vs. treatment FotD activities. Prior to the analysis, we removed students with a score of 6, 7, or 8 in the pre- or post-project drawings (n = 27). These students did not follow the instructions of the assignment, and it was not possible to logically conclude that a score change represented an improvement or a decline in figure-making abilities. Conversely, scores of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 represent a hierarchical evaluation of student figures from the poorest (5) to the best (1) representation of the data. Following these two filtering decisions, we were left with 82 students in the control group and 81 students in the treatment group. We first ran a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank (WSR) test to determine whether there were differences from pre- to post-FotD within each group ( i.e., a WSR test for each of the control and treatment datasets). A WSR test is analogous to a t-test but is appropriate for paired, ranked nonparametric data. Because students were nested in class sections, and students in the same class are more likely to experience the same instructional environment, it is important to account for the non-independence of students in the same class section (Paterson & Goldstein, 1991; Kreft & de Leeuw, 2002; see also Eddy et al., 2014). We therefore addressed this nested or hierarchical structure of the data in our WSR tests by incorporating a random effect that accounts for the variation between classes within the same treatment group (package “coin” in R; Hothorn et al., 2008). The WSR tests for each group provided information about changes from pre- to post-FotD in the treatment group and in the control group but did not inform whether or not the change from pre- to post-FotD was different between the two groups. To test for differences between groups, we used a nonparametric bootstrap of the WSR test (n = 10,000) for each group (R Development Core Team, 2011; Canty & Ripley, 2017). This provided a mean effect size for each group ( i.e., a representation of the average difference between pre-and post-FotD scores) along with standard error estimates. For the second assessment, students responded to two open-ended questions: 1. List some of the positive aspects of the Figure of the Day 2. List some of the negative aspects of the Figure of the Day Students’ answers were given anonymously, but each respondent included their lab section, which allowed their responses to be sorted into treatment and control groups. Responses were coded into categories of either positive or negative aspects, with grounded	http://www.nabtjournal.com/nabtjournal/may_2019?pg=20	fineweb	5,851	3.921875
What is your full name? What is your postal code? Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by changing the Constitution or making some other kind of legal change? What should the change look like? Recognising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander as the traditional caretakers and the original caretakers of this land called Australla in the constitution. Should we have a statement that acknowledges the First Peoples of Australia? Yes. This should be in the Constitution. Where is the best place to put it? What should the statement say? That the Aborignial and Torres Strait people were the original and traditional caretakers of this land called Australia. That their cultures need to be acknowledged, celebrated and maintained out of respect including their languages Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia? I think that they should take part in crafting that statement. Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution? I don't know Should the Australian Parliament keep the power to make special laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? Laws that maintain their culture including their languages If there is not enough support for a guarantee in the Constitution, what other things can we do to stop racial discrimination in national laws? Make a document that establishes rights and responsibilities Do you think Indigenous people should have a say when Parliament and government make laws and policies about Indigenous affairs? Should a new Indigenous group be set up under the Constitution to give advice and make sure Indigenous people have a voice in political decisions that affect them? Should we delete section 25? What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25? Getting racism out of the constitution? Is there any point in keeping it? Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?	https://referendumcouncil.org.au/discussion-paper-submission/813.html	fineweb	2,048	2.703125
Background Source control in sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) terminology refers to the application of the technology close to where incident rainfall lands. It can provide the opportunity for the degradation of individually minor, widely dispersed pollutants close to the source of pollution. However, the degree to which source control of pollution through SUDS carries a risk to groundwater is unclear. There is insufficient evidence available to allow safe policy development, despite statutory business drivers stemming from the Groundwater Directive and Water Environment Water Services (Scotland) Act. It is generally accepted by researchers and practitioners that the 'treatment train approach' for SUDS technology can be regarded as best practice. But hard environmental data is needed if regulators are to justify this approach and require it through some form of regulation or legislation. Currently, it is unknown which type sustainable drainage systems are most effective for the important classes of urban diffuse pollutants (such as oil, PAHs, FIOs and nutrients). Similarly, evidence is needed on whether PAHs and oil actually degrade in a swale system, filter drain network or detention basin en route to a regional pond, and, if so, how this compares to an end-of-pipe pond solution for a conventionally drained system. Additional questions arise about how nutrients can be best managed in urban catchments and whether it would be beneficial for regulators to require grass/soil source control treatment in sensitive catchments. The proposed project The project intends to demonstrate the efficacy of various SUDS techniques in the degradation of a range of diffuse source pollutants, and how these compare to more traditional drainage techniques. The project aims to establish the evidence base to aid future policy development in this area. The target audience will be scientists and engineers, policy makers, regulator staff, water utilities and road authorities. The project will be in two phases. Phase 1 will provide background information, identify suitable sites, as well as develop and test methodologies . Phase 2 will focus on field monitoring and artificial dosing experiments. The research objectives of this project are to: Determine the risk of movement of pollutants through soil into groundwater in soft-engineering SUDS; Measure the degradation of oil and PAHs, and fate of phosphates and nutrients in soft engineering SUDS; Identify the degradation products in a range of SUDS techniques; Determine the conditions for the optimal breakdown of oil and PAHs in the range of SUDS investigated; Determine the conditions for the optimal nutrient uptake or stabilisation within a range of SUDS techniques; Provide monitoring data for existing SUDS facilities, and conduct experimental work to aid the interpretation of the field site data. \|Publisher\|\|Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER)\| \|Publication status\|\|Published - Feb 2008\| - Sustainable urban drainage systems - Groundwater protection - Pollutant breakdown - PAH studies	https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/en/publications/source-control-pollution-in-sustainable-drainage-final-report	fineweb	3,100	2.921875
Joaquín’s love of time at sea and enthusiasm for working with fishers comes in handy for his project. He collaborates with local fishers to collect shark stomach and muscle samples in southern Chile’s marine waters. By processing these samples, he hopes to understand what impact salmon aquaculture is having on where the sharks are moving, and what they’re eating, in Patagonia’s fjords. The place where I can recharge my batteries and reset my mind has always been the ocean. I grew up in Puerto Montt in southern Chile, spending the summers at the beach and on rocky shores where the marine biodiversity is spectacular. Currently, as a marine biology student, I usually spend my weekends diving, fishing and connecting with the ocean’s energy. My bond with marine animals started with my family’s passion for preparing seafood meals. I began to ask myself where these animals we were cooking came from and soon I was looking in the wild for all the species... The project aims to assess the effects of salmon aquaculture on the diet and habitat use of three Patagonian Chondrichthyes species based on stomach content and stable isotope analyses Chile is the second largest salmon producer in the world. Salmon aquaculture is concentrated in Patagonian fjords in the south of the country and has increased exponentially in recent decades. However, the effects of the aquaculture on Chondrichthyes species that inhabit fjords are unknown. This study therefore aims to evaluate the effect of salmon aquaculture on the diet and habitat use of three Patagonian Chondrichthyes species to inform aquaculture planning and prioritise conservation areas. Chile’s Patagonian fjords are one of the few remaining ecosystems that are largely undisturbed and as such they are a global conservation priority. They are characterised by unique benthic fauna that comprises endemic cold-water corals and anemones and many associated species. Salmon aquaculture ranks among the most important economic activities in southern Chile and the number of salmon farms is expected to double in the coming decade. This aquaculture expansion may cause significant environmental impacts, such as a severe alteration of benthic communities in the vicinity of farms. Consequently, impacts on local benthic Chondrichthyes species such as narrowmouth catshark (categorised as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) and American elephantfish (Vulnerable), which feed principally on benthic prey, may also be expected. In contrast, spiny dogfish (Vulnerable) only occasionally feed on benthic prey, so they should be less affected by changes to the benthic community. However, the spiny dogfish’s diet may also be directly affected by aquaculture activity as it has been shown to consume pellets near the net pens. This project aims to assess comprehensively the effects of the presence of salmon farms on the diet of Chondrichthyes species in the Patagonian fjord ecosystem by a combination of stomach content and stable isotope analyses. Stomach content analyses allow diet to be assessed on a temporal scale of days and provide proportional data. Analyses of stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur allow assessment on a temporal scale of months and provide continuous numeric data reflecting ecological and biological processes that result in an organism’s isotopic signature. To develop long-term solutions for coral reef management, we have to understand the threats to coral reefs, such as rising sea temperatures. Elena will survey the reefs in D’Arros and St Joseph in the Seychelles, comparing this year’s findings to previous data. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are only effective if the species you want to safeguard stays within its borders. Evan will assess factors such as movement, energy use, and prey availability to understand if and how these factors govern the home range size of sharks, ultimately improving the design of MPAs.	https://saveourseas.com/project/of-sharks-salmon-and-sea-farms/	fineweb	3,944	2.78125
When working with graphs in an Algebra II class, you may be presented with a graph of an equation and asked to identify the inequality displayed. The graph will consist of a dotted or solid line, with one side shaded. You can use clues from the graph, together with your knowledge of lines and linear relationships, to find an equation for the inequality. Check whether the inequality line is dotted or solid. If dotted, it is a less-than or greater-than inequality. If solid, it is a less-than-or-equal-to or greater-than-or-equal-to inequality. Identify two points on the line of the inequality. For example, suppose that the dotted line, has the points (0, 0) and (2, 1) on it. You will use these to calculate the inequality. Figure out the slope of the inequality line using the points on your inequality line. Use the formula m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1), in which "m" is the slope and (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are points on the line. In the example, m = (1 - 0) / (2 - 0) = 1/2. Plug your slope and a point into the formula y = mx + B, in which "m" is the slope, (x, y) is a point on the line and "b" is the y-intercept, to find the equation governing the inequality line. Plugging in (0, 0), you obtain 0 = 0 + b, so b = 0. Rewriting the equation, you obtain y = x/2. Determine, from looking at the shaded part of your graph, whether y is less than x/2 or greater than x/2. You may plug in a point from the shaded part of your graph. For example, suppose that the point (7, 8) is shaded. Because y, in this case, is greater than x/2 (8 > 3.5), your inequality is y > x/2. About the Author Tricia Lobo has been writing since 2006. Her biomedical engineering research, "Biocompatible and pH sensitive PLGA encapsulated MnO nanocrystals for molecular and cellular MRI," was accepted in 2010 for publication in the journal "Nanoletters." Lobo earned her Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, with distinction, from Yale in 2010. Zoonar RF/Zoonar/Getty Images	https://sciencing.com/inequalities-graph-8541604.html	fineweb	1,964	4.9375
Could Your Gut Be Affecting Your Arthritis? “Good” microbes protect your health, by helping the immune system identify and ward off dangerous pathogens and inflammation. However, if they are “bad” microbes, become disrupted or if some types are more or less abundant than the others, they can have a negative effect. In fact, there is increasing evidence suggesting that disruptions in your microbiome can cause or contribute to many chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Scientists are also wondering whether it will one day be possible to treat arthritis and other diseases by adjusting the microbiome. Many believe that someday it will. Start Improving Your Gut Health Today While adjusting the microbiome in your gut to treat arthritis is still just an idea, the good news is, right now you can still take steps to improve your gut health—and reduce joint swelling, stiffness and your arthritis symptoms. How? By carefully choosing the foods you eat. That’s because your diet has a direct impact on your gut health, the strength of your immune system and the severity of your arthritic symptoms. There are several diets that have been shown in studies to improve gut health. They are: - Mediterranean Diet: If you have RA you can benefit from a Mediterranean diet which has been scientifically proven to be anti-inflammatory. It includes high quality oils and fats, like olive oil and avocado oil, nuts and seeds, whole grains and plenty of vegetables and fruits. Red meat should be avoided, or eaten if it is lean, a few times a month. Instead, eat more fish—especially fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna. - Vegan Diet: Some small studies suggest a vegan diet can change the gut microbiome and improve arthritis symptoms. In a vegan diet, you do not eat any animal products—that includes meat but also eggs, dairy products and any other foods that include animal-derived ingredients. - Vegan and Gluten-Free Diet: In another study, a small group of participants who had RA followed a gluten-free vegan diet for three months. They experienced reduced inflammation. Finally, keep in mind that if you do decide to alter your diet significantly, you may need to take vitamin supplements, especially if you choose to go vegan. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor to make sure you are getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need.	https://scoallentown.com/news/could-your-gut-beaffectingyourarthritis	fineweb	2,390	2.71875
Becoming a couch potato as you get older goes against evolution and puts your health at risk, a new study suggests. Humans have evolved to be active in their later years, and staying active can protect against heart disease and a number of other serious health problems, according to researchers at Harvard. “It’s a widespread idea in Western societies that as we get older, it’s normal to slow down, do less, and retire,” said the study’s lead author, Daniel Lieberman. He is an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. “Our message is the reverse: As we get older, it becomes even more important to stay physically active.” Physical activity later in life shifts energy away from processes that can harm health — such as excess fat storage — and toward cellular and DNA repair and maintenance processes that have been shown to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and depression, according to the report published Nov. 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study compares humans to apes. The researchers pointed out that apes, which typically live 35 to 40 years in the wild, are much less active than most people — suggesting that humans evolved not just to live longer but also to be more active. Modern-day hunter-gathers average about 135 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day. That’s six to 10 times more than a typical American and may be why hunter-gathers who survive childhood tend to live about seven decades. One benefit of physical activity is a longer, healthier life, the study authors said in a university news release. “The key take-home point is that because we evolved to be active throughout our lives, our bodies need physical activity to age well,” Lieberman said. “In the past, daily physical activity was necessary in order to survive, but today we have to choose to exercise, that is do voluntary physical activity for the sake of health and fitness.” The researchers noted that physical activity levels have fallen worldwide as machines and technology have replaced human labor, and another recent study from Lieberman’s lab showed that Americans are less physically active than they were 200 years ago. “The key is to do something, and to try to make it enjoyable so you’ll keep doing it,” Lieberman said. “The good news is that you don’t need to be as active as a hunter- gatherer. Even small amounts of physical activity — just 10 or 20 minutes a day — substantially lower your risk [of premature death].” The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about exercise and physical activity. SOURCE: Harvard University, news release, Nov. 22, 2021	https://seniorsymptoms.com/2021/11/23/active-grandparent-humans-evolved-to-exercise-in-old-age/	fineweb	2,676	3.4375
What did Amanullah Khan do for Afghanistan? Amanullah enjoyed early popularity within Afghanistan and he used his influence to modernize the country. Amanullah created new cosmopolitan schools for both boys and girls in the region and overturned centuries-old traditions such as strict dress codes for women. He increased trade with Europe and Asia. Who was the king of Afghanistan in 1919? Amānullāh Khan, (born June 1, 1892, Paghmān, Afghanistan—died April 25, 1960, Zürich, Switzerland), ruler of Afghanistan (1919–29) who led his country to full independence from British influence. How did Amanullah died? Kidney failureAmanullah / Cause of deathKidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys are functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Wikipedia Who invaded Afghanistan in 1919? Anglo-Afghan Wars, also called Afghan Wars, three conflicts (1839–42; 1878–80; 1919) in which Great Britain, from its base in India, sought to extend its control over neighbouring Afghanistan and to oppose Russian influence there. Who is king of comedy in Pakistan? Khan has a world record of 860-day night theater plays….Amanullah (comedian) \|Birth name\|\|Amanullah Khan\| \|Native name\|\|(The king of Comedy) امان اللہ خان\| \|Born\|\|1950 Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan\| \|Died\|\|6 March 2020 (aged 70)\| Did Alexander the Great invade Afghanistan? Greek conquest and Kushan invasions Alexander the Great invaded what is today Afghanistan in 330 BC as part of war against Persia. Several cities in Afghanistan are named for Alexander, including Alexandria Arachosia, now called Kandahar (a contraction of Iskandahar). What country was Afghanistan before? the Afghan Durrani Empire The history of Afghanistan as a state began in 1823 as the Emirate of Afghanistan after the fall of the predecessor, the Afghan Durrani Empire, considered the founding state of modern Afghanistan.	https://somme2016.org/recommendations/what-did-amanullah-khan-do-for-afghanistan/	fineweb	1,912	3.15625
Until this week, I couldn’t have told you why November 9 is a kay date in German development. But it marks a turning point in German history not once, but twice. Kristallnacht, or Night of the Broken Glass, and the fall of the Berlin Wall, both monumental turning points in German history, happened not just in the same month, but on the same day—51 years apart. I always think knowing the history of where you live is important—especially when you live in Germany. I was thinking the other night that, unlike many other major cities around the world, Berlin somehow doesn’t feel that impressive. I don’t feel astounded by Berlin, I thought, picturing the endless New York City blocks and Rio’s plunging mountains. And then it hit me—it’s not the skyline or natural beauty that makes Berlin astounding. It’s how history comes alive. November 9: A Turning Point in Germany History Fifty-one years separate these turning points in German history, but both mark the start of new eras in Germany. If your contemporary history needs a bit of a jog, here’s why both are important. Turning Point One: Kristallnacht Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, is largely seen as a gateway event to the monstrosities of Holocaust. The Nazi party claimed the pogrom was a “retaliatory” measure for the assassination of a Nazi German diplomat by a Polish-Jewish man. Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda, even when so far as to say that though the attacks were not state sanctioned, that they “would not be hampered.” From the evening of November 9 through November 10, the Nazi party paramilitary, along with German citizens, attacked and ransacked Jewish business and homes throughout the city. They burned stores and home. They beat and raped and tormented and killed Jews who lived and worked there. Over 30,000 German Jewish men in Berlin alone were arrested and sent to concentration camps. This alone should mark this date significance—but what also bears remembering is the city’s reaction, which was, on the whole, impartial. While firefighters worked to keep the fires from spreading, many non-Jewish Berliners stood on the street and watched—neither harming nor helping their Jewish neighbors. While people might not have supported the actions on the street, the collective dis-action set the stage for the further atrocities to come. They came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Whenever I think of this indifference in action, I remember a poem—a confession, rather—that hung in one of my high school classrooms: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. Written by a Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemöller, it speaks about the collective cowardice of the German people—himself included. How does Germany honor Kristallnacht? When I lived in Hamburg, there wasn’t much to mark the occasion. But I started my job in Berlin a week before the anniversary of Kristallnacht. As I walked home that night, I noticed small candles placed along the streets. Curious, I stopped. Each candle (and in some cases, flowers) was placed next to a Stolperstein, a square bronze plaque laid into the sidewalks in front of buildings where Berlin’s Jews and other Holocaust victims once lived. Translating into “Stumbling block”, each square represents one person, and includes their name, birth date, deportation, and death date (if known). Designed to be a decentralized, ever-present memorial throughout Europe, the bronze plates had stopped me before—but the presence of candles on this occasion shone literal additional light on them. All up and down the street I saw people stopping to read. Turning Point Two: The Fall of the Wall If Kristallnacht marked the opening of an era of an atrocious era of German history, the fall of the Wall is markedly opposite. Where Kristallnacht is all about violence, hate, and inaction, the fall of the Wall was brought about by peaceful rebellion and communal action. It started with a mistake. On November 9th, 1989, Günther Schabowski, leader of the party in East Germany, was introducing a set of more relaxed travel restrictions at a press conference. Notably, these travel restrictions did not open the borders between East and West Germany, but did allow permanent immigration from East to West for the first time…for approved citizens. But Schabowski bungled the delivery. And when a reporter pressed for when the new measures should begin, he further muddied the waters with his answer: “Immediately.” As soon as East Germans heard that, they began amassing at the six checkpoints, demanding the checkpoints be opened. The guards couldn’t get a clear answer from the East German party, who were scrambling to regain some control. With massive crowds forming, the guards could think of nothing else to do but open the border. It was like a football victory—it might not have been our city team, but we all won. While Berliners of course felt the fall of the Wall most deeply, it was a pivotal moment for Germany as a whole. We were visiting Tim’s family this weekend, and I asked his dad about what he remembered. “You don’t think it would affect such a sleepy little village so far away,” he said. “But when the news came, we all ran immediately to the bar. It was like a football victory—it might not have been our city team, but we all won.” How does Germany honor the fall of the Wall? The Wall fell in my lifetime. Because it is so recent, there’s special reverence for the date—an acknowledgement not to take reunification for granted. Though typical the celebrations are quieter, this year marked the 30-Year Anniversary of the Mauerfall. The city marked the occasion with large-scale public art installations, community-building activities, parties, and remembrances. The fall of the Wall is called Die Wende, which translates to “the turning point”, but I’d see November 9th to be twice a turning point in German history. One derailed the country. The other put them back on track.	https://upandgoneblog.com/turning-point-in-germany-history/	fineweb	6,251	3.796875
Women in the United States make up forty eight percent of the workforce, and yet only twenty four percent of STEM workers are women. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women of color makeup fewer than 1 in 10 employed scientists and engineers. Assul, a Project Rousseau student is working to defy these odds. She founded a project at a local middle school called the STEM Initiative, which seeks to inspire young students to become interested in STEM. Assul is an exemplary, highly motivated student who uses her academic strength for good. In the 10th grade, Assul noticed a discrepancy in her community and strived to bridge that gap. “Not everyone gets the same opportunities, I didn’t have that chance when I was their age” Assul stated. She followed by explaining that she wishes she could have had the early exposure to this material that she is giving to her students. Her time as the president of her school’s chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers inspired her to launch this program. Now Assul provides students with homework assistance, tutoring for state tests, and interactive STEM projects to apply what the students are learning. The creation of her dream project was not a fluid process, it required time, effort, patience and most importantly, communication skills. Launching the program was the most difficult part, not only coordinating the space and lesson plans but establishing relationships with students so that they would return to the lessons every week. Assul creates the lesson plan every week and spends the sparse amount of time that she has a junior in highschool to come up with innovative ways of teaching and assisting her students. Assul credits Project Rousseau as a major contributor to the formulation and execution of the program. Staff at Project Rousseau worked with Assul on time management. Assul stated “how the staff at Project Rousseau treat me inspires the way I want to treat my students.” She followed up by stating that “All of the help that I have received from Project Rousseau has made me want to give back.” Assul has also recently been awarded a Peace First Mini Grant to help fund her initiative. She worked with Project Rousseau staff to write this grant application and hopes to use the funds to purchase materials for her tutors and snacks to encourage attendance among her tutees. The support of Peace First will be invaluable to Assul and will allow her project to flourish. In the future, Assul wants to pursue a career in biomedical engineering and do well in her field by doing good for others. When asked why she chose the path of biomedical engineering, Assul responded that growing up she wanted to be a doctor but she soon realized that she could make an impact on the medical community through creating helpful technology. Assul stated “even when I go to college I want to make an impact on others,” inspiring them to feel the same passion for the STEM field as she does.	http://www.projectrousseau.org/news-1/2018/2/23/meet-assul-who-has-started-her-own-stem-community-service-program	fineweb	2,973	3.046875
The Treachery of the (Western) Nations 7 Iyyar 5778 22 Days of the Omer History keeps repeating itself – over and over again. Pharaoh let us go and then promptly changed his mind and set off after us to bring us back to Egypt. King Cyrus let us leave the Babylonian Exile to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple and then changed his mind and stopped the construction. Even in modern times, we see the same pattern. Despite the common misconception that the nations “gave” us Eretz Yisrael out of guilt over the Holocaust, in fact, they made that decision some 25 years earlier. Jews had been returning and settling the land in earnest since the first group of the Vilna Gaon’s students arrived in 1809. The aims of the Zionist movement reached the high levels of leadership in the British government which merited to liberate the Holy Land from the Turks in 1917. No sooner had they taken control than they issued “The Balfour Declaration” supporting “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” In 1918, Britain was joined in this endeavor by France, Italy and the United States. On 5th Iyar 5680 (April 23, 1920), the heads of the Allied Powers who had won the First World War – led by Britain, France and Italy – met in San Remo for an international convention, the purpose of which was to re-organize the world after the war. The convention adopted the Balfour Declaration and gave it international validity, “recognition of the historic right of the Jewish people to return to their ancient homeland.” Britain received the mandate over Eretz Yisrael, which meant taking responsibility for helping the Jewish people establish their national home in accordance with the Balfour Declaration. The San Remo Conference also stated that the national home of the Jewish people would stretch over all of Eretz Yisrael on both sides of the Jordan River.*	https://vilnagaon.org/san-remo/	fineweb	1,885	3.1875
Tags: Teaching Persuasive Essay Writing ElementaryEssay On Why Education Is ImportantTitle Page For An EssayFree Publication Of Research PaperCigar Lounge Business PlanPrime Essays Uk ReviewExample Of An Outline For A Research Paper In ApaSecondary Education Research PaperBusiness Plan For Chicken FarmWriting Humanities Thesis Furthermore, a verbal argument often focuses on who is right regarding a specific issue, while a well-written, researched argument essay focuses on what is the right side of a particular issue. The argument essay is the most common type of writing assignment that college students will encounter throughout their academic careers. While there are different variations of the argument essay, the overall foundation is always the same: the writer is tasked with investigating an issue, taking a stand on the issue, and finding and incorporating a multitude of evidence in a logical manner to support the overall claim. A manageable topic is one that can be successfully performed within the page requirements of the essay. Writing about widespread issues such as national or global problems is often unmanageable in just a few pages. Topic selection is of the utmost importance in an argument essay. The writer should focus on picking a topic that is current and relevant to society and can be argued logically.This will help readers understand the topic and set the stage for the focus of your paper.Not sure what to include as background information?Most of us have experience with arguing, but an argumentative essay is quite different than a verbal argument that arises out of the blue.Verbal arguments often become heated and unreasonable, while the goal of an argumentative essay is the opposite: the argument must be specific, reasoned, detailed and supported with a variety of evidence.Try answering the following questions: Insects are abundant, nutritious, and environmentally sustainable.Currently, people in the United States shun the idea of eating insects as part of their diets, favoring instead less nutritious and environmentally destructive food options, such as beef and pork.Using the above criteria as a basic guideline should allow a writer to find a suitable topic. I’ve said it time and time again—there’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page. The introduction is where you lay the foundation for your impenetrable argument.For instance, let’s say you’re writing an argumentative essay about why Americans should start eating insects.This hook sentence grabs the attention of the audience.	https://vladgkh.ru/research-argument-papers-2454.html	fineweb	2,546	2.765625
Cubs of giraffes and antelopes have amazingthe ability to adapt to walking a few minutes after birth. It allows them to immediately adapt to a hostile environment full of predators and other dangers. This feature of the young has long inspired biologists and engineers to create robotic limbs that can quickly adapt to the environment by trial and error. It seems that the technicians from the Viterbi School of Engineering finally managed to do it. Researchers claim that they have developedThe algorithm is able to give robots an individual gait in just 5 minutes. Training takes place in a free-play mode - the extremities are rearranged until the algorithm decides that the developed gait fully ensures the stability of the robot in a specific territory. It is noteworthy that the technology does not require preliminary computer simulation, which is very common in other similar projects. Random movements of the legs allow the robot to build a map of its limbs and understand how they interact with the environment. Ali Marjaninejadom, co-author of the project Self-learning puts new technologyhead and shoulders above other projects where the robot's movements are predefined by programmers. The researchers explained that developers may consider several situations in which the robot will need to make some movements, but they are unable to predict all the scenarios. Therefore, learning independently on practical experience, the robot will be able to avoid many mistakes. Developed by researchers, the robot is capableovercome difficulties by developing unique movements. If the technology is widely used in the future, robots can be recognized even by the sound of their footsteps, since each of them will have its own manner of walking. A new algorithm can become part of the spacedevices that can adapt to the conditions of distant planets: the abundance of large stones, low gravity and even dirt. It can also be incorporated into robotic prostheses for people with disabilities, as it will be able to study human habits and imitate movements characteristic of it. What do you think of the new technology? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments, or join the discussion of the news of science and technology in our Telegram chat.	https://vpchothuegoldenking.com/the-robot-learned-to-walk-from-scratch-in-just-5-minutes-and-developed-an-individual-walk/	fineweb	2,251	3.59375
Bias In, Bias Out Machine Learning Discrimination: Bias In, Bias Out Featuring Dr. Toon Calders July 8, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (EST) Artificial intelligence is more and more responsible for decisions that have a huge impact on our lives. But predictions made using data mining and algorithms can affect population subgroups differently. Academic researchers and journalists have shown that decisions taken by predictive algorithms sometimes lead to biased outcomes, reproducing inequalities already present in society. Is it possible to make a fairness-aware data mining process? Are algorithms biased because people are too? Or is it how machine learning works at the most fundamental level? Earn a Learner badge Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, depends on the quality, objectivity and size of training data used to teach it. We Count encourages participants and learners to explore this concept to help inform more equitable decisions and supports by understanding data gaps and biases. You will learn: - How predictive algorithms and data mining affect different populations in a discriminatory manner - How specific data resources are used to train and reinforce machine learning models to produce biased outputs Learn and earn badges from this event:	https://wecount.inclusivedesign.ca/initiatives/bias-in-bias-out/	fineweb	1,280	3.296875
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd U.S. President. He served as president from 1801-1809. It was a time of exploration and trade. Fulton's Steamboat made its first trip on the Hudson River. At this time in history, France owned the port of New Orleans. Napoleon decided to block the U.S. from using the French port. He knew the United States needed access to a big port for shipping and trade. Napoleon needed money. England and France were at war. Napoleon needed a big chunk of money fast to fight the war. As Napoleon expected, President Jefferson sent representatives to France to attempt to buy a piece of the port of New Orleans. Napoleon refused. Instead, he offered an all or nothing deal. He offered the United States government a chance to buy the entire French owned Louisiana Territory for very little money per acre. That territory included all of New Orleans and a whole lot more. It included 500,000,000 acres of land. The purchase price was 3 cents an acre! (Today, that would be equivalent to around 40 cents an acre.) With this one purchase, Napoleon would gain the money he needed to fight a war with England, and the United States would gain enough land to double in size. You might think it would be easy for President Jefferson to get approval from Congress for this purchase. But it was not easy. Congress had many concerns. - Some critics pointed out that the Constitution did not have a provision for the purchase of land by the federal government from a foreign power. Jefferson countered by pointing out there was a provision to create treaties. The purchase would be a treaty of purchase. Jefferson was not sure if that was a legal argument, but that was what he used. - Some thought Spain would be upset, and perhaps even declare war on the United States, if the U.S. purchased this land. Napoleon had recently taken the Louisiana Territory from Spain. Spain wanted the land back, and they did not want Napoleon to be able to afford to expand his war with England to include Spain. - Some feared that settlers moving into the far western side of this purchase would not remain loyal to the United States because the distance would be too great between the settlements and Washington for good management and communication. - There were questions about what to do with the people who had already settled in the Louisiana Territory. Some were French, some Spanish, some were African who were not slaves. Would they become U.S. citizens? - Abolitionists were very concerned about the question of slavery. Would slavery be allowed in this huge new territory? Congress was not able to address most of these concerns with answers prior to purchase. Time was tight. If the United States did not take the deal, Napoleon might find another buyer or change his mind. Congress decided to buy. The House approved the funds. The Senate ratified this treaty of purchase in 1803 by a vote of 24 to 7. Even today, the Louisiana Purchase (in 1803) still ranks as one of the best real estate deals in history.	https://westernexpansion.mrdonn.org/louisianapurchase.html	fineweb	3,013	3.890625
Materials (Metroid Prime) \|This file format is almost completely documented \| MP1's materials are completely understood, but MP2 introduced two new values that are both unknown. - 1 GX Overview - 2 Material Set Format - 3 Material Format The materials system in Metroid Prime is heavily dependent on the GameCube and Wii's graphics system, GX. GX is a fixed-function graphics pipeline, similar to old versions of OpenGL. In GX, rendering is done through a series of steps called Texture EnVironment Stages, or or TEV stages for short. Lighting calculations and tex coord generation are done per-vertex and passed along to TEV; the results of the lighting calculations are saved into up to two color channels that can be used as TEV inputs (as the rasterized vertex color). Each TEV stage takes in four color inputs and four alpha inputs, from one of eight sources. Then these four input colors are combined into one output color, and the output is saved into one of four registers, which can subsequently be used as input in the next TEV stages. The final stage must always save its output into the "previous TEV stage" register; that register is used as the final pixel color that gets displayed onscreen. Material Set Format Materials come as part of a set; often there will only be one set per file, but many CMDLs can have more than one. The set begins with a short header before the actual material data begins. \|long\|\|1\|\|Texture count (TC)\| \|long\|\|TC\|\|Texture file IDs\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Material count (MC)\| \|long\|\|MC\|\|Material end offsets (relative to the start of the first material)\| Each material begins with a flags value, followed by a list of texture indices: \|long\|\|1\|\|Texture count (TC)\| \|long\|\|TC\|\|Texture indices (these are indices into the material set texture array)\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Vertex attribute flags\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Unknown (note: only in Echoes)\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Unknown (note: only in Echoes)\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Konst count (KC); max setting is 4. (note: only present if flag 0x8 is set!)\| \|long\|\|KC\|\|Konst colors - 32-bit RGBA colors (note: not present if the Konst count isn't)\| \|short\|\|1\|\|Blend destination factor\| \|short\|\|1\|\|Blend source factor\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Reflection indirect texture slot index (note: only present if flag 0x400 is set!)\| \|long\|\|1\|\|Color channel count (CC)\| \|long\|\|CC\|\|Color channel flags (note: only one flag value, but you must advance 4CC bytes instead of 4 for some reason)\| \|long\|\|1\|\|TEV stage count\| These are simple boolean settings that can be toggled on and off on each material. These are the known flag settings: \|0\|\|0x1\|\|Unused, always set (never set in Echoes)\| \|1\|\|0x2\|\|Unused, always set\| \|2\|\|0x4\|\|Unused, never set\| \|3\|\|0x8\|\|Has Konst values\| \|5\|\|0x20\|\|Masked alpha (compare threshold is hardcoded at 0.25)\| \|6\|\|0x40\|\|Enable Samus's reflection\| \|8\|\|0x100\|\|Enable Samus's reflection, using the eye position and projection direction from the surface header\| \|9\|\|0x200\|\|Shadow occluder mesh; meshes using this material are not rendered, but can be used to cast dynamic shadows on actors\| \|10\|\|0x400\|\|Enable indirect texture stage for reflections\| \|11\|\|0x800\|\|Indicates a lightmap is present; no ingame effect\| \|12\|\|0x1000\|\|Unused, always set (never set in Echoes)\| \|13\|\|0x2000\|\|Enable first UV coordinate to use short array instead of float array (used for world lightmaps)\| \|14\|\|0x4000\|\|In MP1, unused, never set; in Echoes, unknown\| \|15\|\|0x8000\|\|In MP1, unused, never set; in Echoes, unknown\| \|16-31\|\|0xFFFF0000\|\|TEV texture flags; a bit set indicates that the corresponding TEV stage uses a texture. No ingame effect.\| Vertex Attribute Flags These flags are generally toggled in pairs, with each pair corresponding to a vertex attribute; if a pair is set, then vertices using this material will have the corresponding attribute. This is vital for reading geometry. Starting in Echoes, each pair is used to indicate the size of the attribute indices in the geometry data, with 3 meaning a 16-bit index and 2 meaning an 8-bit index. (This isn't actually used, though; the original game data always uses 16-bit indices.) GX supports up to 8 texture coords per vertex, but the game doesn't seem to allow you to assign more than 7 (though this could do with some double-checking). These are the possible attributes: Echoes introduces some new attributes using the top byte of the flags value; unlike the other flags, these are not set in pairs. Each individual bit indicates the presence of a different attribute. The indices in the geometry data are always 8 bits. \|0x1\|\|Position Matrix Index\| \|0x2\|\|Tex0 Matrix Index\| \|0x4\|\|Tex1 Matrix Index\| \|0x8\|\|Tex2 Matrix Index\| \|0x10\|\|Tex3 Matrix Index\| \|0x20\|\|Tex4 Matrix Index\| \|0x40\|\|Tex5 Matrix Index\| \|0x80\|\|Tex6 Matrix Index\| The group index marks groups of materials that all have the same settings, but different textures. The game will check the value after loading the textures (but prior to the vertex attribute flags), and check whether the group index set on the material matches the material currently set up. If it does, it will skip the rest of the material setup. The value typically starts at 0 on the first material and increments by 1 on each new group with different settings. These values are only present when flag 0x8 is enabled. These allow you to set Konstant values, which can subsequently be used as inputs in TEV stages. The maximum number of Konst values you can set on one material is 4. The colors themselves are simply 32-bit RGBA values. The two blend factors set the blending mode used. The most common values you'll see are 0/1, which is used on opaque materials; transparent materials will usually have either 1/1, for additive blending, or 5/4, for alpha blending. Here's the full range of possible settings for each value: \|2\|\|GX_BL_SRCCLR / GX_BL_DSTCLR\| \|3\|\|GX_BL_INVSRCCLR / GX_BL_INVSRCCLR\| The color channels data consists of a count value indicating the number of color channels, and then one set of flags that controls the COLOR0 channel. The flags correspond to arguments passed to GX_SetChanCtrl(). These are the settings: \|0\|\|0x1\|\|Enable lighting (enable)\| \|1\|\|0x2\|\|Ambient color source (ambsrc)\| \|2\|\|0x4\|\|Material color source (matsrc)\| \|3-10\|\|0x7F8\|\|Light mask; always 0, filled in at runtime (litmask)\| \|11-12\|\|0x1800\|\|Diffuse function (diff_fn)\| \|13-14\|\|0x6000\|\|Attenuation function (attn_fn)\| There's only one set of flags, which operates on COLOR0. COLOR1 is reserved for dynamic shadows (terrain casting shadows on actors), so its settings can't be directly modified. Here's how the other color channel settings work. COLOR1A1's settings vary depending on whether shadowmaps are enabled: - No processing will be done if the count value is 0. Otherwise, the count value is ignored; the game will always set up both color channels. - COLOR1A1's ambient color is black, and its material color is white. - COLOR1 will use the diffuse function GX_DF_CLAMP and the attenuation function GX_AF_SPOT. It will have lighting disabled entirely if there are no lights in range If shadowmaps are disabled: - COLOR1 is disabled if the count value is not 2. If it is 2, then its ambient color will be black and its material color will be white. COLOR0 is set up the same way either way: - COLOR0 will use the flags from the material, with the light mask merged in. It will also have lighting disabled if there are no lights in range. - If there are no lights in range, COLOR0A0 will have its material color set to match its ambient color. Otherwise, its material color will be set to white. Finally, an important note is that the formatting of the color channel info is bugged. There is always a color channel count and a single set of flags; 8 bytes total. However, for some reason the game is expecting one set of flags per color channel. To reach the TEV stages, you need to advance (4 count) bytes past the count value, rather than 4. A likely explanation is that there was one set of flags per channel earlier in development, and the material loading code wasn't fully updated when this was changed. It's not normally an issue because the count is always 1 in every file the game uses, but beware for experimentation/custom materials. There'll be one of these structures per TEV stage: \|0x0\|\|4\|\|Color Input Flags\| \|0x4\|\|4\|\|Alpha Input Flags\| \|0x8\|\|4\|\|Color Combine Flags\| \|0xC\|\|4\|\|Alpha Combine Flags\| \|0x11\|\|1\|\|Konst Alpha Input (possible values)\| \|0x12\|\|1\|\|Konst Color Input (possible values)\| \|0x13\|\|1\|\|Rasterized Color Input (possible values)\| \|0x14\|\|End of TEV stage\| After looping through each TEV stage, there will be one of these structures per stage: \|0x2\|\|1\|\|Texture TEV Input\| \|0x3\|\|1\|\|Tex Coord TEV Input\| \|0x4\|\|End of structure\| Color Input Flags These flags set the four color inputs that are used by the TEV stage. Each color is allocated 5 bits, even though only 4 are actually used; the lower bits correspond to the lower input numbers (eg. the bottom 5 bits refer to the first input). There are 16 possible color sources: \|00000\|\|0x0\|\|Previous stage RGB\| \|00001\|\|0x1\|\|Previous stage AAA\| \|00010\|\|0x2\|\|Color 0 RGB\| \|00011\|\|0x3\|\|Color 0 AAA\| \|00100\|\|0x4\|\|Color 1 RGB\| \|00101\|\|0x5\|\|Color 1 AAA\| \|00110\|\|0x6\|\|Color 2 RGB\| \|00111\|\|0x7\|\|Color 2 AAA\| Alpha Input Flags Similar to the color input flags, these set the four alpha inputs used by the TEV stage. Each value is allocated 5 bits, although only 3 are used. The main difference with alpha is that there are only 8 possible sources instead of 16: \|00000\|\|0x0\|\|Previous stage alpha\| \|00001\|\|0x1\|\|Color 0 alpha\| \|00010\|\|0x2\|\|Color 1 alpha\| \|00011\|\|0x3\|\|Color 2 alpha\| Color Combine Flags These flags specify how the operation that combines the four input colors into one output color is performed. This is the combiner function: tevrigid = (d (tevop) ((1.0-c)a + cb) + tevbias) * tevscale; The values set in the color operation flags correspond to the parameters passed to GX_SetTevColorOp(). These are the settings: \|0-3\|\|0xF\|\|Combiner operator (tevop)\| \|4-5\|\|0x30\|\|Bias (tevbias); 00 does nothing; 01 adds 0.5; 10 subtracts 0.5; 11 does nothing.\| \|6-7\|\|0xC0\|\|Scale (tevscale); 00 does nothing; 01 multiples by 2; 10 multiplies by 4; 11 divides by 2.\| \|8\|\|0x100\|\|Clamp flag; enabling this will clamp the output color between 0 and 1.\| \|9-10\|\|0x600\|\|Output register (tevrigid); can be Previous Stage or Color 0/1/2\| Note that the vast majority of materials in the game, if not all of them, don't really bother with any of this; they enable clamping, set an output register, and leave everything else at their defaults of 0. Alpha Combine Flags This is exactly the same as the color combine flags; the only difference is it operates on alpha instead of color. After the TEV stages comes a sequence of flags determining how texgen is executed. Texgen is the process of taking input values and using them to generate texture coordinates (or UV coordinates), which can then be used by the TEV stages. It's important to note that any vertex attribute can be used as a texgen input; in fact, it's rather common for materials to use the vertex normal as an input to simulate reflections. That means the number of texture coords present on each vertex is not the same as the number of texture coords available to TEV. \|long\|\|1\|\|Texgen count (TC)\| The flags correspond to arguments passed to GX_SetTexCoordGen2(). These are the settings: \|0-3\|\|0xF\|\|Texture coord generation type (tgen_typ)\| \|4-8\|\|0x1F0\|\|Texture coord source (tgen_src)\| \|9-13\|\|0x3E00\|\|Texture matrix index (mtxsrc - add 30)\| \|14\|\|0x4000\|\|Normalize flag - normalizes texture coord after it's multiplied by the texture matrix (normalize)\| \|15-20\|\|0x1F8000\|\|Post-transform texture matrix index (postmtx - add 64)\| See UV Animations The UV animations section immediately follows the texgen flags. Its purpose is to generate texture matrices and post-transform matrices, which are then used to transform UV coordinates. This is commonly used to animate textures via simple UV scrolls, but it's also often used to simulate reflective surfaces that move with the camera. Materials can have multiple UV animations; in that case, each animation generates a separate texture/post-transform matrix and are loaded into GX sequentially. Texgen is used to set which matrices are used by which UV coordinates (if any). The section starts with this short header: \|0x0\|\|4\|\|Material animations section size (includes animation count, so will be 4 at minimum)\| For info on how to read the animation data and how each animation mode works, see UV Animations.	https://wiki.axiodl.com/w/Materials_(Metroid_Prime)	fineweb	12,482	2.9375
12th English Grammar Easy Notes Download in PDF for Students The English language (the language of the English Schoolboys, in other words) is a subject that can be very confusing and frustrating to learn. It has its own intricacies, and the learner must first become acquaint with this language. And then he or she must be able to use it in a regular and everyday way. So, how to master English? How to learn it? Well, one of the best ways to start out is by being aware of grammar rules. The grammar book you might have bought may not have covered all the rules of the English language, but they were probably helpful enough for basic understanding. This should help you to start with your research into English grammar. You should also try out to see if there are any websites available with some examples of different languages using the English language. Then you will be able to translate and understand better what the grammatical elements of the English language mean. In addition to the above, you should try to have a good vocabulary. This is very important because words in English have additional meanings than just their simple meaning. You should be able to remember all these words (the root as well as the stem) and be able to translate them easily. If you cannot do this, the grammar book will not be of much use to you. You should try to have good punctuation, and an orderly presentation of ideas. Punctuation is used in many forms of writing, but it should be kept to a minimum. English has its fair share of bad punctuation, and you should avoid it wherever possible. Most writers will be tempted to break the rules, but they will end up looking silly. And besides, if the rules have already been broken, it is only logical to break them again! The grammar book will also give you a list of proper nouns and pronouns. These will need to be learned individually, so you should not try and cram them into your head while reading. It is far easier to have the bookmarked pages available for reference. And when you are ready for the real exam, you can study those words! In order to become familiar with the alphabet, you need to learn the various parts of speech. There are some parts of speech that are considered to be rules, and others which are not. Once you know the parts of speech, you can then decide whether or not the grammar indicates that the word is correct. This is quite a bit more complicated than it sounds, and you should make sure that you fully understand the concept before jumping into the language. Speaking, you will find that there are a lot of different accents, and you should learn the way each one varies from the others. For example, there is the British accent, and there is the American accent. Then there are regional accents, which are common in certain regions of the US. If you get the hang of this, you can learn most, if not all of the words in the English language. 12th Class English Notes (Updated) \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 1 The Farewell Sermon\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 2 Jinnahs Vision of Pakistan\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 3 The Blades of Grass\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 4 I have a Dream\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 5 Glory and Hope Notes\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 6 I Dream a World (Poem)\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 7 Lesson From the Battle of Uhud\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 8 Lingkuan Gorge\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 9 If (Poem)\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes Chapter 10 Determination\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Grammar Easy Notes 11 The Man Who Planted Trees\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 12 It Could not Be Done\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 13 Technology and Society of the Future\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 14 Gender Inequality is Detrimental to Society\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 15 The School Boy (Poem)\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 16 Archaeological Treasures of Pakistan\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 17 The Renaissance\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 18 Once Upon a Time\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 19 The Merchant of Venice\|\|View Notes\| \|12th English Chapter 20 King Lear\|\|View Notes\| \|12Th English Grammar Essay Writing Notes\|\|View Notes\| \|12Th English Grammar Correction of Errors in Paragraph\|\|View Notes\| \|12Th English Grammar Phrasal Verbs Idioms\|\|View Notes\| \|12Th English Grammar Use of Phrasal Verbs\|\|View Notes\| \|12Th English Grammar Report Writing Notes\|\|View Notes\| \|12TH ENGLISH PRE READING SHORT NOTES\|\|View Notes\| \|12TH ENGLISH PAST PAPERS MCQS SOLVED\|\|View Notes\| One of the biggest problems you will face is with the use of pronouns. pronouns are very important parts of the grammar. If you do not understand these, you may find that you do not pass your test. As with every other subject in grammar, practice makes perfect. An important tip for English grammar is that you need to avoid homonyms. A homonym is a word that sounds the same but has an entirely different meaning. For example, you could say “the manor” instead of “the manor house”. “The manor house” is clearly a homonym. It would be a real shame if you did not know either of these words and your grammar was not great because you missed out on an excellent opportunity. Therefore, make sure you do not use homonyms in your writing, as they can ruin your grammar. Finally, avoid words that have been simplified. This means that you should not use the word “the” too many times, as it can become quite dull. Instead, you should use “it” and “itself” for singular words. You should also avoid the use of “I” too much. Make sure your grammar is good by keeping these tips in mind. Now that you have learned how to improve your English grammar, go write! Write down new thoughts, sentences, and more. Test yourself. The better you get at writing, the better you will become at speaking and vice versa.	https://worldstudypoint.com/12th-english-grammar-easy-notes-download-in-pd/	fineweb	6,053	3.171875
Wood burning can be messy, but it’s worth it! Even with the best and most efficient units or with an ash drawer, ash cleanup is never a fun job. But did you know that you can actually use wood ash for other purposes? Removes Funky Smells Have a weird smell in the fridge? Mixing water and wood ash serves the same purpose as baking soda; Put the mixture in a small bowl, leave it in the fridge for a few days and the bad smell will disappear. You can also sprinkle dry wood ash into litter boxes! Home-Made Abrasive Cleaner Dry ash has the power to remove tough stains and clean harder-to-maintain items like cooking pots and pans, stainless steel, as well as glass. Mix ash and water, then use newspaper as your wiping material, to gently clean the surface. Road Salt/Sand Replacement Have some ice in your driveway? Sprinkle ashes like you would sprinkle road salt and by the end of the day, your driveway is clear of ice and there’s no left-over salt kicking around on the ground! Ash contains calcium, phosphorous and potassium, amongst other chemicals. It can raise pH levels and helps plants grow stronger and quicker. First, test your soil. - Take a small cup of dry soil and drop it in two separate containers evenly. - Turn the soil into mud by adding distilled water. - Add a little bit of baking soda to the first container. - Add a little bit of vinegar to the second container. If there’s no reaction in either container, your soil is neutral! If the baking soda creates bubbles, the soil is acidic. If the vinegar makes the mud fizz, then your soil is alkaline. By adding wood ash and raising the pH level, you are lowering the acidity of your soil. Be mindful that some plants, such as blueberries and azaleas, need acid to thrive. Be sure you now what is planted before adding wood ash, to know if it’ll help or hinder your garden. Even better, it deters snails and slugs! You can sprinkle it around the base of trees to help the root and any fruit it may produce or sprinkle some on top of your grass before watering. Get a jar and mix in half water, half ash. Let it sit near a doorway for a week to keep little flying intruders away. You can also take this substance and put it in a spray bottle, to put lightly spray on the surface of your firewood. Do not spray enough that it absorbs; just the surface vicinity. Do you re-use your wood ash debris or recycle anything else in a unique way? Feel free to share your pro- tips!	http://atlanticfireplaces.ca/recycling-wood-ash/	fineweb	2,445	2.609375
In order to be more aware people need to know: what started the genocide, how the people are being treated, and the governments’ reactions to the situation so that we can prevent another event like the Holocaust happening again. In 2003, two rebel groups rose up and threatened the Sudanese government, which was the beginning of the gruesome Darfur genocide. Conflict in the Darfur region is not uncommon, but the conflict in 2003 flared into the genocide that is still taking place today. As stated before, in 2003 two rebel groups threatened war against the Sudanese government. The S.L.A (Sudan Liberation Army) and J.E.M (Justice and Equality Movement) accused the government of neglecting its people (“Darfur Genocide” par. This was partially through the utilization of different methods to create conflict among the conquered countries to avoid any threat of uprisings. Some tactics consisted of giving more power to certain native groups over the other or displacement of indigenous people through the division of groups, all attributable to certain heinous acts. For example Somalia has experienced excessive amounts of political instability during the past decade. Somalia, like most other countries in Africa, was colonized European nations during the late 1800s. Since the 1970s through the 1990s Somalia has gone through much civil strife between different clans for the total control of Mogadishu, the capital city (Anup Shah, 2010). As the world witnessed similar atrocities in the Balkans and Rwanda during the early to mid-1990s, we are again left with a truly flummoxing question: Why? There are no easy answers to questions of genocide. We can only hope to find common threads that might shed glimmers of light on the darkest corners of human activity, to try to understand what could drive people to such extreme measures. Cleary, in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia the social and political structures set the stage for the ensuing atrocities. The wake of colonialism and communism, respectively, had left these two regions unstable and vulnerable to the agendas of extremist politicians. This is a big issue because on a global scale we are letting Eastern Africa’s people suffer when there is no need of it. The drought in Eastern Africa is causing many conflicts and death due to lack of food and water. Meaning of Drought “For most of the history of our species we were helpless to understand how nature works. We took every storm, drought, illness and comet personally. We created myths and spirits in an attempt to explain the patterns of nature (Druyan).” According to Fox, Drought came also be seen as a slow- motion train wreck. Droughts and Flooding: Besides the immediate destruction caused by natural events such as hurricanes, environmental forces often cause acute periods of crisis by destroying crops and animals. Natural Disasters: Natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes have devastated communities throughout the world. Developing countries often suffer much more extensive and acute crises at the hands of natural disasters, because limited resources inhibit the construction of adequate housing, infrastructure, and mechanisms for responding to crises. Colonial Histories: One of the most important barriers to development in poor countries is lack of uniform, basic infrastructure, such as roads and means of communication. Some development scholars have identified colonial history as an important contributor to the current situation. The Ghosts of Rwanda The Rwandan Genocide. A horrible nightmare for many nations, but mainly for Rwanda. After a potential peace treaty going south, the Hutus, viciously murdered close to 1 million Tutsi. The United Nations and the United States stayed out of Rwanda in fear that another Somalia may take place. This paper is taking a look at the sociological ways that explain the chain events. He mentioned that there are a lot of terrible governments, and it is better to restrict the use of force across international boundaries for the sake of some notion of global stability, but also because as we 've learned when you unloose the dogs of war, you get a lot more violence and a lot more deaths than you anticipated in the scenarios you sketched out when you were planning the attack (Just and Unjust Wars ' Author Critical on Iraq, 2005). In other words, USA intervention in Iraq was not a good idea as it started an unending civil war and affected the global The Causes for the Rebellion of 1837-1838 The rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada were in the interests of self-government but were doomed to failure from their beginning. Each of these two colonies encountered a great deal of problems right from the institution of the Constitution Act of 1791 and the problems continually got worse until the only choice to some seem to be rebellion. There were several problems that lead to the rebellions of 1837-38. In Lower Canada there was the agricultural crisis that caused a large number of starvations, to the French and English political and social problems within the colony. There were several different reasons that caused the rebellion in Upper Canada but these caused were mainly rooted in the idea of Anti- Americanism that was held within the Family Compact. According to Raphael Lemkin , Polish-born jurist who escaped Nazi Germany and served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of War during World War II, genocide is defined as “…the systematic murder of an entire national, ethnic, or religious group”(Vile). Despite the clarity that Lemkin’s term genocide brings, the world is still having trouble deciding when to apply the word. This is sharply exposed by the unending debate on the crisis in Darfur. To understand the crises in Darfur to be genocide, one must reflect on the history of the crisis, acknowledge the actions that constitute genocide, and evaluate the responsibility of other countries in ration to the crisis. The beginning of the crisis’ history began with civil war. The following essay will point out that environmental issues are certainly a security issue. These environmental issues include the environmental ethnic conflicts, exploitation of natural resources, global warming, deforestation and health problem. On the other hand, some scholars opposed the possibility that the environmental issues a security issue. Firstly, when the country experiences, environment destructions and decrease in resources, it makes the residences migrate and eventually lead to ethnic conflicts due to people battling for resources for their daily needs. For example, in Northern Darfur, where she experienced prolonged erosion for the past decades, it had forced the people to migrate to the southern part of Sudan.	https://www.123helpme.com/essay/roots-of-conflict-in-darfur-463008	fineweb	6,743	3.0625
In the starting of the course, I learned about three crucial laws and what they mean to an person with a disability. Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology Creating accessibility into new technologies and curricular materials as they are developed will help to ensure the maximal inclusion of youngsters with disabilities into the full array of learning opportunities that are available to all kids. For students who have trouble reading due dyslexia, the use of symbols in location of or to augment written directions, inquiries, or readings can aid these students access the same details as these with no learning disabilities. Text-to-speech application can be specifically valuable for students who retain more info through listening than reading. Assistive technology can frequently be an successful indicates to improve a student’s good self-image by empowering them with the tools to compensate for distinct disability-related limitations. The post typically explains complications students with learn disabilities have. TechMatrix – Assistive Technologies Tools and Resources for Understanding The new and enhanced TechMatrix permits you to use targeted searches and search phrases to uncover the correct tool, study, on-line resource or professional suggestions to integrate technology into education. Wheelchairs are devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that incorporate a seating method and are developed to be a substitute for the typical mobility that most folks get pleasure from. Even though graphic organizers completed with no technologies can support students with finding out disabilities to improve the quality of writing (Institute for the Advancement of Analysis in Education, 2003), electronic versions, such as Inspiration, enable students to arrange their thoughts on the personal computer screen with out worrying about order, level of significance or categories due to the fact the text can be easily manipulated. Demystify the Assistive Technologies Assessment Procedure from the VA DOE Instruction and Technical Assistance Center at VCU, identifies the seven indicators for a quality AT Assessment. The labor-intensive motor aspect of writing includes: holding the writing utensil stabilizing the paper visually guiding the hand moving the writing utensil along the paper visual recall of the letter kinesthetic memory of letter formation and word formation and writing and re-writing as element of the editing process. Examples of assistive technology for visually impairment incorporate screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille embossers, desktop video magnifiers, and voice recorders. Teachers require training to support their implementation of assistive technology. As a outcome of this, she inquiries how other parents of kids with disabilities can acquire use of AT devices. If your kid has other learning challenges, you might also want to verify out the details about assistive technologies for reading, math, and executive functioning (ADHD) elsewhere on this web site. Note: Assistive technology is not a substitute for teaching your kid to read and write. AT Reality Sheet from the Household Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) contains basic inquiries to think about when trying to determine AT devices that will ideal suit your youngster and illustrates examples of some of the AT alternatives accessible. Students with studying disabilities (LDs) might appreciate possessing the data colour-coded based on the purpose, subject, or function of the data. Assistive technologies is the array of new devices produced to allow sports enthusiasts who have disabilities to play.	http://www.rfqsoftware.com/__trashed-281.html	fineweb	3,672	3.078125
February 12, 2014, by Stephen Mumford Apology for Narcissus Valentine’s Day on February 14th is a supposed day of love. But then it’s not for all. Not everyone is in a relationship on that day, and not all of those in a relationship are truly in love. Nevertheless, we can make Valentine’s Day a day for everyone if we broaden it to include self-love and encourage this trait, which usually gets a bad press. An accusation of being in love with oneself is always a slur. To be self-preoccupied, conceited, proud and vain are all portrayed as vices. Certainly they can be. Yet there is also truth in the old cliché that to love another you must first be able to love yourself. Many times I have seen unhappy individuals having difficulties bonding with others and in allowing themselves the freedom to develop and flourish. I’ve thought the problem is that they just don’t love themselves enough. It’s much better for someone to think that they deserve some luxury, some leisure, to be heard, to be free, to be happy. People seem so much more pleasant when they are comfortable with themselves. The opposite – self-loathing – universally leads to problems. So too among academics discussing their subjects. A self-lover tends to be the most generous with the ideas of others. Being self-reassured, they don’t need to do others down, make themselves look better or see debate as a competition. They validate themselves so don’t need it externally. And how much more pleasant company that makes a soul. We benefit when we look to the wisdom of the ancients. Narcissus appears in Ovid’s Metamorphoses as handsome and proud. The problem is not in seeing the beauty in oneself. Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection where, unable to leave, he died. A trait that is a virtue can become a vice if taken to excess, as Aristotle teaches in the Nicomachean Ethics. Virtue is said to be a mean between two extremes. Self-love was not in itself the problem for Narcissus: it was that he took it to such a level that he could not function normally. Start Valentine’s Day loving yourself. Thinking that you deserve to be loved is a condition of being lovable. Have the wisdom to judge how much self-love is healthy. Avoid falling into self-obsession and sometimes treat yourself to the mythologies of the classics.	http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/artsmatters/2014/02/12/narcissus-gets-a-bad-press/	fineweb	2,308	2.75
So What are BCAAs? BCAAs stands from Branched-Chain Amino Acids. These are the main building blocks of protein which in turn has a result on building muscle. They help to prevent fatigue and maintain muscle mass and strength during workouts and times when physical stress is applied to the body (during an intense workout for example). The BCAAs – leucine, isoleucine and valine are three of the essential amino acids which make up BCAAs. The term “branched chain” refers to the unique structure of these chemicals. Your body cannot produce this chain, and must be obtained through nutrition. The combination of these amino acids makes up about 1/3rd of skeletal muscle in the human body (That’s why these are “essential” amino acids). If you would like to know the specifics – check out the wiki page. What do BCAAs do? BCAAs are quite unique compared to most things consumed daily where by they do not feed through the liver, and instead completely bypass the liver and are transported directly to your muscles. When they reach and enter the muscle, they play an important role in transforming the human body in to a muscle building machine as they manipulate various factors of muscle metabolism. As well as providing an important part in protein synthesis, BCAAs also give a boost of energy during heavy and intense weight lifting, help to maintain muscle mass/tissue, and can help fight through mental barriers to battle on through your strenuous workouts. BCAAs can also be used as fuel to support your muscles through long grueling workouts. How do BCAAs prevent muscle loss? BCAAs help to prevent muscle loss by reducing protein breakdown in your muscles (catabolism) by stimulating the release of insulin. Insulin has proven to play an important part in prevent the breakdown of muscle fibers following periods of physical stress applied to the body, such as weight lifting, running, swimming etc – thereby preventing muscle loss. BCAAs are particularly useful when dieting to try and maintain as much muscle mass as possible when stripping away your body fat. How do BCAAs help muscle growth? BCAAs have anabolic abilities (muscle building) as they influence various factors which fire up protein synthesis within your body. They essential turn your body into a muscle building machine by switching it in to an anabolic state – then using the available amino acids to build protein and some dense muscle tissue. To get the best results you must make sure you are having the required amount of protein within your daily diet along with your intake of BCAAs – and your body will take full advantage. Who, How, When? So who should be taking BCAAs? Anybody who weight trains regularly and fairly seriously should take or consider taking BCAAs – bodybuilders, power lifters, strong men as well as those who regularly participate in endurance type sports such as swimming or cycling will also benefit from this supplement. How do I get BCAAs? Branched Chain Amino Acids can be obtained through most protein sources (red meat is usually the best source). The problem here is that the amount of BCAAs present is very little in proportion to what you eat, so you would need to eat a hell of a lot to get a good amount – that is why it is better to take them in the form of supplementation. You can purchase BCAA powders or tabs, and it is even present in a lot of protein powder blends and pre-workout formulas. (Recommendation: If you are going to buy the powdered stuff, I would make sure you get a flavoured version as the plain stuff is a quite bitter to the taste). When should I take BCAAs and how much should I take? The great thing about BCAAs is that they can be taking at any time throughout the day – usually best consumed on an empty stomach. The most beneficial and common times to take BCAAs is before a workout, and then after the workout. A common recommended dose (and quite a small amount at that) is between 7-10 grams per day which has been shown to trigger protein synthesis within the body. Although more can definitely be taken. Get Smart, Train Smart, Achieve Goals!	http://bodybase.co.uk/bcaas/	fineweb	4,091	2.734375
Umbilical hernia repair in adults Umbilical hernia is when the belly button pops outwards due to a weakness in the muscles in or around the belly button. There is a separate factsheet available for parents of children having surgery to repair an umbilical hernia - Umbilical hernia in children Your care will be adapted to meet your individual needs and may differ from what is described here. So it's important that you follow your surgeon's advice. - About umbilical hernia - Preparing for your operation - About the operation - What to expect afterwards - Recovering from an umbilical hernia repair - What are the risks? - Related topics About umbilical hernia An umbilical hernia is a result of weakness in the muscles in or around your belly button. It causes the belly button to pop outwards and can happen at any age. Umbilical hernias are most common in women during and after pregnancy, and in people who are overweight. An umbilical hernia is not dangerous in itself, but there is a risk that it will get trapped (incarcerated). This can cut off the blood supply to the contents of the hernia, causing life-threatening conditions such as gangrene or peritonitis (if this happens, the hernia is said to be strangulated). If it's not treated, your hernia is likely to get larger and become more uncomfortable. In most cases, a hernia repair operation is recommended. Your doctor will examine your belly button. The belly button will usually bulge out if you have an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia can cause serious illness if it's left untreated in adults. The risk of illness increases with the size of the hernia. Your GP or surgeon will usually recommend umbilical hernia repair. Preparing for your operation Your surgeon will explain how to prepare for your operation. For example, if you smoke you will be asked to stop, as smoking increases your risk of getting a wound or chest infection and slows your recovery. Umbilical hernia repair is usually done as a day-case procedure under general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the procedure. Alternatively you may prefer to have the surgery under local anaesthesia. This completely blocks feeling around the belly button area and you will stay awake during the operation. A sedative may be given with a local anaesthetic to help you relax. Your surgeon will advise which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you. If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. Typically, you must not eat or drink for about six hours before a general anaesthetic. However, some anaesthetists allow occasional sips of water until two hours beforehand. At the hospital your nurse may check your heart rate and blood pressure, and test your urine. Your surgeon will usually ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your permission for it to go ahead. Your nurse will prepare you for theatre. You may be asked to wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots forming in the veins in your legs. You may need to have an injection of an anti-clotting medicine called heparin as well as, or instead of, stockings. About the operation The aim of a hernia repair operation is to push the contents of the bulge back into the abdomen and strengthen the abdominal wall. There are two main types of hernia repair operations - open and keyhole. In most cases, the operation is an open repair, which involves a small cut just below your belly button. Sometimes, if the hernia is a recurrence, keyhole surgery is recommended. A single cut (5 to 10cm long) is made just below or above your belly button, and the bulge is pushed back into place. Your surgeon may stitch a synthetic mesh over the weak spot to strengthen the wall of the abdomen. The skin cut is closed with stitches and covered with a dressing. Two or three small cuts (1 to 2cm long) are made in your lower abdomen. Your surgeon will insert a tube-like telescopic camera to view the hernia by looking at pictures it sends to a monitor. The hernia is repaired using specially designed surgical instruments passed through the other cuts. A synthetic mesh may be used to strengthen the wall of the abdomen. The skin cuts are closed with stitches. The operation takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the method used. What to expect afterwards If you have general anaesthesia, you will need to rest until the effects of the anaesthetic have passed. You may need pain relief to help with any discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off. You will usually be able to go home when you feel ready. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours. Your nurse will give you some advice about caring for your healing wound before you go home. Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotics for a few days, although this is very rare. If you are prescribed antibiotics it's important you finish the course. You may be given a date for a follow-up appointment. Recovering from an umbilical hernia repair If you need pain relief, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions in the patient information that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice. General anaesthesia temporarily affects your co-ordination and reasoning skills, so you must not drink alcohol, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. Follow your surgeon's advice about driving. You shouldn't drive until you are confident that you could perform an emergency stop without discomfort. You will feel some discomfort in the abdomen area for a week or two. Don't strain or stretch the healing wound as this will increase swelling and slow your recovery. Don't do any lifting or strenuous exercise for at least the first two weeks. However, light exercise, such as walking, will help to speed up your recovery. Don't have a shower or bath for the first two days. When you do bathe, the dressing may come off. This is normal and it does not need to be replaced. Dissolvable stitches will disappear on their own in seven to 10 days. What are the risks? Umbilical hernia repair is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure. These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful procedure, for example feeling sick as a result of the general anaesthetic. You will have some pain, bruising and minor swelling in your lower abdomen. The side-effects are usually milder after key-hole surgery. This is when problems occur during or after the operation. Most people are not affected. The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, infection or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). Complications may require further treatment such as returning to theatre to stop bleeding, or antibiotics to treat an infection. Other complications specific to umbilical hernia repair are uncommon but include: - damage to other organs in the abdomen - this is more likely if the operation is done using keyhole surgery and further surgery may be needed to repair any damage - pain or numbness in the lower abdomen - this may last several months - re-occurrence - it's possible the umbilical hernia may re-occur The exact risks are specific to you and differ for every person, so we have not included statistics here. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you. - McLatchie GR, Leaper DJ. Oxford handbook of clinical surgery. Oxford University Press 2002:388 - Menon VS, Brown TH. Umbilical hernia in adults: day case local anaesthetic repair. J Postgrad Med 2003;49(2):132-133 - Should umbilical hernias be repaired to prevent complications if they are not giving rise to any symptoms? www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk, accessed 13 February 2008 - Oxford Textbook of Surgery: Volume 1. Morris PJ, Malt RA (eds). Oxford Medical Publications 1994:1409	http://book-med.info/hernias/21358	fineweb	8,222	2.828125
I don't think anyone really knows when the thoughts of a tunnel through the Cumberland's was first thought of, but it was opened in 1996. In the 1700's Daniel Boone made the Gap through the Cumberland's known. He and others led many people through the gap into Kaintuck, or Kentucky as we know it today. In the 1920's a road was built for automobiles to cross the Cumberland mountains, one of its names was Wilderness Trail, taken from what settlers called the trail that the road followed. The road was a winding road connecting Cumberland Gap TN to Middlesboro Ky, but you had to pass through a short section of VA to get from one place to the other. This 3 mile section of road was named Massacre Mountain by the locals because there was so many crashes on it. As in most mountain roads a crash often resulted in fatalities. Here is a pic of TN side opening of the tunnel. It took 17 years from start to opening, I'm not sure if the 17 years included the many years of planning before they actually started the digging. The Tunnel is located in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and park Rangers do the patrolling. There are two tunnels, one for the north bound traffic and one for the south bound traffic, each tunnel has two lanes of traffic. The tunnel is 4600 feet long, and connects Ky to TN. The state line is not marked inside the tunnel to avoid state rivalries. We were fortunate enough to get a tour of the tunnel thanks to the Great Staff at the CGNHP. About 22 volunteers were taken on a tour of the tunnel a few weeks ago. This is a picture of the control room where many cameras, temps, carbon monoxide, and a lot of other stuff is monitored. This picture was taken inside the the control room looking towards Middlesboro. This picture is on top of the tunnel looking towards Middlesboro, with several of the volunteers walking to the edge. We were told two deer have jumped to their death from up there, one landing in the north bound lane, and the other in the spillway of the north bound lane. US 25 E coming out of the tunnel, taken from the top of the tunnel. The Tunnel employees 37 people, all EMT trained, it has ambulances, wreckers, and fire trucks on both ends. An average of 35,000 vehicles pass through it daily, and that doubles when NASCAR races are held in Bristol. The tunnel has made it easy to get from KY to TN and eliminated many crashes. The Middlesboro rescue squad had a 50% reduction in the number of crashes it responded to the first year the tunnel was open. In 2002 the old US 25 E was restored ( as best as they could) to the way it was when Daniel Boone led settlers through the Gap into Kaintuck. You can walk the same trail that Daniel Boone walked.	http://chasingthe70s2.blogspot.com/2011/05/cumberland-gap-tunnel.html	fineweb	2,709	3.015625
Quick search Help ? (McCord collection only) The On-line Collection The Illustrated Press At the turn of the 20th century, the press underwent profound changes. Vehicles for the debate of ideas in the 19th century, newspapers focussed on information, particularly on national and foreign news, special events and sports in the 20th century. Thanks to technical advances in reproduction processes, it became possible to illustrate newspaper articles with drawings and photographs. After the 1920s, photographs assumed increasing importance in the new, daily information sources called newspapers. Photograph, glass lantern slide Printing press for the Daily Mail newspaper, NF, about 1925 Newfoundland Development Company About 1925, 20th century Print - Fashion illustration Morning Promenade & Evening Dresses 1813, 19th century Agence France-Presse Cover, Part 1 1995, 20th century	http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php?Lang=1&tableid=11&tablename=theme&elementid=100__true	fineweb	883	3.015625
Abdiel (Hebrew עֲבְדִּיאֵל "Servant of God") is a Seraph in the Sepher Raziel and in Milton's Paradise Lost. In the Bible, Abdiel is the father of Ahi, a clan leader of the tribe of Gad (1 Chronicles 5:15). The name is cognate to the Arabic name ‘Abdullah, which has the same meaning. In Paradise Lost, Abdiel denounces Satan after hearing him incite revolt among the angels, and abandons Lucifer to bring the news of his defection to God. However, when he arrives, he finds that preparations are already underway for battle. In the ensuing fight, Abdiel smites Satan, Ariel, Ramiel, and Arioch, presumably among others. In Asimov's Annotated Paradise Lost, Isaac Asimov theorized that Abdiel was in fact a representation of Milton himself. In Cyder, Ambrose Philips refers to Milton as "that other bard" and contrasts Milton to his character Abdiel. A character named Abdiel appears among the seraphim in the novel Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle. Abdiel is also the name of a villain in the Star of the Guardians trilogy by Margaret Weis. Abdiel is also the "angelic name" of Arcade, the guardian angel intent to cause the Revolt of the Angels, in Anatole France's "Revolt of the Angels". Aka : Arcade Shape : Angel Rank : Seraphin Origin : Hebraïc Myths : Abdiel was the most vindicative angel against the Rebels headed by Satan Magic : appears on several pentacles of the Key of Salomon and the Legemeton Source : Book of Raziel (XIII), Milton’s Paradise, Key of Salomon, Legemeton	http://corintmark.blogspot.com/2011/01/abdiel.html	fineweb	1,486	2.640625
Chapter two uses Chronicles to introduce the complexities of Old Testament historiography: the Chronicler is one of the few biblical historians who can be seen "in action", because his sources (earlier parts of the Bible) are available. Brettler presents a detailed study of 1 Chr 15:1-26 (David's transfer of the Ark from Gibeah to Jerusalem) which highlights the ways in which the Chronicler's rewriting and reordering of his source materials reflects his own purposes and the historical and political situation in which he wrote. Like modern historians he uses "historical probability" — albeit in a pre-modern form — to evaluate and "correct" his sources. Chapters three through six look at more specific aspects of biblical history, at typology, interpretation, satire, and ideology. Typology is where a story is retold several times in different forms, with the same pattern of events shifted forwards or backwards in time. Chapter three presents two examples of this from Genesis. The story of Abram and Sarai (Gen 12:10-20) is a "pre-enactment" of the story of Exodus. The Joseph story of Genesis 37-50 contains typological elements: parts of it reflect inter-tribal relationships (with earlier material "updated" to reflect later Judaean dominance) and others the conflict between the northern and southern kingdoms. Chapter four looks at interpretation by the Deuteronomist, with a close study of two episodes from Deuteronomy itself: Deut 1:9-18 (the establishment of a judicial system by Moses) is based on Exod 18:13-26 and Deut 16:18-20, influenced by Num 11:11-17; Deut 2:26-3:7 (the conquest of the Transjordan) is an elaboration of Num 21:21-5 influenced by Deut 20:10-18. Analysis of both passages demonstrates the creative role of the Deuteronomist in refashioning existing material to fit his own beliefs. Some of this may have been deliberate fabrication, but more likely he was, like all historians, simply "viewing the past from the perspective of the present". While he elaborates on his view that labeling the Bible "literature" is not constructive, Brettler argues in chapter five that it can be useful to apply specific genre labels like "satire" to particular biblical texts. He analyses the Ehud and Eglon story from Judges 3:12-30, showing that it is full of sexual and scatological innuendo and was intended as a humorous attack on the Moabites, that it is "political satire ... anchored in the historical period in which it was composed rather than in the historical period which it pretends to narrate". Chapter six is a study of ideology in the Book of Samuel, and in particular in the story of David's rise to power. Here I was pleased to see Brettler use Stefan Heym's The King David Report (one of my favourite historical novels) as a source of insight into the period; he also offers a comparison with Assyrian royal annals. The basic thesis is that 1 Sam 14:52 through 2 Sam 8:15 was structured as a single unit and that an appropriate title for it would be "David as Proper King". It is essentially a work of propaganda, the purpose of which was to legitimate David's succession by praising him at the expense of Saul. The bias of the unit is obvious when it is compared with the preceding and following sections of Samuel, but Brettler suggests that it may have been a response to even more negative views of David, perhaps in the form of a continuing pro-Saul ideology. Chapter seven is a study of a more complex passage, 2 Kings 17. This consists of reflections on the destruction and exile of the northern kingdom, a turning point in the history of Israel which evoked a wide variety of responses; it is a complex, layered tel built and rebuilt out of a large number of components over a considerable period of time by contributors writing with widely differing ideological motivations. It is not a reliable source for the reconstruction of the history of the northern kingdom, but it is a valuable source of information on the periods in which it was written, and particularly on Judaean attitudes to the north. The final chapter looks at some of the issues involved in reconstructing the actual history of ancient Israel, stressing again the importance of studying historians before studying history. While the Old Testament is a useful source for the history of ancient Israel (something that some historians now deny), "most biblical texts present serious problems to the historian interested in objectivity". While on some issues we can reach a conclusion "beyond a reasonable doubt", on others we must settle for one based on "the preponderance of the evidence". In short (quoting Donald Redford) we must "learn to live with ambiguity". The Creation of History in Ancient Israel is a solidly scholarly volume, with over eighty pages of notes providing the full apparatus of citation and textual analysis. It is far more accessible than most such volumes, however. While it does assume a general familiarity with the Old Testament and with the early history of Israel, no specialised knowledge is needed to read it. The more technical details (all the Hebrew, for example, and almost all the analysis of translation variants) are relegated to the endnotes where they can easily be ignored by the non-specialist. The passages discussed are included (in original translation), so there is no need to keep consulting a Bible. Perhaps most importantly, the subject of The Creation of History in Ancient Israel is broad and the passages treated in detail are interesting. The result is a volume which should attract readers from outside academia: it wouldn't make a bad introduction to the Old Testament for the general reader with a primarily historical (rather than theological or literary) interest.	http://dannyreviews.com/h/Creation_of_History_in_Ancient_Israel.html	fineweb	5,746	3.046875
In Vortex Mountain, school children exercise and learn at the same time. Players play minigames which require physical exertion and deliver educational content. Vortex Mountain is a classroom exergame that strives to deliver educational content as well as encourage short bursts of exercise. The game is geared towards Grade 7s. In the game, groups of students are unlocking computer stations to prevent a virus from destroying the world. Gr. 6 and 7 Our mini games used the Kinect and exerbikes to facilitate exercise. Students were required to run, do jumping jacks, crouch and pedal. We simulated the climb up Vortex Mountain by detecting aerobic step exercises using the Wii Fit Boards. Oh No! A computer virus is going to destroy earth. You must travel to Vortex Island using a time vortex and collect the passwords to several computers. Only then can you save the world! To unlock a computer station they must solve a small word scramble through a variety of minigames. The word scramble question and answers are related to educational content (in our case we used English comprehension). If the team fails a mini game they must climb Vortex Mountain to go back in time and retry. D. Watson, R. Mandryk, and K. Stanley, “The Design and Evaluation of a Classroom Exergame,” in Gamification ’13, 2013, pp. 34-41.	http://dianewatson.net/?p=19	fineweb	1,316	3.15625
The term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporationto refer to their MC-303, but has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music, with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation. A groovebox consists of three integrated elements. * one or more sound sources, such as a drum machine, a synthesizeror a sampler * a control surface, ie a combination of knobs ( potentiometeror rotary encoder), sliders and buttons, and display elements ( LEDand/or LCD) The integration of these elements into a single system allows the musicianto rapidly construct and control a pattern-based sequence, often with multiple instrumental or percussion voices playing simultaneously. These sequences may also be chained together into a songin a live and immediate way. Provision may be made for sequences and songs to be saved, retrieved from memory, and inserted into the current performance whilst playing. In some cases, an entire musical performance may be created by a single player with a single groovebox. In other cases, the groovebox is simply one instrument amongst many. This is reflected by the large variety of grooveboxes available, ranging from Roland's lower-end MC and SP products with include basic sequencing and sampling capabilities, to Akai's flagship MPC 4000 and 5000, Yamaha's RS7000 or Roland's own MV-8800 which include features such as high-end sampling, high-polyphony synthesizers, and extensive sequencing, connection and storage possibilities. Groovebox style instruments have facilitated many performers, both amateur and professional, who may have previously been unfamiliar with electronic music, to explore the genre. Whilst some in the genre initially derided these instruments (in particular the MC-303) and the opening of the field as leading to a drop in standards, they are now generally accepted as having a legitimate place in the form. In addition, many performers and bands from outside the electronic community have integrated groovebox instruments into their shows, as a convenient way of incorporating electronic sound into a more traditional format. The sequencer and control aspects of a groovebox may be used to control an external instrument over MIDI, and the internal voices may similarly be controlled by external equipment. A groovebox is similar to a music workstation. The general differences are that it will often omit, or include only a simplified keyboard, is designed to be portable, and will usually include more user controls. Whereas a workstation is often targeted towards studio musicians and composers, grooveboxes are designed more to suit the needs of live performers. However, units matching either description are used both on stage and in the studio. A defining characteristic of a groovebox is the ability for the performer to alter both the sequence and the sound parameters in real time, without interruption of the performance. Units marketed as such, which have failed to implement this feature correctly, or at all, have not been well received. Grooveboxes may also be compared to drum machines such as the earlier Roland TR series (606, 808, 909 etc), or to their TB-303, and the term has retroactively been applied to such units. "Groovebox" type instruments include: E-mu XL-7 Command Station E-muMP-7 Command Station Quasimidi QM-309 Rave-o-lution * Roland MC-303, MC-307, MC-505, MC-909, MC-808, SP-555, SP-606, SP-808, MV-8000, MV-8800 RM1x, RS7000, SU700, DX200, AN200 * Akai's MPC series - the MPC 60, 500, 1000, 2000, 2000XL, 2500, 3000, 4000 and 5000 Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.	http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/118403	fineweb	3,648	2.71875
People with diabetic foot need to be more careful about their health as it can cost them life. Such people have higher chance of dying earlier than those suffering from just diabetes, say experts. A study that assessed 3,619 events of all-cause mortality found there were an additional 58 deaths per 1,000 each year of patients with diabetic foot ulcer. According to Srujal Shah, vascular surgeon at Care Institute of Medical Sciences, DFUs are sores or wounds on the foot and often a strong indicator of advanced diabetes. Most commonly, these wounds occur on the bottom of the foot under pressure points (like the ball or toes). The presence of a wound is serious because bacteria may lead to infection. Signs of an infection are redness, swelling and pus." Up to 25% patients with diabetes develop foot ulcer. More than half of the ulcers become infected, and 20% of infections result in amputation. According to the study, diabetes contributes to approximately 80% of all non-traumatic amputations performed yearly. After a major amputation, 50% of people have their other limb amputated within two years. "People with a history of DFU have 40% greater chance of dying 10 years earlier than people with diabetes alone. DFU doubles death rate and heart attack risk while increasing the risk for stroke by almost 40%," said Hemang Baxi, an interventional cardiologist. As per statistics shared by the doctors, one person dies of diabetes every 10 seconds, while two new diabetic cases are identified every 10 seconds in the world. Every 30 seconds there is a major amputation happening on a diabetic patient.TAKE CARE - Wear comfortable shoes, avoid extreme temperatures - Get doc to examine legs regularly - In case of doubt, a colour Doppler test is warranted. In case of decreased blood supply, there is poor wound healing with a strong chance of progression to gangrene (blackish skin or toes). These patients need urgent angiography followed by angioplasty or bypass in the legs. - Diabetic patients with kidney involvement need CO2 angiography. CO2 angiography is safer for patients of kidney disease compared to conventional angiography Times of India 15 November 2013,	https://www.aarogya.com/news-and-updates/year2013/death-risk-higher-among-diabetics-with-foot-ulcers.html/	fineweb	2,178	2.984375
Evidence shows that improving soft skills competency can increase employee productivity When it comes to making decisions about how to spend what is often a limited training budget the emphasis for many organisations is on skills and knowledge that are directly linked to the employee’s job role. But there is an increasing amount of evidence that investing in soft skills can have an important impact on employee productivity - Soft skills are the personal attributes that make it easier for a person to interact with other people in various situations. Soft skills are usually described in subjective terms Employees are often fired because they lack soft skills - Hard skills are the skills and knowledge that make it possible for an individual to perform a specific task or activity. Hard skills are usually described in objective terms Candidates are usually hired for the hard skills they have Soft Skills Drive Behaviour If hard skills define what an employee does then soft skills define how that employee behaves at work, whether they are someone that can be relied on in a crisis, the role they take in a team. Most importantly the soft skills that an employee has influence how they apply the organisations values Perceptions of Soft Skills are Changing In the past, developing employee soft skills would have been a low priority for many organisations, but attitudes are changing. LinkedIn highlighted in their 2018 Workplace Learning Report that the number one priority for developing talent is soft skills training. Examples of Soft Skills - When the only constant aspect of work is the need to change, and often to accommodate the unexpected, a successful business is one with employees who are not afraid of change and are quick to adapt - When decisions need to be made, making the correct decision will be the result of analysing every option. This is only possible when an employee knows how to think critically and analyse information - Organisations are networks of teams, each one focused on completing a specific activity. When employees understand how teams work organisations become more productive - Being able to communication clearly helps make sure that employees understand what needs to be achieved, avoids delays and duplication, and ensures targets are achieved Bottom Line Impact Improving employee soft skills can according to research from Boston College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan, can boost employee productivity by 12 percent and deliver a 250 percent return on the investment. If leaders incorporate soft skills into their relationship with employees they can, according to research conducted by Hay Group increase their team’s performance by up to 30percent. The Society of Human Resource Management have cited studies which show that poor communication skills can cost a company with 100 employees an average of $420,000 per year. Making Soft Skills Training Work There are some simple steps that an organisation can take to ensure the success of a soft skills training programme Set the Expectation - Make a statement that soft skills are important that you will assess them hiring decisions, and you will include soft skills competence in performance management assessments Create a Culture - Soft skills competence leads to more confident and supportive relationships and greater understanding amongst employees, which results in the emergence of a positive work culture Think About the Future - Keep your definition of soft skills competence fluid enough to adapt to the changing needs of your organisation, so that employee productivity continues to increase, and employee engagement continues to improve Accommodate Different Working Styles - Focus soft skills training on increasing understanding of, and adapting to the working styles of others so that your organisation can avoid the unproductive conflict created by employees different working styles How H2R Helps H2R is designed to help employers create hiring to retiring relationships with their employees. A key aspect of this is the development of soft skills competency standards and incorporating these standards into every aspect of that employer employee relationship - With H2R you can include the soft skills requires of a role in every stage of the hiring process, from creating job descriptions and personal specifications to competency assessments and interview questions. - The employee communications module enables you to publish editorial, audio and video content that supports your corporate values and the soft skills that enable your employees to live those values, every day Learning and Development - H2R includes an extensive range of soft skills focused learning resources and training courses including the Bookboon library of soft skills related e-Books, e-Learning, and e-Talks - H2R enables you to set both soft skills related performance standards and objectives, and agree improvement plans for an employee’s present, and future roles with the organisation Someone to talk to A H2R professional is available to help you use soft skills development to improve employee productivity	https://www.abeceder.co.uk/improving-soft-increases-productivity/	fineweb	5,139	2.578125
AKST: Alaska Time Alaska Standard Time (AKST) Alaska Time Zone covers the mainland of the US State of Alaska. It does not operate in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. What's current local time now in AKST? In Summer: Alaska Daylight Time ( AKDT ) Alaska Time Zone - USA & Canada What is the current local time now in Alaska Time Zone? Current daylight saving dates for USA DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME - Daylight Saving Time began: Sunday 10 March 2019 02:00 local time. Clocks went forward one hour. - Daylight Saving Time ends: Sunday 3 November 2019 02:00 local time. Clocks go back one hour. USA and Canada past and future DST schedules hereDaylight Saving 2019 Alaska Time - USA + Canada What time zone is Alaska Standard Time in? Most of Alaska is 9 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-9). Almost all of Alaska is in the Alaska Time Zone. The western most Aleutian islands and St. Lawrence island are on Hawaii-Aleutian Time, which are 10 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-10) and where Daylight-Saving Time is not observed When does Alaska Time change to Daylight Saving Time? Like most states in the U.S., Daylight Saving Time is observed in Alaska, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour, resulting in an 8 hours difference behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-8). After the Summer months the time is shifted back by 1 hour resulting in the normal 9 hours difference behind GMT. Yukon Standard Time Since 1983: Any reference to Yukon standard time in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be held and considered to be a reference to Alaska standard time.	https://greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/alaska-standard-time/	fineweb	1,607	2.703125
Sports Science and Technology Trends Technology and science play central roles in major sports around the world. Teams and individuals are constantly hunting for an extra performance boost or a technique that speeds injury recovery. While there is sometimes resistance to new methods from established coaches or team doctors, sports science still makes a huge difference to what athletes eat, how and when they train, how they recover from injuries, and how often they are rested from competition. Athletes are some of the fittest people in the world. But they also push their body to the extreme on a regular basis. Whether an athlete is attempting to get faster or stronger—or they just continue playing and training despite fatigue—they are taxing their muscles, joints, and the whole body to the extreme. In the past, teams had a harder time understanding when an athlete was suffering from fatigue or exhibiting early signs of an injury. Sports Science Is Changing the Game Sports science has changed things in a big way. Teams and athletes can now get real time data on performance, endurance, flexibility, technique and more. They can compare that data with previous benchmarks to understand their body’s condition. And new medical techniques mean recovering from training sessions, games and injuries is better than ever. The sports science trends receiving prominence over the past few years include using analytics to prevent injuries, the use of new injury recovery systems, sweat analysis, and wearable technology. Analytics to Prevent Injuries The risks of picking up an injury while training or playing sports is common. Many athletes suffer serious injuries that keep them out of action for three months or longer. In fact, it is very rare to encounter a professional athlete who did not have at least one or two serious injuries over their career. Injuries not only rob players of time they could be spending on the field or court, but they can also cost their teams money. The estimated cost of player injuries in the four major soccer leagues in Europe—English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A—came to roughly $100 million in 2015. In the American NFL, injury totals are trending upward, despite all the moves the league makes to boost the sport’s safety. Sports teams and athletes want to use technology and data to help understand why athletes are picking up specific injuries and how to prevent them. Tracking Movements in Real Time An example of such technology includes VU, by Pivot. VU is a device that uses Pivot’s sensors to observe an athlete’s body and performance in real time. The tech is capable of analyzing player landings, cuts, sprints, and other movements to understand an athlete’s performance and technique. By using such technology, teams and individuals can understand whether specific techniques are causing injuries, or if they are merely suffering because of excessive fatigue or strain. VU is also usable for helping athletes rehabilitate from a major muscular or bone injury, as their movements are tracked and analyzed during each step of their rehab. It is not possible to understand how each athlete is impacted by different activities or fatigue by applying a “one size fits all” approach. That is why some are taking a very personalized approach to understanding the bodies of elite athletes. Kitman Labs asks players to go through a Microsoft Kinect station daily, where they move different muscles the same way each time. Trainers get the information instantly, allowing them to compare a player’s flexibility and range to other days. If a discrepancy is noticed, further tests can be done to determine the issue. Some injuries are difficult to prevent, such as contact injuries. But muscular problems are preventable through analysis and rest. If the Kitman Labs system notices a player is moving their left leg differently to previous days, they may be able to spot a hamstring or thigh problem in its very early stages. The player could rest for a week and be back in top condition. If the issue was never noticed, the athlete would keep playing until they tweaked or tore their muscle, which is a much longer and more complicated problem. Per Kitman Labs, they see anywhere from 20 to 33 percent reduction in injury rates among their partner teams. I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.— Michael Jordan Injury Recovery Systems Cryotherapy is an incredibly popular practice in sports, and it is gaining a lot of attention in the past few years. The concept of cryotherapy is to expose parts of the body to freezing or near-freezing temperature. While it is not the most fun experience, especially for those who hate the cold, it is said to help with recovery during the sports season. With cryotherapy, it is possible to submerge most of the body into a cryotherapy booth, or target specific areas such as the arms or legs. It helps athletes deal with muscle pain, joint pain, soreness, and it promotes faster healing from injuries. While cryotherapy booths can be expensive, many teams and athletes use ice water baths to achieve the same result. The athlete sits in the ice bath for three to five minutes. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Hyperbaric therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, are becoming increasingly popular among sports teams. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is said to repair and regenerate tissue, limit swelling, stop infections, and aid in muscle soreness after intense training sessions. The process for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is straightforward. The patient breathes pure oxygen in a pressurized room, or through a tube. When in a chamber, it is possible to set the air pressure to three times the regular levels. The increase in air pressure causes the lungs to get even more pure oxygen than is otherwise possible. The pure oxygen is then carried by the blood throughout the body, where it can help muscles, stimulate growth factors, promote healing and help in other ways. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very good for treating head injuries, such as serious falls or concussions. It is being used at an increasing rate in sports such as American football, where head injuries are a serious concern. But it also helps with other injuries and soreness throughout the body. There are some risks associated with the therapy, such as middle ear injuries, temporary nearsightedness, lung collapses, or seizures. But the risks are not an issue if the therapy is being performed under the continual supervision of a medical expert. When athletes attempt to buy and use equipment to breathe pure oxygen on their own, it can be an issue, as it may result in overexposure that could trigger a lung collapse or a seizure. Athletes involved with sports that tax their legs can benefit immensely from technology like the NormaTec leg boots. NormaTec combines sports science and technology to create leg compression that assists athletes in recovery and injury prevention. The system comes with a control unit and attachments that can go on the legs or arms. Compressed air is used to massage limbs and mobilize fluid around the area. The attachments mold into the exact body shape of the athlete’s legs. Then it begins to compress the area where it is attached, with the compressions going in a pulsing manner to mimic a massage. Athletes can use these attachments after each training session and game, with additional use during moments in the year where they are experiencing increased fatigue. American basketball star LeBron James uses the NormaTech attachments regularly. Addressing Mental and Emotional Obstacles Recovering from injuries is not just about the body, but also the mind. Athletes who suffer bad injuries, such as complete muscle tears or broken bones, may face mental obstacles when they are set to resume training. Many teams are beginning to understand the mental and psychological impact of injuries on athletes. It is common for athletes to feel sad, isolated, angry, depressed, frustrated and disengaged while injured. It is especially true when the injury keeps the athlete from training for three months to a year. Athletic trainers, team doctors, and coaches are beginning to understand the issue and take it seriously. Many teams now employ therapists so that athletes can have someone to talk to regarding their emotions when they suffer a bad injury. Teams have begun using smart patches, such as the ECHO Smart Patch, to help analyze a player’s sweat as they train and compete. These patches are useful for monitoring health signs, gathering data to boost recovery, and eventually improving athletic performance. Sweat analysis can provide information about the many solutes in a person’s body, such as sodium, chloride, potassium, ammonium, lactate, proteins, peptides, and alcohols. Since sports teams have benchmark numbers for these solutes on each athlete, the data they gather after every training session and game helps them understand a player’s physical condition, whether they need a rest, and what foods and/or drinks they could use to replenish the body and aid in recovery. Some of these smart patches can even monitor player vital signs, like their heart rate, respiration, skin temperature, or the heart rate variability. Instead of relying on how an athlete feels, or what a coach is seeing out on the field, teams can use real data to shape their decisions on how their star athletes train and recover. Each individual is different in how they respond to the rigors of sports. Some may have greater natural recovery, while others need more rest in between training sessions and games. By analyzing sweat, teams can put real data next to everything else they know about their athletes. Wearable tech plays a huge role in how athletes are evaluated in real time, and after games or training sessions. For instance, coaches can use wearable tech to understand how an athlete is performing compared to their previous training sessions or games. A reduction in physical output could be a sign of fatigue or an injury. Many muscular injuries are the result of overtraining or playing, which is easily remedied by tracking player performance with wearable technology. Coaches have the information at their disposal through laptops or smartphones, and they can make real time decisions about whether to keep a player on the field or make a substitution. Catapult OptimEye S5 Examples of successful wearable technology include the Catapult OptimEye S5. The device came to prominence when used by English soccer team Leicester City, as they defied 5000/1 odds to win the 2015-2016 Premier League title. Leicester used the OptimEye S5 to track a player’s acceleration, positioning, collision impact, and much more. The data arrives instantly, meaning coaches and team doctors always have data to provide greater context to what they are seeing from a player during games. The product gives information about volume, intensity, and explosiveness during games and training sessions. Teams around the world, such as the Denver Broncos, Sacramento Kings, the Brazil national soccer team, Newcastle United, and Ajax use the OptimEye S5. Tennis professionals are incorporating products such as QLIPP into their training regimes. QLIPP offers real time data from within a tennis racket, as it attaches to racket strings. The device offers information about the intensity and position each time a player hits a tennis ball with the racket. Coaches can see the information in real time, and tell the player when they are hitting the sweet spot. Zepp Baseball and Softball Zepp’s Baseball and Softball offering provides players and coaches with real time data regarding bat speed, swing technique, attack angles, and more. Players can use the Zepp Baseball and Softball kit to methodically improve every aspect of how they are swinging their bat and hitting the baseball. With each iteration, wearable technology improves its accuracy and the type of data it can offer to sports teams and athletes. Wearable tech is useful to understand performance over time, improve technique and prevent injuries. We have merely scratched the surface of how much science and technology can help sports teams and athletes. As more coaches and sports doctors begin to see the benefits of combining their old methods with new technology, players will be fitter, exhibiting better technique, performance, and less likely to suffer muscular injuries due to fatigue. - “Five trends for 2017 in sport science and medicine” https://www.globalsportsjobs.com/article/five-trends-for-2017-in-sports-science-and-medicine/ Accessed March 26, 2018. - “How Analytics Can Prevent Sports Injuries” https://channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/how-analytics-can-prevent-sports-injuries Accessed March 25, 2018. - Villines, Zawn. “What are the benefits of cryotherapy?” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319740.php October 17, 2017. Accessed March 26, 2018. - “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380 Accessed March 26, 2018. - Putukian, Margot. “Mind, Body and Sport: How being injured affects mental health” http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mind-body-and-sport-how-being-injured-affects-mental-health Accessed March 27, 2018.	https://howtheyplay.com/misc/Sports-Science-and-Technology-Trends	fineweb	13,515	3.03125
Acute Drug Withdrawal - Drug withdrawal is a physiologic response to an effectively lowered drug concentration in a patient with tolerance to that drug. - Withdrawal results in a predictable pattern of symptoms that are reversible if the drug in question or another appropriate substitute is reintroduced. - Sedative-hypnotic withdrawal is the most common life-threatening withdrawal syndrome in children. This includes withdrawal from barbiturates, benzodiazepines, as well as gamma-hydroxybutyrate and similar substances. - Other substances that are associated with withdrawal syndromes include opioids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and caffeine. - The most common life-threatening withdrawal syndrome, alcohol withdrawal, rarely occurs in children. - Neonates born to alcohol-dependent mothers are at risk. Patients receiving sedatives or analgesics capable of causing tolerance are at risk. This is particularly true with infusions or high doses of such substances in previously naïve patients. - Clinician familiarity with tolerance and withdrawal associated with prescribed medications allows appropriate drug tapering. - Drug abuse prevention is appropriate for all children. - Altered CNS neurochemistry is the most important and clinically relevant aspect of withdrawal pathophysiology. - Under normal conditions, the CNS maintains a balance between excitation and inhibition. Although there are several ways to achieve this balance, excitation is constant and actions occur through removal of inhibitory tone. - Relative to adults and younger children, adolescents are more prone to develop dependence and withdrawal syndrome due to immaturity of their prefrontal cortex. - Maternal alcohol, caffeine, opioid, sedative-hypnotic, or SSRI use may result in a neonatal abstinence syndrome. - Treatment with caffeine, opioids, or sedative-hypnotics may result in subsequent development of an abstinence syndrome. - Older children - Subsequent to treatment with opioids, or sedative-hypnotics, an abstinence syndrome may result. - Substance abuse, particularly opioids, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or other sedative-hypnotics, may result in an abstinence syndrome. - Frequent caffeine or nicotine use may lead to an abstinence syndrome. - Use of opioid antagonists such as naloxone, naltrexone, and nalmefene is associated with opioid withdrawal. - Drug withdrawal is a clinical diagnosis. - Patients should be evaluated for associated diagnoses such as traumatic injury, pneumonia, etc. - Typically, a history of substance exposure, either direct exposure or maternal use, will be elicited. - Exposure may be to prescribed medication or abusable substances. - Substance use by the mother or child might intentionally be concealed. - The timing of withdrawal varies depending on the half-life of the substance involved. - The shorter the half-life, the sooner the onset of withdrawal and typically the more severe withdrawal symptoms. - Alcohol or sedative-hypnotics - Withdrawal from these may result in tremulousness, diaphoresis, agitation, insomnia, altered mental status, or withdrawal seizures. - Baclofen withdrawal is more frequently severe or life threatening relative to benzodiazepine withdrawal. History of pump manipulation or malfunction should be sought. - Withdrawal may result in dysphoria, headache, behavioral changes, or agitation. - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, yawning, sleeplessness, diaphoresis, lacrimation, tremor, and hypertonicity may result. - Neonates can also have seizures, a high-pitched cry, skin mottling, and excoriation. These latter signs and symptoms are more typical of opioid withdrawal and rarely occur with neonatal alcohol withdrawal. - Dysphoria, agitation, behavioral changes, and increased appetite may all occur. - Neonatal withdrawal from SSRIs may result in jitteriness, agitation, crying, shivering, increased muscle tone, breathing and sucking problems, as well as seizure. - Children withdrawing from SSRIs may have jitteriness, agitation, dysphoria, behavioral changes, shivering, increased muscle tone, and seizure. - Vital signs including temperature should be evaluated regularly. Vital sign changes such as tachycardia and hypertension may occur concomitantly with acute drug withdrawal. - Technology-dependent patients, such as children with an intrathecal baclofen pump, should have evaluation of the machine to determine if it is working properly. - Most cases of substance withdrawal only result in behavioral changes. - Opioid withdrawal may be accompanied by diaphoresis, mydriasis, yawning, and lacrimation. - Sedative-hypnotic withdrawal may result in hypertension, tachycardia, hyperthermia, agitation, hallucinations, and seizure. Diagnostic Tests and Interpretation Neuroimaging to rule out intracranial pathology may rarely be indicated. - No routine lab tests are indicated for patients with substance withdrawal. - Tests necessary to rule out differential diagnoses should be obtained when appropriate. - Intoxication with sympathomimetics, anticholinergics, theophylline, caffeine, aspirin, or lithium - Thyroid storm - Serotonin syndrome - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - Symptom-triggered treatment has been demonstrated to be superior to fixed-regimen treatment in terms of patient outcome as well as length of stay. - Patients experiencing withdrawal from benzodiazepines or barbiturates after treatment in a chronic or intensive care setting may be treated by reinstituting the drug and then tapering. - Iatrogenic withdrawal induced by use of opioid antagonists should not be treated by opioid administration. - Withdrawal induced by naloxone should abate rapidly due to the brief half-life of naloxone. - Withdrawal induced by naltrexone or nalmefene will be much longer lasting. Symptomatic treatment may be indicated. - There is no fixed quantity of drug to use for any withdrawal syndrome. Each patient requires a unique quantity of drug. - Repeated dosing should continue until the symptoms are controlled, at which point maintenance and then tapering can occur. - Sedative-hypnotic withdrawal - Ideally, withdrawal is treated with the same class of substance, such as benzodiazepine or barbiturate, if not the precise same drug. - Benzodiazepines are particularly useful due to the rapid onset of effect. - Diazepam has active metabolites that assist in tapering the drug. - Propofol is an outstanding medication for treatment of severe alcohol or sedative-hypnotic withdrawal in adults. - Propofol may be used in pediatric cases refractory to benzodiazepines and barbiturates. - Use is associated with respiratory depression. - Clinicians must be capable of airway management and expect airway support to be necessary when propofol is used. - Propofol use is safe in children, but rare cases of metabolic acidemia have occurred when prolonged infusions are used. Prolonged use of propofol infusion should be accompanied by close observation for acidemia. - Opioid withdrawal - Heroin (as well as other opioids) withdrawal is best treated with an opioid of similar potency and equal or longer duration of action. - Methadone is a preferred treatment for withdrawal in adolescents and adults, but most neonatologists have limited or no experience with this drug. - Patients who experience opioid withdrawal in the setting of chronic or intensive care may be treated by reinstituting infusion or dosing of the drug they were on before withdrawal symptoms and then tapering this, typically by 10% daily. - Caffeine withdrawal - Caffeine as soft drink or tea taken to treat headache or agitation - Neonatal caffeine abstinence symptoms may be treated by reinstituting 75–100% of the caffeine dosage that was discontinued. This amount is then tapered, typically by 10% daily. - Nicotine withdrawal is not typically treated in children. - Use of nicotine patch, gum, or other delivery methods is used to increase success rate of abstinence rather than for medical management of the withdrawal syndrome. - Initial stabilization - Initial management is aimed at evaluating and supporting airway, breathing, circulation, serum glucose, and ECG (“A, B, C, D, E”). - Supportive care is the most important general principle. - The illness is managed with intent of close monitoring and addressing issues as they arise. Issues for Referral - Any patient with substance abuse issues should be referred for appropriate psychiatric or drug counseling. - Most cases of substance withdrawal are best handled by an addiction specialist, medical toxicologist, intensivist, or other clinician experienced with management of withdrawal. - Inpatient treatment for alcohol or sedative-hypnotic withdrawal is mandatory. - Although withdrawal from opioids and SSRIs is not life threatening, admission with initial management as an inpatient is preferable. - Maintenance IV fluid may be required in patients who are unable to take PO. - Dehydration was once a leading cause of death among patients with alcohol withdrawal. - Inpatients who have been converted from parenteral to oral medications and are controlled with oral medications may be discharged for home tapering. - Patients who never require parenteral therapy may be discharged with oral replacement medication after consultation with the appropriate specialist. - If disposition will be discharge, it is crucial to ensure that the patient’s condition is stable before discharge. - If there is any question regarding whether the patient can be appropriately managed as an outpatient, initial inpatient management is preferable. - Sedative-hypnotic withdrawal or any other withdrawal syndrome with severe symptoms is best cared for with initial cardiopulmonary monitoring until vital sign abnormalities are controlled with appropriate replacement therapy. - Patients should be closely monitored until vital signs are within acceptable limits. - Vigilance for agitation or delirium with sedative-hypnotic withdrawal is necessary. - Vigilance to detect oversedation and respiratory depression is necessary. Patients or parents should be aware of withdrawal symptoms to be vigilant for detecting future events. - With appropriate therapy, withdrawal is well tolerated. - Poor prognostic factors are primarily related to comorbidities. Complications of hypertension, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and CNS agitation or seizure may occur with sedative-hypnotic withdrawal. - Anand KJS, Willson DF, Berger J, et al. Tolerance and withdrawal from prolonged opioid use in critically ill children. Pediatrics. 2010;125(5):e1208–e1225. [PMID:20403936] - Dyer JE, Roth B, Hyma BA. Gamma—hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome. Ann Emerg Med. 2001;37(2):147–153. [PMID:11174231] - Galinkin J, Koh JL. Recognition of and management of iatrogenically induced opioid dependence and withdrawal in children. Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):152–155. [PMID:24379233] - Hudak ML, Tan RC. Neonatal drug withdrawal. Pediatrics. 2012;129(2):e540–e560. [PMID:22291123] - Neonatal complications after intrauterine exposure to SSRI antidepressants. Prescrire Int. 2004;13(71):103–104. [PMID:15233148] - Nordeng H, Lindeman R, Perminov KV, et al. Neowithdrawal syndrome after in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Acta Paediatr. 2001;90(3):288–291. [PMID:11332169] - Robe LB, Gromisch DS, Iosub S. Symptoms of neonatal ethanol withdrawal. Curr Alcohol. 1981;8:485–493. [PMID:7343193] - Tobias JD. Tolerance, withdrawal, and physical dependency after long-term sedation and analgesia of children in the pediatric intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2000;28(6):2122–2132. [PMID:10890677] - 779.5 Drug withdrawal syndrome in newborn - 779.4 Drug reactions and intoxications specific to newborn - 292 Drug withdrawal - 291.81 Alcohol withdrawal - P96.1 Neonatal w/drawal symp from matern use of drugs of addiction - P96.2 Withdrawal symptoms from therapeutic use of drugs in newborn - F13.939 Sedatv/hyp/anxiolytc use, unsp w withdrawal, unsp - F11.93 Opioid use, unspecified with withdrawal - F10.988 Alcohol use, unspecified with other alcohol-induced disorder - F19.939 Other psychoactive substance use, unsp with withdrawal, unsp - 414819007 neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (disorder) - 206572008 Neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction (finding) - 2.3601000119e+013 Sedative withdrawal (disorder) - 87132004 Opioid withdrawal (disorder) - 191480000 Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (disorder) - 363101005 Drug withdrawal (disorder) Robert J. Hoffman © Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Acute Drug Withdrawal is a sample topic from the Select 5-Minute Pediatrics Topics To view other topics, please sign in or purchase a subscription. Medicine Central™ is a quick-consult mobile and web resource that includes diagnosis, treatment, medications, and follow-up information on over 700 diseases and disorders, providing fast answers—anytime, anywhere. Complete Product Information.	https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/pview/Select-5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/14195/all/Acute%20Drug%20Withdrawal	fineweb	12,952	3.125
Basics Illustration: Text and Image Basics Illustration: Text and Image is part of the Basics Illustration series exploring key areas of illustration through case studies and key creative “basics”. Text and Image explores the interpretation of words into pictures and the interplay of text and images as two forms of visual representation. The book features a wide range of work demonstrating diverse visual languages, ideas, techniques and skills. It also examines the production of artefacts, for example, artists’ books, graphic novels, posters and handmade typography, stencils, graffiti, and fonts designed by illustrators. Text and Image looks at how to manipulate text as though it were an image and how to interpret and use the elements together. Basic principles of graphic communication are introduced through case studies and examples in which the relationships between illustration and other creative disciplines are analysed and explored. - Examines the interpretation of words into pictures and the interplay of text and image. - Introduces fundamental techniques and acts as a resource on international contemporary practice. - Provides a broad understanding of illustration in the context of communication design. Undergraduate students studying illustration. Practising professionals and teachers in applied visual arts. Anyone interested in developing their illustration skills and knowledge of illustration. About the author: Artist, illustrator and academic Mark ‘Wigan’ Williams was an early pioneer of the trans-global club art in 1980s New York, London and Tokyo. Mark’s work has evolved into a multimedia archive, chronicling the changing worlds of club culture and street style. For the past ten years, he has been lecturing worldwide	https://iqbooks.iai-shop.com/product-pol-876-Basics-Illustration-Text-and-Image.html	fineweb	1,759	3.359375
This World and the Hereafter In a general comment on human beings, the Quran (76:27) says: Those people [who are unmindful of God] aspire for immediate gains, and put behind them a Heavy Day. By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Man has been created as an eternal being. But his life span consists of two parts: the pre-death period, and the post-death period. A common weakness of man is that he takes his pre-death period as the basis or framework of his thinking and is concerned only about it. He does not think in the context of the post-death period of his life. This is the truth that is referred to in the above-cited Quranic verse. This is no ordinary matter. It is this issue that gives man’s thinking the right or wrong direction. A person who thinks only in the framework of the problems and issues of the pre-death period of life develops in himself a world-oriented thinking. His thinking will, in every sense, become non-realistic thinking because he ignores the reality of the eternal life after death. And non-realistic thinking is another name for wrong thinking. In contrast to this, a person who thinks in the framework of the issues of life after death will develop in himself Hereafter-oriented thinking. This sort of thinking is realistic thinking, because it is based on the reality of the eternal Hereafter. And realistic thinking is but another name for right thinking. Man’s progress or destruction depends entirely on this issue. If a person who develops in himself world-oriented thinking, his entire life will move in the wrong direction. In contrast, the person whose thinking is Hereafter-oriented will head in the right direction. It is this issue that is of fundamental importance for man’s character-building. (For more such thought-provoking reflections on Life, Death and the Hereafter by the noted Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, see his recently-published book “Reflections on Life and Death”, which can be downloaded free of cost from the following link:https://cpsglobal.org/books/reflections-life-and-death)	https://islamicvoice.com/this-world-and-the-hereafter/	fineweb	2,048	2.59375
The identities of those responsible for distributing anti-Semitic leaflets to Jewish people in Donetsk, Ukraine, in April remain sketchy. Implications of the incident do not. The official-looking documents ordered Jews to provide a list of property they own and pay the city a registration fee, “or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated.” Although a Ukrainian rabbi referred to the leaflets as a political hoax, the episode sparked legitimate fear because the intent was clear: to inflame anti-Semitic passion and inspire terrorism against Ukraine’s Jews. In fact, days later, the main synagogue in Nikolayev, Ukraine, was firebombed. For the Jewish people of Ukraine, the incident resurrected the specter of the 1 million Jewish lives obliterated there during World War II. Even the wording of the Donetsk leaflets was a chilly reminder of September 26, 1941, when the Nazis occupying Ukraine posted the following in Kiev: Jews of the city of Kiev and vicinity! On Monday, September 29, you are to appear by 7:00 A.M. with your possessions, money, documents, valuables, and warm clothing at Dorogozhitshaya Street, next to the Jewish cemetery. Failure to appear is punishable by death. Although only “failure to appear” was “punishable by death,” those who complied were massacred. To Justify Genocide Genocide always begins with a pretext. To convince a nation to condone mass murder requires a lie; and the bigger the lie, the better the result. The pretext can start with a leaflet or specially crafted document, such as the infamous Protocols of the Elders of Zion, first published in 1903. The Protocols create a phony Jewish plot to take over the world. Russian imperialists, pogromists, Nazis, Islamists, and anti-Semites have used the villainous Protocols for centuries. In fact, Article 32 of the Hamas charter (1988) refers to them as basic to Jewish global ambitions. A pretext can also be found in an incident, most often having little or nothing to do with the reality of a situation. Prior to World War II, Adolf Hitler had waged a war of discrimination, lies, intimidation, restrictions, and localized violence against Jews. These atrocities, however, were insufficient for him to sell Germany on genocide. So Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s high chief of propaganda, formulated a pretext from an incident in Paris involving 17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan who was so distraught that the Nazis had confiscated all his parents’ possessions in Germany and deported them that he shot a German official in France. Goebbels seized on the incident to claim “international Jewry” was conspiring to attack the Third Reich. The claim was ludicrous. But Hitler mobilized forces across Germany to launch a major offensive against the Jewish people––who were basically helpless. On November 9 and 10, 1938, a massive anti-Semitic operation began in which 1,000 synagogues were reduced to ashes, some 7,500 businesses were destroyed, 30,000 Jews were arrested, and nearly 100 were killed. The infamous Kristallnacht (“night of the broken glass”) had turned the Germans into a nation of consenting conspirators. The Holocaust had begun. None Too Small No hate language, printed instigation, slander, or vandalism against Jewish institutions or individuals can be ignored. In April a pall descended over the annual Passover celebration for the American Jewish community when three people were killed in a shooting spree outside the Jewish Community Center and assisted-living facility in Overland Park, Kansas. Frazier Glenn Cross, 73, a man with a long history of animosity toward Jews, was arrested. He reportedly yelled “Heil Hitler” while entering the police cruiser. Two of the people he killed were Christians. Somewhere, sometime, Cross was taught to hate deeply enough to want to murder total strangers solely because he thought they were Jewish. This is America, where no one should be afraid to walk home alone and where no synagogue should be smeared with swastikas. It is inexcusable for us to tolerate vicious propagandizing or to yield to pressure from radical minorities. Yet anti-Semitism is escalating. Given the libelous defamation of Israel and exclusionary actions being fomented in some circles, we are a nation on notice. Historically, America bears the unique distinction of having incorporated into our national way of life the essence of Genesis 12:3, where God promises to “bless those who bless you [Israel].” What has been good for American Jewry has been good for us all. This country is at a dangerous crossroads. It has a big decision to make. We can only pray that the rise in anti-Semitism does not indicate it has already made it.	https://israelmyglory.org/article/warning-bells/	fineweb	4,707	2.921875
A test or examination (informally, exam or evaluation) is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered verbally, on paper, on a computer, or in a predetermined area that requires a test taker to demonstrate or perform a set of skills. Tests vary in style, rigor and requirements. Muslim is not allowed to cheat or deceive others. If you do an exam for others, you will be claiming that you are that person. This is a type of cheating. Absolutely; however, one also still has to study. Just writing "bismillah al-rahman al-rahim" on top of an exam does not guarantee a good score. However you can ask Allah for help with studying and help on getting good marks, and then do your best. (Which also may include asking for help from other people if you are having difficulty with the material alone.) True, rarely, there are miracles (for instance, there may be a case where someone is desperate to pass an exam and coincidentally studies the exact topic that is on the exam, and this can be ascribed to divine assistance at a critical point in their life). But in general the divine assistance should be coupled with serious efforts. I am saying that because it is not unusual for some students who get low grades on an example to approach prayer as a last resort, and then wonder why they are getting low marks when they write "786" on their exam and all. Of course it is always good to begin everything with bismillah, it just isn't a substitute. But yes it is always good to ask for Allah's help. There is a nice story about the late 'Allamah Tabataba'i who wrote the famous Tafsir al-Mizan. It is hard to believe, but he says that in his youth he had a very difficult time with school and was written off by the teacher as being a poor student. So he went out of the city and implored Allah to give him the capability to study and learn. And as we see, he became one of the most famous scholars in history. This is an example we can all follow if what we are studying is important to us! Also remember that sometimes if studying a subject doesn't work out, sometimes there is an element of fate, that is, maybe it isn't something we are meant to do as part of our life path. (For instance, if a person doesn't get into medical school) But of course if it is important to you, you should still try your best. God knows best. We should ask for Allah's help in our endeavors Allah (SWT) listen to all the prayers and grants His mercy to every sincere person who seeks from Allah. We might see the response of our prayers soon, and it can be delayed as Allah knows the best time and situation to grant us our wishes. The response of our prayers can be saved for us for the future according to what is good for us. We should keep on sincerely seeking from Allah with faithful hearts that Allah listens and responds according to our interest. If a person deliberately did not fast any day of the Month of Ramadhan, he has committed a sinful act and he must that day as Qadha and he must fast two months or feed sixty poor Momineen for not fasting that day. Exams is not be a valid reason to leave fasting, so, the above rule is applicable. If fasting is very difficult for a person then he can do it later.	https://www.al-islam.org/ask/topics/7095/questions-about-Exams	fineweb	3,334	2.6875
Carvalho, Pedro de Moura. Mir’āt al-quds (Mirror of Holiness): A Life of Christ for Emperor Akbar: A Commentary on Father Jerome Xavier’s Text and the Miniatures of Cleveland Museum of Art, Acc. No. 2005.145. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2012. This study examines the Mir'at al-Quds (Mirror of Holiness), an account of the life of Christ written by a Jesuit missionary to the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar, who took an interest in Christianity. Three illustrated copies exist, the most important of which is in the Cleveland Museum of Art and forms the basis of this study. The text, originally in Persian, is translated to English for the first time by Wheeler M. Thackston. This study is part of the series Studies and Sources on Islamic Art and Architecture: Supplements to Muqarnas, Volume XII, edited by Gülru Necipoğlu and Karen Leal.	https://www.archnet.org/collections/391/publications/10834	fineweb	832	2.65625
Looking for information on Protocol TCP 1740? This page will attempt to provide you with as much port information as possible on TCP Port 1740. TCP Port 1740 may use a defined protocol to communicate depending on the application. A protocol is a set of formalized rules that explains how data is communicated over a network. Think of it as the language spoken between computers to help them communicate more efficiently. Protocol HTTP for example defines the format for communication between internet browsers and web sites. Another example is the IMAP protocol that defines the communication between IMAP email servers and clients or finally, the SSL protocol which states the format to use for encrypted communications. TCP Port 1740 Here is what we know about protocol TCP Port 1740. If you have information on TCP port 1740 that is not reflected on this page, simply leave a comment and we’ll update our information. PORT 1740 – Information - Port Number: 1740 - TCP / UDP: TCP - Delivery: Yes - Protocol / Name: encore - Port Description: Encore - Virus / Trojan: No Side note: TCP port 1740 uses the Transmission Control Protocol. TCP is one of the main protocols in TCP/IP networks. Whereas the IP protocol deals only with packets, TCP enables two hosts to establish a connection and exchange streams of data. TCP guarantees delivery of data and also guarantees that packets will be delivered on port 1740 in the same order in which they were sent. Guaranteed communication over port 1740 is the key difference between TCP and UDP. UDP port 1740 would not have guaranteed communication in the same way as TCP. Because protocol TCP port 1740 was flagged as a virus (colored red) does not mean that a virus is using port 1740, but that a Trojan or Virus has used this port in the past to communicate. TCP 1740 – Disclaimer We do our best to provide you with accurate information on PORT 1740 and work hard to keep our database up to date. This is a free service and accuracy is not guaranteed. We do our best to correct any errors and welcome feedback!	https://www.auditmypc.com/tcp-port-1740.asp	fineweb	2,057	2.953125
Stanford University researcher Amanda Janesick thinks the most interesting thing about birds is that they cannot go permanently deaf. For the last three years, she’s tried to figure how and why—and hopes to find a way to reproduce this in people someday. “The fact that we don’t have a cure for hearing loss is amazing,” says Janesick, who was born with a mild form of genetic hearing loss herself. Scientists have long known that certain animals— birds, but also fish, reptiles and amphibians—can indefinitely regenerate hair cells inside the cochlea, the cavity of the inner ear responsible for interpreting sound. Most mammalian hair cells cannot do this: Once ruined, the hair cells—which vibrate and help amplify sounds into the cochlea—are gone. With fewer of them, hearing sensitivity drops. Given advances in microscopy and genetic analysis over the last decade, researchers now have the ability to advance the study of how hair cell regeneration actually functions. Working with Stefan Heller at Stanford's School of Medicine, Janesick focuses her research exclusively with chickens. She uses imaging technology to “light up” multiple genes in fluorescent colors within the cochlea at a single-cell resolution, allowing her to see their location and which are activated when hair cells regenerate. “Lighting up a gene does not directly tell you anything about the cell’s function, but you can make inferences,” she says. Recently, through another technique called single-cell RNA sequencing, she was able to measure individual genes present in each hair cell of a healthy chicken cochlea. This is a big first step: to figure out how hair cells regenerate, knowing their genetic makeup helps. Janesick has discovered several new hair cell genes. For instance, compared to mammals, she has found that the chickens might be using a wholly different neurotransmitter to convert sound energy into electric energy that eventually gets transmitted to their brain. Researchers, however, still don’t know exactly how birds regenerate their hearing ability and also don’t know why birds can do this and we cannot. Mirko Scheibinger, a colleague of Janesick’s who is working on a parallel project involving the chicken's balancing organ, the utricle, believes it is related to the human ear’s complexity. For starters, ours is a spiral shape whereas the bird’s is banana-like; the mammalian one is a “more sophisticated” entity, says Scheibinger. Another crucial component of Janesick’s project involves studying the damaged chicken cochlea in a live chicken. To do this a chick’s ear is injected with an antibiotic that kills the hair cells (it requires only a very tiny needle, and they do grow back). Two days later, they observed the cochlea with a high-powered microscope during the regeneration process. What they saw, says Janesick, seemed to be a strong immune response to the hair cell damage in the surviving, surrounding cells. Now she’s trying to understand what role, if any, immune genes play in regenerating hair cells. Whether what she and others are learning about animals’ hearing regeneration ability could one day help humans, Janesick is cautiously optimistic—though it would take years. Most likely, says Janesick, such a therapy could be in the form of chemicals that are injected or diffused into our ears. Manipulation of our genes themselves through gene therapy may also be a possibility, she adds. Others believe that it is better to focus scientific attention on different animals with the same abilities, such as mice. While most mammals are unable to regenerate hair cells, mice can for a short period of time after birth. Because the mouse genome is closer to ours, its regeneration abilities might be more easily transferable to humans; mice also hear in frequency ranges more similar to us, says Alan Cheng, a Stanford colleague of Janesick’s who studies this in the rodent subjects. But, in terms of research, he adds that “one is not better than the other. They are complementary.” For instance, notes Cheng, the key to neural regeneration in retinas—repairing damaged neurons in eyes—which has allowed for the development of new gene therapies for the visually impaired, was discovered through studying chickens. Much has also been learned from chick embryology about how our limbs develop, how the cardiovascular system is patterned, and brain formation, to name a few examples. Even though we still know relatively little about the nuances of bird hearing, perhaps one day human deafness will also make the list.	https://www.audubon.org/news/how-chickens-could-inspire-new-treatments-deafness	fineweb	4,549	3.859375
Over the last 25 years it has been noted that the incidence of children with neuro-developmental and psychopathological issues have increased significantly, with boys dominating the numbers. 1 Why mostly boys? Right from time inside the womb boys’ brains develop more slowly than girls.2 Even in the first hours after birth, observational studies have shown that, in comparison with girls, male newborns tend to be less responsive to their mother’s voice and touch, and are less able to maintain eye contact with her. In the early weeks to beyond six months, they smile less and cry more, are more irritable and demanding and show less emotional stability.3 In essence, on average male babies have greater difficulty self-regulating their emotional state and therefore have a greater reliance on emotional support, especially from their mother. They need it both more intensely and for a longer period than girls.4 The slower development is likely to be due to the influence of the male hormone testosterone.5, 6. It is known that the sex hormones (testosterone in boys and oestrogen in girls) have a direct influence on the neural wiring and synaptic connections in the brain especially during critical periods of their development both pre- and postnatally. These hormones also have an important influence on the development of the stress response from cortisol, with oestrogen enhancing its activity and responsiveness (enhancing resilience to stress) and testosterone inhibiting it (increasing fearfulness) 7. For young children usually (and ideally) a mother’s nurturing influence predominates in the first year. As the immature human brain goes through its explosive growth, in 3 months before and the months following birth, the neural connections are made mostly in the right side of the brain – the emotional side. The mother responds (also through the right side of her brain), with her baby using her facial expression and eyes, her touch, voice, smell and vision. This powerful reciprocal interconnection provides the baby with loving support, and guidance on stress control and emotional regulation. In the second year the father figure’s influence starts to become more important. This mostly emanates from, and is received by, the left side of the brain – the cognitive side. They teach their child to explore their emerging executive functions and to control their aggression.8 And when things go wrong in these early years, boys and girls manifest it in different ways. Girls tend to internalise their unhappiness, tending to depression and anxious over-vigilance, whereas boys manifest it externally by becoming aggressive and angry. 9 And as boys’ brains are more immature for longer their neurodevelopment is more vulnerable than girls to negative and non-nurturing influences for a longer time. A powerful negative factor seems to be early day-care. Separating babies from their families in early weeks and months (six weeks is common in the US) has been shown to have a significant effect even when the care is ‘good quality’10, and the effects last into late childhood and adolescence 11. Such ‘separation stress’ is also accentuated in boys. A major longitudinal study of UK population using the British Cohort Study of 1970 by the London School of Economics concluded: ‘The most important predictor of adult life satisfaction was child’s emotional health and secondarily their conduct. Least powerful was their intellectual development.’ 12 So, if you want your little boys to grow up feeling secure and with good mental health, keep them close and allow them to remain babies for longer. This may be inconvenient and require financial sacrifice but this investment in their lives pays back massive dividends to them as they grow. See more in ‘Baby On Board’ (Expanded Edition) 2020. https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yM9NB 2) Thordstein M1, Löfgren N, Flisberg A, Lindecrantz K, Kjellmer I. “Sex differences in electrocortical activity in human neonates.” Neuroreport. 2006 Jul 31;17(11):1165-8. 3) Weinberg MK1, Tronick EZ, Cohn JF, Olson KL. “Gender differences in emotional expressivity and self-regulation during early infancy.” Dev Psychol. 1999; 35(1):175-88. 4) Tronick, E. (2007). ‘The Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology. The neurobehavioral and social-emotional development of infants and children’. New York, NY, US: W W Norton & Co. 5) Bingham B1, Wang NX, Innala L, Viau V “Postnatal aromatase blockade increases c-fos mRNA responses to acute restraint stress in adult male rats.” Endocrinology. 2012 Apr;153(4):1603-8. doi: 10.1210/en.2011-1749. 6) Bergman K1, Sarkar P, Glover V, O’Connor TG. “Maternal prenatal cortisol and infant cognitive development: moderation by infant-mother attachment.” Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Jun 1;67(11):1026-32. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.01.002. (7) Hines M, Constantinescu M, Spencer D “Early Androgen Exposure and Human Gender Development in ‘Biol Sex Differ’ 2015; 6:3. (8) Schore, A. ‘All our sons: the Developmental Neurobiology and Neuroendocrinology of Boys at Risk: Infant Mental Health Journal. 2016. 38. 10.1002/imhj.21616. (9) Gunnar MR et al. ‘The Rise in Cortisol in Family Daycare: Associations with Aspects of Care Quality, Child Behaviour and Child Sex’. Child Dev 2010; 81(3): 851- 869. (10) Belsky J, Vandell DL, Burchinal M, Clarke-Stewart KA, McCartney K, Owen MT, et al. ‘Are there long-term effects of early child care?’ Child Development. 2007;78:681–701. (11) Vandell DL, Belsky ‘Do Effects of Early Child Care Extend to Age 15 Years? Results From the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development’ J Child Dev 2010; 81(3) 737-756. (12) Layard R, Clark AE, Cornaglia F, Powdthavee N, Vernoit. ‘What Predicts a Successful Life? A Life-Course Model of Well-Being’ Econ J (London). (2014) ;124(580);F720-F738.	https://www.babydoc.com.au/boys-will-be-boys-2/	fineweb	5,813	3.5
Use case: Electrochemical hydrogen separation Hydrogen can be separated from gas mixtures using membranes. Between 70 and 80% of the hydrogen in mixtures can be recovered by traditional methods. Celtec® technology can now isolate the remaining 20%. Electrochemical hydrogen separation is suitable for a number of applications: Steam methane reformers for hydrogen production Today, hydrogen is mostly extracted from natural gas in steam reformers. The hydrogen is separated from the gas mixture by pressure swing adsorption and the remaining gas is used thermally. Celtec® technology now also allows the separation of the 20 to 30% of hydrogen that was previously unusable, increasing plant capacity and efficiency. Hydrogen-containing gases are used in the manufacture of flout glass or for surface treatment in the metal industry. These gases are subsequently burned and new hydrogen has to be supplied. Celtec® technology enables the hydrogen to be recovered from the waste gases and mixed back into the process gas. More efficient chemical processes The hydrogen generated in some chemical reactions must be removed to allow the reaction to proceed. It is difficult and expensive to separate small amounts of hydrogen using conventional methods. Celtec® technology can efficiently separate concentrations even of less than 20%, thus helping to increase the reaction yield.	https://www.basf.com/global/en/who-we-are/organization/group-companies/BASF_New-Business-GmbH/our-solutions/proton-conductive-membrane/use-case-hydrogen-separation.html	fineweb	1,376	2.984375
Are You At Risk for These Holiday Health Hazards? Every year, there are more falls from ladders, more fires and more food-related illnesses just ahead of ‘ and during ‘ the holiday season. Here’s how to avoid these common holiday health risks Source: Best Health magazine, November/December 2015 Margaret Keresteci should have known better. Working for a health organization that gathers statistics on injuries, she was well aware of the many mishaps that occur during the holidays. Nevertheless, one winter she was so anxious to get her outside Christmas lights up that she hauled out a ladder ‘ in the dark ‘ climbed to the top and then leaned precariously to one side to hang the lights. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground with two broken wrists and a gash to her head. No one was home, so, in terrible pain, Keresteci made her way to a nearby house, where she summoned help by banging on the door with her elbow. It was a dangerous ‘ and embarrassing ‘ incident for her. ‘I know better now,’ says Keresteci, who suffered permanent damage to one wrist as a result of her fall. Her story is a kind of perfect storm of holiday health hazards: over-the-top decorating, mind-altering stress, breakneck pace. It’s no wonder there are typically more falls from ladders, more fires and more food-related illnesses just before and during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. The good news is that most of these injuries are preventable. Here, then, is a guide to what you should look out for when greeting the season. Dr. Louis Francescutti, an emergency-room physician at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital and a professor and injury researcher at the University of Alberta, says he treats injuries like Keresteci’s every year. ‘Whoever draws the Christmas shift usually has a story to tell,’ he says. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, ladder injuries are so common that in 2014, in Ontario alone, they sent more than 130 people to hospital emergency rooms during November’s pre-Christmas cheer. Stay-safe secret: If you’re using a ladder outdoors, do so during daylight hours, and clear away snow or ice before setting it down. Use the Electrical Utilities Safety Association of Ontario’s safe-practice guide: Never stand on a rung higher than fourth from the top, and don’t climb up or down while carrying anything. Instead, place lights or other items in a container and raise and lower them by rope while maintaining three-point contact with the ladder: one hand/two feet or two hands/one foot. Make sure you have a spotter, too. More people die of heart attacks over the holidays than during any other time of year. Part of the problem is that some heart attack symptoms are similar to those of indigestion ‘ another seasonal risk ‘ and many people would rather blame their discomfort on gluttony than interrupt a party by dashing off to the ER. ‘If you’ve lived your whole life without indigestion and all of a sudden you’re suffering from it, you need to think that it could be your heart,’ warns Dr. Beth Abramson, a Toronto cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. And the weather doesn’t help either. Low temperatures, especially if coupled with snow shovelling, can be deadly. Cold can slow blood flow to the heart by tightening blood vessels (interestingly, nitroglycerine medication does the opposite), while exercise increases the heart’s need for blood and oxygen. Therefore, you may be in a situation where the supply of blood to the heart is reduced during a time of increased need ‘ a recipe for a heart attack. ‘When you’re shovelling and breathing in cold air ‘ especially if you are overweight and out of shape or have risk factors for heart disease ‘ you’re putting yourself at risk,’ says Dr. Abramson. Then there’s ‘holiday heart syndrome,’ a fast, irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation that can be caused by drinking too much alcohol in a short time. Stay-safe secret: Even doctors can’t be sure, by observation alone, when someone’s having a heart attack, so you’re probably not going to figure it out on your own. While pressure on the chest is the most common symptom, a heart attack doesn’t have to be of the dramatic Hollywood variety. ‘Sudden chest, neck, throat, jaw or arm discomfort or shortness of breath or nausea that comes out of the blue needs to be taken seriously,‘ says Dr. Abramson. Family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and being overweight increase your risk. ‘There are quick and simple tests that can be done in an emergency room to confirm whether you’re having a heart attack,’ says Dr. Abramson. ‘When in doubt, assume the worst.’ Of course Christmas trees are a fire hazard, but the biggest cause of home fires, by far, is cooking, accounting for 20 percent of fires nationwide in 2007. Another culprit? Candles. Fire statistics collected in Alberta during the holiday season (December 15th to the 31st) over a five year period showed that candle fires doubled compared to the rest of the year. Stay-safe secret: Never, ever leave stovetop items unattended, and don’t leave candles burning in an empty room. When you do light candles, keep them far from the tree and other flammable items, such as wrapping paper. Make sure your Christmas tree lights are approved by the Canadian Standards Association (look for the CSA label), and throw out any sets with cracked bulb sockets or damaged wires. Finally, make sure your Christmas tree is watered daily. You’ve been waiting in line all day ‘ for a seat in the food court, a parking spot, a copy of that bestselling book or that must-have toy. And there’s your endless to-do list, along with parties, arguments with the family and a busy work schedule. No wonder you’re stressed! Stay-safe secret: Simplify. Stop accepting every invitation and trying to see everyone during the holidays, otherwise you’ll burn out. And don’t try to out-dazzle everyone with extravagant dinners, over-the-top decorating and expensive presents because Christmas isn’t a competition. Another useful tip? Start your shopping early. Christmas comes on the same date every year, so it’s all about planning. Keep a running list in your wallet of people you plan to buy presents for. That way, you can take advantage of sales throughout the year and avoid the stress of overspending. You came, you saw, you drank. If you don’t usually overindulge in alcohol, your body is in for a shock: a painful hangover ‘ oops. Stay-safe secret: Holidays and alcohol seem to go hand in hand. Catherine Hardman, executive director of Choices for Change, a Stratford, ON-based alcohol, drug and gambling counselling centre, offers these tips: ‘ Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones ‘ Forget the one-drink-per-hour guideline for preventing hangovers; it isn’t reliable. Instead, have a beverage in your hand at all times (nonalcoholic, if you wish) so attentive friends and hosts will stop asking if they can get you another drink. ‘ Agree to be the designated driver. ‘That gives you an out,’ says Hardman, ‘and people also respect that.’ Moreover, you’ll have a holiday to remember ‘ for all the right reasons. According to Ben Chapman, who works with the University of Guelph’s Food Safety Network, ‘Undercooked turkey is one of the top 10 foods that make people sick.’ But it’s not just the turkey: Stuffing absorbs the juices inside the bird, so it has to be as thoroughly cooked as the meat. Eggnog is also notorious for making people sick if it’s left unrefrigerated for too long or made with raw eggs (which can contain salmonella bacteria). Dr. Francescutti is all too familiar with holiday food misery. ‘An entire family came in with food poisoning,’ he says. ‘They all needed intravenous and rehydration.’ Stay-safe secret: The Food Safety Network advises cooking an unstuffed turkey to 170°F (77°C) and a stuffed one to 180°F (82°C). Alternatively, cook the stuffing separately. Stuffed or not, always cook a turkey in a 325°F (160°C) oven. Never start cooking it in one place, then transport it to another and finish cooking there. For more safe turkey cooking tips, visit foodsafetynetwork.ca or call 1-866-503-7638. Every holiday seaon, Dr. Francescutti treats patients who need their hands or fingers stitched up after they’ve lost a vicious battle with clamshell packaging ‘ the hard, moulded plastic that is sealed around the toy, tool or product you’re anxious to get at. ‘It’s mostly fathers I see who are trying to open packages for others ‘ a little too quickly sometimes,’ he says. Still, one teenager he treated was so excited about a new electronic gadget, he hastily tried to pry open the package with scissors. They slipped and impaled the palm of his hand, landing him in the emergency room. Stay-safe secret: Dr. Francescutti recommends that an adult place the product on a countertop and carefully run a sharp utility knife around the packaging. To safely get rid of this plastic ‘ with its razor-sharp edges ‘ don’t toss it into the kitchen garbage: Someone could later slice a hand pushing the trash down to compact it ‘ toss it in the blue bin instead. (Check if your recycling depot will accept it first).	https://www.besthealthmag.ca/article/are-you-at-risk-for-these-holiday-health-hazards/	fineweb	9,251	2.625
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is a scientifically-derived, one-on-one therapy used to explain how learning takes place. When a behavior is followed by a reward, the behavior is more likely to be repeated. ABA utilizes research-based techniques to increase useful and positive behaviors and reduce those that may cause harm or interfere with learning. ABA therapy is the most effective evidence-based treatment for autism and is recommended by physicians, the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Surgeon General. A board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) will observe and interact with your child, as well as gather information from caregivers. The analyst will provide recommendations on treatment including, but not limited to, hours of service per week, target skills, and the best environment in which services should take place in (i.e. school versus clinic). Your child will also be evaluated using a curriculum-based assessment (e.g. Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills, Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program, Early Start Denver Mondel). The information gathered in the initial assessment will be written into a report. At Breakthrough Behavior, we work on communication, social skills, appropriate play, academic skills, self-help skills, and more. When teaching communication skills, we utilize the verbal behavior approach, created by B.F. Skinner, which analyzes language according to function rather then form. We also work on decreasing inappropriate behavior and increasing appropriate replacement behaviors. Therapy is conducted through motivation and fun! PARENT & CAREGIVER TRAINING Parents and caregivers are a critical piece of the treatment team. Intensive training is provided to family members to ensure comprehensive treatment. Extended family members are also encouraged to participate.	https://www.breakthroughbehavior.com/what-is-aba	fineweb	1,893	3.25
Cellulose Insulation Slows Fire Spread By Design In Attics Nebraska fire demonstrates cellulose insulation fire control characteristics Cellulose insulation is designed to save homeowners money by making their homes more energy efficient. It also has a Class 1 fire rating and is designed to save their homes in a fire by slowing the spread of flames. A recent story from the Ashland Gazette in Nebraska provides a good example of how the product works in a fire. According to the article, a neighbor of the homeowner noticed smoke coming from the eaves in the home and notified the homeowner who called 911. According to the story, responding firefighters took the correct action of “removing the cellulose insulation and some boards and were able to extinguish the small fire with a water extinguisher, and not having to use the large water hoses.” By design, cellulose insulation likely slowed the spread of flames allowing more time for the fire to be extinguished. Often, firefighters unfamiliar with the product, do not remove the cellulose insulation in the area of the fire where it will continue to smolder, again by design to minimize the flame spread. We applaud the Ashland fire department for their work in this case allowing residents to return to the home after just a few hours. The cause of the fire was wiring to a kitchen light, which is a common problem in older homes where recessed lighting surrounded by improperly installed insulation can lead to fires. An often overlooked benefit of LED or CFL lamps is that they eliminate the danger of attic fires caused by overheating recessed light fixtures – even non-IC fixtures. Homeowners with any blown-in attic insulation product should consider replacing incandescent bulbs in recessed ceiling light fixtures. Add to that the energy saving and environmental benefits of going with LED or CLF bulbs and it makes sense to change from incandescent lighting. See the Fire Test videos on CIMA’s YouTube Channel to learn more about how insulation products perform in simulated building fires.	https://www.cellulose.org/Cellulose-Insulation-2nd.php?pagename=NewsRoom-post_displayer&dirname=CIMA&postslug=cellulose-insulation-slows-fire-spread-by-design-in-attics	fineweb	2,056	2.75
Our optical clock is based on rubidium atoms. Rubidium is an atom with the symbol Rb and atomic number 37. Rubidium is a very soft, silvery-white metal. It’s called “rubidium” from the Latin word rubidus, or ruby-red, because when put into fire it causes the flame to burn red. Rubidium is an alkali metal – this means that of its 37 electrons, 36 are paired up in closed atomic shells leaving a single electron to have all the fun. Rubidium behaves a lot like a very simple atom with a big nucleus and a single electron, much like hydrogen which is the simplest of all atoms. Like all atoms and molecules, rubidium has a number of energy levels. Figuring out exactly what all those energy levels are is the job of quantum mechanics. But that’s why we like rubidium – because it basically looks like an atom with just one electron, the math and physics is significantly simpler. The energy level with the smallest amount of energy is called the “ground state”, while all of the other energy levels are called “excited states”. An individual atom can “jump” from one energy level to another if it absorbs some photons of just the right amount of energy (see our post here for more information). An atom in an excited state will eventually fall back down to the ground state, emitting photons in the process to get rid of the excess energy. In our clock, the rubidium atoms absorb two infrared photons (778 nm) to jump to an excited state, and when the atoms fall back down to the ground state they emit a blue photon (at 420 nm). We know that our infrared lasers are tuned to just the right energy when the rubidium atoms start glowing blue. As long as the atoms keep glowing blue, we know exactly what frequency that infrared laser is and we can use it to keep time!	https://sorce.home.blog/2019/06/12/a-beginners-guide-to-atomic-physics-and-why-we-like-rubidium/	fineweb	1,766	3.609375
Climate Home News is one of the world’s most trusted independent sources of climate politics news. Sign up for our newsletter. Under the Paris Agreement, governments worldwide agreed to hold global warming “well below 2C” and to aim for 1.5C. The inclusion of that second, tougher, goal was a victory for small island states and other countries on the front line of climate change. It was an acknowledgement of fears that higher temperature rise posed an unacceptable threat to their futures. But the vast bulk of research and analysis prior to 2015 centred on the 2C threshold, a more established international target. What would it take to bend the curve to 1.5C? Enter the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The climate science body agreed to produce a special report on 1.5C, summarising all the available evidence. Climate Home News has obtained an early version of the five-chapter report, which is due to be finalised in September. The IPCC stressed it was a work in progress and may change substantially. It is open for review by experts and governments, and may incorporate further studies published by 15 May. Read the draft summary for policymakers in full here. What is clear from the content so far, though, is there is not much time left. Here are the main takeaways. 1. We’re close to the line The world has already warmed 1C since pre-industrial times. At the current rate, we will pass 1.5C in the 2040s. Definitions are important here. This is based on a 30-year average global temperature, centred on the year in question, compared to 1850-1900. Parts of the world, for shorter periods of time, are almost certain to exceed 1.5C warming sooner than that. The UK Met Office sees a one in 10 chance the global average will flicker over 1.5C within five years. 2. 1.5C is risky The fingerprints of climate change are already visible on extreme weather events, sea level rise and related impacts on ecosystems and human society. Each notch of warming brings more disruption. At 1.5C, tropical reefs are at “high risk” of no longer being dominated by corals. The Arctic could become nearly ice-free in September. There will be “fundamental changes in ocean chemistry” that could take millennia to reverse. 3. 2C is riskier The next half-degree ramps up the risk of flood, drought, water scarcity and intense tropical storms. There are knock-on effects: reduced crop yields, species extinction and transmission of infectious diseases like malaria. And these pressures multiply the threat of hunger, migration and conflict. An extra 10cm of sea level rise is predicted this century with 2C compared to 1.5C. It also raises the risk of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets collapsing over the long term, dooming future generations to multi-metre sea level rise. 4. Poor and coastal communities will be hit hardest Vulnerable communities are already experiencing threats from climate change. At both 1.5C and 2C these effects scale up. When crops fail, smallhold farmers may lose their livelihoods and be compelled to leave their homes, while the urban poor suffer from food price spikes. Fishing communities may see their catches dwindle. Coastal settlements are particularly exposed to storm surges and flooding. 5. “Rapid and deep” emissions cuts are needed… Meeting the 1.5C goal is a huge ask. It implies cutting greenhouse gases faster than ever before across all sectors of the economy. With the exception of recent upheaval in electricity supplies, the rate of change required “has no documented historic precedents”. These shifts “require more planning, coordination and disruptive innovation across actors and scales of governance than the spontaneous or coincidental changes observed in the past”. They won’t happen by chance. 6. …and negative emissions… At the same time, carbon dioxide needs to be sucked out of the atmosphere. It gets little attention from politicians or policymakers, yet every single pathway to 1.5C relies on this to some extent. Depending on the scenario, 380-1130 gigatonnes of CO2 should be removed. Firstly, this is to cancel out the leftover emissions after everything that can be cut has been cut. Secondly, it makes up for overshooting the emissions limits that would keep temperatures below 1.5C. The more emissions cuts are delayed, the more rests on negative emissions technology, which could be problematic. 7. …and luck All of these models are probabilistic: assumptions about population, the economy, climate dynamics, policies and technologies go in and the likely impact on temperatures comes out. Some uncertainties are beyond human control. Scenarios that give a 66% chance of holding temperature rise below 1.5C throughout this century are “already out of reach”, according to the draft summary. That leaves a narrow path to walk to stay within the 1.5C threshold, or the prospect of overshooting and using negative emissions to restore the balance by 2100. 8. It’s all about the overshoot As global warming outpaces efforts to curb it, models increasingly rely on “overshoot” to keep international targets within reach. That goes for 2C as well as 1.5C. The bigger the overshoot – and scenarios in this report reach up to 1.9C before returning to 1.5C by 2100 – the more drastic action is needed to correct it. And while temperature rise may be reversible, some impacts are not. An ice sheet cannot un-collapse or an extinct species be brought back to life. 9. Radical action has trade-offs Scaling up negative emissions in line with the 1.5C goal may clash with efforts to end hunger. The main two measures relied on to remove CO2 from the air are increasing forest cover and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (Beccs). The latter, which involves burning wood or other plant matter to generate electricity and pumping the emissions underground, is particularly controversial. Both require large amounts of land, potentially conflicting with food production. “There is a high chance that the levels of CO2 removal implied in the scenarios might not be feasible due the required scale and speed of deployment required and trade-offs with sustainable development objectives,” the draft states. The report does not make a judgement on which poses a greater threat to global food supply: bioenergy demand or 2C warming. 10. Beware techno-fixes The draft takes a sceptical line on solar geoengineering, a prospective technology to cool the planet by reflecting heat into space. Ethical implications, governance issues and public resistance could make it “economically, socially and institutionally infeasible”. 11. Prepare for social change As much as any technology, 1.5C depends on people changing their behaviour. That means the rich eating less meat, using energy sparingly and forgoing private cars. And it means tackling institutional barriers to action like public attitudes, lack of resources or special interests.	https://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/02/13/11-takeaways-draft-un-report-1-5c-global-warming-limit/	fineweb	6,905	3.25
This tutorial is about calculating the R-squared in Python with and without the sklearn package. For an exemplary calculation we are first defining two arrays. While the y_hat is the predicted y variable out of a linear regression, the y_true are the true y values. import numpy as np y_hat = np.array([2,3,5,7,2,3,8,5,3,1]) y_true = np.array([5,4,2,7,4,2,1,6,5,3]) Now we are calculating the R-squared out of those two variables. The formulas for calculating the R-squared are: where SST is: and SSE is: To understand the SST and SSE consider the following image found on Wikipedia and created by Orzetto (Please see the credits and license below the image): On the left-hand side, you see the SST – the total sum of squares which are just the squared differences between the actual y values and the mean y. On the right-hand side, you see the SSE – the residual sum of squares which is just the summed squared differences between the regression line (m*x+b) and the predicted y values. You can also just use the sklearn package to calculate the R-squared. from sklearn.metrics import r2_score r2_score(y_true,y_hat) For an application of the R-squared on real data, you are kindly invited to check out the video on my channel	https://www.codinground.com/calculating-r-squared-python/	fineweb	1,227	3.0625
It is worthy to note that an intriguing branch of Artificial intelligence is Machine learning. If you never knew, Machine learning is everywhere around us in this modern era. Similar to Facebook suggesting the stories in its user's feed, Machine learning brings out the abilities of data in another light. Machine Learning is capable of enabling computer systems to learn and even improve from experience all the time. Those who are still unaware of what Machine Learning truly entails will be breaking it down for you in this article. What Is Machine Learning The first thing you should know about Machine Learning is that it is a significant sub-area of AI, Artificial Intelligence. Machine Learning applications tend to learn from experience, i.e., data similar to humans but without any direct programming. When exposed to newer data, these applications learn, change, grow and develop all by themselves. In simpler terms, with the aid of Machine Learning, computers are capable of discovering insightful information without being told where they should search. Rather, they carry out these tasks by leveraging algorithms that learn from data in a highly iterative process. Though the Machine Learning concept has been available for a long time, the power to automate the application of these difficult mathematical calculations to Big Data has been gaining huge momentum in the last decades. Machine Learning is regarded as the ability to adapt to new data at higher levels, though independently but through iterations. It entails applications learning from former computations and transactions, then using pattern recognition to generate dependable and informed results. How Does It Work First and foremost, Machine Learning is one of the most intriguing subsets of Artificial Intelligence. It finishes up the task of learning from data with certain inputs to the machine. You must understand how it works and how it can be utilized in the future. It is pertinent to note that the Machine Learning process begins with inputting training data into the chosen algorithm. This training data may be known or unknown data used to develop the final algorithm of Machine Learning. In testing, if this data correctly works, a new input data is fed into the algorithm, and both the prediction and results are checked. However, if the prediction does not come back as expected, the algorithm is further retrained countless times until the needed output is found. This allows the Machine Learning algorithm to continuously learn all on its own and generate the best optimal answer that will subtly increase its accuracy with time. Note that there are different types of Machine Learning which are: 1. Supervised Learning Here, known or labeled data is used for its training data. Since the data is already known, the learning is only supervised, which means it is directed into successful execution. Its input data goes through Machine Learning's algorithm, and it is used to further train the model. As the model is trained fully based on this known data, the unknown data can be used to generate a new response. The algorithms used for this supervised learning include logistic regression, decision trees, and linear regression. 2. Unsupervised Learning In Unsupervised Learning, the training data is both unknown and unlabeled. This means that no one has looked at it before. Without the known data, the input cannot be directed to the algorithm. The data is fed into the algorithm of Machine Learning, and it is used in training the model. This trained model will try to search for a pattern and give the needed response. The top algorithm that uses unsupervised learning is fuzzy means, singular value decomposition, and even hierarchical clustering. 3. Reinforcement Learning Here, the Machine Learning algorithm finds data by a trial and error process, and it then decides the action that results in greater rewards. Three components make up this type of Machine Learning. These components are: • The agent which is the decision-maker or the learner • The environment which is everything that the agent communicates or gets to interact with, and; • The actions are what the agent does. This type of learning occurs when the agent selects actions that heighten the expected reward over a specific period. There are places where Machine Learning is applied, and they range from the self-driving car by Google, detection of cyber fraud, and those online recommendation engines that Amazon, Netflix, and Facebook utilize. These things are carried out as the machine filters the useful pieces of information and joins them together by making use of patterns to get the needed results. Now that you have a basic understanding of Machine Learning, you can start or create a thread using this ink http://alturl.com/gqq4x to get more help from experts on this website.	https://www.computermeetup.com/viewtopic.php?t=74	fineweb	4,861	3.546875
A new international study has found patients with spinal cord injuries were 7 times more likely to be fatigued and more than 3 times more likely to have sleep apnea than their able-bodied counterparts. The international study revealed patients with spinal cord injuries were at an increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing and a 7 times greater chance of experiencing chronic fatigue compared to their able-bodied counterparts. "It's not just about a good night's sleep,” said investigator Jordan Squair, PhD, a post-doctoral scholar in the Phillips lab. “Our study found sleep related disorders are negatively associated with brain health for individuals with spinal cord injury." To evaluate what was causing increased prevalence of cerebrovascular injury among patients with spinal cord injury, the investigators’ analyses explored the rate of fatigue and sleep apnea in patients with spinal cord injuries and potential associations with abnormal cerebrovascular activity. For the current study, investigators included data on more than 60,000 able-bodied individuals and more than 1800 individuals with a spinal cord injury. Physiologic assessments were performed on homogenous sample of study participants with cervical injuries and matched controls. For the present analyses, investigators gauged the prevalence of self-reported chronic fatigue, clinically defined sleep apnea, and cerebrovascular responsiveness to changing CO2 levels. Upon analyses, investigators observed individuals with spinal cord injury were 7 times more likely to experienced fatigue than those without an injury (OR 7.9, 95% CI 3.5 — 16.2). Analyses also revealed the rate of sleep apnea was more than 3 times greater in patients with a spinal cord injury (pooled OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3–7.5). Investigators also pointed out a correlation between fatigue and trouble sleeping with level and severity of injury was observed. Based on the results of their analyses, lead investigator Aaron Phillips, PhD, assistant professor, in the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, suggests clinicians should keep a more watchful eye on the sleep-related issues that could impact patients with a spinal cord injury. "Our results make a case for health-care professionals to incorporate assessments of fatigue and sleep-related breathing examinations into routine care for people with spinal cord injury," said Phillips in a release. "In addition, the use of a continuous positive airway pressure device may provide wide-ranging benefits for this group of people, including the reduction of stroke risk." This study, titled “Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with brain vascular reactivity in spinal cord injury,” is published online in Neurology.	https://www.consultantlive.com/view/spinal-injuries-fatigued-sleep-apnea	fineweb	2,723	2.765625
Sculpted in 1924 by taxidermist and gorilla advocate Carl Akeley, “Chrysalis” represents his belief in the humanity of the apes. “Chrysalis” was sculpted by legendary naturalist and taxidermist Carl Akeley in 1924. The bronze piece depicts a man (who resembles Akeley himself) emerging from the skin of a gorilla. The image sparked controversy in religious circles at the time for its implications of evolution. Akeley defended his work, stating that “Chrysalis” was not a statement on evolution, but rather that he intended it to express his belief that gorillas, seen as nothing more than animals by many at the time, are no more bestial than humans. While collecting mountain gorillas for his work at the American Museum of Natural History, Akeley made observations that fundamentally changed his attitude toward the species. Opposed to hunting them for sport or trophies, he worked to establish a gorilla preserve, which eventually became Africa’s first national park.	https://www.cultofweird.com/art/carl-akeley-chrysalis-sculpture/	fineweb	972	3.421875
Spraying Crops, Eradicating People "We always used to have a pharmacy in the jungle. But now we can’t find the trees and animals that we need. The animals and fish have disappeared. The birds, too. We have never seen anything like this before. It has to be the result of the spraying. We notice the effects immediately after the area is sprayed. Birds, animals, and fish begin to disappear within a few weeks. The health effects linger for weeks, and even longer." -Indigenous Shuar leader from Sucumbíos, Ecuador In the past two decades, Colombia has been exposed to numerous programs of aerial spraying of coca and poppy crops by chemical herbicides. In this same time period, the country has evolved from being a mere processor of the basic paste for cocaine, using coca leaves grown in Bolivia and Peru, to the world’s top producer of coca for cocaine, and second-largest producer of poppies for heroin. With the Plan Colombia-inspired goal of cutting coca cultivation in Colombia in half by 2005, aerial eradication has increased greatly since December 2000. In addition, the herbicide used was changed in the mid-1990s from the commonly used herbicide Roundup to the more toxic Roundup SL, which has not been approved for use on agricultural areas in the United States. Inhabitants of the southern departments of Colombia, where the spraying is taking place, as well as those who live across the border in Ecuador, are crying foul. They claim the new formula is harming their health, damaging their legal food crops, poisoning their drinking water, and killing or driving away birds and wildlife. For indigenous groups, who are the majority of the affected population, the effects of the aerial spraying are detrimental not only to their personal health and livelihood, but also to the survival of their cultures, as many groups have considered leaving their ancestral homes--some have already been forced to leave--or altering their traditional subsistence lifestyles. Despite increases in the frequency and potency of the aerial spraying, the effect on coca production has been questionable. Between 2000 and 2001, coca production increased by 25 percent. New coca crops planted in more remote areas after the spraying can explain most of the increase and produces a vicious cycle: Primary forest is cut to plant coca, which is then sprayed, leading to more forest being cut. The net result is the loss of hundreds of thousands of acres of primary forests with little reduction of coca plants. Consequently, public pressure has intensified for the U.S. Congress to reassess the program. In legislation approved early in 2002, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont and chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that finances the operation, froze the money needed to buy the herbicide. The legislation, known as the Kenneth M. Ludden Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, required the U.S. State Department to certify that the eradication program meets U.S. regulatory controls and Colombian law and does not threaten public health or the environment before purchasing additional chemicals. Leahy told The New York Times in a September 6 article: "Spraying a toxic chemical over large areas, including where people live and livestock graze, would not be tolerated in our country. We should not be spraying first and asking questions later." The State Department now must show that spraying causes no unreasonable risks or adverse effects to humans or the environment, that alternative development programs are in place in the areas being sprayed, and that a system is in place to evaluate citizens’ claims of health harms or damage to legal food crops and provide compensation for meritorious claims. The long-awaited State Department report on the toxicity of the Roundup SL herbicide mixture was published September 6, with contributions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although the findings stated that the aerial eradication of coca crops in Colombia met U.S. regulatory standards and did not endanger people or the environment, the EPA did express some doubts regarding the herbicide. While Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman reported that health risks associated with the herbicide were "minimal," the EPA portion of the report found a potential risk of acute eye toxicity from the particular formula used in Colombia. The State Department decided to switch to a less-toxic herbicide, but until that product is ordered and delivered, spraying will continue in Colombia with the more toxic herbicide. After a seven-month hiatus, eradication resumed in late July. The Economist reported on September 7 that since July 28, 49,400 acres of coca had been sprayed. What Are They Spraying? Paul Wellstone, the late Democratic U.S. senator from Minnesota and critic of U.S. military aid to Colombia, doubted the accuracy and safety of the U.S.-sponsored drug-eradication program in Colombia. Wellstone, visiting the Colombia department of Putumayo in December 2000, was assured that the spraying, using satellite images, would target coca fields without harming food crops. However, "on the very first flyover by the crop duster, the U.S. Senator, the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, the Lieutenant Colonel of the Colombian National Police, and other Embassy and congressional staffers were fully doused with the sticky, possibly dangerous Roundup," according to Jim Farrell, Wellstone’s spokesperson, in a statement widely released after the event. The group was standing on a mountainside overlooking a coca field. This event, in addition to providing effective media coverage against the spraying, called into question a number of concerns about aerial eradication campaigns. Wellstone found that despite satellite imaging, the spraying was imprecise--mostly due to "drift." Because the small fixed-wing crop duster airplanes that spray the herbicides often fly too high to accurately target the coca crops, crosswinds can blow the herbicide hundreds of feet to non-target areas, causing the destruction of other crops or rainforest, or the contamination of bodies of water. Wellstone knew the spraying was going to occur and had access to medical care after his glyphosate bath, but the communities being sprayed have neither luxury and are unable to find information about the ingredients, concentrations, or intended form of application of the herbicides. Although the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá warns local citizens in areas that will be sprayed and informs them of precautions to take in case of contact with the spray, the information comes too late, or not at all, for many. The actual composition of the herbicide has been widely debated. Until recently, both the U.S. and Colombia governments did not disclose the exact ingredients or proportions being sprayed. The U.S. government stated in its recent report that the herbicide is Roundup SL, produced by chemical and biotechnology firm Monsanto in St. Louis, Missouri. Roundup SL is a stronger version of Roundup, and came into use in response to pressure from Washington, D.C., to use a more effective herbicide. Roundup and Roundup SL are composed mainly of the chemical glyphosate. According to former U.S. ambassador to Colombia Myles Frechette, glyphosate use has been associated with problems since the mid-1990s. Sprayed as a mist, it was ineffective in windy and rainy weather, and often did not penetrate the coca leaf. Even for the less-toxic Roundup, a broad-spectrum herbicide which kills a wide range of plants, Monsanto’s own warnings highlight danger to environmental and human health: Roundup will kill almost any green plant that is actively growing . . . Take care to spray Roundup only on the weeds you want to kill--don’t allow the spray to contact plants you like or they may die too . . . Roundup should not be applied to bodies of water such as ponds, lakes or streams as Roundup can be harmful to certain aquatic organisms . . . After an area has been sprayed with Roundup, people and pets (such as cats and dogs) should stay out of the area until it is thoroughly dry . . . We recommend that grazing animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, tortoises and fowl remain out of the treated area for two weeks . . . If Roundup is used to control undesirable plants around fruit or nut trees, or grapevines, allow twenty-one days before eating the fruits or nuts. ,p> Although the U.S. and Colombia governments have maintained that glyphosate is less toxic than table salt or aspirin, the particular formula used in Colombia has not been approved for use in the United States, and has also been combined with surfactants, or soapy additives, in order to increase its toxicity. The surfactants include Cosmo-Flux 411F, which weighs down the glyphosate to prevent wind drift over non-targeted areas, while at the same time allowing for better penetration into the leaves of the coca and poppy plants. The U.S. government reports that the mixture contains 55 percent water, 44 percent glyphosate herbicide product, and one percent surfactant (Cosmo-Flux 411F). But the composition of Cosmo-Flux 411F, a product registered and produced in Colombia, could not be reported by the State Department for reasons of confidentiality. According to Dr. Elsa Nivia, Colombia’s Regional Director of the Pesticide Action Network, in In These Times in April 2001, "Cosmo-Flux substantially increases the biological activity of the agrochemicals, allowing better results with smaller doses." Although experts warn that surfactants can be highly corrosive depending on the concentration, U.S. and Colombian officials stress that the amount of surfactant used is miniscule, and say Cosmo-Flux is made of harmless ingredients. However, because the surfactants allow water and oil to mix so that glyphosate can penetrate the wax coating on plant leaves, Dr. Milton Guzman, public health director in the provincial capital of Popayán in southwest Colombia suggests it might have the same effect on human skin. Staff scientists at the Pesticide Action Network in San Francisco, California, have also expressed concern. Moreover, the Roundup SL/Cosmo-Flux mixture has not been scientifically evaluated. For their recent report, the EPA and Department of Agriculture did not have access to the mixture actually used in Colombia. Colombian sociologist Ricardo Vargas, who has studied the aerial eradication program since the early 1990s, told the St. Petersburg Times in August 2001 that the new Roundup SL-Cosmo-Flux mix has a far more devastating effect on crops: "Before, the glyphosate didn’t seem to be so effective. Now, when I visit areas of fumigation, it’s like someone poured gasoline and lit a match." This assessment is confirmed by the government report, which states: "Glyphosate is classified as toxicity category III [category I is considered the most toxic] for primary eye irritation and toxicity category IV for acute dermal and oral toxicity, and skin irritation . . . However, the surfactant used in the formulated product reportedly can cause severe skin irritation and be corrosive to the eyes " These findings suggest that any of the reports of toxicity to the eye may be due to the surfactant, not glyphosate per se. The product has been determined to be toxicity category I for eye irritation, causing irreversible eye damage." It is important to note that the herbicides used in Colombia are more concentrated and are applied in greater doses than the maximum levels recommended in the United States. The complaints of inhabitants of southern Colombia are at the center of the controversy. While the U.S. and Colombia governments repeatedly deny the harmful properties of the herbicide, local residents tell a different story. Their complaints, as well as corroboration from some scientists, have prompted the governments to reconsider their official positions. Who Can We Believe? The aerial spraying program associated with Plan Colombia began on December 19, 2000. The first suspected effects on the environment and human health were soon reported in the southernmost departments of Colombia, as well as in nearby villages across the border in Ecuador. Colombia, a country of 800,000 indigenous peoples comprising 81 groups speaking 64 different languages, also possesses 10 percent of the world’s biological diversity, second only to Brazil. It has 55,000 species of plants, 358 species of mammals, 15 percent of the primates in the world, and 1,721 species of birds. Across the border in Ecuador, another country known to host a variety of ecosystems and species, live indigenous Cofán, Siona, Secoya, Quichua, and Shuar villages. Much is at stake in terms of biological diversity and indigenous survival in the region, and reports show spraying has had serious effects on both. Some environmentalists have compared the effects of spraying the Roundup SL-Cosmo-Flux formula in Colombia with the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Both chemicals contaminated large areas of forest and stripped them of their leaves, causing a loss of habitat for species and increased fragmentation of intact forests. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund have both expressed concern about the environmental impacts of the spraying. According to the WWF, aquatic ecosystems are particularly sensitive to glyphosate; wildlife, especially frogs and insects, are easily affected by disruptions in their environment. Also of major concern are the Canangucha palm trees, which form oasis-like growths in the Amazon region. The palm trees not only sustain other plants and animals, but they also provide fiber for clothes and roofing, as well as food and water, to local indigenous groups. Clouds and rainwater containing glyphosate have contaminated the palm trees, leaving them without their useful sponge-like properties and causing them to dry out. Regional contamination is also a worry; much of the coca cultivation occurs along waterways in the Colombian Amazon, so much of the spraying occurs near rivers that flow into Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Luis Naranjo, director of international programs at the American Bird Conservancy, a U.S. advocacy group, also points to the risks from aerial spraying for the survival of Colombia’s birds, including 500 species in the Putumayo region alone. An indigenous leader from Putumayo concurs: "It is strange what happens with the birds. They fall sick at six o’clock in the morning, and by six o’clock in the afternoon, they are dead. We never had anything like this before." Aerial spraying in some cases has inadvertently drifted onto crops such as coffee, yucca, and rice. "Even our own products aren’t doing well," said an indigenous leader from the Putumayo. "For example, the coffee and cocoa crops were good 15 months ago, but not any more. They don’t grow. The papayas that we plant grow and flower, but the leaves die. It is strange what happens. These have to be effects of the spraying. It begins right after they spray." The effects on livestock are also severe, as pigs and chickens have died in large numbers, and cattle have suffered from hair loss and, on occasion, are found dead after contact with contaminated grass or water. According to a Shuar leader from the Sucumbíos region of Ecuador: "The animals are more sensitive to the effects of spraying, they have disappeared. The life of the Shuar is hunting and fishing, but we can’t do that any more." The September 2002 U.S. government report admits that "relative to the potential environmental effects of the spraying program based on U.S. data, phytotoxicity to non-target plants outside the application zone would be expected, since glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide. Given the application method . . . Offsite exposure from spray drift is probable." However, the report also claims, "This [the eradication program’s] proposed use of glyphosate itself does not appear to pose a significant direct risk to terrestrial or aquatic animals, although secondary adverse effects from the temporary loss of habitat in the spray area could occur." The report’s data to determine anticipated effects to animals were based on North American species. The fragile species of the Amazon, however, may be more sensitive to environmental disruptions than North American species. The EPA reports that a more "refined assessment" is difficult due to uncertainty regarding the exact formulation of the spray solution. Critics such as Jim Oldham, the Amazon project director at the Institute for Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, agree. "The State Department report glosses over, downplays, or simply ignores many of the concerns and uncertainties emphasized by [the] EPA in its analysis," Oldham has said. Effects on human health are also reported to be serious. Acción Ecológica, a non-profit environmental advocacy group based in Ecuador, completed a study in June 2001 that reported negative health impacts, including problems with the nervous system (dizziness, headaches), digestive system (nausea, abdominal pains, diarrhea), and skin (sores, ulcers). A report released by the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá in December 2001, Clinical Toxicology of Uribe Cualle: Supposed effects of glyphosate on human health, notes that a number of illnesses and other health problems in Putumayo were caused by aerial glyphosate spraying. The report adds, however, that many other factors contributed to health problems in the region. The health department in Putumayo also published a report, based on interviews conducted with residents, health care providers, and police in the municipalities of Orito, Valle del Guamuez, and San Miguel that were targeted by spraying between December 2000 and February 2001. Medical personnel in three local hospitals reported increased visits for skin problems, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, acute respiratory infection, and conjunctivitis following spraying in rural areas surrounding their municipalities. An indigenous Shuar from Ecuador also mentioned during an interview that he has seen some new illnesses in his villages since the start of the spraying campaigns: "We had no experience with these illnesses before Plan Colombia. The doctors say it is dengue, or yellow fever, or malaria, but it isn’t. We are familiar with those illnesses, and have always used natural medicine to cure them. Now the sickness lasts longer, with fever, headache, and stomach problems. A child can have these symptoms anywhere between four days and two weeks. They can’t regularly attend classes. Children and the elderly are the most affected. Pregnant women have also been suffering from troubles that are out of the ordinary." Another indigenous leader agrees: "Illnesses are springing up that we have never seen before. The ones that we are accustomed to are stronger and last longer." This leader points out that many coca and poppy crops are planted next to homes in his village. Targeting the coca therefore also targets the coca grower’s home. Although indigenous leaders concluded that the environmental changes and new illnesses were related to the aerial spraying, government officials from the United States, Colombia, and Ecuador have hesitated to agree. Melania Yanez, the Ecuadoran Ministry of Environment official responsible for the spraying, has said that not all problems reported by farmers are caused by spraying. "Low coffee yields and smaller mangos, for example, are not likely caused by herbicide spraying. But some of the symptoms reported by farmers are consistent with pesticide poisoning" she told the St. Petersburg Times in May 2002. Rand Beers, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, suggests that the dangerous chemicals Colombian peasants use in coca cultivation and cocaine production--including paraquat, sulfuric acid, kerosene, and ammonia--make people sick. According to the U.S. government, 600 million liters of precursor chemicals are used annually to produce cocaine in South America, and may contribute to the increased health problems. Moreover, drug traffickers use their own large quantities of herbicides and pesticides to defoliate the jungle to make way for coca fields. Beers claims that, in the past 20 years, slash-and-burn agriculture to grow coca has contributed to soil erosion and destroyed more than 9,000 square miles of rainforest, "equal to the state of Massachusetts and another 10 percent," reported the St. Petersburg Times on August 17, 2001. Critics respond that for every acre sprayed, three acres of rainforest are cut down by coca growers who are pushed into more remote areas, infringing on Amazonian indigenous territories. Beers’ failure to accept the herbicide mixture spraying as the cause of indigenous health and environmental complaints has infuriated many people. The September 2002 U.S. government report also angers environmentalists who claim that, because the actual formula being sprayed in Colombia has not been tested, the results are inconclusive at best. The report does systematically analyze a number of health complaints, and says medical personnel sent to review possible links between these complaints and the herbicide found that a number of other factors led to the death or injury, including pre-existing conditions, food poisoning, and parasites. But these conclusions were, in fact, drawn from only a few extreme cases. The cases of problems such as skin irritations and stomach problems have not been examined closely. While the U.S. and Colombia governments downplay the effects of spraying on the traditional ways of life of indigenous communities and small farmers, many indigenous peoples protest that the spraying ruins the land in their traditional territories, brings social and economic disruption, and causes massive displacement to surrounding communities, even across the border to Ecuador. In response to these perceived threats, a number of Indians from Colombia and Ecuador have taken their case to Washington, D.C., not only to speak about the effects of the spraying on their communities, but also to seek compensation for damages. The Indigenous Response The disproportionate impact of the herbicide spraying on indigenous peoples led the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC), with support from the Colombia government’s Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, to take legal action. They filed a claim for legal protection, requesting that a Bogotá court issue a stay on the aerial spraying of herbicides in indigenous territories and arguing that glyphosate had toxic effects on the population, food crops, water sources, and local flora and fauna. They claimed that aerial spraying had destroyed crops in 11 government-sponsored crop substitution and alternative-development programs that were designed to provide poor farmers with economic alternatives to coca production. OPIAC invoked Colombia’s constitutional mandate that indigenous peoples have the right to participate in government decisions that affect their territories or endanger their survival. On July 23, 2001, a Bogotá judge ordered the spraying stopped. However, under pressure from the United States, the judge clarified his ruling within a week, saying that it applied only to "indigenous reserves" in the Amazon region, and that aerial eradication could resume in the rest of Colombia. Taking action on a larger scale, the International Labor Rights Fund filed suit in U.S. Federal Court on September 11, 2001, on behalf of 10,000 Ecuadoran peasant farmers and Amazonian Indians. The lawsuit charged DynCorp, a Reston, Virginia-based defense contractor, with indiscriminate torture, infanticide, and wrongful death for its role in the aerial spraying of pesticides in the Amazon jungle along the border of Ecuador and Colombia. DynCorp has been contracted by the U.S. State Department since 1991 to carry out aerial spraying of illegal crops in the Andean region. Under Plan Colombia, DynCorp was awarded a $600 million contract to fumigate coca fields across Colombia. As of January 2002, the corporation’s crop dusters had sprayed more than 14 percent of the entire land area of Colombia. In January 2002, federal judge Richard Roberts denied DynCorp’s motion to dismiss the case, on grounds that the company’s work in Colombia involved matters of national security. The lawsuit against DynCorp invoked the Alien Tort Claims Act, which allows foreign citizens to sue U.S. companies in U.S. courts over actions committed abroad. The complaint alleged that DynCorp breached the U.S. Torture Victim Protection Act, among others. According to a Quichua leader whose community, San Francisco 2, was involved in the case, "The spraying came very close to us. The airplanes crossed over into Ecuadoran territory. They contaminated the water. Symptoms in our villages have included respiratory infections, eye problems, and skin sores in children. Our yucca crops have been destroyed. The leaves shrivel up and fall off. The plantain crops have also been hurt." Monsanto’s own guidelines advise that, in order to minimize pesticide drift, aerial spraying not be done any higher than three meters from the tops of the tallest plants. However, Jeffrey St. Clair and Alexander Cockburn report in Rumble from the Jungle: Ecuadorian Farmers Fight DynCorp’s Chemwar on the Amazon that in Colombia, DynCorp’s planes "routinely fly as high as 15 meters above the vegetation." The suit sought billions of dollars in damages, as well as an immediate halt to the spraying. Although the case was initially overturned, it was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The indigenous and campesino inhabitants of the region lost the case, but making it all the way to the nation’s highest court was encouraging to many. Indigenous peoples being affected by the aerial spraying are willing to put up a fight over their land and their health by forcing the companies and governments involved to take responsibility for their actions. A Shuar leader from Ecuador, whose community has been affected by the aerial eradication, insists that "We have to talk with the Ministry of Health. We need health centers, and then we need to use natural medicine. The medicine [that doctors prescribe] doesn’t help. If the United States caused the problem, they should help fix it. They should give money for health centers, for development projects." The Latest Round of Spraying Concerns are now widespread that drug eradication in Colombia is not succeeding. In October, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Colombia’s top human rights official, human rights ombudsman Eduardo Cifuentes, had said the program should be suspended because it endangers people’s health and damages the environment. Cifuentes told the AP that he had received reports from the Putumayo state that said peasants are suffering from skin irritation and respiratory problems. President Álvaro Uribe Vélez told the AP that the spraying would continue. According to Julia E. Sweig in the September-October 2002 issue of Foreign Affairs, since the U.S. Congress first appropriated $1.3 billion for Plan Colombia in 2000, coca cultivation in Colombia has increased, moved into northern Colombia, and returned to Peru and Bolivia where, "in the last decade, successful eradication programs inspired premature confidence that such programs would work in Colombia." Most experts attribute the increased coca cultivation in Peru and Bolivia to the same "balloon effect"--eradication in one place simply pushing coca-growing to another--that brought large-scale coca production from Peru and Bolivia to Colombia in the first place. As current struggles in Bolivia demonstrate, uprooting these crops will be difficult, especially given the continuing collapse of coffee prices and perennially falling prices for other legal crops. Attempts to give coca farmers in Colombia another way to earn a living have also failed. Although 35,000 families in Putumayo signed agreements with the government to abandon coca cultivation in exchange for government assistance, State Department officials told the Los Angeles Times in March 2002 that small farmers have "eliminated little or none of their harvest and have no intention of doing so before a deadline later this year." Many small farmers respond that they fulfilled their obligation, but were never compensated for uprooting their coca. Nevertheless, U.S. Embassy officials in Colombia now say they will abandon this alternative development plan and concentrate on building large infrastructure projects to provide jobs, and improve living conditions and transportation. The U.S. and Colombia governments plan to continue with new rounds of spraying. Opponents expect more of the same results--an increase in coca production, only with the crops now being transferred further into the Amazon as well as to other countries. Aerial spraying has the full support of Uribe, who has made containment of Colombia’s guerrillas his top priority. The Economist reported in September that Uribe, along with U.S. officials, "insists that fighting drugs is an integral part of tackling the illegal armies (of right-wing paramilitaries as well as left-wing guerrillas) which profit from and protect the cocaine trade." As a part of this heightened program, which aimed to spray 370,000 acres in 2002, an increase from the 207,000 acres sprayed in 2001, the U.S. government is providing more crop-dusting aircraft, as well as more helicopters to protect them. Although the U.S. and Colombia governments do not seem willing to re-evaluate their plans, many groups struggle to find alternatives to spraying, looking more at the demand for the coca crop than the supply. The Los Angeles Times has reported that a 1994 Rand Corporation study found that $34 million spent on treatment of drug addicts reduces cocaine use by one percent. The same result costs $360 million when coca-production interdiction methods are used. Clearly, the U.S. and Colombia governments will legalize neither the consumption nor growing of coca any time soon; critics argue that other alternatives to spraying, such as manual eradication, must be seriously considered. Finding common ground between government officials who claim that the worst possible effect of the spraying is eye irritation ("as if you had baby shampoo in your eyes") and Colombians and Ecuadorans who report much more serious effects ( "a strong burning sensation in my eyes," or "granules that appear on my skin, and don’t go away,") is difficult. The contradiction of many of the September 2002 U.S. government report’s findings by the actual inhabitants of Putumayo put the validity of this report into question, and further fuel the debate over the true health and environmental impacts of the aerial spraying. Studies of the actual formula being sprayed in Colombia, with access to data from Colombia on actual conditions, are clearly necessary. With a number of new scientific studies set to be released, hopefully in the next year, regarding the health and environmental impacts of the aerial eradication programs, the proliferation of indigenous and campesino-led lawsuits or claims may force the true effects into the spotlight. 1. Juan Forero, U.S. to step up spraying to kill Colombia coca, The New York Times, September 4, 2002, p. 1A. These results are from U.S. estimates based on images from satellites and projections by analysts. It should be noted that the amount of coca reported to be growing in Colombia differs greatly according to the source and the technology used. As an example, the United Nations Drug Control Program, using different technology, found in November 2001 that coca production in Colombia had fallen by 11 percent, as reported in The Economist, September 7, 2002. 2. These warnings can be found on Monsanto’s own website for Roundup, at www.roundup.com. 3. Chemical companies in the United States are required to publicize the “active ingredient” in the pesticides and herbicides on the market. However, because of the concern of corporations to protect trade secrets, they are not required to disclose the composition of the "inert ingredients," or the other chemicals that are mixed with the active ingredient to add to its potency or effectiveness. 4. "Report on issues related to the aerial eradication of illicit coca in Colombia," Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, September 2002, 5. The Colombia government claims that its planes do not spray any closer than 10 kilometers from the border, but Ecuadoran farmers have reported planes in their territory as recently as January 2002. See Reese Erlich, "Drug Spraying hurts us, Ecuador farmers charge," St. Petersburg Times, May 12, 2002, p. 16A. 6. Saavedra, Luis Ángel. Daños Ambientales. Efectos de la Violencia y de la Política Antidrogas, Conflicto Colombia, Lima: Asociación Civil Noticias Aliadas, May 2002, p. 13. 7. Many environmentalists, including officials from the World Wildlife Federation, have made an argument pointing to the similarities in environmental destruction and health effects caused by Agent Orange, used to defoliate the rainforests of southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and the Roundup used in Colombia. Monsanto, the company that developed Roundup, also produced Agent Orange. See Danielle Knight, "Plan Colombia: Fumigation Threatens Amazon, Warn Indigenous Leaders, Scientists," Inter Press Service, November 21, 2000. 8. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, 2002. 9. Amazon Watch. Civil Conflict and Indigenous Peoples in Colombia Amazon. (2002, March). . 10. García, M.I. Agro-Chemicals at the Eye of the Anti-Drug Storm. Tierramérica, http://www.tierramerica.net/2001/0819/iarticulo.shtml. 11. Forero, J. (2001, July 30). Judge in Colombia Halts Spraying of Drug Crops. The New York Times. 12. Los Angeles Times. (1994, June 16). How to be effective against cocaine; RAND study shows power of fighting demand. P B6. 13. Johnson, T. (2002, Sept 6). U.S. defends herbicide use to damage Colombian coca. The Miami Herald. 14. Anonymous interview with a Shuar resident of the affected area. Judith Walcott is a graduate of Tufts University, and a former intern at Cultural Survival. She spent the last year in Ecuador on a Fulbright grant studying the effects of border conflicts on Ecuador’s indigenous peoples. She can be reached at [email protected]. References and further reading Brodzinsky, S., Adams, D., & de la Garza, P. (2001, Aug 20). Spraying in Colombia: is it safe? St. Petersburg Times. P 1A. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. (2002, Sept). Report on issues related to the aerial eradication of illicit coca in Colombia. de la Garza, P. (2001, Aug 17). Colombia spraying plan may be rethought, official says. St. Petersburg Times. P 14A. The Economist. (2002, Sept 7). The weedkiller war: A big new effort to repress the cocaine industry, The Economist. P 36. Forero, J. (2002, Feb 14). Farmers in Peru are turning again to coca crop. The New York Times. P A3. Knight, D. (2000, Nov 21). Plan Colombia: Fumigation Threatens Amazon, Warn Indigenous Leaders, Scientists. Inter Press Service. Lazaroff, C. (2002, Sept 30). Critics detail risks of Colombian coca spraying. Usfumigation.org. www.usfumigation.org. Leech, G.M. (2001, April 30). Death Falls from the Sky, Plan Colombia’s fumigation campaign destroys everything in its path. In These Times. P 7. Mann, J. (2001, Mar 16). Waging Chemical Warfare in Colombia. The Washington Post. P C11. Marquis, C. (2002, Sept 6). Coca spraying poses no risk to Colombians, U.S. declares. The New York Times. P 7A. Miller, T.C. (2002, Mar 29). In Colombia, anti-Drug plan has come a cropper. Los Angeles Times. P 1A. St. Clair, J. & Cockburn, A. (2002, February 27). Rumble from the Jungle: Ecuadorian Farmers Fight DynCorp’s Chemwar on the Amazon. Forest Conservation Portal. Sweig, J.E. (2002, Sept-Oct). What kind of war for Colombia? Foreign Affairs. P 122. Toro, J.P. (2002, Oct 10). Colombia’s top human rights official recommends suspension of drug crop eradication program. The Associated Press. Our website houses close to five decades of content and publishing. Any content older than 10 years is archival and Cultural Survival does not necessarily agree with the content and word choice today.	https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/spraying-crops-eradicating-people	fineweb	36,545	3.5625
DPlot Windows software for students to create presentation quality graphs DPlot is a Windows program that lets students create presentation-quality graphs from a wide variety of data sources. Whether you're studying science, engineering, mathematics, or history, you'll benefit from DPlot's powerful graphing capabilities. Graphs for Students A few decades ago, hand-drawn graphs were sufficiently compelling for students to use in their homework. Today's students and teachers, however, are used to seeing presentation-quality graphics in every medium, from book covers to local TV news. Students need more sophistication if they want to keep teachers' and parents' attention. DPlot gives students the highest quality, most accurate graphs that are available on the Windows PC today. And by using captivating graphics in your homework assignments, term papers, and reports, you can keep fellow-students, parents, and teachers interested in your work. DPlot turns teachers into supporters. Graphing School Assignments with DPlot With DPlot, students can utilize data files from a wide variety of sources, and turn them into graphs of all types. DPlot easily lays out the graphs the way students need them, and labels and annotates them. For added emphasis, it's easy to use photos or images as the background for your graphs. Multidimensional Graphs for Students DPlot lets students graph and manipulate 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-dimensional data. If you have a spreadsheet file or an ordinary comma-delimited file that contains statistics by year, or any groupings of figures, DPlot can grab the data, and lay it out for you in a huge variety of graphic representations. DPlot and Excel Graphs for Students The Excel add-in makes it simple for students to move data in a variety of layouts from Microsoft Excel to DPlot. DPlot lets you display presentation-quality graphs in a number of graph types that are simply not available in Excel, including polar charts, triangle plots, Mercator projections, and grain size distributions. These graphs support the work of students in every field of study, from computer science to music. Some of your fellow-students and teachers learn well from your verbal presentations. Others can grasp numerical and technical data more quickly if they see it displayed graphically. DPlot makes it easy for students to turn data into graphics, effortlessly. Sometimes students need to create stunning contour plots of 3- and 4-dimensional data. Other times, a bare-bones chart can tell your story much more effectively than words. DPlot can meet all of your educational graphing needs. Graphs for All Educational Disciplines If you're working on science projects, history tasks, or any educational work, DPlot can help you illustrate specific functions and formulas effectively. DPlot can enhance your reports, term papers, and ordinary homework assignments. Making Graphs for Parents, Coaches, and Club Managers Parents and teachers are not students' only target audiences. From time to time, you'll be submitting material for the class blog, sending illustrations to the yearbook editor, and preparing material for the various clubs and teams that you support. Impress all of your friends by delivering numerical information clearly, graphically. DPlot can help students create stronger visual images. DPlot Makes Graphs Affordable A single-user DPlot license costs $195(US), and will improve all of your scientific graphs and charts now, and for years to come. For a more complete list of DPlot features see the Features page. ... while you are at it, if you want a simple and easy to use graphing program, may I suggest DPlot, which I also use. It's a trial, and registration is cheap, and it has paid for itself many times over. Windows 7, 2008, Vista, XP, NT, ME, 2003, 2000, Windows 98, 95	https://www.dplot.com/students.htm	fineweb	3,818	3.734375
Have you ever wanted to learn to code but don't know where to start? Learning how to code can get you a better job and lead to a better future. This course starts you off with the basic coding language of HTML. This is a very condensed 1 hour tutorial that will show you how to code in HTML. Enroll to begin your journey to be a web development master. Who is the target audience? - Complete beginners - People who want to become web developers - An internet connection - An up to date web browser What Will I Learn? Learn the basics of programming Give you a platform for furthur development Curriculum For This Course Let's learn some HTML Introduction to the course 2. Course requirements and format 3. What is JSBIn 4. Setting up the HTML Document 5. Header and paragraph tags 7. More than one style 8. Bold, Italics, underline and tags within tags 9. More Tags 10. Setting up a link 11. Adding an image 12. Adding a link to the image 15. Playing around with styles 17. Radio, checkboxes and password 18. Submit buttons Congratulations you are finished! 20 Course conclusion	https://www.eclass.cc/courses/udemy_1_hour_html	fineweb	1,078	3.34375
The historical past of Judaica art dates back to the dawn of historical past, though only some items have survived via all this time. We’re ranked top 10 in the UK for Historical past of Art, Structure and Design (The Times and Sunday Instances Good University Guide 2016 and Full University Information 2017). Our workers, students and researchers are interested in the historical past of art, as well as archaeology, anthropology, cultural heritage, and museum studies. Within the absence of sculpture, Byzantine artists specialised in 2-D portray, changing into masters of panel-portray, including miniatures – notably icons – and manuscript illumination. Based mostly in Norman Foster’s world-well-known Sainsbury Centre for Visible Arts on the UEA campus, Art Historical past and World Art Research provides a unique and distinctive working setting for Undergraduate and Postgraduate study. Dr Kathryn Rudy : the artwork of Northern Europe, together with manuscripts, monasticism, meals historical past, gender, and relationships between art and know-how. Etruscan tradition, itself strongly influenced by Greek types, had a marked influence on different cultures, notably the Hallstatt and La Tene types of Celtic art. Pre-Roman Iberian art refers to the styles developed by the Iberians from the Bronze age as much as the Roman conquest For this reason it’s generally described as “Iberian artwork”. The martial arts as now we have come to know them in at the moment’s world are literally a modem phenomenon having been broadly launched to the world within the early part of the twentieth century. There’s a strong emphasis upon how the first visible and written sources from varied periods and locations can be analysed in several methods, as well as encouraging students to investigate about the nature of reactions to what we name ‘art’. In trendy times, art history has emerged as a self-discipline that makes a speciality of instructing individuals methods to evaluate and interpret artistic endeavors based mostly on their very own perspective.	https://www.editions-mld.com/what-can-i-do-with-a-historical-past-of-artwork-degree.html	fineweb	2,057	2.90625
Informal education (also called informal learning) is when you are not studying in a school and do not use any particular learning method. In this type of education, conscious efforts are not involved. It is neither pre-planned nor deliberate. It may be learned at some marketplace, hotel or at home. Informal education may be a parent teaching a child how to prepare a meal or ride a bi-cycle. People can also get an informal education by reading many books from a library or educational websites. Unlike formal education, informal education is not imparted by an institution such as school or college. Informal education is not given according to any fixed timetable. There is no set curriculum required. Informal education consists of experiences and actually living in the family or community. Examples of Informal Education - Teaching the child some basics such as numeric characters. - Someone learning his/her mother tongue. - A spontaneous type of learning, “if a person standing in a bank learns about opening and maintaining the account at the bank from someone.” Key features of Informal Education - It is independent of boundary walls. - It has no definite syllabus. - It is not pre-planned and has no timetable. - No fees are required as we get informal education through daily experience and by learning new things. - It is a lifelong process in a natural way. - The certificates/degrees are not involved and one has no stress for learning the new things. - You can get from any source such as media, life experiences, friends, family etc. Strengths of Informal Education - More naturally learning process as you can learn at anywhere and at any time from your daily experience. - It involves activities like individual and personal research on a topic of interest for themselves by utilizing books, libraries, social media, internet or getting assistance from informal trainers. - Utilizes a variety of techniques. - No specific time span. - Less costly and time-efficient learning process. - No need to hire experts as most of the professionals may be willing to share their precious knowledge with students/public through social media and the internet. - Learners can be picked up the requisite information from books, TV, radio or conversations with their friend/family members. Limitations of Informal Education - Information acquired from the internet, social media, TV, radio or conversations with friend/family members may lead to the disinformation. - Utilized techniques may not be appropriate. - No proper schedule/time span. - Unpredictable results which simply the wastage of time. - Lack of confidence in the learner. - Lack of discipline, attitude and good habits.	https://www.educarepk.com/informal-education.html	fineweb	2,693	3.703125
No historical sketch about the struggle against imperialism in Nigeria will ever be complete without a mention of the impact of the Zikist Movement; a radical revolutionary youth body which was founded 70 years ago on February 16, 1946 (to be precise) by young enthusiastic multi-ethnic Nigerian nationalists. Among its founding members were Kolawole Balogun who became the first President, M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu who became the first Secretary General, Abiodun Aloba, Nduka Eze, G. Onyeagbula, M. Aina, G. Ebo, J. Inoma and S. Aderibigbe to mention but a few. In the 1940s, the youths were unsure about the pace and commitment of the elders to immediate self-government. This period was also an era of self-determination and educational expansion. World War II and its immediate aftermath ushered in a worldwide depression and this in turn ignited the demand for self-governance. Some notable changes that began to take root before the downturn of this era included urbanisation, western education and transport. All this contributed to the growth of nationalist activities. Newspapers, magazines and information began to circulate and this influenced opinions. Political and nationalist ideas also grew and proliferated within cities. The spread of western education especially in the south created a population segment that could read and write, producing leaders with new ideas, visions and ambitions. A growing local media allocated space for anti-colonial issues and political associations emerged and quickly became key nationalist platforms. The General Workers’ Strike of 1945, the formation of the Zikist Movement in 1946 and the Burutu Strike of 1947 were all key catalysts of change that fuelled and intensified this national clamour for self-governance although from a political view point, the formation of the Zikist Movement was arguably the most significant of these historical occurrences. The leaning of the Zikist Movement was socialist and anti-colonial in outlook and in its early years, acted more or less as the youth wing of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons. The Movement pledged positive action in defending Nnamdi Azikiwe against attacks by his opponents and to further take on the repressive nature of colonial rule by seeking its end. The Movement garnered some of its inspiration from the writings of Nwafor Orizu in his book, “Without Bitterness”, and from Nnamdi Azikiwe’s own book, “Renascent Africa”. Orizu has been credited with coining the term “Zikism”, a vague expression that he described as not being racialism, jingoism, anarchism, monistic or sarcastic but a form of social life that strives to redeem Africa from social wreckage, political servitude and economic impotency. The aims and objectives of the Zikist Movement were among others as follows: - Zikism holds that self-determination constitutes the inalienable right of the people, and that colonialism is wholly incompatible with this right. - Zikism accepts the Marxist thesis that the economic factor conditions the moral, legal and political aspect of development in any society and therefore urges the need for a just distribution of national wealth. The Movement’s height in popularity was between 1948 and 1949 at a time self-determination movements had just propelled India to Independence in 1947 and a riot in Ghana had resulted in some political concessions being granted to the nationalists over there. By the beginning of 1947, the Zikist Movement had 29 branches all over Nigeria and was attracting dedicated young people who were willing to sacrifice their careers for a righteous political cause. Notable among such people were Raji Abdallah and Adesanya Idowu. By 1948, preparatory measures were in full swing for the recruitment of youths and other interested members into this active anti-colonial group. The movement began to intensify its attacks on colonialism and ensured that their ideas became more potent and remained in public consciousness by making use of strikes and boycotts, as well as other propaganda through lectures, publishing of newsletters and revolutionary pamphlets. A particularly revered newsletter was written by Osita Agwuna called “A call to Revolution”. It was earlier delivered as a lecture by Agwuna under the chairmanship of Anthony Enahoro and called for positive action which included: (a) Boycott of British goods. (b) Boycott of schools and employment (including the Police and the Army). (c) Non-payment of taxes to Government but instead to the NCNC and other nationalist organisations. (d) Mass violation of every law and executive order that negates human rights. (e) The flooding of the prisons with protesters in the mode of India under Ghandi. (f) The programme of non-cooperation with the authorities and civil disobedience as a means of liquidating imperialism in Nigeria. In a call for revolution, the movement also asked for direct participation from Nigerian school proprietors who had suffered from grants-in-aid and asked that they inculcate contempt for the British authorities amongst their pupils. It also encouraged students abroad to take courses in military science and called for young people to join in ending tyranny through militant tactics. The movement not only directed their frustration against British interests and persons but also African nationalists and organisations that were viewed as stooges of imperial interests. For this type of public call and similar activities, some Zikists were arrested and tried. The trial came to an end on February 2, 1949. The five men who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment were Enahoro, Agwuna, Abdallah, Oged Macaulay and Smart Ebbi. Finally, on April 12, 1950, the Zikist Movement was banned. Although as already outlined, the Zikists’ agitations were directed against two main quarters, namely the British colonial administration and agents of British colonial rule in whatever form, it did not appear that their extremist stance had the blessing off the NCNC or its leadership. Zik in his INSIDE STUFF column in the West African Pilot had described them as “fissiparous lieutenants and cantankerous followers”. In a presidential address at the Annual Convention of the NCNC in Lagos on April 4, 1949, Zik, in an obvious reference to the Zikists, said: “We must inculcate a sense of discipline and responsibility in our cadre. An unprincipled and irresponsible army is a liability, and not an asset, to any nation; individuals must realise that membership of a national movement is neither a permit for licentiousness nor a warrant for irresponsibility. Lastly, the rank and file of our national movement must rely on the leadership to develop its own techniques, strategy, tactics and logistics. This requires implicit obedience, loyalty and tact. A disobedient, disloyal and tactless followership is just as suicidal to the national cause as an unprincipled and cowardly leadership. When the followership becomes impatient of its leadership, the course to follow is not to lose faith and become confounded, sullen and disillusioned, rather it must trust those at the helm of the ship of state, remembering that ‘true courage is always mixed with circumspection’, this being the quality that distinguished the courage of the wise from the harshness of the rash and foolish…” All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: [email protected]	https://staging.punchng.com/remembering-the-zikist-movement/	fineweb	7,577	2.875
What happens when AI and ML turn rogue? Data poisoning - Data poisoning is an attack method where hackers launch the attack through AI and ML - The rise of AI and ML is leading directly to the increasing threat of data poisoning Artificial intelligence (AI) has, for years, been a wide-ranging tool that changes how we integrate information, analyze data, and use the resulting insights to improve decision-making. However, just like how the advent of AI will lead to groundbreaking possibilities in a host of fields, cyber threat actors can also use this technology to wreak havoc. In fact, more and more organizations are beginning to employ machine learning (ML) and AI as part of their defenses against cyber threats. In a recent report, Bloomberg noted that the combination of AI and cybersecurity is inevitable as both fields sought better tools and new uses for their technology. “But there’s a massive problem that threatens to undermine these efforts and could allow adversaries to bypass digital defenses undetected,” it said. The problem? Data poisoning — more dangerous than traditional attacks because, instead of attacking from the outside, it attempts to make malicious inputs accepted into the training data, thereby affecting its ability to learn from ‘good’ data and produce accurate predictions. Data poisoning can occur if hackers gain access to a model’s private training data, or relies on user feedback to learn. The irony is that the very nature of ML, a subset of AI, is the target of data poisoning. Given the vast amount of data one might be dealing with, computers can be trained to categorize information correctly. “Adversarial data poisoning is an effective attack against ML and threatens model integrity by introducing poisoned data into the training dataset,” researchers from Cornell University explain. Bloomberg highlighted that the same approach is used in cybersecurity. “To catch malicious software, companies feed their systems with data and let the machine learn by itself,” the report noted. What makes attacks through AI and ML different? It doesn’t seem extremely difficult to subvert the algorithm as AI & ML only know what humans teach them to learn. In a paper for Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, the writer said there are inherent limits and weaknesses in the algorithms that can’t be fixed. So since AI & ML techniques rely heavily on data and certain algorithms to fight cyber threats, it allows for the problems to be identified more efficiently. But that also makes this a real threat, as attackers can influence the data and to top it off, the rise of AI and ML is leading directly to the sleeper threat of data poisoning. Among the byproducts of data poisoning includes deepfakes which is expected to be the next big wave of digital crime. Under the deepfake umbrella are videos, images, and voice recordings that are altered in ways that regular humans can’t identify them, bad actors have started using the techniques for blackmailing, harassment or corporate espionage. Fake news and disinformation can also fall under the category of data poisoning. More often than not, popular social media algorithms are either technically weak or corrupted to identify fake news. Hence why see the rise of incorrect or misleading information on a user’s news feed, replacing authentic news. How to stop data poisoning since AI is in its prime time? While the industry is not blind towards this ominous issue, cyber defense experts are still learning how to defend against data poisoning attacks in the best possible way. Bloomberg noted that one way to help prevent data poisoning is by having scientists who develop AI models regularly check that all the labels in their training data are accurate. Some cybersecurity experts have also suggested using ‘open’ data with caution. Open-source data can be very appealing because they provide access to even more information to enrich existing sources. In principle, this should make it easier to develop more accurate models, but open data is just that: open. It makes for an easy target for fraudsters and hackers to come after. 30 November 2022 30 November 2022 30 November 2022	https://techhq.com/2022/04/what-happens-when-ai-and-ml-turn-rogue-data-poisoning/	fineweb	4,215	2.90625
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory newsletter. Explore the universe with news of amazing discoveries, scientific advances and more. The massive rocket at the heart of NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon arrived at the launch pad Friday morning as the space agency prepares for another attempt to launch the Artemis I mission to Earth. The unmanned test mission is scheduled to take off on November 14, with a 69-minute launch window opening at 12:07 a.m. ET. No live broadcast ever NASA website. The Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket began the hours-long operation on a 4-mile (6.4 km) walk from its inner sanctuary to Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. late Thursday evening. It reached its destination about 9 hours later. The missile was hidden for weeks after that fuel leakage problems That thwarted my first two launch attempts and then a Hurricane rolled across Floridaforcing the missile to evacuate the launch pad and head to safety. The Artemis team is once again monitoring a storm that may be headed toward Florida, but officials felt confident to go ahead with the start-up, according to Jim Frey, an associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Missions Department. The undisclosed storm could develop near Puerto Rico over the weekend and will move slowly to the northwest early next week, meteorologist Mark Burger, a meteorologist with the US Air Force in Cape Canaveral, said. “The National Hurricane Center has a 30% chance of becoming a designated storm,” Burger said. “However, nevertheless, the models are very consistent in developing some kind of low pressure.” He said weather officials do not expect it to become a robust system, but that they will monitor potential effects in the middle of next week. The return of the 322-foot (98 m) SLS missile to the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, has given engineers a chance to take a deeper look at the problems. That plagued the missile and I do maintenance. in September, NASA raced against time to get Artemis I off Earth because there was a risk of draining the mission’s primary batteries if it spent too long on the launch pad without taking off. The engineers were able to Recharge or replace the batteries All around the rocket and the Orion spacecraft above them as they sit in the VAB. The overall goal of NASA’s Artemis program is to return humans to the moon for the first time in half a century. The Artemis I mission – expected to be the first of many – will lay the groundwork, testing the rocket, spacecraft and all their subsystems to ensure they are safe enough for astronauts to travel to the moon and back. But launching this first mission he was trying. The SLS missile, which cost about $4 billion, has encountered problems Because it was loaded with supercooled liquid hydrogen, which led to a series of leaks. Defective sensor also gave Inaccurate readings when the rocket attempted to “condition” its engines, a process that cools the engines so they won’t be shocked by extremely cold fuel temperatures. I worked for NASA To explore both problems. The Artemis team decided to hide the faulty sensor, and discard the data it outputs. Following the space agency’s second launch attempt in September, Performed another ground test When the missile was still on the launch pad. The purpose of the cooling demonstration was to test the seals and use updated “gentle and gentler” loading procedures for the ultra-cooled propellant, which the rocket will test on launch day. While the test didn’t quite go as planned, NASA said it met all of its goals. NASA officials once again emphasized that these delays and technical issues It does not necessarily indicate a big problem by missile. Before the SLS, NASA’s Space Shuttle The program, which has flown for 30 years, has endured repeated launches that have been wiped out. SpaceX’s Falcon rockets also have a history of scrubbing for mechanical or technical problems. “I want to think about the fact that this is a difficult task,” Frey said. “We’ve seen challenges just to get all of our systems to work together and that’s why we’re doing a flight test. It’s about keeping track of things that can’t be designed. And we’re learning by taking more risks in this mission before we put the crew out there.” The Artemis I mission is expected to pave the way for other missions to the moon. After liftoff, the Orion capsule, which is designed to carry astronauts and sits on top of the rocket during liftoff, will separate when it reaches space. You will fly empty for this mission, except for two mannequins. Orion’s capsule will spend a few days maneuvering to reach the moon before it enters orbit and begins its return home days later. Overall, the mission is expected to last 25 days, with the Orion capsule launching into the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on December 9. The purpose of the flight is to collect data and test hardware, navigation and other systems to ensure that both the SLS rocket and Orion capsule are ready to host astronauts. The Artemis program aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon this decade. The Artemis II mission, scheduled for 2024, is expected to follow a similar flight path around the Moon but will have a crew on board. And in 2025, Artemis III astronauts are expected to land on the moon for the first time since NASA’s Apollo program. “Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”	https://techsprouts.com/artemis-i-nasas-massive-moon-rocket-is-back-on-the-launch-pad-for-its-next-launch-attempt/	fineweb	5,499	2.859375
What's Out There? Cultural resources reflect 10,000 years of human occupancy in the Massacre Lakes Basin. Site types are proposed for excavation, preservation and public interpretation. Some of the sites are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places due to the unique and special research values. Wildlife includes sage-grouse, pygmy rabbits, pronghorn, mule deer, red-tail Hawks, prairie falcons, golden eagles, other raptors, songbirds and sage-dependent species. Juniper stands can be found scattered across the western portion of the WSA.	https://www.nevadawilderness.org/massacre_rim_wsa_whats_out_there	fineweb	554	2.796875
The story of Fort Sumner and the Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation is one of Manifest Destiny regardless, a callous government policy, the heartless destruction of Indian nations, and an ill-conceived experiment in social engineering doomed to fail. And it did. In 1991, New Mexico State Monuments and the Museum of New Mexico, with strong support from Navajo and Mescalero Apache leaders, began the creation of the Bosque Redondo Memorial. It stands today to acknowledge the tragic history of the 1860s when 9,500 people from Apache and Navajo nations where chased down, rounded up, marched for hundreds of miles and interned for years, all to open the western frontier for another culture to move in and take over. Though the cast of military VIPs includes James H. Carleton, Kit Carson, and William T. Sherman, the Native Americans are those to celebrate for their determination and victory. As one wrote in 1865: "Chain the eagle to the ground—he will strive to gain his freedom, and though he fails, he will lift his head and look-up to the sky which is home—and we want to return to our mountains and plains, where we used to plant corn, wheat and beans." In a museum designed by Navajo architect David Sloan and on an interpretive trail with historical information, visitors can honor those who died, salute those who returned home, and reflect on a time never to be forgotten.	https://www.newmexico.org/listing/fort-sumner-historic-site-bosque-redondo-memorial/2549/	fineweb	1,384	3.328125
Stopping smoking increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life. You'll feel the benefits from the day you quit. Not only will you to start to save money but you'll experience a reduced risk of: - heart disease, stroke, vascular disease and respiratory disease - a whole range of cancers Your life expectancy will be greater, and you'll notice an improvement in the symptoms of smoking related diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Stopping smoking can help you live life to the full. You'll feel fitter and more able to take part in physical activity. This in turn can benefit your mental health and wellbeing. Smoking is expensive and prices will continue to rise. If you're smoking 20 cigarettes a day, you’re likely to be spending about £3,500 a year, based on the average cost of £9.60 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. By stopping smoking, you could spend the money you save on: - a reward such as a trip to the cinema or a meal out - a family holiday (equivalent to the cost of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for a year) Benefits to your health Although smoking seriously harms your health, once you stop, your body starts to repair itself. Within days you'll experience: - a drop in heart rate - carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood return to normal (similar to those who've never smoked) - your sense of taste and smell improving Within weeks you'll benefit from: - a reduction in the risk of sudden death from a heart attack - improvement in lung function - less coughing and shortness of breath - fewer severe asthma attacks Within a few months you'll experience: - an improvement in symptoms of chronic bronchitis (phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath) - less risk of ulcers Benefits within a year of having quit include: - risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) cut by half - an improvement in lung function among people with mild to moderate COPD As well as the immediate and long-term benefits to your health, there are many other good reasons to stop smoking. Preventing harm to others Stopping smoking can also help the health of your friends and family. Stopping smoking means that you're no longer harming others through second-hand smoke (passive smoking). This benefits babies and children in particular, who are at risk of: - sudden and unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) - respiratory/chest illnesses and infections - reduced lung function, middle ear disease and asthma attacks Read more about second-hand smoke. Smoking and young people Stopping smoking means it's less likely that your children will become smokers. Children living with parents or others who smoke are much more likely to start smoking themselves. Smoking and pregnancy Smoking harms your unborn baby. Stopping smoking will reduce the risk of harm during pregnancy. Read more about smoking and pregnancy. Quit Your Way Scotland These are just some of the benefits of stopping smoking. Contact Quit Your Way Scotland for more information on how giving up smoking could change your life.	https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/stopping-smoking/reasons-to-stop/benefits-of-stopping	fineweb	3,015	2.6875
Today the World was Born Rosh HaShanah recalls the creation of the world, as we see from the prayer, “Today the world was born.” According to our Sages, however, the world was created on the 25th of Elul, so that Rosh HaShanah actually marks the sixth day of creation, the day on which G-d created man. Why do we commemorate the creation of man and not the creation of the whole world? This is especially strange, given that the creation of the world demonstrates G-d’s absolute power in His unique ability to create something from nothing. Only G-d’s essence, free of all limitation, can bring about being from utter void. The 25th of Elul, the first day of the world’s existence, is further distinguished by being referred to in the Torah as yom echad (“one day”), rather than yom rishon (“the first day”). The Torah thus indicates that on the first day of creation, G-d was “alone in His world.” Though the entire created world already existed, it was not separate from its Creator; the world was one with G-d. Conscious Acceptance of His Sovereignty Despite its uniqueness, the 25th of Elul is eclipsed by Rosh HaShanah. This is because the creation of man opened up a new and deeper relationship between G-d and the created world. Of all the beings in the physical and spiritual realms, man alone can choose to accept G-d’s sovereignty. Only his relationship with G-d stems from conscious decision and free will. Though G-d creates and regulates all the other beings in the universe, they do not consciously accept this relationship. Their link with G-d flows from G-d’s creativity; it does not result from their own decision. With the creation of man, G-d introduced the potential for voluntary acceptance of His unity and active consent to His will. Chassidic thought illustrates the difference between G-d’s relationship with man and His relationship with the remainder of creation by contrasting two forms of absolute rule, tyranny and sovereignty. A tyrant exercises dominion without his subjects’ consent, by virtue of his might; the subjects of a king, even if he is an absolute ruler, may willingly accept his authority and seek his sovereignty. Unlike every other created being, man has the choice of acquiescing to G-d’s dominion or rebelling against it. He alone has been empowered to acknowledge the unity of G-d through his own thought processes, and to relate to Him as his sovereign. Making G-d Part of Our World Why must G-d’s sovereignty be consciously perceived by man? From G-d’s perspective, His unity with the world encompasses every facet of creation. Man is rarely able to conceive of G-d’s unity from this perspective. Why, then, should mere man’s awareness and recognition be of such importance? Our Sages teach that G-d created the world because He “desired a dwelling place in the lower worlds.” In order for this desire to be completely realized, the establishment of a dwelling place requires not only that G-dly energy be extended into those lowly realms, but also that those realms be aware of the G-dliness in their midst and accept it. Only then is G-d’s dwelling place in the lower worlds complete. Before man’s creation, G-dliness and the world appeared to be opposites; the world, from its own perspective, did not relate to the G-dly potential with which it is invested. Only with the creation of man did the possibility for an internalized awareness of G-d come into being. G-d’s Partner in Creation Man was created not only for the purpose of expressing unity with G-d in his own life; he was also given the potential to suffuse the entire world with an awareness of G-d’s unity. Adam, the first man, gave expression to this potential on the first day of his existence by addressing all of creation: “Come, let us bow down; let us bend the knee before G-d our Maker.” By imparting his superior relationship with G-d to the entire world, man becomes G-d’s partner in creation and contributes a necessary element to the world’s existence – a conscious union with G-d. This uniquely human perception of G-d’s pervasive unity makes Rosh HaShanah, the day of man’s creation, eclipse the 25th of Elul, for the potential for oneness with G-d that came into being with man’s creation overshadowed all previous levels of creation. Diverse Plateaus of Existence The question, however, remains: Why do our Rosh HaShanah prayers proclaim that the world was formed on that date? Even if it is acknowledged that Rosh HaShanah takes precedence, it was on the 25th of Elul that the world was created. This question can be answered by reference to a point of Talmudic law… [an] object cannot be said to have [fully] come into being until it has been completed. Certain objects may be thought of as complete at any one of a number of stages. Animal hides, for example, can be used at one stage as covers or blankets, or they can be further treated and refined and made into clothing…. The Mishnah rules that the status of the hide is dependent upon its owner. If the owner would be expected to be content with the hide as a cover, the hide is [completed]. However, if the owner is a tanner who would ordinarily consider the hide to be unfinished at this stage and would be expected to further refine it in order to make a garment, it is [considered unfinished]. This halachah (Torah law) lends us a conception of the status of creation before the advent of man. The 25th of Elul and the following days of creation revealed awesome G-dly powers. These powers were, however, totally eclipsed by the creation of man, which revealed a deeper purpose of creation and a higher aspect of G-dliness, just as the animal hide can be transformed into a garment by a skilled tanner. The revelation occasioned by man’s creation caused the world’s prior existence to be considered unfinished. Through the creation of man, G-d established a new definition of existence, and according to this new definition, the world did not previously exist. The anniversary of man’s creation can therefore be considered the anniversary of creation as a whole. “As the Waters Cover the Ocean Bed” The ultimate state of unity between G-d and the world will be expressed in the Era of the Redemption, when “the world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the ocean bed.” This will be accomplished through man’s efforts. The revelation of G-dliness in the Era of the Redemption depends on our present endeavors to perceive and express the G-dliness invested within the world. By developing a conscious bond with G-d and extending that relationship into every element of our existence, we bring closer the time when that connection will blossom forth into complete fulfillment in the Era of the Redemption. May this be realized in the immediate future. The prayer from the traditional Jewish liturgy for Rosh HaShanah reads in translation: “Today the world was born; on this day He [G-d] calls all the created beings of the worlds to stand in judgment. [Are we regarded] as children or as servants? If as children, have mercy upon us as a father has mercy upon [his] children; if as servants, our eyes are turned to You until You will be gracious to us and bring forth our judgment as the light, O Awesome and Holy One.” Explanation by Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 1:1. As Rashi (on Genesis 1:14) explains, on the first day of existence G-d created the entire universe from nothing (“ex nihilo”), bringing all the components of heaven and earth into being from absolute nothingness. On the following days, the days on which the Torah describes various entities as coming into being, G-d merely “formed” them, making new entities from “existing” substance by giving them distinct characteristics and locations. Genesis 1:5. Explanation by Rashi on Genesis 1:5. See Rambam (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance, ch. 5. From Zohar. Psalms 95:6. See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Vessels 5:1. From Tractate Kelim. Isaiah 11:9, quoted by Rambam at the conclusion of Mishneh Torah [Laws of Kings, ch. 12]. Adapted by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, from talks by the Rebbe on the Torah portion Nitzavim-Vayeilech (in 5744) and the Eve of Rosh HaShanah, 5733. Edited by Uri Kaploun, published and copyright © by Sichos In English. Presented by AskNoah.org and NoahideAcademy.org with permission of Sichos In English.	https://www.noahide-academy.com/noahide-world/rosh-hashanah-the-purpose-of-creation/	fineweb	8,338	3.015625
In a world where small water craft can be turned into weapons against navy destroyers and pirates can hold ships for ransom, surveillance of the sea is of increasing importance. Because surveillance resources are inadequate to monitor the world’s shipping channels, tools that help maritime surveillance analysts identify suspicious activity are extremely valuable. This is why CMRE is developing the Maritime Surveillance System--a tool that NATO nations canuse to select the correct suite of sensors to monitor areas of interest. The Maritime Surveillance System builds on recent work at CMRE that uses information from the Automated Identification System (AIS) and applies anomaly detection algorithms and filters to provide the NATO maritime surveillance community with information on unusual behaviour. Unusual behaviour might include unexpected ship stops or unexpected changes in course. The Maritime Surveillance System will require continued advances in anomaly detection as well as in two other areas of research: sensor performance and data fusion. Sensor performance. Currently maritime sensors include a mix of sensors, some of which work in a cooperative fashion (for example, the AIS and some of which work independently, for example, surveillance and high-frequency (HF) radar, active and passive sonar, and satellite-based EO (electro-optical) and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) imagery. The Centre is conducting a performance evaluation of all available types of sensors. Sensors are evaluated and compared based on common parameters (detection range, ROC detection performance curves, and localization accuracy) as well as parameters that are specific to the sensor technology (for example, daylight requirements for EO imagery). Data fusion. Developing a clear picture of the maritime environment requires sophisticated data processing techniques. For this task, CMRE will expand on its existing distributed multi-hypothesis tracker (DMHT). The DMHT is a high-performance, computationally-efficient set of complex algorithms (or data fusion engine) that have been used to interpret data from underwater and surface surveillance. These algorithms are being expanded in a variety of ways, including the ability to use input from multiple sensors and the ability to fill gaps in temporal or spatial data.	https://www.nurc.nato.int/research/maritime-situational-awareness	fineweb	2,321	2.8125
Balloons and Static Electricity - Dave Nero This simulation shows how a balloon and sweater can become statically charged. Drag the balloon over the sweater to charge it. - Can a balloon be "negatively charged" and still have positive charges on it? - Why is the charged balloon attracted to the sweater? - Why is the charged balloon attracted to the neutral wall? - Why is the charged balloon "more" attracted to the sweater than the wall?	https://beta.geogebra.org/m/NcNVtwAQ	fineweb	440	3.296875
Follow These Tips to Attract Chickadees to Your Yard Chickadees are cute, agile and friendly; however, the next time you hear a familiar “chick a dee dee dee,” listen closely because a chickadee’s call can tell you a lot. Biologists have discovered the more “dees” there are in a Black-capped Chickadee’s warning call, the more dangerous was a would-be predator. Chickadees also have a quiet “seet” call, which is believed to warn others of flying raptors. And families of birds will call back and forth, informing each other of their location. In fact, biologists have recognized more than 30 variations in chickadee songs and calls. In addition to their variety of calls, chickadees are charming little birds that can entertain you with their antics and tameness. When you’re visiting or filling your feeders, this brave little songbird waits patiently close by, offering you some very up-close views! You can feed chickadees from your hand with a little sunflower seed. And since chickadees are so naturally curious and tame, it’s easy to feed them right from your hand. Load up with sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts, or bits of chopped up walnuts. Stand close to your feeder or a tree with your palm flat and hand outstretched at arm’s length. Stay perfectly still! With patience, you will be rewarded with a brief visit that feels like a puff of air on your fingertips! There are seven species of chickadees found in North America. The Black-capped Chickadee is found in the northern half of the U.S., the Carolina Chickadee is found in the southeast, the Mountain Chickadee found from the Rockies and west to California. Other chickadees are the Chestnut-backed, found in the northwest, the Boreal, found in Canada and Maine, and the lesser known Gray-headed of Alaska and the Mexican Chickadee, found in lower Arizona and New Mexico. No matter where you live in the country, it’s likely that you have chickadees in your area. Although chickadees seem to be always at our feeders, the main staple of their diets is insects. Chickadees also enjoy insect eggs, spiders and spider eggs, berries and pine cone seeds. They cache food under tree bark for winter when food is scarce, and just like squirrels, they do remember where they hid their stash! It’s easy to attract chickadees to your yard. They are very adaptable and can feed from platform feeders, tube feeders and any feeder where their natural clinging abilities come into play, such as the Cling-A-Wing globe feeder. Offer chickadees black oil sunflower seeds, whole sunflower hearts or Duncraft’s nutty Chickadee Blend. Chickadees also love suet. Suet is an important food for birds year-round and it seems to be a real favorite with chickadees. Make sure it’s always available for them and they’ll be at your feeders all day long. Feed suet cakes on a platform feeder, in a suet basket or feed suet balls in a suet ball feeder. Chickadees love the peanut and nut flavored suet cakes. What else can you do to attract them? You can help chickadees by offering nest boxes. Chickadees are cavity nesters, using abandoned woodpecker holes to raise their young, and they readily accept birdhouses as nesting spots. Chickadees prefer houses with floors that are about 4 x 4 inches square, 8 to 10 inches tall and placed 6 to 15 feet high, either on a post or on a tree. But any house with measurements close to these will be fine for the amiable chickadee. And consider offering roosting boxes during winter, since these have entry holes on the bottom to minimize drafts with perches inside. Often, many birds will huddle together inside the boxes on cold, windy nights, conserving warmth and energy. And last, but not least…remember the water! Ice-free water is important for all birds in winter when water sources are frozen. Try a heater in your bird bath or a heated bath. With food, shelter and water, your chickadees can be happy and healthy all year long and provide you with endless enjoyment. Shop duncraft.com today for bird seed, suet, heated birdbaths and more. Happy Birding!	https://blog.duncraft.com/2015/12/11/attracting-chickadees-2/	fineweb	4,050	2.78125
I will start writing actual blog posts again soon, I promise. But until then, more nerdy space stuff… - ExoMars is approaching the Red Planet. The lander enters the atmosphere tomorrow. The United States only operated continuous airborne alert — the maintenance of multiple nuclear-armed bomber aircraft continuously in flight to avoid the possibility of a sneak attack neutralizing the bomber force — during the ’60s, because the accident rate was too high. However, Operation Looking Glass kept at least one emergency command platform in the air around-the-clock for almost 30 years. At DEFCON 2 or higher, the Looking Glass pilot and co-pilot were both required to wear an eye patch, retrieved from their Emergency War Order (EWO) kit. In the event of a surprise blinding flash from a nuclear detonation, the eye patch would prevent blindness in the covered eye, thus enabling them to see in at least one eye and continue flying. Later, the eye patch was replaced by goggles that would instantaneously turn opaque when exposed to a nuclear flash, then rapidly clear for normal vision. - Very relatedly, former Secretary of Defense William Perry is teaching a MOOC about the continuing modern risk of nuclear weapons. A history of the Project Orion. Abtract: The race to the Moon dominated manned space flight during the 1960’s. and culminated in Project Apollo. which placed 12 humans on the Moon. Unbeknownst to the public at that time, several U.S. government agencies sponsored a project that could have conceivably placed 150 people on the Moon, and eventually sent crewed expeditions to Mars and the outer planets. These feats could have possibly been accomplished during the same period of time as Apollo. and for approximately the same cost. The project, code-named Orion, featured an extraordinary propulsion method known as Nuclear Pulse Propulsion. The concept is probably as radical today as It was at the dawn of the space age. However, its development appeared to be so promising that it was only by political and non-technical considerations that it was not used to extend humanity’s reach throughout the solar system and quite possibly to the stars. This paper discusses the rationale for nuclear pulse propulsion and presents a general history of the concept, focusing particularly on Project Orion. It describes some of the reexaminations being done in this area and discusses some of the new ideas that could mitigate many of the political and environmental issues associated with the concept. The idea, of course, was to propel a spacecraft by dropping nuclear bombs out the back and riding a “push plate” that would absorb the blasts and transform them into continuous thrust. Not only was the design surprising immune to thermal damage to the absorbing plate, it actually worked in tests with chemical explosives: Everything would be different: Taylor and Francis de Hoffman, the founder of General Atomic, persuaded Freeman Dyson, a theoretical physicist at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study to come to San Diego to work on Orion during the 1958-1959 academic year. Taylor and Dyson were convinced that the approach to space flight being pursued by NASA was flawed. Chemical rockets, in their opinion, were very expensive, had very limited payloads, and were essentially useless for flights beyond the Moon. The Orion team aimed for a spaceship that was simple, rugged, roomy, and affordable… Taylor and Dyson began developing plans for human exploration through much of the solar system. The original Orion design called for 2,000 pulse units, far more than the number necessary to attain Earth escape velocity. Their bold vision was evident in the motto embraced at the time, “Mars by 1965, Saturn by 1970.” One hundred and fifty people could have lived aboard in relative comfort, and the useful payload would have been measured in thousands of tonnes. Orion would have been built with the robusmess of a sea-going vessel, not requiring the excruciating weight-saving measures needed for chemically-propelled spacecraft. - Picture of a cloud on Mars. - Michael Brown, who discovered Eris and Sedna, predicts the existence of a planet several times Earth’s mass with a Sedna-like orbit. (Journal article.) - The 2016 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. - The city of Darwin, Australia (pop. 136k) has been devastated by several cyclones. In 1974, it was almost entirely leveled by Cyclone Tracy, leaving 41k of the 47k inhabitants homeless and necessitating the evacuation of 30k people from the remote northern Australian city. - The hypothetical formation of black holes through intense focusing of light is Kugelblitz. - An old idea: flood the Sahara Desert. Ready to feel inadequate? Immanual Kant made deep insights about the structure of the Milky Way: Actual proof of the Milky Way consisting of many stars came in 1610 when Galileo Galilei used a telescope to study the Milky Way and discovered that it is composed of a huge number of faint stars. In a treatise in 1755, Immanuel Kant, drawing on earlier work by Thomas Wright, speculated (correctly) that the Milky Way might be a rotating body of a huge number of stars, held together by gravitational forces akin to the Solar System but on much larger scales. The resulting disk of stars would be seen as a band on the sky from our perspective inside the disk. Kant also conjectured that some of the nebulae visible in the night sky might be separate “galaxies” themselves, similar to our own. Kant referred to both the Milky Way and the “extragalactic nebulae” as “island universes”, a term still current up to the 1930s. The fact that many nebulae are galaxies distinct from our own was not settled conclusively until 1924. Texture claims to be a simpler replacement for LaTeX, with more power than Markdown and less insanity than Word. At HN, capnrefsmmat emphasizes that this could help simplify the process of producing publication-quality documents, where JATS XML is the standard, and help cut out big publishers like Elsevier. The scientific publishing workflow is insane, and this tool seems like it could help. In the biomedical sciences (or any field that ends up on PubMed), articles have to be converted to JATS XML (http://jats.nlm.nih.gov/), a standard XML dialect for journal articles. It builds in citation metadata, cross-referencing, figure references, etc., and is supposed to be a stable archival format for long-term storage of articles. Individual publishers (PLOS, BMC, etc.) build their entire publication workflows around JATS, so articles can be typeset into PDF or rendered to HTML, or delivered to e-reader apps or whatever. Since it’s semantic XML, you can do bibliography mining, automatic reference following, extraction of figures, or whatever you might want to make reading or text-mining easier. But articles are often written in Word, so there’s a tremendous amount of work going into manually or semi-manually converting every manuscript to semantic XML from the Word soup it arrives as. Same goes for LaTeX: a few journals just publish LaTeXed PDFs directly, but big publishers like Elsevier and Springer have semi-automated processes for converting LaTeX to in-house formats so they can provide HTML versions of pages. So, short version: an editor supporting JATS XML can support all the features you need in a scientific document, and can dramatically simplify the publication workflow and hopefully save a bunch of money. And hopefully open-access journals pass that savings on to users. For users, it could mean better e-reading apps (so you don’t have to zoom in on tiny fonts in a PDF on your iPad), better support for cross-referencing and figures than Word has, automated formatting (journals style the XML, so you don’t have to do margin and layout crap), and a simpler submission process. - GiveWell is hiring a senior fellow to assess causal relationships in developing world health. - In 1995, the Galileo Probe entered the Jovian atmosphere at an incredible 47.8 km/s. For comparison, low-Earth orbital speed is 7.8 km/s. - The Alexander horned sphere. A 1kW LED on a drone: - It’s a shame that private, under-cover investigation of meat processors is necessary. - Han unification looks…complicated. - Tobias Osborne on QFT for quantum info theorists. - XKCD on the subtle mistakes that can be made if you don’t think about lunar geometry. (More.) Why the Hames Webb Space Telescope is infrared: With adaptive optics, we are able to get images nearly as good as Hubble from the ground. So in the visible wavelengths, the next generation of telescopes are not moderately-sized space telescopes like Hubble, but enormous land-based optical telescopes, like the Thirty Metre Telescope or the European Extremely Large Telescope, which are under construction. These are the ones that will give you incredible high-resolution desktop pictures like this. Putting things in space isn’t the best option for visible-light telescopes anymore, but it’s vitally important for wavelengths that are difficult to detect from Earth. Infrared radiation is difficult because its emitted by any material that’s even just a little bit warm, and so you get a huge amount of nonsense signal coming from all over the place, even if you set it up on the south pole or whatever. So there is a big advantage in putting an infrared telescope in space, where you can use cryogenics or a series of sun shields to keep it much cooler, and get a much clearer image. However, because infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than optical light, you get lower resolution with the same sized telescope. So while this will give us the highest resolution infrared images we’ve ever had, giving us a huge ability to map things like cold dust and gas and low-mass stars, it doesn’t really have a resolution that’s any better than Hubble’s optical resolution. Some good /r/AskScience: During hot weather, some lines of train track get “slow orders” prohibiting high-speed travel to keep the track from getting too hot and buckling due to thermal expansion. Similarly, track repairs made in cold weather are sometimes temporary and then replaced during temperate times to ensure the track isn’t placed under too much pressure in the summer. The Milky Way has about 3 supernovae per century, but we haven’t seen one since 1604 because most are too obscured by dust near the center of the galaxy. Here’s video of BlueOrigins testing their crew-escape system on the New Shepherd. (The escape system fires 44 seconds after launch.) - List of largest cities throughout history. H/t Scott Alexander. Also from him: this overly optimistic and breathless, but still interesting, look at the state of Ethereum development. - What does the Milky Way look like face-on? No one knows for sure, but here’s a good introduction to what’s known. More here and here. initial operational capability declared for autonomous F-16s. ACC assured that QF-16 is the introduction of fourth-generation fighter capabilities in the aerial target mission maintaining all capabilities of the baseline F-16 including supersonic flight and 9 G maneuverability…. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work has described it as a battle node network in line with the third offset strategy “where you take an F-16, make it totally unmanned — F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter – and pair it with an F-35 – a fifth-generation, what I would call battle network node — and those two operating together,” he said at a Washington Post event. This concept can help navigate around anti-access/area denial environments, which aim to extend the range of adversarial forces and capabilities, by serving as a missile truck for fifth-generation fighters that are limited in their payload capability and accompanying them at high rates of speed currently unique vis-à-vis other unmanned platforms. - Good discussion of all the stuff you get with the SpaceX lift capacity. Notably: a lunar space elevator. - Uber offers unlimited UberPool in Manhattan (below 125th st) for a month for $200. Lunacy. Metaculus is revamping their scoring rules: You are still best off entering your best estimate of the outcome probability given all available information. Scoring is still based on a combination of being right, and also being more right than others, though you’ll see that in detail the numbers have changed a bit. What’s new is that your awarded points are a time-average of your point on-the-line at any given time, starting at question open and ending at question close. This means that you will maximize your points if: (1) You predict as early as possible, since your points on-the-line is zero until your first prediction, and (2) You update your prediction whenever you have reason to think your best estimate of the probability has changed. As before, you dial in your prediction using the slider, and you’ll see that points on-the-line change as you slide it. Once you make a prediction you will also see a “score history” tab that will show you how your points vary with time, in reflection of changes in your prediction, the community’s prediction, and the number of predictors. Elon Musk announced the SpaceX Mars architecture: Here’s the animation. - First baby born with mitochondrial DNA donation. This is done by using a donor egg and replacing its nucleus with one from the mother’s egg. Makes me wonder how well they think they know all lines of inheritance. Is it possible that there are other inheritable traits encoded in the donor egg besides mitochondria? Maybe something that’s not even DNA/RNA? (Obviously a beginner question, but one that’s hard to find confident answers to without access to an expert.) - Passing kidney stones using a roller coaster. If this works, there will be a billion dollar industry of human-being shaking machines covered by medicare. William Bains and Dirk Schulze-Makuch argue that all the plausible chokepoints in Robin Hanson’s great filter actually show multiple historical repetitions, suggesting that none of them are particularly difficult, The only exceptions are the development of life itself and, for lack of decisive data, the technological rise of humanity. [PDF.] This supports the hypothesis that I always felt was simplest and most likely: that abiogenesis is simply extremely, extremely rare/difficult, and this alone can explain the Fermi paradox. However, here’s Carl Shulman: “Thus we postulate that the evolution of a genome in which the default expression status was “off” was the key, and unique, transition that allowed eukaryotes to evolve the complex systems that they show today, not the evolution of any of those control systems per se. Whether the evolution of a “default off” logic was a uniquely unlikely, Random Walk event or a probable, Many Paths, event is unclear at this point .” My previous understanding had been that the origin of life, the emergence of eukaryotes, and possibly primate/human intelligence (insofar as it has ‘special sauce’ that octopi, elephants, crows, and similar lack) were the most plausible unique/filter events. This paper doesn’t much change that. - Also in the Robin-Hanson universe, he addresses critics of his extensive application of social science to the em era. It’s fun to beat up on readers who want more narrative and less science, or who think their own intuition trumps years of data, but the last two critical quotes are not in these groups (and I’m not satisfied by Robin’s answers). - Simons Foundation covers a recent initiative for an idea I’ve been championing (privately) for a long time: college instructors should give assign students to author and improve Wikipedia articles. There are so many things about this that make sense. - There’s a commercial superconductor cable link between transformer stations in Germany.	https://blog.jessriedel.com/2016/10/18/links-for-october-2016/	fineweb	15,807	3.390625
What I Learned Making Common Core Videos With State Teachers of the Year: The Assumptions Are Wrong By Joe Fatheree As a teacher, I often hear two long-standing negative assumptions about the Common Core States Standards. The first is that standards limit creativity in the classroom, and the second is that they encourage to "teaching to the test." As a corollary to these arguments, I often hear critics complain that states should spend less time on standards and more time on growing "quality" teachers. Over the past several months I had a unique opportunity to test the validity of those criticisms in seven of the most innovative classrooms in America. While producing a series of short films for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY), I learned that the exact opposite is true. These videos show instead that the Common Core standards: - Promote creativity, - Challenge students to use critical thinking skills, - Provide teachers with the autonomy they need to create engaging lessons, - Prepare students to take their place on the global stage by promoting collaboration, and - Help ensure students are career and college ready. The videos demonstrate how master teachers utilize rigorous standards to create a learning environment that promotes success. Mary Pinkston, 2010 Delaware Teacher of the Year, discusses how the standards provide her with the "core basics" her students need to know. The 2014 National Teacher of the Year, Sean McComb, believes the standards are preparing his students for life by developing their critical thinking skills. Sean's creative use of the standards prepares his students to take their place on the global stage. Mohsen Ghaffari, 2015 Utah State Teacher of the Year, understands the importance of preparing his students to become global citizens. He believes the rigor of the standards provide them with the problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills they will need to be successful in the 21st century. The 2014 Washington, D. C. Teacher of the Year, Bill Day, describes the Common Core State Standards as a set of tools that students and adults need to be successful in school and beyond. The standards provide teachers with the ability to stretch student learning is a thought that was shared by Josh Parker, 2013 Maryland State Teacher of the Year. The 2013 Washington, D. C. State Teacher of the Year, Julia King, believes the Common Core State Standards have helped raise the bar and provides teachers with the autonomy they need to challenge students. Like many teachers, Allison Riddle has challenges when dealing with the large number of students in her classroom, and she needs the support of parents to make it work. According to Allison, the Common Core are the rigorous but flexible standards she needs to challenge each and every child. Some parents have reservations toward the standards because this was not the way they learned. Allison says she must communicate why higher, rigorous standards, which focus on problem solving skills, are important. The standards provide her with a common vocabulary that enables her to have an ongoing discussion with parents about their child's learning. The outcome that excited me the most was having the opportunity to see how many different creative ways the instructors were using the Common Core State Standards to empower their students with the skills they need to find success in the 21st century. My hope is the films will be used to start a national dialogue on how other great teachers around America are using the standards to create similar experiences for their students. Joseph Fatheree was a Top 10 Finalist for the 2016 Global Teacher Prize, a recipient of the NEA's National Award for Teaching Excellence, and a former Illinois Teacher of the Year. He is the instructor of creativity and innovation at Effingham High School, and serves as the Director of Strategic Projects for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year [NNSTOY]. He is also a Varkey Teacher Ambassador.	https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_leader_voices/2016/05/what_i_learned_making_common_c.html	fineweb	4,037	3.234375
Last week I had the opportunity to go to a panel discussion on religion, immigration, and settlement hosted by UofT’s Munk School of Global Affairs, the Multi-Faith Centre, and the Baha’i Community of Canada. The three panelists included Neda Farahmandpour of the Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), Anne Woolger who is the founding director of the Matthew House, and Bayan Khatib, the executive director of the Syrian Canadian Foundation. Each panelist spoke about the difficulties of the immigration process, especially regarding the hardships faced by refugees once they arrive in Canada after fleeing persecution. Helping to alleviate these difficulties are Canadian institutions and social groups, which work to assist newcomers in their adjustment to Canadian society. However, at the forefront of this assistance are faith-based community groups, which provide a deeper sense of community and more meaningful connections to religious and spiritual values. Neda spoke of the importance of individuals and institutions in the process of helping new immigrants settle in Canada. Agencies and organizations play an important role because of the varying dimensions of settlement that need to be addressed during the immigration process, such as enrolling in language courses, getting acquainted in their community, registering for school, and/or finding work. However, the importance of faith communities should not be undermined considering they are often the first point of contact for immigrants. Church groups, mosques, and other religious communities provide a comforting spiritual element to the frightening process of upending your life and moving or fleeing to a foreign country. In addition, they immediately provide immigrants and refugees with a social group that has similar customs and shared experiences. Bayan added that the media tends to stereotype religion as something divisive and exclusive. However, her experience with the Syrian refugee crisis showed that faith groups from many different religions were the most prepared to welcome refugees because they already had a framework with humanitarian values built into it. At their core, most religions have the same fundamental values, preaching kindness, compassion, and justice. These values were the backbone behind many faith communities coming together to support, house, and provide for the Syrian refugees. Anne also commented on how traumatizing it can be to move countries. She recalled an experience with a young boy who was forced to flee Syria and found settling in Canada to be a more difficult experience than the violence he faced in his home country. The adversity he faced in Canada was mainly due to the ostracism he faced from his peers and the isolation that resulted from being in an unfamiliar place with few people to connect with. After listening to the panelists, I was reminded of how isolation can take place on campus as well. This is especially considering many students are international or have decided to move across the country to attend UofT. Although students are granted wonderful opportunities in Toronto, periods of loneliness, isolation, and a feeling of non-belonging is prevalent among students. This is only heightened by the reality that Western culture tends to have cold socialization habits. Although Canadians are known for kindness, we often avoid talking about anything personal — such as religion, beliefs, experiences, hopes, and fears. We tend to stick to comfortable and closed-off topics, like the weather. These areas of discussion allow for conversation but keep us from developing meaningful relationships with people we perceive to be different from us. While faith groups and Canadian institutions are ultimately essential components that help refugees and immigrants throughout their settlement process in Canada, Canadian citizens also have a role to play in how we welcome newcomers. Learning how to open up and share more with the people around us will ultimately lead to a stronger connection and a deeper understanding of the experiences faced by international students or by new immigrants. If you’re interested in this topic, “Religion, Immigration and Settlement” is a panel series so keep an eye out if you want to register for the next one!	https://blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca/lifeatuoft/2019/10/23/panel-discussion-religion-immigration-and-settlement/	fineweb	4,297	2.625
May 9, 2019 Strandline Lake In Winter When Will The Era End? Two ice-dammed lakes—known mostly only to a few pilots—lie within a 45-minute flight of Anchorage. Each spring, the they fill with millions of tons of river runoff. Glacial walls contain them until the weight of the water is simply too great. And then, they burst, sending major floods downvalley, destroying everything in their path, and leaving a moonscape of stranded icebergs, some ten stories high, littered across miles of empty lakebed and outwash plains. One is Blockade Lake. I wrote about the challenges of photographing Blockade Lake in August, 2018. The other is Strandline Lake. In this post, I share my experience of exploring Strandline this April (still winter in this part of Alaska), twice with photographer friends and once on my own. (If you want to see what Strandline looks like in summer, read more about the phenomenon of these ice-dammed lakes, or view aerial drone footage, I’ve posted about it on Alaska.org, our Alaska travel site.) These are amazing spectacles. But if history is any guide, these outburst floods may not continue much longer. Lake George Near Anchorage A far more famous and better known self-emptying lake was Lake George, only 45 miles from Anchorage and 20 miles from Palmer. Historical reports of a “a great flood that destroyed Indian villages near the head of Knik Arm” trace back to at least the late 1800’s. Starting in 1918, the lake emptied annually, spilling into the Knik River. In some cases, the water level on the river rose in days from 7 to 20 feet deep and from 150 to 4000 feet wide. The Alaska Railroad erected massive bridges downstream to protect against this great cataract. And then, in 1967, it ceased. It has not emptied since. And it likely will never happen again. The damming glacier has melted away, and there is no longer enough ice mass to push up against the mountainside and form a dam. No one knows how many more years Blockade Lake and Strandline Lake will burst. With climate change thinning glacial mass all across Alaska, I recognize that any year may be the last, and I continue to visit these spectacles summer and winter. Hope you enjoy the images below.	https://bobkaufman.com/strandline-lake-in-winter/	fineweb	2,203	2.9375
« PreviousContinue » physics which were taught in the decline of the Roman empire. It was somewhat unfortunate that the infancy of English learning was supported by the dotage of the Roman, and that even the spring head whence they drew their instructions was itself corrupted. However, the works of the great masters of the ancient science still remained; but in natural philosophy the worst was the most fashionable. The Epicurean physics, the most approaching to rational, had long lost all credit, by being made the support of an impious theology and a loose morality. The fine visions of Plato fell into some discredit, by the abuse which heretics had made of them; and the writings of Aristotle seem to have been then the only ones much regarded, even in natural philosophy, in which branch of science alone they are unworthy of him. Beda entirely follows his system. The appearances of Nature are explained by matter and form, and by the four vulgar elements; acted upon by the four supposed qualities of hot, dry, moist, and cold. His astronomy is on the common system of the ancients; sufficient for the few purposes to which they applied it; but otherwise imperfect and grossly erroneous. He makes the moon larger than the earth; though a reflection on the nature of eclipses, which he understood, might have satisfied him of the contrary. But he had so much to copy that he had little time to examine. These speculations, however erroneous, were still useful; for though men err in assigning the causes of natural operations, the works of nature are by this means brought under their consideration; which cannot be done without enlarging the mind. The science may be false, or frivolous; the improvement will be real. It may be here remarked, that soon afterwards the monks began to apply themselves to astronomy and chronology, from the disputes which were carried on with so much heat, and so little effect, concerning the proper time of celebrating Easter; and the English owed the cultivation of these noble sciences to one of the most trivial controversies of ecclesiastic discipline. Beda did not confine his attention to those superior sciences. He treated of music, of rhetoric, of grammar, and the art of versification, and of arithmetic, both by letters and on the fingers: and his work on this last subject is the only one in which that antique piece of curiosity has been preserved to us. All these are short pieces; some of them are in the catechetical method, and seemed designed for the immediate use of the pupils in his monastery, in order to furnish them with some leading ideas in the rudiments of these arts, then newly introduced into this country. He likewise made, and probably for the same purpose, a very ample and valuable collection of short philosophical, political, and moral maxims from Aristotle, Plato, Seneca, and other sages of heathen antiquity. He made a separate book of shining commonplaces and remarkable passages, extracted from the works of Cicero; of whom he was a great admirer, though he seems not to have been a happy or diligent imitator of his style. From a view of these pieces we may form an idea of what stock in the sciences the English at that time possessed; and what advances they had made. That work of Beda, which is the best known and most esteemed, is the Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation. Disgraced by a want of choice, and frequently by a confused ill disposition of his matter, and blemished with a degree of credulity next to infantine, it is still a valuable, and for the time a surprising, performance. The book opens with a description of this island, which would not have disgraced a classical author; and he has prefixed to it a chronological abridgment of sacred and profane history, connected from the beginning of the world; which, though not critically adapted to his main design, is of far more intrinsic value, and indeed displays a vast fund of historical erudition. On the whole, though this father of the English learning seems to have been but a genius of the middle class, neither elevated nor subtil, and one who wrote in a low style, simple, but not elegant, yet when we reflect upon the time in which he lived, the place in which he spent his whole life, within the walls of a monastery, in so remote and wild a country, it is impossible to refuse him the praise of an incredible industry, and a generous thirst of knowledge. That a nation who, not fifty years before, had but just begun to emerge from a barbarism so perfect, that they were unfurnished even with an alphabet, should, in so short a time, have established so flourishing a seminary of learning, and have produced so eminent a teacher, is a circumstance which I imagine no other nation besides England can boast. Burke. He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. All the images of nature were still present to him, and he drew them not laboriously, but luckily: when he describes anything, you more than see it, you feel it too. Those who accuse him to have wanted learning give him the greater commendation: he was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read nature; he looked inwards, and found her there. I cannot say he is every where alike; were he so, I should do him injury to compare him with the greatest of mankind. He is many times flat, insipid; his comic wit degenerating into clenches, his serious swelling into bombast. But he is always great, when some great occasion is presented to him; no man can say he ever had a fit subject for his wit, and did not then raise himself as high above the rest of the poets,— Quantum tenta solent inter vibnrna capitis. The consideration of this made Mr. Hales, of Eton, say, that there was no subject of which any poet ever writ, but he would produce it much better done in Shakspeare. Dryden. • * • « If ever any author deserved the name of an original, it was Shakspeare: Homer himself drew not his art so immediately from the fountains of nature; it proceeded through Egyptian strainers and channels, and came to him not without some tincture of the learning, or some cast of the models of those before him. The poetry of Shakspeare was inspiration indeed: he is not so much an imitator as an instrument of nature; and it is not so just to say that he speaks from her, as that she speaks through him. His characters are so much nature herself, that it is a sort of injury to call them by so distant a name as copies of her. Those of other poets have a constant resemblance, which shows that they received them from one another, and were but multipliers of the same image; each picture, like a mock rainbow, is but the reflexion of a reflexion. But every single character in Shakspeare is as much an individual, as those in life itself; it is as impossible to find any two alike; and such as from their relation and affinity in any respect appear most to be twins, will, upon comparison, be found remarkably distinct. To this life and variety of character, we must add the wonderful preservation of it; which is such throughout his plays, that had all the speeches been printed without the very names of the persons, I believe one might have applied them with certainty to every speaker. The power over our passions was never possessed in a more eminent degree, or displayed in so different instances. Yet all along, there is seen no labour, no pains to raise them; no preparation to guide or guess to the effect, or be perceived to lead toward it: but the heart swells, and the tears burst out, just at the proper places:	https://books.google.co.in/books?id=-P0EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA275&vq=speeches&dq=editions:UOM39015012111285&output=html_text&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4	fineweb	7,630	2.765625
Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring and understanding three fundamental properties of Earth: its geometric shape, its orientation in space, and its gravity field, as well as the changes of these properties with time. Over the past half century, the United States, in cooperation with international partners, has led the development of geodetic techniques and instrumentation. Geodetic observing systems provide a significant benefit to society in a wide array of military, research, civil, and commercial areas, including sea level change monitoring, autonomous navigation, tighter low flying routes for strategic aircraft, precision agriculture, civil surveying, earthquake monitoring, forest structural mapping and biomass estimation, and improved floodplain mapping. Recognizing the growing reliance of a wide range of scientific and societal endeavors on infrastructure for precise geodesy, and recognizing geodetic infrastructure as a shared national resource, this book provides an independent assessment of the benefits provided by geodetic observations and networks, as well as a plan for the future development and support of the infrastructure needed to meet the demand for increasingly greater precision. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure makes a series of focused recommendations for upgrading and improving specific elements of the infrastructure, for enhancing the role of the United States in international geodetic services, for evaluating the requirements for a geodetic workforce for the coming decades, and for providing national coordination and advocacy for the various agencies and organizations that contribute to the geodetic infrastructure.	https://books.telegraph.co.uk/Product/National-Research-Council/Precise-Geodetic-Infrastructure--National-Requirements-fo/23996796	fineweb	1,674	2.875
Dr Stephen Robinson would like to test if manipulating friendly gut bacteria can influence the immune system and in turn make it harder for breast cancer to spread around the body and become incurable. We need to develop our understanding of how breast cancer spreads around the body if we want to prevent deaths from the disease. Dr Iain Macpherson is studying the role of glutamate in breast cancer and will see if blocking it could prevent secondary breast cancer. Prof Leonie Young is studying a protein called RET, which is thought to be involved in the spread of breast cancer to the brain. Her work could eventually lead to treatments which can control or even prevent secondary tumours in the brain. We need better ways to track how secondary tumours in the bone respond to treatments. Professor Gary Cook is investigating whether a ‘tracer’ molecule can tell if these treatments are working at an earlier stage than is currently possible – and help patients live well for longer. Professor Christopher Scott and his PhD student would like to evaluate whether blocking a protein called cathepsin S (CTSS) can prevent triple negative breast cancer from spreading and forming incurable secondary tumours.	https://breastcancernow.org/breast-cancer-research/our-research-projects?field_diagnoses_tid%5B0%5D=568	fineweb	1,210	2.59375
Ear, known scientifically as Xanthosoma Alocasia or Colocasia, is a team of plants with variegated leaves. Each year, an elephant ear plant dies back. However, in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones where the plant is hardy — an average of zones 8b and hotter — it grows back in the spring. The tubers stored indoors for the winter and should be dug up and after that replanted in the spring. Cutting straight back an elephant ear is simple, but great and timing pruning routines are important to sustain a healthy, flourishing plant. Cut back an elephant ear plant three or two times. With respect to the environment, this could happen anytime from late summer to mid-winter. Use a rag to wipe the blades of a pair of pruning shears down with 10% bleach solution or alcohol. So that you don’t accidentally transfer illnesses among your backyard crops, your resources are sterilized by this practice. Snip off the leaves close to the bottom of the plant, leaving about 2″ above-ground. Make clear cuts straight through the foliage and stems. Don’t tear. Discard the leaves in trash or the compost pile. The plant is prepared be dug up for winter storage or to over-winter in the backyard.	http://www.sadecebiz.net/the-best-way-to-cut-an-elephant-ear-plant-back	fineweb	1,189	3.390625
Often car drivers take a sip of water from a plastic bottle found in their car in order to quench their thirst. You are probably not aware but to drink this stale water can be extremely dangerous to your health. In fact, the plastic bottles contain BPA (Polyethylene terephthalate) material that is used in the manufacture of many beverage and food packaging due to its light weight and strength. However, when these packages are left at high temperature, such as a closed car, the liquid they contain heats up and when it comes in contact with the packing, releases the BPA chemical in the water. This chemical can cause hormonal disturbances in your body by mimicking the hormone estrogen. It is also highly toxic to your cells and is implicated in the development of cancer and especially breast cancer. Indeed, this is the most common cause of the high levels of dioxin found in the tissue of the breast cancer. The famous singer Sheryl Crow says that bottled water was the cause of her breast cancer. Do not keep your plastic bottles in the fridge for too long as they release dioxins in the water. Also, do not heat your dishes in the microwave in plastic containers. This is especially true for foods containing fat. The combination of fat, high temperatures and of plastic, releases dioxins in the food. Instead use ceramic or glass containers. The next time you find an old plastic bottle filled with water in your car do not take a sip!	http://www.staynaturallyhealthy.com/warning-never-drink-bottled-water-forgotten-glove-box-car/	fineweb	1,446	2.796875
The Makers’ Knowledge Exploration Approach During Problem-Solving Processes - A Case Study Of Homemade Air Boxes The maker movements have demonstrated rising and flourishing developments throughout the world. A maker is equipped with the optimistic and innovative characteristics so that he/she accumulates the knowledge that is required for design and creation by his/her own approach. This makes a maker different from a professional who has been trained by stereotyped design education. Due to the growing concerns about the living environment, the fabrication of air boxes was selected as a case study for the investigation of the makers’ knowledge exploration approach during problem-solving processes. The case of each individual maker was reviewed according to his/her own descriptions. A procedure of creating an air box was proposed in this study and the conclusion of this study is threefold depending on the knowledge exploration approach as follows. (1) Printed books and digital resources are equally important. (2) E-commerce is also one of the learning channels. (3) Striving for immediate benefits. It is expected to provide the amateurs in this territory with effective and transferable knowledge exploration behaviors. Keywords: Maker, Problem-Solving Process, Knowledge Exploration, Air Boxs	http://www.worldresearchlibrary.org/abstract.php?pdf_id=6632	fineweb	1,310	3
The wreck of a World War One German U-boat has been found in the North Sea. Windfarm developers discovered the submarine lying about 55 miles east of Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk. Historians believe the wreck to be that of U-31, which went missing in January 1915. All 35 men on board died and, as an official military maritime grave, the wreck will remain where it lies. Scans of the seabed in the vicinity have uncovered more than 60 wrecks over a two-year period. While some of these were already known, the windfarm developers were not expecting to find a missing U-boat. U-31 probably hit a mine while patrolling the North Sea and would have sunk in a matter of minutes. Of the 17,000 German sailors who served on board U-boats in the First World War, more than 5,100 lost their lives.	https://1914centenary.com/2016/01/29/lost-german-u-boat-found-in-north-sea/	fineweb	787	2.984375
Well, this certainly isn’t the image that springs to mind when you think of molluscs – but the more recognisable snails, oysters and octopus only represent three out of the eight living groups. This beautiful creature is a solenogastre, one of the two vermiform (worm-like) molluscan groups. Solenogastres are found in oceans across the world, from depths ranging from about 30 metres down to the abyssal. They have a long, slender body covered in a chitinous cuticle, bearing the thousands of spicules which give the glossy, furry appearance seen here. Beneath the fuzz, solenogastres have a small foot, like a snail’s, tucked away in a groove on their ventral (‘belly’) side. They too produce mucus to help them glide across sandy surfaces, in search of their cnidarian prey. They have no eyes, and arguably not even a head, giving them an almost tribble-like appearance! Image courtesy of Elena Gerasimova. Read more about solenogastres here.	https://anatomytoyou.com/2016/04/14/a-fluffy-mammal-a-furry-tail-believe-it-or-not-this-is-a-mollusc/	fineweb	945	3.34375
A great enhancement has been added to “Delimited Text” plugin today. It allows the use of a geometry column formatted as well known text (WKT), as an alternative to using x and y columns to define point features. To view a delimited text file as layer, the text file must contain: - A delimited header row of field names. This must be the first line in the text file. - The header row must contain an X and Y field or a Well Known Text (WKT) field. These fields can have any name. - The WKT field must be in standard format. Example of a valid text file with a WKT field Update: Tim has posted a video tutorial: Video tutorial #2: Delimited Text Plugin	https://anitagraser.com/2010/11/29/qgis-delimited-text-layer-now-supports-wkt/	fineweb	652	2.796875
When 252P/LINEAR passed just 14 lunar distances from Earth on the afternoon of Monday, 21 March, the comet was close to the south celestial pole and unobservable from the British Isles. At closest approach, 252P/LINEAR galloped across the Southern Hemisphere sky at a rate of almost ten degrees per day. As the comet recedes from both the Earth and Sun that rate has slowed somewhat (it’s presently 5.3 degrees/day, dropping to 1.8 degrees/day in a week’s time), but fortunately for us its motion is now almost entirely northward in declination. By the small hours of Sunday, 27 March comet 252P/LINEAR will be in southern Ophiuchus — the unofficial 13th zodiacal constellation — and finally visible from the UK on successive mornings around 5am BST when astronomical twilight begins to assert itself for the centre of the British Isles. Sadly, the comet will have to contend with the glare of the waning gibbous Moon until 4 April (the 20-day-old lunar orb lies just two degrees from 252P/LINEAR at 5am BST on Wednesday, 30 March). However, the good news is that this periodic comet with a 5⅓-year orbit is 100-fold brighter than pre-perihelion predictions owing to increased activity as a result of passing closest to the Sun on 15 March. Were it not for the Moon’s glare, 252P/LINEAR would be on the verge of naked-eye visibility over the next week or so, but it should still make a good binocular object if you can find an observing location that is devoid of streetlights and other sources of artificial illumination. Reports indicate that the comet currently sports a diffuse round coma some two-thirds of a degree across (somewhat larger than the Moon in angular size), with a total magnitude exceeding +6. In a large telescope, 252P/LINEAR might also have a greenish hue caused by diatomic carbon (C2) molecules fluorescing in the sunlight, but don’t expect a long tail. Inside the magazine Find out all you need to know about observing comet 252P/LINEAR and the other solar system bodies in the night sky in the April 2016 edition of Astronomy Now. Never miss an issue by subscribing to the UK’s biggest astronomy magazine. Also available for iPad/iPhone and Android devices.	https://astronomynow.com/2016/03/27/see-comet-252p-emerge-in-the-uk-predawn-sky/	fineweb	2,184	3.46875
Viewing entries tagged Article from Fitness Magazine: (read full article here) Bugs that cause colds and flu, athlete's foot, and skin infections are everywhere. Here's how to protect yourself. The Dirtiest Spots at the Gym You hit the gym regularly to be healthy and fit. Yet you may be getting more than flat abs and strong arms there. Gyms are hotbeds of germ activity, researchers say. Norovirus, which causes stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, can survive for a month on the surface of exercise machines. The fungi responsible for foot infections multiply at a blinding pace in the shower. And microbes like MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can lead to dangerous skin infections, lurk in the locker room. To help you stay safe, FITNESS asked top experts to ID the biggest danger zones in the gym and to share the best germ-beating strategies. Hot Spot: Towel Germ Meter = High You grab a "clean" towel from the pile at the gym. What you can't see is that the fibers may be teeming with E. coli or MRSA. "Most gyms use the same hamper to transport dirty towels and clean ones," Tierno says. Bring your own towel, marked with an X on one side with a permanent marker, Tierno advises; only that side should make contact with gym machines. Use the unmarked side to wipe sweat off yourself. Bring a separate towel if you're showering at the gym. Try an antimicrobial one, available at sporting goods stores, to reduce your risk for infection.	https://lauraalison.com/did-you-know/tag/entrepreneur	fineweb	1,456	2.65625
Respect for Self & Others At the height of the Great Depression, the showman (Eduardo Verastegui) of a renowned circus leads his troupe through the devastated American landscape, lifting the spirits of audiences along the way. During their travels they discover Will (Nick Vujicic), a man without limbs at a carnival sideshow, but after an intriguing encounter with the showman he becomes driven to hope against everything he has ever believed. Watch this amazing short film with your students, then use Leadership Logistic's discussion guide to reflect on its lessons. An original lesson developed by participants at the TASSP/TASC Student Leadership Course Teacher Academy, this lesson focuses on eliciting discussion about the personal character traits of good leaders. An original lesson developed by participants at the TASSP/TASC Student Leadership Course Teacher Academy, this lesson focuses on identifying personality types in self and others. Don't Laugh at Me Based on Peter Yarrow's song , "Don't Laugh at Me," this lesson helps students develop empathy for others and awareness of words and actions that put people down, and asks them to develop a plan to respond to put-downs to support others who are being ridiculed. Learning about Labels With this lesson from the No Name-Calling Week website, students will gain an understanding of labels and attached stereotypes, gain an understanding of seeing someone as a whole person, and agree to abstain from labeling one another. We're All Different Alike Lesson Plan Another lesson from the No Name-Calling Week website helps students gain an understanding of making assumptions attached to stereotypes and gain an understanding of seeing someone as a whole person. A Thousand Words To become more aware that compassion involves understanding and engaging in another person’s life, students view images of people and creatively interpret what they see in this lesson from Character Counts! Shirts of Empowerment This creative lesson from the No Name-Calling Week website helps students gain an understanding of name‐calling's magnitude and impact on students and develop empathy for those being name‐called. Lessons Learned: Creating a Life Reports Project How can we tap into the wisdom of the older members of our families and communities? What useful lessons can be learned from looking back at the choices made over the course of a long lifetime? In this lesson from The Learning Network, students share what they have learned from the experiences and wisdom of the older people in their lives, read Life Reports written by New York Times readers over the age of 70 and write and share their own reports from the present or their imagined futures. They end by soliciting and displaying Life Reports from community members. Visit Character Counts! for a long list of lessons exploring various aspects of respect. (You'll need to create a free account to access Character Counts! resources.) Students think about and discuss the concepts of "unity in diversity" and "strength in diversity" in this lesson from Character Counts! (You'll need to create a free account to access Character Counts! resources.) Respect and Diversity Lessons from Teaching Tolerance The Mix It Up at Lunch Day website has a wonderful collection of lessons for various grade levels that promote respect for diversity. A lesson on inclusion, multiculturalism, or communication skills. 'Cultures' interact with each others in fun, interesting ways. This lesson from the Washington Association of Student Councils is designed to open up a discussion regarding the social groups at a school and to heighten respect for cultural differences. Check here for other great lessons from WASC. A Nation of Many Cultures Although designed for younger students (grades K-5), this cultural lesson from the PBS: America Responds (to 9/11) series could be adapted for middle level and high school students as well. It invites students to create a visual representation of themselves to include their family, heritage, and interests. The creations are then used to compare and contrast similarities and differences of the students. The lesson culminates with the creation of an American Flag for the bulletin board. Working with Others Gain some insight into how you relate to others with this quiz. Youth explore diversity within their classroom with this lesson from Character Counts. Not in Our Schools Check out a collection of lesson plans by Not in Our Schools on topics like standing up to hate, bullying, stereotyping, diversity, and more.	https://leadershipteacher.webnode.com/respect-for-self-others/	fineweb	4,568	3.109375
At about this time, children are already excited about Halloween which is celebrated on October 31. It was supposed to have originated from All Hallows’ Eve which was said to be influenced by European festivals of the dead and also harvest festivals. Halloween is also being associated with Samhain, a Celtic festival which was said to include rituals that hinted at human sacrifice. Christian influence also played a part in it when All Saints’ Day was transferred to November 1 which was the same date as Samhain and November 2 was designated as All Souls’ Day. This move by the church was seen as a way to eliminate pagan rituals. These holy days of obligation were met by certain traditional practices such as “souling” wherein people would go from house to house to collect soul cakes as a form of prayer for the souls in purgatory. In fact, the jack-o-lanterns which are commonly seen as Halloween decorations today used to represent these souls. The popularity of Halloween waned in Britain during the Reformation and among the members of the United Kingdom, the practice was only retained in Scotland and Ireland. The practice of guising or disguising one’s self in costumes while collecting food or coins persists to this day. Guising was not seen in North America until about 1911. The lighting of turnip lanterns on gatepost was common in some parts of England which is said to be protection from spirits. This is closely related to lating which is said to ensure protection of people from spirits by carrying lighted candles from eleven up to midnight. It is believed that if the light on these candles are blown away, witches are responsible for it and a bad omen or omens will follow. Regardless of the origins of Halloween, it is not as popular in the UK as it is in the US. For the relatively few who don costumes, the theme is usually limited to ghoulish outfits. Halloween decorations are minimal and trick-or-treating is highly discouraged.	https://lefroyee.com/english-speaking-countries-culture/2014/11/english-halloween/	fineweb	1,959	3.15625
Thomas Hobbes, 1588-1679, best known work is Leviathan (1651) which established social contract theory. His liberal thinking included: The right of the individual; the natural equality of all men; the artificial character of the political order; the view that all legitimate political power must be representative; and a liberal interpretation of law. Hobbes met not only Descartes but also Galileo. He thought space and time to be imaginary. He saw humans as being matter and motion, obeying the same physical laws as other matter and motion. He thought one could square the circle. Lecture 4 of 10 from David Gordon's The History of Politcal Philosophy: From Plato to Rothbard.	https://library.mises.org/ko/library/4-thomas-hobbes	fineweb	679	3.78125
The C-rate is a unit to declare a current value which is used for estimating and/or designating the expected effective time of battery under variable charge/discharge condition. The charge and discharge current of a battery is measured in C-rate. Most of portable batteries are rated at 1C. This means that a 1000mAh battery would provide 1000mA for one hour if discharged at 1C rate. The same battery discharged at 0.5C would provide 500mA for two hours. At 2C, the 1000mAh battery would deliver 2000mA for 30 minutes. 1C is often referred to as a one-hour discharge; a 0.5C would be a two-hour, and a 0.1C a 10-hour discharge. The capacity of a battery is commonly measured with a battery analyzer. If the analyzer’s capacity readout is displayed in percentage of the nominal rating, 100% is shown if a 1000mAh battery can provide this current for one hour. If the battery only lasts for 30 minutes before cut-off, 50% will be displayed. A new battery sometimes provides more than 100% capacity. When discharging a battery with a battery analyzer that allows the setting of different discharge C-rates, a higher capacity reading is observed if the battery is discharged at a lower C-rate and vice versa. By discharging the 1000mAh battery at 2C, or 2000mA, the analyzer is scaled to derive the full capacity in 30 minutes. Theoretically, the capacity reading should be the same as with a slower discharge, since the identical amount of energy is dispensed, only over a shorter time. Due to internal energy losses and a voltage drop that causes the battery to reach the low-end voltage cut-off sooner, the capacity reading may be lowered to 95%. Discharging the same battery at 0.5C, or 500mA over two hours may increase the capacity reading to about 105%. The discrepancy in capacity readings with different C-rates is related to the internal resistance of the battery. To calculate of load current value with charge/discharge rate, it can be obtained by; ∴ C-Rate (C) = Charge or Discharge Current (A) / Rated Capacity of Battery Also, expected available time of the battery on given discharge capacity can be obtained by; ∴ Used hour of the battery = Discharge capacity (Ah) / Discharge current (A) Discharge Capability of high power Lithium cell. [Example] In High Power products, rated capacity of SLPB11043140H model is 4.8Ah. A Lithium-ion NMC cell. 1. What is 1C discharge current condition at this model? ∴ Charge (or discharge) Current (A) = Rated capacity of the battery * C-rate = 4.8 * 1(C) = 4.8 A It’s means the battery is available for 1 hour by this current discharge condition. 2. The discharge current value under 20C discharge condition is 4.8(A)*20(C)=96A This battery reveals the excellent performance even if the battery discharges 20C discharge condition. The following is the available time of the battery when the capacity of battery shows 4.15Ah ∴ Used hours (h) = Discharged capacity(Ah) / Applied current(A) = 4.15(Ah) / 96(A) ≒ 0.043hours ≒ 2.6 minutes with 96A It means the battery can be use for 2.6minute (0.043h) with load current of 96A	https://lithiumhub.com/discharge-rate/	fineweb	3,072	3.453125
Division Rules: Learn Divisor, Dividend, Quotient and Remainder Before we go ahead to learn how the division problems are solved, let’s learn about its components. What is Dividend? The number we divide is known as Divided. 40 ÷ 8 = 5 —> 40 is the Dividend here. What is Divisor? The number by which you have to divide another number is called Divisor 34 ÷ 2 = 17 —> 2 is the Divisor here. What is Quotient? The Quotient is the answer to the Division. You can also call it the result. 21 ÷ 3 = 7 —> 7 is the Quotient here. What is Remainder? The Remainder is the number that is leftover after the division (means you cannot divide further). The Remainder will always be less than the Divisor. 68 ÷ 13 = 5 Remainder-3 —> 5 is the Quotient and 3 is the Remainder. Let’s have a look at the image below to understand quickly. What are Divisor, Dividend, Quotient, and Remainder Hope that clarifies. If you still have any doubt, feel free to comment at the bottom and ask your question. Some Basic Rules You Should Know About Division - Rule 1: You cannot divide a number by 0. Example: 643 ÷ 0 —-> It’s not possible. The math itself is wrong. - Rule 2: When Dividend is 0, the Quotient will always be 0. It doesn’t matter by which number it is divided. 0 ÷ 45 = 0 0 ÷ 553 = 0 - Rule 3: When Divisor is 1, the Quotient will always be equal to the Dividend. 321 ÷ 1 = 321 43 ÷ 1 = 43 - Rule 4: When Divisor and Dividend are equal, the Quotient will always be 1. 67 ÷ 67 = 1 985 ÷ 985 = 1 How to Solve Divisions? What are the Basics to Understand? Solving division problems depend on how good your multiplication fact is. Here is a video that tells you how you can solve any Division Problems. Watch the video carefully and remember what you learn.	https://maths.forkids.education/explanation-of-divisor-remainder-dividend-quotient/	fineweb	1,741	4.125
Education is a valuable possession for every individual. Methods of educating children have come across a lot of changes in the past decade. More practical approaches in education ensure greater and reasonable knowledge. Be it one of the best CBSE or ICSE schools in Delhi, Mumbai, and Haryana or any remote village, education always brings together students from different regions with different ideations and perceptions. The classroom provides space for creativity and encourages students towards a practical, factual, and real knowledge of the world. Having diversified exposure in a school helps children to be less pre-judgmental as they grow towards adulthood. This helps them to achieve better life outcomes. Students understand better and perception levels improve when they are exposed to diversity at a young age where early education plays an important role. Classroom enables students to interact and along the way, they improve social skills and become more receptive to other languages. The kind of diversity students are exposed to in a classroom in their early education shows its effect in their life when they become adults sorting out careers. Exposing children to classroom diversity is precisely providing them with opportunities to learn and grow as early as possible but yet without rushing them. In the long run, diversity exposure shows a very great impact on society. Whether the school is a residential school in a faraway place or a day boarding school in Delhi, schools always create space for improvement and chances for a better way of everything. Many schools have ‘International School and Foreign Exchange Student Programs,’ which help students to interact with others and speak a language they were not familiar with. Children grow more tolerant to society and surroundings, and they become more open-minded day by day as they are influenced by the diversity around them, especially in schools and classrooms which have more impact on children than any other source of diversity. Culturally diverse and responsive education helps students to have respect for multitudes of culture and the people they come across with not only during schooling but in every phase of life. This helps in shaping up a child’s character and manners. Voice is very powerful and not everyone is courageous and strong enough to voice out their opinions. Diversified classroom environment makes the surroundings healthy and students feel comfortable to express their opinion or to raise a question. Students grow to be willing to fearlessly spread the information they have and at the same time be very good recipients of information accepting the fact that they are unaware of many things.	https://medusamagazine.com/exposure-to-classroom-diversity/	fineweb	2,702	3.34375
Saturday, April 11, 2015. From a broad perspective, cultural aspects do not refer to psychological coverage or to the concepts of values that are sometimes used to reveal a certain culture. In the case of international corporations, the majority of persons engaged were from different cultures and cultures. In most situations, this underlying idea of change is called an exclusive resource for most corporations. This is based on the idea that it is an exceptional basis for promoting modernization. However, there are circumstances in which insufficient data are available, as well as understanding of different cultures, these modifications lead to problems that result in more results than a triumph. Therefore, it is essential to have a simple understanding of dispersion in cultures in order to increase access to the labour force, as well as to reduce the number of skirkies. Divorse nations have numerous cultures associated with work and business in general. The study will focus on the differences between Germans and Japanese about their culture of work. Moreover, the study will also focus on creating practical evidence for international companies, for which German and Japanese workers have to be precise According to Basabe et al. (20), the simple idea of a variety of cultures is not entirely based on ideas that they are careless; however, slightly different from some and conservative behaviour. This is based on the idea that each culture has its own particular way of reasoning, as well as the study of factors, its specific values, principles, and different approaches to different functions related to work. In Japan, for example, a Japanese man and his household are considered from the point of view of the organization in which they work and the position they occupy with regard to social status. Moreover, it is possible with the prospects that a Japanese person may have in regard to the company in which they operate. With regard to research and research, the success of business economies in the areas of, for example, the United States and Europe, is well designed to replace the concept of social-karting by working. However, this is not the situation in Japan, where entrepreneurs are not freely valuable; it is reasonable that they are considered unusual or unusual Visa visiting cards from the point of view of both the Japanese and the Social Assembly are mandatory. It is referred to as one of the basic functions that an entreprenely should bear in mind when carrying out transactions in Japan. Japanese corporate culture dominates the idea of life cycle work. For example, in the case of recruitment of a conglomerate, a young man who graduated, inter alia, higher education, has the idea that by the time he is retired, it will continue to be used by the company. In some cases this is a small business situation. For many years, an exclusive association has been established between the members of the company. This looks like one of the hallmark characteristics of business in Japan Thus, in order to better understand Japan’s cultural patterns, a human being should consider homogeneity. The discussions that Japan is not a homogeneous country in any aspect. On the other hand, the cultural myth of homogenity is part of the population and is therefore an important cultural idea. Based on the idea that Japan is an island, it has no borders with other countries. This is one of the main factors that guaranteed less foreign influence on the nation in the early 1850s, starting from early BC. This, in turn, has played a huge role in the creation of Japan’s history. In fact, all people share the same beliefs; this is based on the small influence that Western countries have. It was also assumed to be a densely populated area, and there was simplicity in the sharing of data and thought. Japan’s homogeneity is improving people’s interaction without a dialect. It is said that monolingual and monoracial makes room from the Japanese to understand what others say with less In relation to Hofstede (8-10), the size of culture is evident as an industry instrument that is internationally recognized and used to measure cultural diversity. Frequently used measurements are the cultural areas of Gert Hofstede. It has been improved by the idea that it includes cultural information collected from 70 different countries concerning IBM employees. This information has been further improved by the information received from students, as well as from commercial airlines in 23 countries, civil service administrators in 14 countries, as well as influential persons from 19 countries. In his study, Gert (70-80) created five cultural dimensions. This includes: distance; Individually-Individual Activities; Masculini-Feminiti; Evading certainty; and long-term or short-term orientation The distance from the network; it includes the level at which members of the assumed culture with the failed authority are in a treaty with the notion that authority is unevenly distributed. This is in keeping with the idea that persons with power and those who do not have sufficient power have serious consequences. From the general point of view, the measurement appears to indicate a stratiment, given that such a submission is known from the bottom and is not transmitted from the top (Hofstede 45). For example, there is inequality in power in Japan, but this is not the situation in Germany With regard to individualism and collectivism, this connection includes a level at which different people are grouped or not. The fundamental theory of individualism plays a central role in Western countries as well as in other countries. In addition, collectivism is still growing in the eastern countries and countries. In this case, Japan is well thought out to be in a central position, but German is considered one of the best, especially for this dimension. In fact, in Germany, individualism prevails. In a work order, precisely in individualistic cultures, the relationship of the worker manager is based on the terms of the agreements, and the appointment and confirmation of the policy is based on experience and laws. Conversely, in the communist cultures, the attitude of an employer is considered from a moral point of view for family relations, promotion and approval of policies, as well as the powers of the working groups (Triandis 100) Individualism and collectivism were linked to direct and indirect methods of interaction. In fact, the level in which the speakers decimated the drive through open verbal communication. With regard to the direct style of individualism, the needs and objectives of the rapporteur are presented orally. When it comes to an indirect style, which is linked to collectivism, the requirements and intentions of the rapporteur are not clear in the oral presentation As it is considered that it is not taken into account, this measurement is focused on the alleged failure to take decisions and uncertainty about the community. Culture where the level of uncertainty is high, they try to best reduce the likelihood that they will not be used with the relevant details. This is usually achieved through the adoption of strong normative acts and recommendations that have been initiated. This is a supplement to security and well-being, and a clear understanding of ethical or religious beliefs, in particular with regard to the perception of the full truth. One of the main aspects of cultures that tilts to this dimension is that they are guided by inner nervous energy, and their nature is more expressive than other cultures (Markus, H.R. & Kitayama 226-228). A function that misses a tolerant culture is that they are more resilient to a variety of views, as well as caring and cold. This is one of the dimensions that dominates both German and Japanese. For example, the dependability and constancy is sen certains as certainly contains to and say in German attributes. In addition, members of the German culture have a great weakness for not vaguely. In fact, the Germans are creating the necessary structures, as well as rules, to ensure that they are able to deal with each other Refers to long-term or short-term orientation, probably a dimension that focuses on the main theme of virtue. Durable cultures should be careful with caution, as well as to the strength of the spirit; on the contrary, short-term cultures respect traditional sailors, social responsibilities and the protection of individual integrity. Japan is seen as a long-term term focused on culture, while German is perceived as a short-term term that concerns a country In the light of the above measurements, it is obvious that there is a huge gap between German and Japanese customs. For example, in most German corporations, employees are guided by numerous regulations, processes, laws and practices. These are a number of fundamental functions that influence German businesses to have taste for written pacs and human settlements. The main features of the agreements and the written contract are that they are usually mandatory and are used systematically. The Germans have strong fines for breaches of the agreements, and this is what distinguishable them from other cultures Researchers Charles Hampden-Turner and Fons Troppenard have more or less the same plan for cultural measurements as Hofsted’s. They combined national cultures into six different facets. Some of them are similar to the number of Hofsted, while others are different to some degree (Cross, Bacon and Morris 65). They include a number of things: individualism-communanianism; universalism-clusterism-diffussion; inner direction-outer direction; status reached, status-ascript; second time or synchronous time When it comes to universalness, all cultures around the world should focus on the norms, recommendations and general principles; otherwise, in particular, in particular, the characteristics related to relations take into account the exceptional circumstances, exceptional circumstances and responsibilities. Universalist cultures, such as ordinary Germans, do not think of a person to admit that they were travelling at a rather low speed than the real speed with which they were travelling. Conversely, in some cultures, for example in Japan, there is a possibility that an individual will relinquent control of the vehicle, whether slow or rapid In relation to individualism-communitarianism, this dimension seems to be a measurement that is supposed to be similar to that suggested by Hofshead, with an appropriate focus on self-realization or achievement of goals and intentions in a particular group of people In fact, the measurement of diffusion refers to the level at which the individual concentrates are concentrated on the basic principles or in general, directly or on the carcach. Specifics are focused on special purposes, while in contrast to private and public worlds, cultures are smaller. In the history of Ilyas Khalil (Halil) Halil At, a Turkish singer in Montreal, does not understand why Christian work suchs were issued to get two Turkish coffee for him and the client To the extent that status status is achieved, a culture of achievement is unquestionably critical of their individual accomplishments, as well as to the question that asks you: “What have you studied?“The writing criticizes the individual, especially their kinship, birth and relationships; the question that has been most frequently asked is, ” Where did you learn? “ With regard to the internal correlations, it focuses on the question of whether one is inspired by an internal will, as well as with a sense of right and wrong, as well as with the position or authority of others. In fact, the question arises when a person either searches for control or changes his or her personal surrounding or adaptable. As a result, for example, there is a perception that boxing was followed by inner cultures, while judo was directed from outside (Cross, Bacon and Maurice 70) In historical or synchronous time, the last value is the arrow and the second is the circle. In a consistent time, it is based on the theory that “time is money”. Then again, synchronous time is based on the theory that “timing is all” Schwartz (50) distinguishable culture on the basis of autonomy and built-in dimensions. In autonomous cultures, peoples are considered independent, controlled by facilities. They are inspired by the development and clear understanding of their personal preferences, status, thoughts and opportunities, as well as their personal understanding, as well as their differences. This can be achieved by searching for human thought, as well as balanced directions in an autonomous regime. This is defined as intellectual autonomy. Moreover, the search for a positive human impact is called an effective autonomy. On the other hand, the importance of life for peoples living in cultures is being developed through social association associated with the group of individuals involved in the group lifestyle, and by moving towards the integrated goals (Schwartz 50-60) Built-in cultures have a weight to protect the status quo, as well as security measures that may interfere with harmony in a group or traditional directive. The United Nations, which will succeed in the embed, is not working well in both intellectual and effective autonomy. Other dimensions that Schwartz believes include: The hierarchy sees the central point of the importance of hierarchical relations in society and the political system. The hierarchy is different from egalitarianisis as egalitarianism in the standard of Universalalism and the equality of rights of individuals Harmony is focused on the importance of competence, especially with regard to interrelationships, avoidance of change and conflict, while mastery gives weight to self-affirmation and achievement as strong principles. It is obvious that some Schwartz measurements may be linked hypothetically to a one-dimensional gap between individualism and collectivism. There is a positive correlation between the level of urbanization and individualism of “Hofstede” and “Trompolarimi” egalitarianism (Singleis et al 255-260). On the contrary, the link between urbanization and remote energy is negative. However, there is no link between this function and the principles of intellectual and affective autonomy. Urbanization associated with industrialization, with the development of the market, with modernization and with big problems of social life, plays as much influence on instrumental individualism. The fundamental aspects of individualism are individual independence and uniqueness. The typical features of Protestant work, which are more recent than modern and capital-based communities, are characteristic of these days more characteristic of mutual communities with an improved hierarchical reserve (Singleis et al 261). Moreover, it is also in agreement with the better availability of competitive approaches in growing, collectivist and hierarchical countries, for example in Japan It is clear that the topic of cultural aspects is important in any company, especially in the case of international companies. This will make it possible to make sure that the company has a parity, as well as a strong relationship between employees, despite their cultural context. In examining the collectivist aspect of individualism, it is the main cultural variable that plays a decisive role in long-term development. However, this cannot make the difference that other cultural variables have a comparative effect on perceived elements of economic behaviour, as well as on economic performance (Smith & Bond 50-90). The attractiveness of these other cultural dimensions is that they have less impact on long-term development. Therefore, in order to achieve excellent results, the corporation should not concentrate on the upcoming or categorization of exclusive culture. In addition, corporations should also take into account that a culture of ranking will not produce useful results that can be useful to the company. The classification of cultures was the same as the attempt to implement reforms, especially with regard to cultures in different countries, which was not a situation in an international corporation. The purpose of understanding the different cultural dimensions is to create parity between societies and to achieve excellent results. This is because culture is deeply rooted in history and will take a long time to change. Being familiar with the influence of culture on economic results, there is a need for more effective interaction, as well as a discussion of culture rather than turning cultures into one another Babe, Nekane, Páz, Valencia, González, Rime, & Dier, Eric. Cultural dimensions, socio-economic development, climate and emotional hedonic levels. Cross, Bacon, & Morris. A relational and interdependent self-restraint and relationship. Marcus, and Kitama. Culture and self-discovery: implications for knowledge, emotion and motivation. Schwartz, Shalom. “Beyond Individualism/Collectivism: New Cultural Dimensions of Values” (1994. Print Singleis, Triandis, Brawuk, & Gelfand. Horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism: theoretical and measuring points. Smith,., & Bond..	https://mtcamarillo.com/	fineweb	17,297	2.9375
Published by the Glasgow Natural History Society John Scouler was a naturalist whose contribution to his field was highly respected, despite few publications. He was a collector, a lecturer, and in his working life was Professor of Mineralogy at the Andersonian University (and curator of the Museum) in Glasgow (1829 – 1834), and later at the Royal Dublin Society (1834 – 1854). John Scouler was held in high regard by his peers, yet his story, like many other naturalists during the 19th century, is relatively unknown outside of the world-renowned voyages made by Charles Darwin, Joseph Banks, and Alfred Russell Wallace. The publication begins with the discovery of some ‘dusty plant specimens, dried and mounted on dustier sheets of paper’ found in the biological department of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Professor Blodwen Lloyd Binns is charged with the challenge of resolving the mystery of this forgotten herbarium. The Prologue and Introduction are in fact written in her own words, from a draft of a book entitled ‘Round the World in a herbarium’ that she had started in the 1960s. Binns then assesses Scouler based on his contribution to ‘his science’, the scientific thought of the day, and his collections -significantly his herbarium. The author of the journal, Charles Nelson, uses these three areas to portray an accurate and systematic account of Scouler’s legacy with prose that is engaging, erudite, and succeeds in fleshing out the uncertainty around Scouler’s second voyage to India. Scouler held a strong passion for collecting and an interest in botany. He studied anatomy at Edinburgh University and wished to pursue a career as a surgeon, but had been greatly influenced by Professor William Jackson Hooker, who became his lifelong friend and teacher. It was Hooker (who would later become Director of Kew) who recommended Scouler as ship’s surgeon on his first ‘voyage of discovery’ on the William and Ann to the Galapagos and North West Pacific coast (1824 – 1826), along with another of Hooker’s capable botanists, David Douglas. Scouler was the first botanist to explore Oregon and bring back specimens hitherto unknown to science. Scouler reached Canada in June 1825, making new discoveries and descriptions of plants. In Hooker’s ‘Flora’ he honours a new plant collected by Scouler – Phyllospadix scouleri or Scouler’s surf-grass – which belongs to a new genus entirely. This marine flowering plant, unique to the coast, was found at Observatory Inlet, where over 30 species of plants including Scouleri aquatica were found and ascribed to Scouler by Hooker. Scouler’s specimens contributed greatly to Hooker’s great botanical work ‘Flora boreali-americana’ and in some cases still survive in Kew’s collections today. In conclusion, the journal beautifully articulates the life of Scouler using diaries, journals, illustrations from monographs, images, shipping logs, and his own surviving specimens, along with secondary sources such as museum catalogues. It is clear, accessible and enjoyable to read, and is comprehensively referenced. I also like the addition of coloured plates of the species discovered by and named in Scouler’s honour. Charles Nelson succeeds in accurately assessing Scouler’s legacy against the criteria set out by Professor Binns, and extends our knowledge of Scouler’s later life. It tells me that John Scouler was indeed a man dedicated to ‘his science’, without a desire for self-promotion or critical acclaim. Science Educator, Natural History Museum All images reproduced from John Scouler (c. 1804 – 1871) Scottish Naturalist: A life, with two voyages, published by the Glasgow Natural History Society.	https://natsca.blog/2015/04/04/review-of-john-scouler-c-1804-1871-scottish-naturalist-a-life-with-two-voyages/	fineweb	3,676	3.203125
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) began in 1995 and has been administered four times since by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). In 2007, thirty-six jurisdictions participated at the 4th-grade level and 48 participated at the 8th-grade level. These assessments measure how well students have acquired knowledge and skills taught in school, as they are designed to align with the curricula of participating jurisdictions. This indicator compares the 2007 average mathematics and science scores of 4th- and 8th-grade students in the United States with the overall TIMSS average and the scores of the other participating jurisdictions. In all grades and subjects, the U.S. average score exceeded the TIMSS average of 500. At the 4th-grade level in mathematics, the U.S. average score was 529. Of U.S. students, Asian students scored the highest at 582, compared with White students who scored 550, students of two or more races who scored 534, Hispanic students who scored 504, and Black students who scored 482, on average. At the 8th-grade level in mathematics, the U.S. average score was 508, with scores ranging from 457 for Black students to 549 for Asian students. Asian and White students scored higher than the TIMSS average of 500, while Black and Hispanic students scored lower. The average score for students of two or more races (506) was not measurably different than the TIMSS average. The U.S. average score on the 4th-grade science assessment was 539, with Asian students scoring 573, White students scoring 567, students of two or more races scoring 550, Hispanic students scoring 502, and Black students scoring 488. The U.S. average score in 8th-grade science was 520; scores ranged from 455 for Black students to 551 for White students. White students, Asian students, and students of two or more races scored higher than the TIMSS average, while Black and Hispanic students scored lower.View Table 12a	https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010015/indicator3_12.asp	fineweb	1,999	3
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Norton Children’s board-certified neurosurgeons are led by Thomas M. Moriarity, M.D., Ph.D., a recognized leader in the field with deep experience and specialized training. Our specialized physicians in Louisville and Southern Indiana have the sophisticated tools and skill to give you and your child a precise diagnosis and a treatment plan for a concussion that minimizes risk, so your child can get back to being a kid. Concerned your child may have suffered a concussion? Download the Brain Injury Book for Parents A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that results from the sudden, rapid movement of the brain back and forth. It can be caused by a bump or blow to the head, or by a hit to the body that results in a whipping of the head and brain. This shaking or rattling of the brain stretches and damages brain cells, creating chemical changes in the brain that affect the mind and body. Concussions can be classified as mild or severe, but all are serious and warrant professional medical help. Concussion symptoms: What to look for? - Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head - Difficulty concentrating - Confusion or dizziness - Ringing in the ears - Sensitivity to light and sound - Nausea or vomiting - Slurred speech The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 4 million sports-related concussions occur every year in the United States, many of which involve kids and young teens. Sports and athletics are a focal point of many conversations about concussions. However, mild traumatic brain injuries can occur in a variety of nonsports activities as well. Experts believe millions of concussions go untreated because people fail to recognize the signs. What to do for a concussion? Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries should always be taken seriously. You should not self diagnose or treat, as there are many myths and misconceptions. Medical professionals at Norton Children’s Hospital will perform a thorough examination and physical to determine whether your child has had a concussion, and they will walk you through the treatment process. Surgery typically is not required to treat concussions. However, neurosurgeons’ experience with severe brain injuries makes them good consultants on brain imaging and other processes related to diagnosing and treating. Collaboration and multidisciplinary teams are core components of the entire Norton health care system, which means your child has a wealth of resources available to them. The Norton Healthcare system includes Norton Sports Health, which has developed a Sports Neurology Program focused on protecting and treating young athletes. Coming out is not a one-time event for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex children and teens. It’s a journey of understanding, acknowledging and sharing one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity with others. It […]Read Full Story For parents, a child’s eating habits can be a concern from infancy through the teen years and even adulthood. From the picky toddler who will eat only a specific food for days on end, to […]Read Full Story Jay spent the start of summer glued to his Xbox. When his mom brought him to Healthy Living Workshops, a wellness series sponsored by Kohl’s Cares and held by Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness at […]Read Full Story	https://nortonchildrens.com/services/neurosciences/neurosurgery/conditions/concussion/	fineweb	3,384	2.640625
In hunting/shooting, you will often see the term MOA (which stands for minute of angle). What exactly is an (MOA) minute of angle when it comes to shooting? The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who love being outdoors enjoying nature and wilderness, and learning about the required skills and equipment. It only takes a minute to sign up.Sign up to join this community A minute of angle is a measure of an angle. It is 1/60th of a degree, 1/21600th of a circle. Often times you will see this in In regards to distance, one MOA corresponds to 1.047 inches per 100 yards, so 1 inch at 100 yards and 3 inches at 300 yards. This can be useful to know when sighting in if you are 2 inches low at 100 yards, you need to move the scope up 2 MOA for 8 increments on a 1/4 MOA increment scope. MOA can also be used for ranging targets with the right scope, a 12-inch prairie dog will be 12 MOA tall at 100 yards and 6 MOA at 200 yards.	https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/19697/in-shooting-what-is-a-moa-minute-of-angle?noredirect=1	fineweb	964	3.21875
Constitutional Existence Conditions and Judicial Review 99 Pages Posted: 22 Feb 2013 Date Written: 2003 Critics of Marbury v. Madison have long complained that judicial review frustrates majoritarian democracy. In addition, critics sometimes complain that the Constitution's text does not entail judicial review of federal legislation. In Marbury, Chief Justice John Marshall invokes the judicial oath of office in support of judicial review, but the oath does not distinguish judges from other ublic officials who also swear fealty to the Constitution. Nor do Marshall's other arguments, such as the possibility of clear constitutional violation by the legislature, justify privileging judicial interpretation. The opinion, for all its majesty, never squarely addresses the fundamental question of whose interpretation of the Constitution should prevail in cases of conflict. Both sorts of criticism-that a sound democratic constitution should not establish judicial review and that the American Constitution is best read not to establish judicial review-can lead ultimately to calls for the complete abolition of judicial review, for "[t]aking the Constitution [a]way from the [c]ourts." Ingredient in most forms of judicial review skepticism is the implicit claim that it would be possible for courts to accept the word of Congress as final on matters of constitutional interpretation. Once one acknowledges that courts have the duty to apply statutes and other nonconstitutional sources of law, however, it becomes difficult to understand how they could not exercise at least some version of the Marbury power. In short, it may be impossible to take the entire Constitution away from the courts. Keywords: constitution, interpretation, judicial review, congress, courts, amendment Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation	https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2221967	fineweb	1,823	2.59375
Could Molly Brant Be Related to Pauline Johnson? Emily Pauline Johnson 1861-1913 During the Q & A session at a recent presentation on Molly Brant: Mohawk Loyalist and Diplomat, someone in the audience asked if Molly Brant was related to the native poet, Pauline Johnson. It’s a logical question. Both women were of Mohawk blood, and Molly’s eight children were all Johnsons. It seemed to beg some further research. Although the two women lived in different centuries, it turns out they both had roots in the Mohawk Valley in central New York state, the traditional homeland of their people. Emily Pauline Johnson was born in 1861 on Six Nations territory on the Grand River in Ontario. Her father was a Mohawk of the Wolf clan, the same as Molly Brant. Pauline’s mother, however, was English, and the girl was raised in a middle-class family, one where an aloof attitude was fostered, along with elegant manners. Pauline was proud of her Mohawk heritage and took for herself the name of her paternal great-grandfather Tekahionwake. Tekahionwake was born in 1758 (confidentially, the year before Molly Brant moved in with William Johnson) in the colony of New York. At the Mohawk youth’s baptism, Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the northern colonies, acted as his godfather. Subsequently, Tekahionwake took as his name “Jacob Johnson”, and Johnson became the family’s surname down through the generations. So, E. Pauline Johnson was no relation to Brown Lady Johnson, as Molly during her years as chatelaine at Johnson Hall was respectfully dubbed. Pauline, the Canadian poet, found it difficult during the late nineteenth century, to make a living from her writing, but she became a skilled orator, delivering dramatic recitations of her poems as she toured Canada and the United States. She died of breast cancer in 1913.	https://peggydymondleavey.com/kissing-cousins/	fineweb	1,849	2.765625
There has been a strong French influence on the Scandinavian language, and there are evidences for this fact. It is said that the French also provided the English, their "bread" and "butter". This means that they actually imparted these words to the English language. Not only common and everyday words, but also formal words are borrowed by the English language from the French. Given below are some basic French phrases, which are and can be used in English. Basic Words and Phrases - "Bon appétit" means ''May you have good appetite'' and also ''enjoy your meal''. It is usually said to wish people to have a good appetite, and it's commonly used in the hotel industry. - "Enchanté" means "it was a pleasure meeting you." - "Adieu" means goodbye, and it's frequently used in the Shakespearean plays, though its literal meaning is "to god". It is often confused with "Au revoir", which means that the speaker and the person who are addressed would never meet again. The latter in a way implies death, while the former doesn't. - "Bonjour" means 'good morning' or 'good day', which depends on the situation, and the time of the day when it's used. - "Bon voyage" means "have a good and safe trip". It is often used in English before somebody leaves for a long trip. - "Avant-garde" means something which is radical and very different from a conventional parameter. It is used to refer to an aspect that is new and experimental. It has frequently been used in the field of music, art, and literature. It also means that something is on the edge, which has just undergone a kind of change. - "Coup de grâce" means a fatal blow, which is inflicted very gracefully by someone. It is also called the blow of mercy. - "Coup d'état" means a change in the politics of a country. It often refers to the change in the government of a country, which often takes place after a violent phase of affairs. - "Belle" means a pretty girl or a woman, which is often used by people to address the most beautiful girl in a party or a social gathering. - "Concordat" refers to an agreement or a pact that is religious in nature, and precisely refers to the accord between the French State and the Judeo-Christian religious sect, according to which the priest and the rabbis were given the status of government servants. Though this pact was nullified, the term still remains in use. - "Éclat" means excellence in performance, and it mainly refers to success that was not precedent. It also refers to one's excellence in achievement and performance.	https://penlighten.com/french-phrases	fineweb	2,528	3.34375
In table tennis, there are official rules and non-official unwritten rules. You can easily find the official rules and regulations in the ITTF’s Handbook. Here you can download and learn the latest table tennis rules from ITTF (International Table Tennis Federations). But how about unwritten rules? These unwritten laws are widely accepted because it ensures the fair play, the good sportsmanship in table tennis (“etiquette rules in table tennis”). These are the unwritten table tennis laws that you should know! Etiquette Rules in Table Tennis 1. Serve announces the score: If there is not the umpire, the server should announce loudly the score before serving. For example, you say “3-4” and then serve (3 is your score, and 4 is the opponent score). Always announce the server’s score first. This will avoid any dispute or bad sportsmanship (score cheater) about the score. 2. Responsible for the “edge ball” Each player is responsible for calling for the “edge ball” even with or without an umpire. Don’t rely on the umpire. Because it’s very difficult for the umpire to determine the “edge ball”. That’s the player at his side is the best to determine that the ball touches the table or not. If the ball touches your side, be honest. Because you are the closest to the ball, and you are the only one who can hear the touch sound. 3. Fairplay first, Umpire after If there is a dispute, a debate between the two players, try to resolve it with your opponent fist. The perfect table tennis match is the match without the umpire. If this is not possible, ask for an umpire. Be Fairplay! 4. The spectator is only “spectator” Spectators should not be involved in the match. They are not welcomed to give their opinion about whether a ball was good or not. Even if the umpire has made the wrong decision. 5. “Let ball” or over If a ball rolls into your court, and you feel that you lost the concentration. Immediately call a let. If you continue to play the point, you cannot call a let after the point is over. The same law applies when the ball touches the net. You should raise your hand immediately. You can’t say “Let” after you play this ball. 6. Don’t disrupt another match If your ball rolls onto another court next to your table, wait until the play is over before asking for your ball back. Don’t just go and pick up the ball. It could be dangerous if the players didn’t know your presence. You can also disrupt an important point. In some tournaments in France, I watch that some amateur players didn’t wait for the point is over. They just stop the rallies on another table and say “Ball! Ball! Ball!”. Please wait for a little! If there are barriers on the sides, let them get the ball for you. 7. Shake hand to respect Shake hands with your opponent after the match. Even you lose badly or you have the disagreements before the game. Please do shake-hand! The match is over! Shakehand to show respect to the opponent, and also respect yourself. Nowadays, even at the professional levels, some top players avoided shaking hand. Watch the match between Simon Gauzy and Shibaev. They refused to shakehand or just did the shake hand in the “weird” way. 8. Don’t walk behind the player Avoid walking behind players when a point is in progress. This is very dangerous. You not only disrupt the point but also can make a severe accident. I’ve seen a player who gets the racket hit to her nose. She was hospitalized later. 9. Don’t cheer for error Spectators should feel free to applaud or cheer for winning shots. But don’t cheer when a player makes an error. It’s not cool at all. At same amateur league, I’ve seen some peoples cheers when the opponent makes a simple error. It’s not forbidden, but this act is not professional, and not sportsmanship. Don’t “cho” or “cho-lei” when your opponent misses a serve, or when you get a net or edge. It’s the bad-manner cheers. 10. A mercy point When you lead a game 10-0, you try your best to give your opponent a point. It’s called as a “mercy point”. Because 11-0 is too rude, but 11-1 is just normal :). 11. Turn off Flash in your iPhone If you want to take the photo of a match. Please turn off the sound and the Flash. Don’t talk loud across or near a court where a match is being played. I’ve seen a match between Ovtcharov and Oh Seung Eun. A mommy has let her child run around the court and cry. It’s so annoying. Apologize for nets, edges or shots off your hand or bat edge. It’s not a rule, but it’s becoming the “etiquette” in table tennis. Please note: In some Asian countries (like in Vietnam, China), they consider net-ball, edge ball is a part of the game. Apologize or not is no problem. If you play with Asian guys, may be you won’t hear the appolgy for the net ball. Don’t smash the ball or try to win the point. It’s a warm-up. Do it in the match. You and the opponent have only 2 minutes to warm up. Allow your opponent to warm up. Smash the ball during the warm-ups is considered bad-manner. Don’t walk in front of video recorders while someone is recording. Some players set up cameras at tournaments in terrible locations, for example along narrow walkways or between training halls and right next to spectators. In this case, it can be impossible not to walk in front of the camera (as a player), and also quite obnoxious for people trying to get across the room. It’s the responsibility of whoever is recording their matches to set up their camera in the least obstructive way possible, and if they don’t they shouldn’t expect others to crawl under the lens. (from @tuxedopong) —- (Updated with your comments) —- 16. Don’t rush between points Allowing a few seconds in between points. It’s annoying when amateurs (or even some professional players) try to serve immediately after the previous point ends. That usually leads to a let and ultimately takes longer. A short mental preparation routine can go a long way for both server and receiver, and your opponent shouldn’t get away with rushing you before the point even starts. (from @tuxedopong) 17. Make sure the ball dry before serving It’s the server’s responsibility to make sure the ball is dry, and check for cracks after a long rally. Serving with the wet ball can cause confusion to the opponent. And it’s considered as not Fairplay. (from @tuxedopong) 18. Don’t let me alone Another unspoken rule I follow is that at the end of each game, it’s the winner’s responsibility to track down the ball. Sometimes during a tournament, the game will end with a big loop or smash, both players shake hands, write the score down and then walk away. But this can lead to abandoned balls on other courts. (from @tuxedopong) Etiquette in Table Tennis That’s it. This is the collection of 15 unwritten table tennis “rules” that every new player should know. People commonly abide by as a courtesy or good sportsmanship, but these are not written down anywhere. Do you have other rules to add here? Please comment below, I will update this topic. Please share this article with the beginners in your club. [ratings]	https://pingsunday.com/15-unwritten-table-tennis-rules-fair-play/	fineweb	7,037	2.875
Generate code in lanaguages other than Java Although ANTLR Studio is basically meant for generating Java code, you can still use to to generate code with other languages. The following features will not be available if you generate code in other languages- - Fluid Debugger - Automatic grammar builds Other than that the rest of ANTLR Studio will work normally without any So you can just create a new grammar file and start typing out your grammar :) Make sure you do this- - DO NOT right click on the project and select 'Enable ANTLR Doing so will turn on the automatic code generator which will generate the code in Java. You will need to put in an ant script which calls ANTLR to generate the code. Sample ANT build script Click here to download a sample ant build.xml file. To use it- - Place it in the same directory as your grammar file. - Place the antlr jar in that directory too. Open the build.xml file and and set the 'grammar' property to the name of your E.g.- if the name of your grammar file is 'MyGrammar.g', it would look like this- <property name="grammar" value="MyGrammar.g"/>	https://placidsystems.com/info/otherlanguages.aspx	fineweb	1,097	2.640625
Opening your own business is one of the things that everybody dreams of, and as a way to supplement income and income. Yet many people still think that they need big capital to start a business. In fact, there are many businesses that can start with a small capital. Starting a small business for some people is a big challenge. This is due to the many haunted thoughts in the start, such as the fear of failure, fear of not being accepted by society, and so forth. Though you will not know how the business will grow if not start it. Instead of thinking of things that do not necessarily happen, try following these steps to start a small business successfully. 1. Find Ideas When you want to start a business or business, business ideas should be well thought out. Ideas are usually formed by something that is seen, heard, and perceived. It would be better if the idea of a business made is something you like. A successful business is always built with sincerity and unyielding spirit. How do you grow a business if it is not what you like and master? So, try to think about the business ideas that are sought after but also become something you like and master. 2. Create a Plan After determining the type of business, then you need to create a business plan or so-called business plan. This is an early stage that should be done by a prospective entrepreneur or entrepreneur. Business plan contains the objectives of a business and how to achieve that goal or known as the vision and mission. However, undoubtedly, behind all successful efforts, there must be a strong vision and mission in it. So even with the effort that you will pioneered, there must be a vision and mission carried. With the vision and mission, then a business will be able to focus on the purpose of building the business. Generally, beginners build their business without clear vision and mission, which ultimately makes them inconsistent with the original purpose of building the business. 3. Calculating capital and estimating profit Business capital is one of the important things in starting a business. All start-up businesses inevitably require venture capital as the prime mover of business travel. Capital business can be material or money, and energy. Money can be used to finance business needs, such as buying goods, obtaining permits, paying employees, and purchasing assets. While the capital of energy is the ability or skill of a person in running the business. All expenses incurred at the start of the business can be listed as business capital which can later be used to estimate operating income. 4. Conducting a Marketing Survey The purpose of this survey is to determine the level of competition, market share, and business potential that will be pioneered. This survey is important to know the opportunities of your business, and how likely it will work. With this survey, it can be known that product marketing strategy is then created marketing plan (marketing plan) to explain detail or marketing strategy. 5. Find money for the start To pioneer a business completely from scratch, then that does not mean the capital is also zero. You still need the capital to start the business from scratch. Find out which financial institution can help your business model. Like a Cashwagon that is ready to help you get capital for your small business. Loans in Cashwagon are easy and fast, making you unnecessarily nervous waiting for the required funds. Just click, and fill the application form through the website cashwagon.id, you can directly receive funds in the account within 1×24 hours.	https://cashwagon.id/blog/5-tips-to-start-small-business-for-beginners/	fineweb	3,590	2.625
How to multiply triple digits by double digits. I'm Bon Crowder with MathFour.com, and we're talking about multiplication using triple digits and double digits. The traditional way of doing this is to stack the triple digit number on the top and put the double digit number on the bottom to multiply. Then we multiply the 1s place by the entire triple digit number. So 8 x 2 is 16 and carry the 1, 8 x 5 is 40 + 1 is 41 and carry the 4, 8 x 3 is 24 + 4 is 28. Now we have to multiply by 4 but we're not just multiplying by 4, we're multiplying by 40 so I need to compensate by putting a little placeholder here, so 4 x 2 is 8, 4 x 5 is 20. I need to carry my 2 but I have to be careful not to get it mixed up with the other guys, 4 x 3 is 12 + 2 is 14 and then I add those 2, so I have 6, 9, 8, 6, 1 put a comma to make it look pretty. The reason why we can do this is because 352 x 48 is the same as 352 x 40 + 8 and that's what we did. This is the x 8 and this is the x 40 and here is what it looks like when you jump over some day into algebra. You distribute those 2 and if you multiply 352 x 40 and 352 x 8 and then add those together, guess what you're going to get? That guy right there. I'm Bon Crowder with MathFour.com and that's how you multiply a triple digit number by a double digit number.	https://classroom.synonym.com/multiply-triple-digits-double-digits-8248.html	fineweb	1,304	2.84375

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