Saturday, May 28, 2022

What Happens When Women Call The Shots On Sets

Several Hindi-language titles, be it the movies or web-series, have moved away from the age-old stereotypical narratives to creating more layered and empathetic female characters, thanks to an increase in the number of women in key departments of the filmmaking process.

What Happens When Women Call The Shots On Sets
Women in cinema. Shutterstock

A middle-aged woman widowed schoolteacher operating a COVID helpline in her city doesn’t understand the power her seemingly marginal job can wield, gets caught on both sides of withholding information about the ongoing pandemic because it dredges up a still-fresh memory from a few years ago, and, also takes the law in her hands as the city runs short of hospital beds and ventilators, in making the necessary arrangements for any under stress.

That’s the story of the recently released ‘War Room’ – a part of the five-part anthology ‘Unpaused: Naya Safar’, where actress Geetanjali Kulkarni plays the role of the school teacher who is now spending time at a Covid-19 war room in the city as schools continue to remain shut.

Just like ‘War Room’, where the plot of the story revolved around a woman, several such titles, be it in the theatres or on TV or the streaming platforms, have moved away from the age-old stereotypical narratives to creating more layered and empathetic female characters, on-screen now.

Sample this: Zee5's comedy web series 'Kaun Banega Shijhwarwati' about four daughters who have to carry on their father's legacy by also fighting a number of prejudices and patriarchal conventions. to Netflix's crime-drama ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein’, where Anjali Singh literally moves heaven and hell, to get to the man she loves.

“There are more stories being headlined by female protagonists and there is an overall better gender sensitivity in these stories. I feel a female gaze and perspective is far more powerful, nuanced and gets the much-needed balance in our stories. It is not only about telling stories with female protagonists, but it is also how women characters are portrayed in a story or how a woman sees a story,” says Nimisha Pandey, who is the Chief Content Officer for the original Hindi-language titles on ZEE5.

It is not just the number of women-centric titles that has gone up, but even the portrayal of women, on-screen, has evolved and female characters in Hindi-language titles are becoming increasingly layered. Primary reason behind the evolution has been the increase in the number of women, who are essential to the part of the filmmaking process.

“Today, there are more women telling stories than ever and though it is still far away from equal or ideal but it is an upward journey. So, for starters, you can see more real women characters – not the unidimensional roles that women most of the times got boxed into. There is more room for flawed women characters without judgement,” she adds.

Audiences too, seem to have embraced the “female gaze” in the last few years, many of the stories and many films which were either led by women actress such as ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, or directed by a woman such as ‘Gully Boy’, or even both, such as ‘Raazi’ have done extremely well on the box office.

“As women keep growing as directors, producers, screenwriters and decision-makers, a dual change will come about with an overall more sensitive narrative for, and towards, woman and at the same time, bolder. More empowering, more centred around woman as leading ladies, and well-rounded characters which will not be restricted to an ideal woman sitting on some pedestal or playing second fiddle to any man,” says writer Kanika Dhillon who has written scripts for many popular woman centric films such as ‘Manmarziyan’ and ‘Guilty’.

Dhillon’s most recent story was the thriller ‘Haseen Dilruba’, a drama thriller, where the plot revolved around Taapsee Pannu, who is the lead character in the film, alongside Vikrant Massey and Harshvardhan Rane.

“Being a part of the fringe or marginalised (groups), in this case women representation and the patriarchal society’s treatment towards them, as a woman from the same ecosystem, you are sure footed with the first-hand experience of the travesty, the inequality. But also, the strength and what they are capable of when pushed into a corner. You not only capture the extremes but also can sometimes embrace the unpopular character traits looked down upon by society in general as a part of the new narrative not explored before! That makes for a rich, diverse, inclusive, fresh, non-binary, fierce and much required narrative for new Indian women,” adds Dhillon.

‘Haseen Dilruba’ is one of the many examples of how the OTT platforms have also seen popular titles, where the story revolved around the female character such as ‘Aarya’ or ‘Aranyak’, were or were made by women. Popular filmmaker Leena Yadav’s three-episode long documentary, ‘House Of Secrets: The Burari Deaths’ -- based on the Burari deaths in 2018-- received rave reviews and thanks to a slew of memes and jokes, was a big a big hit on social media as well.

“The fact that it got on an OTT platform, certainly meant it could reach out to a wider audience. The idea was to not be judgemental about the incidents, and just tell it from the perspective of people who were there at that time. The fact the audiences liked it tells everyone that people in the industry should just stop second-guessing the audiences, all the time, and just focus on telling the stories,” she says.

The increase in the number of woman producers over the last few years has also played a role in the shift in the storytelling narrative. Anushka Sharma has been on the production business for a few years now, while actors Taapssee Paannu and Richa Chadhha, announced their own production ventures last year and this year Kirti Kulhari become a recent addition, after she launched her production company.

“I never even had this idea in my head when I started you know, that I would one day become a producer. It was never a dream like that or anything. IT’s only over the last few years, where I have realised that, I want to be part of a change in the way the content is being looked at is changing right now, and I can’t just do it all as an actor,” says Kulhari.

What’s also important, Kulhari points out, “is to make sure that in representing a community, you don’t isolate yourself from the rest of the world. I am not just going to produce a woman-centric project just for the heck of it, or hire only women professionals in my company, that’s not going to happen. Everyone and everything will be judged on their merit.”

And while women in the entertainment industry are happy that the perspective around female characters on screen is slowly turning a page in the industry, many believe, it won’t change till the society also moves forward, collectively with a lot more empathy.

“You can’t expect an overnight change, or the fact that cinema will change it. It has to start from the house. It has to be there in the ads, with the fathers cooking and mothers watching television. Unless you change that, it wont there in the cinema because at the end of the day, cinema is a reflection of the society. Only then will you see the real change in terms of more gender-sensitive storytelling in cinema as well,” says actress Geetanjali Kulkarni.

Shweta Tripathi Sharma, who was most recently seen in ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Annkhein’, concurs. “It is not just about how cinema is bringing about a change, but it should be the other way round, for a better society, not just an industry. It has to change at a social level. Because then, when even men will tell a story they will have a different and a much more empathetic approach towards women characters,” she adds.

Be it ‘Tribhanga - Tedhi Medhi Crazy’ -- which centres around mother-daughter relationships while also calling out issues like gender equality, gender determination tests and women empowerment, or ‘Pagglait’ – which tells the tale of a young widow who aspires to break-away from tradition and stand on her own feet despite social pressures-- by backing more subversive and taboo-breaking titles, makers are encouraging a new generation of storytellers who are presenting a new view of themselves.

“It’s about time that we knock down the age-old traditional good Indian woman narrative - and create a new one - because it’s the responsibility of the women of our generation, given the tools that we have, the women in cinema- that we set free our gender from the stamp of ‘the great Indian woman’ -who is trapped in a stifling binary narrative of a good woman or a bad woman - dictated by the convenience of a man,” says Dhillon.

There might be a lot of ground yet to cover, but there are enough signs indicating that the industry is moving towards more gender-sensitive narratives, slowly, with even big production houses and filmmakers acknowledging the same. “Focussing on stories with women makes perfect business sense. They are half of the world’s population. I think representation is extremely important and as women it is our responsibility to play an active part in creating a more equal world, both by telling stories that are led by women and by encouraging more women to tell those stories,” says Pandey.


A response to ‘PPE for SARS-Cov-2 and the utility of single-use aprons’

Dear Editor,

In October 2021, the Journal of Paramedic Practice published a comment article from Wesley Howarth, titled ‘PPE for SARS-Cov-2 and the utility of single-use aprons’ (Howarth, 2021). We would like to thank the author for highlighting some evidence and presenting his view on this important topic during the pandemic. However, we would like to provide our response, sharing our views from an infection prevention and control (IPC) perspective.

Firstly, the author suggested that ‘the wearing of plastic aprons with COVID-19 positive patients may be unjustified, provided the patient is wearing a facemask’. We felt that this is a bold statement as the article did not present a strong argument either for or against the use of aprons in the prehospital setting. We appreciated that the evidence on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the prehospital setting is limited at the moment; further research is required to identify the optimal PPE staff should be using in the prehospital environment. We believe that the finding of Howard-Jones et al (2021) was inappropriately used to infer that there is no transmission risk from a uniform contaminated with COVID-19. These concerns stem from the fact that patients that we see as paramedics and health professionals are often older, with comorbidities and are sometimes immunosuppressed. We recommend that ‘precautionary principles’ (Gollier and Treich, 2013) be applied here and apron use should continue despite the uncertainty around their use as PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks of contamination of uniform from direct contact of undifferentiated patients remain high with the current prevalence of COVID-19 in the UK.

Secondly, we suspected that single-patient-use aprons were under-used in the prehospital settings pre pandemic. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2012) recommended that aprons should be used by healthcare workers if there is a risk that clothing may be exposed to blood, body fluid, secretion or excretions and this was echoed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) (2017) and the EPIC3 (Loveday et al, 2014) guidelines, which both advise that aprons should be worn whenever there is a risk of contamination of uniform or clothing with blood and body fluids and when a patient has a known or suspected infection. Given that the majority of patients that we come across in prehospital settings would likely fit into one of these categories, aprons should be worn when providing close-contact care during attendance with these patients in prehospital environments.

Finally, we agree with the author that the main mode of transmission of COVID-19 is via respiratory droplets and that face masks are important PPE to protect health professionals against COVID-19. However, it would be reckless to dismiss the utility of aprons as an element of PPE because it would be impossible to rule out the probability of contact and fomite as possible modes of transmission, especially as they often occur simultaneously. This was echoed by the World Health Organization (WHO) (2020), which suggested that respiratory droplets from infected individuals can also land on objects, creating fomites (contaminated surfaces). They therefore advocated the use of contact and droplet precautions by health workers caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients, and the use of airborne precautions when aerosol generating procedures are performed. We urge paramedics and other ambulance clinicians to continue with the current PPE guidance issued by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (2021) (in conjunction with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives) as they are being reviewed by IPC experts regularly and emerging evidence will be incorporated as part of the regular review process.

Author response

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank Tang et al for their letter in response to my comment article. Here I will aim to respond to the points raised. Fomite transmission is absolutely a risk factor and this article aimed to highlight the potential discrepancies between the ease of transmission from a plastic apron versus clinician uniforms. For example, as discussed, it could be argued that contaminated droplets landing on a plastic apron are more easily transmittable via direct contact when compared to a fabric surface, which absorbs said droplets. Combine this with the virus' poorer survivability on fabric versus plastic, it could be reasoned that the strength of any present virions and subsequent levels of transmission may be higher compared to clinician uniforms alone. This risk could be further reduced if infected patients are wearing simple facemasks, which are shown to significantly reduce the spread of respiratory droplets in the first instance. As for aerosol transmission, if a patient is potentially infected or symptomatic, alongside wearing a facemask, clinicians could don level 3 masks or respirators to address this risk, especially for ambulance clinicians dealing with patients for prolonged periods in often confined spaces. The precaution principle is valid, and it is a good point raised to compare other similar respiratory conditions; however, its application must also be justified with suitable evidence specific to SARS-Cov-2. As mentioned in the article, an increasing number of patient interactions are now non-COVID, and consideration should be given to whether plastic aprons are appropriate for these asymptomatic individuals, where questions about risk/benefit could be raised.

Current evidence on the use of personal protective equipment across prehospital settings is limited and requires attention

It is true that plastic aprons have formed a part of level 2 PPE pre pandemic, and rightly so in situations such as those involving significant risk of exposure to blood products or emesis for example. This is why aprons are often donned by ambulance clinicians attending childbirths at home. The point the article aims to tackle is whether the standing level 2 PPE, particularly aprons, are appropriate specifically for preventing or significantly reducing transmission of SARS-Cov-2. The conclusion, states: ‘…where full level 2 PPE often remains protocol….’, addressing if in part the fact that many trusts require level 2 PPE for all patient encounters, and that clinicians should follow their own trust's protocols. The apparent risk to vulnerable service users is not questioned; however, if the risk of transmission to such individuals from clinician uniforms is so great that every incident requires clinicians wear PPE to protect them against SARS-Cov-2, if the points raised in the article have any validity, then any suspicion of COVID-19 should prompt a Tyvek suit be donned instead. I say this as aprons do not cover a lot of a clinician's person, and if working outside as ambulance staff often do, these aprons are blown about considerably; it could be argued that this compromises their effectiveness. On the face of it, a superior level of protection here could be advocated for, such as the current level 3. However, this has not been observed in my findings; instead, this raises the question personally of whether the risk of transmission is as great as hypothesised. The article does address that there are no direct comparisons between aprons vs no aprons for SARS-Cov-2 and that such a lack of evidence itself requires attention.

The article ends encouraging clinicians to follow their trusts' respective protocols and policies regarding PPE. It did not intend to promote bad practices, nor does it infer that clinicians should ignore current guidance on COVID-19 PPE standards.

From personal experiences and research into the topic, it was my summarised opinion that the evidence supporting the use of plastic aprons specifically pertaining to SARS-Cov-2, be reviewed (which you quite rightly point out is constantly ongoing). The article also concludes that the current evidence supporting their use be actively made available to frontline clinicians. I would like to add that I am not an expert, nor experienced researcher, but simply an inquisitive, open-minded clinician. My article does not represent evidence in and of itself, and I encourage others to do their own research and to always strive to follow best practice.

Keep up to date with Journal of Paramedic Practice!


View all releases

Posti submits report to Traficom on execution of postal service

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Postal Act (415/2011) and the rules and regulations issued under it. Under the provisions on quality control of postal services, all postal operators are required to publish annually information on the quality of the postal services they provide under the Postal Act. Posti has now submitted its 2020 report to Traficom.

In the case of letters, the universal service only covers letters and postcards paid for by postage stamp. These account for some 3,4% of the mail sent through Posti. Newspapers and magazines, unaddressed direct marketing mail and most parcels are not covered by the Postal Act.

Fulfilment of delivery obligation

In areas that are difficult to reach, Posti deviated from the five-weekday delivery obligation for 166 households (160-200 in 2019), with the allowed maximum being 1000. The number varies from season to season depending on factors such as the timetables of the archipelagic vessels, etc. Based on special personal needs, an average of 27,435 (26,741 in 2019) households were eligible for delivery services for special groups (persons over 75 years of age and persons with reduced mobility).

Requirements for the speed of delivery of letters covered by the universal service

The delivery speed requirement monitored by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency applies to letters paid for by postage stamp (or equivalent payment indication), which are generally sent by consumers.

According to the quality standard set out in the Postal Act, domestic letters shall be delivered so that at least 50% of the letters arrive at the latest on the fourth weekday (J+4) and at least 97% on the fifth weekday (J+5) after the day of deposit. Intra-Community cross-border mail shall be delivered so that at least 50% of the items arrive on the third day and 97% on the fifth day after the day of deposit.

Of the domestic letters delivered by Posti, 97.6% arrived by the fourth day and 99.1% by the fifth day.

The delivery of letters paid in cash involves more processing steps than the bulk mailings sent by businesses. Individually mailed letters are usually left in letterboxes and then picked up to be transported to sorting centers. In sorting centers, postage-stamped letters go through a dedicated processing and sorting procedure.

Inquiries for mailed items

There were 738 inquiries for ordinary letters (1353 in 2019) or 0.00016% of the total volume of letters mailed. Ordinary letters are not tracked. Therefore, their delivery or non-delivery cannot be reliable verified. In addition, inquiries relating to ordinary letters cannot be attributed to a given mail item, so the figure may include several inquiries concerning one and the same item. However, 32 (63) shipments were recorded as lost. Posti recovered 113 (315) shipments. The number of unresolved cases was 593 (975).

There was a total of 1703 (2410 in 2019) inquiries for registered letters, or 0.082% of the volume sent. Of those, 722 (1485) were recovered and 79 (28) were recorded as lost. The number of unresolved cases was 902 (897).

Most of the inquiries for registered letters were related to online purchases from China.

The number of damaged letters was 0.0138% (0.0086% in 2019) of the total volume. The number includes items that were damaged before entering Posti’s mail sorting process. A cover letter addressed to the recipient was attached to damaged mail items.

The data on parcels includes only items covered by the Postal Act

During the year, Posti processed 6,075 (1,065 in 2019) postal parcel inquiries (3.18% of the volume sent). The lack of capacity and changes in international transportation connections caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (for example, airline routes and schedules, missing connections) increased the number of inquiries. Due to the pandemic, Posti could not deliver all parcels as normal. A total of 137 parcels were confirmed as lost (69 in 2019). The number of items recovered was 5,328 (962), and the number of unresolved cases was 610 (34).

Items misdelivered by other delivery companies returned to Posti

Besides Posti, there are 16 other delivery companies in Finland that deliver letters. In 2020, approximately 240,000 (113,000 in 2019) misdelivered items carried by other delivery companies were returned to Posti.

According to the Postal Act, each postal company must provide a service for returning misdelivered mail items.

In addition, the Postal Act requires that postal companies must mark their mail items in such a way that they can be distinguished from mail items delivered by other postal companies. Therefore, each letter carries on it the delivery company identifier. Posti’s identifiers are Posti Oy, ECONOMY, PRIORITY, POSTI GREEN.

Instead of Posti, the recipients should have returned the misdelivered items directly to the delivery company responsible for the delivery. Errors can be corrected more quickly when feedback is addressed to the right company.

Traficom maintains a register of the delivery companies and their identifiers.

Fulfilment of linguistic rights

Posti monitors the fulfilment of linguistic rights through customer feedback and by monitoring the quality of its customer service. No changes have occurred in the service compared to the previous year.

Posti serves customers in Finnish, Swedish and English through multiple channels. Customers can receive advice and give feedback through Posti’s web pages and forms, Posti’s Facebook pages and online chat, customer service email, and personal service at Posti outlets. Feedback can also be provided by sending an informal letter to Posti.

Number of Posti service points

Posti has a network of service points covering the whole country – all in all, around 2900 Posti outlets at the end of 2020. What is important to the user of postal services is that the network works well. In addition to Posti’s own shops, postal services are available from postal outlets run by several different service providers. Parcels can be picked up from Posti Parcel Lockers in addition to Posti outlets. Posti also offers home delivery and, for example, lockers for residential properties to receive parcels and other e-commerce purchases, and to send prepaid parcels, letters and postcards. In addition, there are 4437 letterboxes for outgoing letter mail across Finland.

According to a bulletin by Traficom, published on March 12, 2021,Finns were satisfied with postal services as a whole in 2020 (in Finnish). There were no significant changes in the customer satisfaction compared to previous years.

Millions of items pass through Posti every weekday, but mail volumes vary greatly depending on the weekday, the time of the month and the season. More than two billion messages and items are sent through Posti every year. The needs of sending customers set the pace for postal work. The transport, sorting and delivery of mail items are carried out by around 13,000 postal professionals throughout Finland.


Both Airbnb & Vrbo promote their “free” liability insurance which extends to all bookings via their platforms. However, both specifically exclude violations of privacy, as seen below.

EXCLUSIONS – Personal and Advertising Injury: Injury or alleged injury caused by slander, libel, violations of privacy, advertising, or wrongful eviction.

If their free liability insurance does NOT COVER any potential liability exposure for invasion or violation of privacy, such as Airbnb security cameras, then why take such a hard line stance in their company policies?

The reason is surveillance is not only one of the biggest liability exposures to vacation rental owners, but to the industry as a whole. Hilton, Marriot, and Hyatt would love nothing more than for Airbnb & Vrbo rentals to be branded or labeled as surveilled or not private.

Travelers book vacation rentals because they are private, and there is an assumption of privacy

One of the big attractions to vacation rentals or alternative accommodations is privacy. Guests are free to use the kitchen, cook with their friends and family, relax on the back patio, or even jump in the hot tub if one’s available. The minute security cameras are introduced, that privacy goes away and it’s a big problem for not only property owner liability, but for Airbnb and Vrbo as well.

Go into any Lowe’s or Home Depot and you can buy a complete home surveillance camera kit for for under $300. What was once only available to the rich and famous, is now available to anyone. A phrase that comes to mind is, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”.

How does Airbnb & Vrbo educate 2,000,000+ hosts and owners in the U.S. that security cameras and surveillance in general is a bad idea?

Airbnb & Vrbo have strict surveillance and security camera policies

Airbnb’s surveillance policy is very clear:

  • What we do allow is disclosed monitoring of only public spaces and common spaces (ex: a front door or a driveway) or a common space that is clearly identified and disclosed ahead of a reservation.

And Vrbo’s surveillance policy is no different:

  • Areas where guests have a reasonable expectation of privacy should not be under surveillance.

Remember, Airbnb and Vrbo provide no insurance coverage for invasion of privacy, yet they still take a hard line position in their company policies.

Is there middle ground & how does hosts/owners insurance fit in?

Proper Insurance has a unique perspective as we are the nation’s largest insurer of vacation rentals, and have responded to multiple invasion of privacy claims.

In fact, our most recent claim involves a guest who was frequently smoking cigarettes’ near the front door, which was monitored via a doorbell security camera. The guest was confronted by the property owner as this is a complete non-smoking property. Now the guest is suing for invasion of privacy as the only way the property owner could have known was via the doorbell camera.

People do not like being watched by security cameras, especially on vacation.

Invasion of privacy coverage is only provided via Personal & Advertising Injury. If you do not have this, then you do not have coverage. This coverage is not provided in a homeowner’s or landlord insurance policy.

Proper is one of the only carriers to include Personal & Advertising Injury in our policy coverage. However, we recently limited the scope of this coverage via an exclusion titled Private Area Surveillance Exclusion. Simply explained, we did not want a few bad actors to ultimately raise everyone’s insurance rates due to $1,000,000 invasion of privacy lawsuits.

What this means is we only provide coverage if the surveillance is considered public such as the exterior of the front door on the street side and that section of the driveway connected to a public street. Basically, a camera at the front door and the driveway is OK, but anything outside of that, there is no coverage. Mind you, the surveillance must be disclosed to the renter.

What about Airbnb security cameras found in backyards, fences, alleys, or locked off areas of a rental?

The answer is no. Get rid of those cameras as guests have an assumption of privacy and if they feel like they are being watched, they will sue you. Take a minute to review state statutes on surveillance as it may be against the law.

We understand most vacation rentals have absentee owners, are more likely to be burglarized, and have unruly guests from time to time. That is what insurance is for!

Proper has no limit on burglary, theft, vandalism, or damage caused by a guest. You are only subject to the limits you choose. Plus, a covered loss would trigger Proper’s lost business revenue coverage.

If your vacation rental was burglarized and you lost $25,000 worth of contents, the building was vandalized in the tune of $50,000, and as a result, you lost $25,000 worth of future bookings because the property could not be rented for 90 days, CALL US and file an insurance claim. We would much rather pay $100,000 for this burglary claim, than a $1,000,000 invasion of privacy claim.

In summary, key takeaways

If there is an absolute need to monitor the vacation rental property via camera surveillance, then do so, but only put a camera up that covers your front door and the area of the driveway that connects to a public street. And make sure to disclose this to your renters. If you choose to have surveillance beyond this, know that you are doing so with no insurance coverage.

Hopefully this article gives a better perspective on surveillance at vacation rentals. Please do your part to help Proper, Airbnb, and Vrbo educate the industry so we can continue to be the gold standard for alternative accommodations.

Additional Resources: 99% of lawsuits do not make it to the press as it’s part of the settlement agreement, but here are a rare few that did involving Airbnb security cameras.

Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit #1

Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit #2

Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit #3

Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit #4


Beyond managing homelessness

“Meet Singapore’s Nomad Families”, a recent Sunday Times article welcomes the average Singaporean. Homelessness is a major issue in all large cities. The numbers of homeless people worldwide have grown steadily in recent years. A recent estimate states that there are 100 million people worldwide who are homeless. Although the homeless are often “hidden” in a society like Singapore, Singapore is by no means exempted from this worldwide dilemma.

To be sure, a homeless person obviously needs a home. But such a simple observation overlooks the reason why the homeless have no home. Simply demanding more housing for the homeless is like saying that a person with a fever can be cured with a cold bath to bring down the temperature and ignoring the infection causing the fever.

People who are homeless are so for various reasons. Some have made poor choices in life, some are involved with alcohol or drugs, yet others are part of the system of generational poverty in which inadequate life skills are handed down from one generation to the next, resulting in an entire culture of people who do not know how to take advantage of the educational, cultural or employment advantages available to them. Some of the homeless are also those who may have had some education, a job and a place to live, but without a “safety net” of family or friends to help them through a difficult time, found themselves evicted from their homes after they lost their job or had a financial crisis. But whatever the circumstances, homelessness is but the symptom of root problems.

In addressing the problem of homelessness, the focus has to shift from emergency shelters to prevention. Emergency shelters should only be temporary and transitional solutions, to provide a safe housing environment in the interim. The different agencies who want to focus their resources on preventive efforts should:

1. Involve local governments; because the homeless usually qualify for various kinds of public assistance. Voluntary Welfare Organizations need to be involved in coordinating services and referring clients to various programs.

2. Encourage retraining and upgrading; because the workers in the low-income bracket are the most vulnerable to be homeless. As such, they should upgrade and/or retrain, so that they can develop marketable skills to take on and succeed in new, higher value-added, and emerging jobs in the knowledge based economy.

3. Enhance families’ capacity to help them; policies and programs should aim to support and supplement family functioning. Wherever possible, policies and programs should encourage and reinforce marital, parental, and even extended family commitment and stability.

4. Create awareness; about services available for the “at-risk” group among mainstream service providers like schools, utilities suppliers, banks, religious institutions, etc.

5. Launch Public Education campaigns; through public service advertising to modify public attitudes and to promote responsible home ownership, to encourage homeowners and homebuyers to seek housing counseling.

6. Consider forming an inter-agency coordinating body; to coordinate between all the relevant players who are involved in prevention of homelessness (e.g. shelters, Voluntary Welfare Organizations, schools, religious institutions, government, etc). This inter-agency will do a “gap-analysis” to determine the character of the homeless and potentially homeless in the community, the services most in need and how best to provide these services in a coordinated manner.

The problem of homelessness is very complex and simple solutions are often not available in trying to address this dilemma. It is precisely because simple solutions are not available that different agencies with various expertises in service must work together. Long-term plans must be developed not to manage, but to end homelessness.

Views also found in: THE ONLINE CITIZEN


Louvre Palace

Explore the Grand Louvre Palace and 800 Years of its History

The Louvre Palace is an iconic landmark located in Paris, France. It is home to the Louvre Museum, which is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. We’ve put together all the information you need to know about this magnificent palace and its glorious history.

What is the Louvre Palace?

Louvre Palace

The Louvre Palace is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, and for good reason. The palace is home to the Louvre Museum, which contains about 480,000 works of art, including some of the most famous paintings in history. This includes the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, David by Michelangelo, and many others.

The palace is also located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris. If you're looking for a vacation that offers culture and beauty in equal measure, then a trip to the Louvre Palace should be at the top of your list.

Where is the Louvre Palace Located?

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001, Paris, France.

The iconic Louvre Palace is located on the right bank of the river Seine in Paris. It occupies a massive expanse of land between the Tuileries Gardens and the Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois.

Find on maps

History of the Louvre Palace

Dating back to the 12th century, the Louvre Palace has a long and fascinating history. A palace that was once used as a military fortress is now one of the best public museums in the whole world.

Louvre Palace

12th century

During the middle ages, a fortress was built by King Philip II to protect Paris from outsiders. He ordered its construction before he left for the crusades in 1190, which continued into the 12th century. The remains of the fortress can be found below the Louvre Palace today.

Louvre Palace

13th century

Charles V commissioned the fortress to be turned into a castle between 1364 and 1380. Under architect Raymond du Temple, the fortress was transformed into a beautiful royal residence with several rooms and a massive library.

Louvre Palace

14th century

In the following years, the monarchs of France chose to live in other palaces like the Chateaus of the Loire Valley instead of the Louvre. This led to the demolition of the castle by Francis I during the 14th century.

Louvre Palace

15th century

King Francis I commissioned the rebuilding of the old palace in Renaissance style. Although this work was interrupted by his death, his son King Henry II took over the rebuilding and ordered for his own changes to the original design.

Louvre Palace

16th century

Louis XIII, the successor of Henry II, made some additions to the palace, while Catherine de Medici, his widow, suggested the construction of a new palace called the Tuileries Palace. She also designed a garden outside the palace for her personal use. Following this, King Henry IV built a Grande Galerie in 1610 that connected the Louvre Palace to the Tuileries Palace.

Louvre Palace

17th century

The 17th century marks the official beginning of the Louvre Museum. During this time, the palace was inhabited by artists, noblemen, and intellectuals, who urged King Louis XVI to build a museum showcasing the royal collection of art. The King ordered the construction of the Cour Carrée and the Louvre Colonnade, extending the Tuileries Palace. In 1793, the museum officially opened to the public.

Louvre Palace

18th century

In 1815, Napoleon I added a new gallery to the north of the palace. Napoleon III continued his work and added two new wings, which marked the completion of the magnificent Louvre Palace. Towards the end of the 18th century in 1871, a fire destroyed the Tuileries Palace. The remains of the palace were completely removed in 1883.

Louvre Palace

19th century

Untouched by the fire, construction of the Louvre Palace continued with the addition of the iconic glass pyramid and other finer details. Newer collections were added to the existing ones, making it one of the largest art collections in the world.

Architecture of the Louvre Palace

Louvre Palace

The Louvre Palace is a beautiful example of French and Renaissance architecture. It has a historic and regal feel to it, with its imposing facade and grandiose interior. The palace was originally built as a fortress in the 12th century, and its architecture reflects that military history. However, the palace was later renovated and turned into a royal palace by Francois I in the 16th century. This renovation added more ornate details and flourishes, making the palace into the beautiful sight that it is today.

Over about 800 years, the palace underwent several changes and transformations, each echoing the work of the previous structures. Today, it is one of the largest and most elegant palace museums in the world.

Major Areas of the Louvre Palace

Situated on the right bank of the River Seine, the Louvre Palace spans across 40 hectares of land. It is composed of several buildings and wings and a beautiful pyramid right at its center. There are four major parts that make up the palace museum - the Sully Wing, the Denon Wing, the Richelieu Wing, the Pyramid, and the Tuileries Gardens.

Louvre Palace

Sully Wing

The Sully Wing is located behind the pyramid and is the oldest part of the Louvre Palace. It is home to an array of famous French paintings, which you can find on the third floor of the Louvre Palace.

It also consists of historical antiques from Greece and Egypt, on the first and second floors. You will also find old parts of the palace that was once used as a medieval fortress in this section.

Louvre Palace

Denon Wing

A must-visit at the Louvre Palace, the Denon Wing is located on the side of the Grande Galerie. This section was initially built as a connection between the Louvre Palace and the Tuileries Palace.

Inside this wing are some of the most famous artworks at the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Rebellious Slave by Michelangelo.

Louvre Palace

Richelieu Wing

Right opposite the Denon Wing on the northern side of the Louvre Palace is the Richelieu Wing. Named after Cardinal Richelieu, a French clergyman, this wing holds a collection of ancient sculptures, European paintings, decorative arts, and Mesopotamian antiquities.

You will also find the famous apartments of Napoleon III here. One of the main highlights of this wing are the royal sculptures on the ground level at the Cour Marly and the Cour Puget.

Louvre Palace

Louvre Pyramid

Forming the center of the Louvre Palace is the iconic glass pyramid, an important symbol of the country’s cultural and artistic heritage. The pyramid was constructed using glass and metal and is located in the courtyard of the palace.

It was designed by architect Ieoh Ming Pei and was constructed in 1989. Below the pyramid is a smaller inverted pyramid that can be accessed from the Napoleon Hall below.

Know More
Louvre Palace

Tuileries Garden

The Tuileries Garden is the only remaining part of the Tuileries Palace that was not completely damaged by the fire in the 18th century. Although some parts of it were destroyed, they were restored under the reign of Napoleon I.

The gardens form an elegant extension of the palace with its own series of sculptures and monuments, as well as a wide variety of plants and trees.

Know More

Visit the Louvre Palace

After a long history spanning over 800 years, the Louvre Palace is now home to the most revered museum in the world - the Louvre Museum. With about 480,000 works of art from every major time period, the museum sees over 9 million visitors each year!

Plan Your Visit

Louvre Museum Tickets & Tours

Louvre Museum Skip the Line Tickets: Guaranteed Entry Within 30 Minutes

Mobile Ticket
More Details +

Louvre Guided Tour - Express [90 Min]

Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation
Duration: 1 hr. 30 min. - 2 hr.
Skip the Line
More Details +

Louvre Guided Tour - Comprehensive [3 Hours]

Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation
Duration: 3 hr.
Free Cancellation
Skip the Line
More Details +

Louvre Guided Tour - Small Group [<15 guests]

Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation
Duration: 2 hr.
Skip the Line
More Details +

Combo: Louvre Museum + Arc de Triomphe Tickets

Duration: 1 hr.
More Details +

Frequently Asked Questions About the Louvre Palace

Q. What is the Louvre Palace?

A. The Louvre Palace is a famous building in Paris, home to the Louvre Museum.

Q. Where is the Louvre Palace located?

A. The Louvre Palace is located in Paris, France.

Q. Can I visit the Louvre Palace?

A. Yes. The Louvre Palace is open throughout the year. You can visit it by booking your tickets online.

Q. Who designed the Louvre Palace?

A. Many hands were involved in designing the Louvre Palace and museum, including Hector Lefuel, Pierre Lescot, Louis Le Vau, Claude Perrault.

Q. When was the Louvre Palace built?

A. The original construction of the Louvre Palace began in 1546 under King Francis I and was completed in 1793.

Q. When did the Louvre Palace open to the public?

A. The museum inside the Louvre Palace officially opened to the public in 1793.

Q. Who used to live at the Louvre Palace?

A. Before the Louvre Palace turned into a museum, it was a royal residence to the monarchs of France including Philip VI, Charles V, Clementia of Hungary, and John II.

Q. Can I visit the garden of Louvre Palace?

A. Yes. The Tuileries Garden outside Louvre Palace is open to visitors throughout the year.

Q. How much does it cost to visit the Louvre Palace?

A. Tickets to visit the museum inside Louvre Palace start at €17.

Q. Are there guided tours of the Louvre Palace?

A. Yes. You can take a guided tour of the museum and learn about all the history of the Louvre Palace.


Non-innocent ligand
In chemistry

, a (redox) non-innocent ligand is a ligand

 in a metal complex where the oxidation state is unclear. Typically, complexes containing non-innocent ligands are redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....

 active at mild potentials
Electric potential
In classical electromagnetism, the electric potential at a point within a defined space is equal to the electric potential energy at that location divided by the charge there...

. The concept assumes that redox reactions in metal complexes are either metal or ligand localized, which is a simplification, albeit a useful one.

Redox Reactions of Complexes Containing Innocent vs. Non-Innocent Ligands

Conventionally, redox reactions of coordination complexes are assumed to be metal-centered. The reduction of MnO4-
A permanganate is the general name for a chemical compound containing the manganate ion, . Because manganese is in the +7 oxidation state, the permanganate ion is a strong oxidizing agent. The ion has tetrahedral geometry...

 to MnO42-
Potassium manganate
Potassium manganate is the inorganic compound with the formula K2MnO4. This green-colored salt is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of potassium permanganate , a common chemical...

 is described by the change in oxidation state of manganese

 from 7+ to 6+. The oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....

 ligands do not change in oxidation state, remaining 2- (a more careful examination of the electronic structure of the redox partners reveals however that the oxide ligands are affected by the redox change). Oxide is an innocent ligand. Another example of conventional metal-centered redox couple is
Cobalt(III) hexammine chloride
Hexamminecobalt chloride is the chemical compound with the formula [Co6]Cl3. This coordination compound is considered an archetypal "Werner complex", named after the pioneer of coordination chemistry, Alfred Werner. This salt consists of [Co6]3+ trications with three Cl− anions...

/[Co(NH3)6]2+. Ammonia is innocent in this transformation.

A clear example of redox non-innocent behavior of ligands is observed for [Ni(S2C2Ph2)2]z, which exists in three oxidation state
Oxidation state

s: z = 2-, 1-, and 0. If the ligands are always considered to be dianionic (as is done in formal oxidation state counting), then z = 0 requires that that nickel has a formal oxidation state of +IV. The formal oxidation state of the central nickel atom therefore ranges from +II to +IV in the above transformations (see Figure). However, the formal oxidation state is different from the real (spectroscopic) oxidation state based on the (spectroscopic) metal d-electron configuration. The stilbene-1,2-dithiolate behaves as a redox non-innocent ligand, and the oxidation processes actually take place at the ligands rather than the metal. This leads to the formation of ligand radical complexes. The charge-neutral complex (z =0) is therefore best described as a Ni2+ derivative of S2C2Ph2-. The diamagnetism

 of this complex arises from anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired electrons of the two ligand radicals.

The complex Cr(2,2'-bipyridine
2,2'-Bipyridine is a organic compound with the formula . This colorless solid, commonly abbreviated bipy or bpy , is an important isomer of the bipyridine family. It is a bidentate chelating ligand, forming complexes with many transition metals...

)3 is a derivative of Cr(III) bound to three radical anions of 2,2'bipyridine, which is in this case also behaving as a redox non-innocent ligand. On the other hand, one-electron oxidation of [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)3]2+ is localized on Ru and the bipyridine is behaving as a normal, innocent ligand in this case.

C.K. Jørgenson (Cologny-Geneva) described ligands as "innocent" and "suspect": "Ligands are innocent when they allow oxidation states of the central atoms to be defined. The simplest case of a suspect ligand is NO..."

Redox non-innocent ligands have been intensively investigated spectroscopically by the groups of K. Wieghardt (MPI Mülheim a/d Ruhr) and W. Kaim (Stuttgart) over the past years. Quite recently it became obvious that redox non-innocent ligands are not just a spectroscopic curiosity, as the radical reactivity of redox non-innocent ligands was demonstrated to play a crucial role in the mechanism of bio-catalytic processes mediated by several metallo-enzymes (e.g. Gallactose Oxidase, Cytochrome P450, methane mono-oxygenase). More recently, some synthetic research groups have started to systematically investigate the (catalytic) reactivity of transition metal complexes with redox non-innocent ligands in organometallic chemistry.

Typical Ligands that often behave as Redox Non-Innocent Ligands

  • O2 and NO.

Ligands with extended pi-delocalization such as porphyrin
Porphyrins are a group of organic compounds, many naturally occurring. One of the best-known porphyrins is heme, the pigment in red blood cells; heme is a cofactor of the protein hemoglobin. Porphyrins are heterocyclic macrocycles composed of four modified pyrrole subunits interconnected at...

s and phthalocyanine
Phthalocyanine is an intensely blue-green coloured macrocyclic compound that is widely used in dyeing. Phthalocyanines form coordination complexes with most elements of the periodic table...

s, ligands with the generalised formulas [D-CR=CR-D]2- or D=CR-CR=D (D = O, S, NR’ and R, R' = alkyl or aryl

), and similar related systems are often non-innocent. For example:
  • dioxalenes, such as catecholates.
  • dithiolene
    Metal dithiolene complexes are complexes containing dithiolene ligands. Dithiolene ligands are unsaturated bidentate ligand wherein the two donor atoms are sulfur. Dithiolenes are often referred to as "metallodithiolenes" or "dithiolene complexes"...

    s, such as 1,2-maleonitriledithiolate
  • diimines such as derivatives of 1,2-diaminobenzene, α-diimines, and dimethylglyoxime
    Dimethylglyoxime is a chemical compound described by the formula CH3CCCH3. This colourless solid is the dioxime derivative of the diketone diacetyl . DmgH2 is used in the analysis of palladium or nickel. Its coordination complexes are of theoretical interest as models for enzymes and as catalysts...

  • pyridine-2,6-diimine ligands (relevant in polymerisation and hydrogenation catalysis).

The pyridine-2,6-diimine ligand can be easily reduced by one or two electrons.

Redox Non-Innocent Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis

In paramagnetic organometallic complexes of Rh and Ir (metallo-radicals), ethene ligands, amido ligands, and (reactive) carbene ligands are sometimes also behaving as 'redox non-innocent' ligands:
  • Solvent coordination to some metallo-radical IrII(ethene) species transfers the spin-density from the metal to the redox non-innocent ethene ligand, after which direct radical coupling reactions with the olefinic ligand radical become possible.

  • Oxidation of certain RhI-amido and IrI-amido complexes does not lead to the expected MII-amido species. Instead the unexpected MI-aminyl radical complexes are formed.

  • Carbene formation from diazo compounds at metallo-radical IrII species unexpectedly leads to formation of 'carbene radicals'. This is a result of the redox non-innocent character of Fischer-type carbenes, where one-electron reduction of the carbene ligand by IrII leads to formation of carbon centered 'carbene radicals' coordinated to IrIII. These 'carbene radicals' reveal interesting radical-type reactivities.

Redox Non-Innocent Ligands in Biology

Metalloenzymes often feature non-innocent ligands. A common non-innocent ligand is found in metalloporphyrins. In the enzyme cytochrome P450, the porphyrin ligand sustains oxidation during the catalytic cycle. In other heme
A heme or haem is a prosthetic group that consists of an iron atom contained in the center of a large heterocyclic organic ring called a porphyrin. Not all porphyrins contain iron, but a substantial fraction of porphyrin-containing metalloproteins have heme as their prosthetic group; these are...

 proteins, such as myoglobin

, ligand-centered redox does not occur and the porphyrin is innocent.

Galactose Oxidase (GOase) provides a seminal example for the involvement of reactive non-innocent ligands in bio-catalytic turnover. GOase converts chemo-selectively primary alcohols with O2 into aldehydes and H2O2, with impressive turnover frequencies. The active site of the enzyme GOase contains a tyrosinyl radical which is coordinated to a CuII ion. In the key steps of the catalytic cycle, a cooperative Brønsted-basic ligand-site deprotonates the alcohol, and subsequently the oxygen atom of the tyrosinyl radical abstracts a hydrogen atom from the alpha-CH functionality of the coordinated alcoholate substrate. Thus, the tyrosinyl radical is a reactive fragment in the catalytic cycle which cooperates with the Cu site. This is essential for the function of the enzyme, because the Cu-ion is only capable of one-electron transformations. It is the interplay of the 1e reactivity of the ligand radical and the 1e reactivity of the metal which makes the overall process possible. The radical abstraction nature of the process makes the process extremely fast.
Anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired spins of the tyrosine radical ligand and the d9 CuII ion (open-shell singlet ground state) explains the observed diamagnetic nature of the resting state of the enzyme, as was confirmed by synthetic model studies.


Select Page

While it may sound simple, business development is a topic that is often confused by many professionals. Several different definitions and approaches are used to explain business development; however, in most cases, it refers to a goal set by an organization to increase the company’s long-term value. How that goal is accomplished is dependent on the company and the creative ideas they bring to achieving growth. That being said, there are three important components for establishing efficient business development.

In short, business development aims to increase the value of an organization through its customers, relationships, and markets.

An organization is supported by its clients or customers. Without them, your products or services wouldn’t be necessary, and there would be no reason to develop your business. Many different departments contribute to the overall success of client satisfaction. Sales and marketing are two important teams that contribute to customer satisfaction and ultimately the growth of a business. While sales focus on revenue goals and reaching target audiences, marketing teams focus on the promotion and advertisement of the businesses services or product. Assessing the budget of a business will provide direction to whether or not a more aggressive sales and marketing strategy can be implemented for developing the company’s brand.

What your customers, investors, employees, and partners say about your business is vital for long-term success. Maintaining strong relationships are the building blocks towards business development. Additionally, incorporating strategic partnerships is a viable option for business development. Partners are able to evaluate and offer valuable insight to options presented and offer advice to what action would best serve the development of the business.

When, what, and how customers choose to buy a product or service can depend on the market they live in. Understanding the market for your clients and identifying ways to increase your territory can contribute to long-term success. Although it varies depending on the industry, market research is an essential solution to keeping up to date on trends within your target audience. Examining trends in consumer behavior is a great way to stay ahead of the competition and increase your customer base.


After a decadent period, due to the debts and the mortgage bearing down on the villa, coupled with the Second World War effects, the path of the lost dignity and pride begins with the Ciulli’s ownership.
After having renovated the façades and the roofing, current owners decided to devote the most exclusive and prestigious part of the villa to reception. With the recent renovation, they wanted to bring back the soul of something that once used to be the ‘life in villa’, the comforts and pleasures of living in a countryside which we can call also ‘city’. With an aim of keeping the warmth and intimacy of a private home, the renovations and the adaptation to new modern housing exigencies have been planned. With the same basics, the new furniture was thought and set up, with pieces of furniture and accessories already existing in the villa being favored. Hence, we tried to follow the line of a traditional ‘good taste’, although now obsolete, of a ‘civil modesty’ that has always characterized the Florentine way of living.


Trophic LevelsPond PowerPre-Field expedition Lesson
Below are examples of the trophic levels in one particular food chain:
Grass produces its own food v photosynthesis. That is aprimary producer at the bottom of the food chain. Major producers room the 1st trophic level.
Grasshoppers are herbivores that eat grass. Therefore, they room one trophic level greater than grass. They are considered primary consumers. Major consumers are the second trophic level.
Toads eat grasshoppers. Therefore, they are one trophic level higher than grasshoppers. Castle are thought about secondary consumers. An additional consumers space the third trophic level.
Hawks room carnivores that eat toads. Thus they are one trophic level greater than toads. Castle are taken into consideration tertiary consumers. Tertiary consumers are the 4th trophic level. Tertiary consumers tend to be in ~ the top of the food chain. They have actually few, if any, predators.
Bacteria, fungi and also other organisms feed off of dead matter. This organisms are well-known as decomposers.

You are watching: Is a hawk a producer consumer or decomposer

They transform the dead matter earlier into nutrients. Decomposers space at both the beginning and end the the food chain. Therefore, decomposers space not assigned a trophic level.
Photograph credits:

Miller, B. (Photographer). Closeup the dark green blades of grass. . Recall from

Siers, W. (Photographer). Grasshopper family. . Re-cover from (Photographer). Common Toad. . Retrieved native

Noffsinger, L. (Photographer). Red Tailed Hawk. . Retrieved from

jscreationzs. (Photographer).

See more: Who Was The Most Famous Daoist Teacher ? Free Flashcards About Ancient China

Bacteria Cell. . Retrieved from


7 Signs of an Unhealthy Gut & 7 Ways to Improve Gut Health

Feeling off? An unbalanced gut microbial community, also known as dysbiosis, can wreak havoc on your health. Your gut is home to around 100 trillion microbes, and most of these little critters are good for you.1 However, not all microbes provide the same health benefits. When potentially harmful bacteria have stronger effects than your good bacteria, it can negatively affect your health.

Here are 7 signs that your gut could use some love:

Has your skin been suffering from breakouts? An unbalanced gut might be the culprit. Recent studies have revealed a link between reduced bacterial diversity in the human gut and acne.2 Acne affects up to 50 million people in the United States and is the nation’s most common skin condition.3 What can you do to fight back against stubborn blemishes? Take a close look at your diet. Research has identified a link between the Standard American Diet (SAD) and acne.2 An overabundance of saturated fats, dairy products, and refined carbohydrates leaves Americans undernourished and can contribute to the development of blemishes.2 Omega-3 fatty acids are also in short supply in the SAD; supplementation with omega-3s has been shown to help reduce acne.4

Feeling down? The bacteria living in your gut could be partially to blame. You’ve probably heard of the gut-brain connection; many studies have shown a relationship between mood and the gut.5 Via the vagus nerves, your thoughts and moods send signals to your digestive tract (and immune system) and vice versa.6 Recent studies suggest that a high-quality probiotic may help to improve mood and cognition.7-10

GI upset
Too many trips to the porcelain throne? Losing friends to flatulence? Confounded by occasional constipation? These annoying symptoms could be signs of dysbiosis.11 To address these issues, a good place to start is to look at your medications and supplements to see if any may cause occasional diarrhea or constipation. Additionally, an elimination diet can be a good way to help determine if certain foods might be contributing to your symptoms. Your poop could be telling you a lot about your health, so keeping tabs on your bathroom visits is important.

Immune system
70% of your immune system resides in your gut.12 A healthy balance of gut bacteria helps support a sufficient immune response.

Are you counting sheep by the thousands, yet sleep is still elusive? The critters living in your gut could be partially to blame. A recent study showed that better and longer sleep is associated with microbiome diversity.13

Sugar cravings
If you often find yourself craving sugary treats, this could be partially due to the microbes in your gut.14 For example, the bacteria in your gut may signal that they would like a bacon maple doughnut, even though you planned to have a salad instead. The most effective way to turn down the volume on the signals for sugary snacks? Starve those nasty bugs by changing up your daily diet. You can improve your guts microbiome by favoring vegetables, fruits, and fermented foods. Over time the cravings can diminish.

Weight fluctuations
Are you struggling to maintain a healthy weight? The bacteria in your gut could be a major player. Everyone’s microbiome is unique—made up of various strains of bacteria and protozoa (a group of single-celled microorganisms)—some of these gut dwellers have been shown to influence weight and even overall health. If you are experiencing sudden weight loss or unusual changes in your bowel habits, you should contact your healthcare practitioner.

7 ways to improve gut health

The more diverse your diet, the more diverse your microbiome! Eat the rainbow by loading up on a variety of different-colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources like fish and legumes. Another great way to support your gut is by eating fermented foods. Building a rich microbiome is a fantastic way to care for your health and immune system. Additionally, here are 5 foods to reduce to support your gut health.

High-quality probiotics can be a fantastic way to support your gut health. When you have a rich and diverse “forest” of good bacteria, the harmful bacteria are crowded out. This increase of good bacteria and the resulting reduction in harmful bacteria can improve your digestion and ability to better absorb macronutrients and micronutrients. Two important things to remember when selecting a probiotic: 1. Different strains for different gains, meaning different probiotic strains support specific health goals. 2. Not all probiotics are created equal. Here are six things to look for in a probiotic.

Remember to feed your good bacteria! The good bacteria in your gut live on prebiotics. Prebiotics resist digestion so that they can reach the good bacteria living in your colon. Your good bacteria then ferment (eat) the prebiotics. So, probiotics and prebiotics go together like…well, probiotics and prebiotics!

Many supplements are formulated to support a healthy gut and a strong digestive tract. Some great options are glutamine, inner leaf aloe, and zinc-carnosine. Additionally, recent studies have shown the benefits of vitamins C, B2 (or riboflavin), and D on the digestive tract and microbiota of the human gut.15-17

Need another reason to exercise? Studies have shown that exercise can increase microbiota diversity within the gut.18 So find your favorite way to break a sweat and get moving. Your gut will thank you!  Developing a yoga practice may be a great place to start, as studies have shown that yoga has proven benefits for relieving intestinal distress.19-20

Drink up; the gut’s mucosal lining is 98% water!21 Water not only helps to expel toxins through urine and stool, but it also helps to prevent occasional constipation. It’s important to support the mucosal lining of your gut; this lining helps shield your gut’s inner epithelial walls from undesirable microbes.21

The gut and brain are in constant contact via the vagus nerves. Relaxation has been found to positively impact gut health.22 Here are six simple ways to reduce stress.

If you think your gut may be the source of your symptoms or just needs some love, reach out to your healthcare practitioner to create a plan of action to reach your best gut health. Unusual GI symptoms can be a sign of a more serious health concern.

  1. Guinane CM et al. Role of the gut microbiota in health and chronic gastrointestinal disease: understanding a hidden metabolic organ. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2013;6(4):295-308.
  2. Deng Y et al. Patients with acne vulgaris have a distinct gut microbiota in comparison with healthy controls. Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(8):783-790.
  3. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions/skin-conditions-by-the-numbers. Accessed May 15, 2019.
  4. Jung JY et al. Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double- blind, controlled trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014;94: 521–525.
  5. Liu Y et al. Proteomics analysis of the gut–brain axis in a gut microbiota-dysbiosis model of depression. Translational Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):1-8.
  6. Breit S et al. Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain-gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:44.
  7. El Dib R et al. Probiotics for the treatment of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical nutrition ESPEN. 2021;45:75-90.
  8. Bravo JA et al. Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011;108:16050– 16055.
  9. Kim CS et al. Probiotic supplementation improves cognitive function and mood with changes in gut microbiota in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. The Journals of Gerontology Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2021;76(1):32-40.
  10. Petra AI et al. Gut-microbiota-brain axis and its effect on neuropsychiatric disorders with suspected immune dysregulation. Clin Ther. 2015;37(5):984-995.
  11. Cao H et al. Dysbiosis contributes to chronic constipation development via regulation of serotonin transporter in the intestine. Scientific Reports. 2017;7(1):10322-10412.
  12. Vighi G et al. Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clin Exp Immunol. 2008;153 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):3-6.
  13. Smith RP et al. Gut microbiome diversity is associated with sleep physiology in humans. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0222394.
  14. Alcock et al. Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms. Bioessays. 2014;36(10):940-949.
  15. Pham VT et al. Effects of colon-targeted vitamins on the composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiome- a pilot study. Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-20.
  16. Choi Y et al. E (α-tocopherol) consumption influences gut microbiota composition. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2020;71 (2):221–225.
  17. Chatterjee I et al. Vitamin D receptor promotes healthy microbial metabolites and microbiome. Sci Rep. 2020;10:7340.
  18. Clarke SF et al. Exercise and associated dietary extremes impact on gut microbial diversity. Gut. 2014;63(12):1913-1920.
  19. Dalton A et al. Exercise influence on the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Gut microbes. 2019;10(5):555-568.
  20. Schumann D et al. Effect of yoga in the therapy of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(12):1720–1731.
  22. Househam et al. The effects of stress and meditation on the immune system, human microbiota, and epigenetics. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine. 2017;31(4):10-25.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


The the tool types that were to be

The the tool types that were to be

The Neanderthals lived in areas ranging from Western Europe through central Asia from about 200,000 to between 36,000 and 24,000 years ago. The Neanderthals lived in groups of 30 to 50 individuals, they invented many of the tool types that were to be perfected by fully sapient peoples, they had weapons adequate to deal with both the cave lion and cave bear, they used body paint, buried their dead. Neanderthal Man survived through the Ice Age.

They are thought to have had fire. Neanderthals lived side by side with modern humans for over 10,000 years.There are many theories on why the Neanderthals disappeared. Most of them involve Homo Sapiens in one way or another, considering that the Neanderthal’s extinction coincides with the early human’s estimated arrival in Europe from their original home in Africa.

We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically
For You For Only $13.90/page!

order now

The first theory states that modern humans killed off the Neanderthals. With a much more sophisticated technology, Neanderthals would have had to compete with modern humans for their meals. This would have definitely led to fight with starvation and a decrease in the overall Neanderthal population, which could have been the cause of extinction. Also, in contrast to Cro-Magnons, who lived to well into there fifties, Neanderthals had a much shorter life span, barely surviving until the age of forty. The Neanderthals may have reacted to the new humans as enemies. Since the modern humans are presumed to have been smarter than the Neanderthals, and since modern humans are still alive today, this theory concludes that fighting wiped the Neanderthals out. However, this theory does have its faults.

First of all, why would two cultures begin to fight after many thousands of years of peaceful coexistence? Also, it shows a lot of human arrogance to assume that early man could take an entire species that was stronger and almost as smart as them and fight it to extinction. The second theory suggests that diseases introduced by the modern humans to whom Neanderthal man was not immune wiped out Neanderthals. It is possible that when Cro-Magnon man first encounter Neanderthal man, he could have introduced new devastating diseases, as the conquistadors did in Latin America. Neanderthals, not being immune to these illnesses would have quickly perished. However, it can also be considered that when the two human races met, war quickly followed. Cro-Magnon man may have possibly exterminated the Neanderthals. In early human history, man has fought his own race for years to justly claim or protect what he considers his.

Although this theory is plausible, it is not probable, considering that the Neanderthals lived in close proximity to modern man for so long. Still, it is possible that there was a disease, which caused the Neanderthals to die out. The last theory states that Neanderthals were not in fact a separate species, but interbred to a greater or lesser extent with the incoming Homo sapiens, whose genes eventually became dominant at the eventual expense of the genes delivering Neanderthal characteristics. This hypothesis comes from the fact that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons inhabited the same regions of Europe for thousands of years. It is not beyond a doubt that they did come in contact with one another, possibly even trading and communicating. Neanderthals and modern humans became one species, through thousands of years of interbreeding.

Supporters of this theory state that some modern day Europeans have facial features similar to Neanderthal man. Neanderthal genes may have been inserted into the human gene pool, and Human genes may have been added to the Neanderthals. At this point, Neanderthals and humans may have evolved together at an incredible rate, becoming one race in a relatively short period of time. On the other hand, a disease, a war, or an increase in population causing the natural resources to be inadequate for keeping so many hominids alive might have cut off Neanderthals suddenly from contact with the humans, possibly.

In conclusion we may never be sure of the fate of the Neanderthals, until archaeological finds provide the evidence. However, they did have a human awareness for many things. Neanderthals were compassionate enough to bury their dead, care for their injured and ill, develop complex tools, create some form of ritual behavior, and communicate in some ways. It is this aspect of humanity, that was improved and carried on by their successors, Cro-Magnon man, who later dominated the world.In the Upper Paleolithic period Neanderthal man disappears and is replaced by a variety of Homo sapiens such as Cro-Magnon-Man and Grimaldi man. This, the flowering of the Paleolithic period, we saw an astonishing number of human cultures, such as the Aurignacian, Gravettian, Perigordian, Solutrean, and Magdalenian, rise and develop in the Old World. The beginnings of communal hunting and extensive fishing are found here, as is the first conclusive evidence of belief systems centering on magic and the supernatural.

Pit houses, the first man-made shelters, were built, sewn clothing was worn, and sculpture and painting originated. The Upper Paleolithic people had a greater variety of tools used for different seasons. Plus their art is an evident in the tools and weapons they made. Their stone tools are finely worked, and they made a typical figure eight-shaped blade. They also used bone, horn, and ivory and made necklaces and other personal ornaments. They carved the so-called Venus figures, ritual statuettes of bone, and made outline drawings on cave walls.

Here artifacts reflect a society made up of communities of fishermen and reindeer hunters. Surviving Magdalenian tools, which range from tiny microliths to implements of great length and fineness, indicate an advanced technique. Weapons were highly refined and varied, the atlatl (throwing stick used to give a spear greater propulsion) first came into use, and along the southern edge of the ice sheet boats and harpoons were developed. However, the crowning achievement of the Magdalenian was its cave paintings, the culmination of Paleolithic art.

After 13,000 BC more clement weather patterns resulted in the greater availability of food. In tropical and temperate forest regions, Paleolithic tools, still chipped, were adapted to the new conditions. This period is known as the Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age. It began with the end of the last glacial period over 10,000 years ago and evolved into the Neolithic period; this change involved the gradual domestication of plants and animals and the formation of settled communities at various times and places.

Mesolithic cultures represent a wide variety of hunting, fishing, and food gathering techniques. This is a clear indication that human populations developed new and ingenious ways to catch and kill animals, while the same time they devoted more energy to fishing and the collection of wild plant foods. This variety may be the result of adaptations to changed ecological conditions associated with the retreat of glaciers, the growth of forests in Europe and deserts in N Africa, and the disappearance of the large game of the Ice Age. Characteristic of the period were hunting and fishing settlements along rivers and on lake shores, where fish and mollusks were abundant. They lived as Fishers and Hunters and kept domesticated animals (oxen, goats and sheep) and made rough pottery. Pottery and the use of the bow were developed.

This was the period where the hafted axes were improved and where bones and tools were found. The characteristic of Mesolithic tools was the Microliths , a small but hard, sharp blade. Such tools were given those humans the opportunity to clear the forests areas and can also be attached to arrow shaft by using melted resin as a binder. This tool also had allowed those humans to dig out canoes and skin-covered boats.In conclusion, The Mesolithic Period is part of the upper Paleolithic.

It was followed by the pre-pottery Neolithic era and represented a new phase of culture, characterized by the beginning of settled life.Social Issues

No Comments

Add your comment

I'm Alfred!

Check it out


Frequent question: Does Chinese green tea have lead?

And some green tea leaves, particularly those from China, are contaminated with lead, though the metal does not appear to leach out during the brewing process. … Green tea is one of the most popular varieties of tea in the United States, second only to black tea, which is made from the leaves of the same plant.

Does Chinese tea contain lead?

Unfortunately, a good deal of Chinese tea has been found to have traces of lead, arsenic, and aluminum. … They found that over 73% of the teas contained traces of lead and 20% contained aluminum above recommended guidelines.

Is Chinese green tea bad for you?

Excess consumption of green tea increases the risk of bone disease such as osteoporosis in sensitive individuals. Compounds in green tea inhibit the absorption of calcium, resulting in a deterioration of bone health (15). Limit your intake to 2 to 3 cups of green tea if you are predisposed to bone disease.

IT\'S FUNNING:  Why is the Chinese language so weird?

Does green tea have lead in it?

Lead. Don’t panic yet — yes, the study also found lead in some of the green teas, but it’s not necessarily cause for concern. Some, like Teavana varieties, found none, while others, like Lipton and Bigelow, were found to contain 1.25 to 2.5 micrograms of lead per serving.

Which green tea has no lead?

Overall Winner for Best Organic and Lead-Free Green Tea: Traditional Medicinals Tea. Highlights: The best of the best!

Does Japanese green tea have lead?

In fact, a study testing 139 Japanese green tea samples for traces of lead found precisely none (zero) that exceeded safe levels.

What is the safest green tea to drink?

“Matcha is often considered one of the healthiest green teas because it has a higher antioxidant level than traditional green tea and is particularly known for its anti-cancer properties,” says Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim.

Which is better Japanese or Chinese green tea?

Health Benefits: Japanese Green Tea Has More Antioxidants

What happens if I drink green tea everyday?

IT\'S FUNNING:  What is the use of massage to Chinese?

Is green tea bad for kidneys?

Although experts are unsure whether green tea will positively affect your health from a purely medical standpoint, it is certainly a safe, tasty and zero-calorie beverage for people with kidney disease. Green tea may also lower your risk of developing kidney stones.

What is the cleanest green tea?

Best green tea

  • Best overall green tea: Supreme Matcha Green Tea, Pukka Herbs.
  • Best loose leaf: Himalayan Green Tea, Vahdam Teas.
  • Best matcha: Pure Matcha, Golde.
  • Best organic: Organic Ginger Green Tea, Traditional Medicinals.
  • Best decaf: Nightly Calm Decaffeinated Green Tea, Twinings.

Is green tea toxic?

Can you get lead poisoning from tea?

They found that all brewed teas contained lead. Further, 73% of teas brewed for 3 minutes, and 83% of those brewed for 15 minutes had lead levels that considered unsafe for consumption by women who were pregnant or lactating.

Does Japanese green tea have pesticides?

Do Organic teas at Hibiki-an contain any pesticide or chemical fertilizer? No. All of our Organic teas are officially certified Organic by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan.

What is the healthiest tea brand?

The 12 Healthiest Teas on Grocery Store Shelves

  • Twinings of London Pure Oolong Tea Bags.
  • Honest Tea Ginger Oasis Herbal Tea.
  • Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with Lavender Herbal Tea.
  • The Republic of Tea Natural Hibiscus Superflower Tea.
  • Pantenger Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea.
IT\'S FUNNING:  Can I enter China with L visa?

Why is there a lead warning on matcha?

Thus, we’re including a warning for all matcha products shipped to California. While lead is naturally-occurring in soil and is naturally absorbed by plants, it’s also released from industrial sources and aircraft. Upon emission, lead can travel before sticking to soil particles in the ground.


In the New Normal, a Secure and Accessible Enterprise IT Infrastructure Ensures Business Continuity

Apu Pavithran, Founder and CEO of Hexnode | Mitsogo

“Bringing personal devices to work, the rapid proliferation of IoT-enabled devices and employees working from unsafe home networks and public Wi-Fi has given hackers a myriad of entry points into a corporate network. Despite their size, every business and organization is at risk of a cyber-attack”. To understand the major expectations from security solution providers and how the companies are strategizing to meet these expectations, Nidhi Shail Kujur of Elets News Networks (ENN) interacted with Apu Pavithran, Founder and CEO of Hexnode|Mitsogo.

1.       How big is the enterprise security market in India and what has been the growth rate?

Every year, more and more organizations, from enterprises to SMBs, become victims of cyberattacks. As the threat landscape evolves and new vulnerabilities develop, cybersecurity will continue to grow in priority. The cybersecurity services and products business in India had a turnover of $9.85 billion in 2021, according to the Data Security Council of India, and expanded at a CAGR of 40% over the previous two years.

The pandemic and the cyber risks it brought were vital catalysts for such a rise in cybersecurity spending. As most employees worked from home, CISOs had to deploy new and inspired solutions to secure their corporate resources. In the new normal, a secure and accessible enterprise IT infrastructure ensures business continuity. As a result, enterprise security niches like endpoint management, identity management and cloud security saw significant growth over the past two years.

2.       What are the major expectations from security solutions providers? How does your company strategize to meet these expectations?

As a long-time cybersecurity enthusiast, there are two questions I have often heard. The first one is “how does your product help us future proof our security needs.” Future-proofing is great, and it allows your IT admins to be prepared to handle new vulnerabilities or problems that may pop up unexpectantly. In that regard, the immediate future we are looking at is in the cloud. Cloud adoption has been gaining steam for many years. Most modern solutions are being deployed as cloud-based, and legacy solutions are transitioning to a cloud-centric one. Still, it’s not anywhere near done. But chose the cloud way of doing things pretty early in the process. Hexnode is a cloud-native unified endpoint management solution that is able to secure and manage every endpoint in a corporate network.

The second one, I believe, is not just restricted to cybersecurity but is true of most industries. It’s about customer service. Every new solution or architecture has a learning curve attached to it. Customers will need extensive support and assistance, especially since these solutions are responsible for the whole organization’s digital security. Most customers expect the service team to be quick and responsive, which can often be a significant deciding factor in a sales call. If you look at the recent cyberattacks, the importance of choosing the right solution for your business cannot be understated. At Hexnode, we boast a record waiting time of four minutes on average.

3.       What are the issues that the CISOs are facing currently?

A CISO has to address many issues, including organizational issues, training employees in cyber-hygiene, hiring and retaining cybersecurity talent, etc. However, I imagine a CISO’s or even an organization’s greatest nightmare is a cyberattack.

Bringing personal devices to work, the rapid proliferation of IoT-enabled devices and employees working from unsafe home networks and public Wi-Fi has given hackers a myriad of entry points into a corporate network. Despite their size, every business and organization is at risk of a cyber-attack. It is the CISOs responsibility to ensure that the organization is prepared and equipped to defend itself against every kind of vulnerability. Furthermore, CISOs must always be equipped with a plan to deal with a breach if one happens. They must be quick to respond and contain the breach so that it doesn’t cause further harm.

Government-issued compliance regulations are another area of concern. Notably, the European Union established the GDPR back in 2016. In addition, in 2019, India introduced its first data privacy bill. These additional regulations should be considered, and CISOs must ensure that the company meets their data privacy and protection standards or risk being penalized.

4.       How can cloud security aid enterprises at a time when the threat landscape is continuously changing?

Considering that a significant part of the workforce is still working from home, the current threat landscape is very widespread. Traditionally, corporate networks passed through data centers where security policies were applied. This legacy approach increased latency and was only viable when the workforce was confined to the office. A cloud-centric approach allowed security providers to deploy their products through the public internet as a subscription model. Essentially, this approach makes sure that any user, no matter the location, can utilize corporate deployed security applications. It also means that in the event of provisioning a new device, every security service can be applied out-of-the-box. Additionally, cloud-delivered applications also decrease latency, are more flexible against zero-day threats and can be easily configured.

5.       How serious are Indian enterprises when it comes to enterprise security? How much do they invest in the same?

Given the rapid scale of India’s digitization trajectory, it has become a hotspot for cyber-attacks. A recent study by Frost & Sullivan reported that 69% of Indian organizations were at risk of a security breach. However, India’s cyber security business nearly doubled in size after two years of the pandemic. It increased from $5.04 billion in 2019 to $9.85 billion in 2021. As a result, cybersecurity is now one of the most important boardroom priorities and not something restricted to CISOs. Given the enormous increase in expenditures following the pandemic, cybersecurity is the bedrock on which the future of India’s IT business will be built.


Note:  Glossed words are also in bold in the interviews. The definitions are embedded in the text, and can be seen when the cursor is hovered over the word in question.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W | X | Y | Z

A special form of X-ray examination that shows the blood flow in  arteries and veins.

A protein produced by the body's immune system that recognises and attacks foreign substances.

Any foreign substance or organism that stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies and cells that react specifically with it.

Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the body mistakes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them.

A type of cancer that starts in epithelia, the tissues that line or cover most body organs.  At least 80% of cancers are carcinomas (see also sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma).

Carcinoma in situ

Chromosome translocation
A type of chromosomal abnormality in which a piece of a chromosome has broken off and attached to another chromosome.

Pertaining to both the signs and symptoms of a disease (the clinical picture), and the nature, causes and consequences of the disease (the  pathology).

The process whereby an unspecialized early embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell.

Stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.  This is the material inside the nucleus of the cells of living organisms that carries genetic information (see also RNA).

A laboratory technique that is used to separate molecules such as nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) or proteins on the basis of size, electric charge, and other physical properties.

The obstruction of a blood vessel by a foreign substance or a blood clot.

The thin layer of cells that line the internal walls of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.

The layer of cells covering most of the body's structures and organs, internal and external.  It includes the skin.

Flow cytometry
Analysis of biological material by detection of the light-absorbing or fluorescing properties of cells, or subcellular fractions such as chromosomes, passing through a laser beam.

The branch of medicine that deals with the digestive system and its disorders.

The complete package of genetic material for a living thing, organised in chromosomes. A copy of the genome is found in every cell.

The branch of medical science concerned with the blood and blood-forming tissues;  haematopathology is concerned with diseases of.

H and E
This is a standard tissue stain that all pathologists and labs use.  They stand for the chemicals hematoxylin (H), and eosin (E).

The study of cells and tissues, usually carried out with the aid of a microscope.

A technique that uses antibodies labelled with fluorescent or pigmented dyes to identify, or indicate the presence of, specific proteins in tissues when looked at under the microscope.

In situ hybridisation
A technique allowing scientists to identify particular DNA or RNA sequences while these sequences remain in their original location in the cell.

Medical examiner
The term for coroner in the US.  To qualify as a medical examiner, a person must have an MD and be licensed as a pathologist.  A coroner needs to be qualified in either law or medicine.

Mesenchymal cells
Embryonic cells that give rise to various connective tissues such as cartilage, bone, muscle, and lymphatic and blood vessels.

Monoclonal antibody
An antibody produced in the laboratory from a single clone of cells, which is therefore a single, pure, homogeneous type of antibody that recognises only a single, specific antigen, or protein.

The origin of a disease, and the chain of events leading to that disease.

Pertaining to the period shortly before and shortly after birth, variously defined as beginning between the 20th and 28th week of gestation and ending the 7th to 28th day after birth.

The term applied to a baby in the period shortly before and shortly after birth, variously defined as beginning between the 20th and 28th week of gestation and ending the 7th to 28th day after birth.

The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract.  (Hence peristaltic)

Pluripotent means ‘with many powers’.  In cell biology it refers to a cell that is able to differentiate in many directions and develop into any of the major tissue types.

Stands for ribonucleic acid.  RNA, like DNA, is found in every cell of every living thing on earth.  The relationship between the two, in summary, is that DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes proteins.  In other words, DNA is the director of the process of protein synthesis and RNA carries out the instructions.

The process by which the exact arrangement of the units of information on a specific stretch of DNA, or a gene, are determined.

Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Bleeding between the brain and one of the covering membranes, often due to a ruptured aneurysm, a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel.

Subdural haemorrhage:  Occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and blood builds up between the brain and the brain's tough outer lining, the dura.

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.


Friday, September 15, 2017

AHK scripts for hardest trials in USF4

A few things to note before using my scripts:

- I mapped my keys as F, G, H, J for LP/MP/HP/3P and V, B, N, M for LK/MK/HK/3K, so it's better to remap your keys before using the scripts so that you won't need to waste time changing them.
- Unlike SFV, SF4 requires much stricter timing and positioning. There's a shit ton of 1f links and cancelling in most trials, with many are downright stupid (e.g. Vega or Gief's multiple jabs). In addition, you have to deal with various option selects (e.g. HP or HK may have 2 variants depending on the distance to your opponent). Therefore, you may find a lot of my scripts not working at first. When that happens, try adjusting your start position and try again. You may sometimes need to repeat up to 50 times, but they will work out eventually.
- If you find any script that doesn't work no matter how many times you retry, let me know and I'll see if I need to fix it or add something to it.
- Most trials are done in corner. For most of them, you either stand as close to Dan as possible (like 3 light attacks in a row), or a few steps from Dan (usually starts with a jump attack). For any trials that was done mid-stage, I've already wrote the details, so try to read them before using script.
- In most scripts, I left out the ultra/super either because it was easier to mash at that point or because I was lazy to code, so you'll either need to add the script for ultra/super or just manually input it.
- For some reason, the game doesn't handle 1f inputs very well, so I decided to keep Sleep at 33 (2 frames) in most cases for consistent inputs.

That's all for now. Here's the scripts I've wrote:


5 Places Where “Ugly” UIs Provide a Perfect UX

Nowadays, tech-savvy users except beautiful user interfaces and intuitive user experiences across their many devices.

You can almost hear the millennial generation go, “ewe” when they land on a dated website. This sentiment has forced many software products to focus on UX/UI to attract more customers and keep them engaged within their platform.

However, just because the masses prefer a modern user interface doesn’t mean that your application or program needs one. In fact, there are many times when beautiful interfaces can actually increase user abandonment. Not ideal.

Here are some of the common scenarios where transforming your user interface into a futuristic experience can backfire. Spoiler alert: it almost always comes down to your users.

Your Users Lack Computer Literacy

If your users don’t have much experience with computers, mobile devices, or applications, over-designing your interface can become a problem.

Because we’re entrenched in tech, it’s easy to forget that there are millions of people throughout the world that don’t have access to computers or mobile devices. As accessibility evolves and users begin to use more technology, they will gravitate towards programs and applications that are simple to navigate and easy to use.

Folks that may lack computer literacy are seniors, those living in rural areas, those living in developing countries, and kids.

Your Users Lack English Literacy

If your software program appeals to an international audience but your company is creating content in English, your user interface probably needs to be simplistic and visual. Simplistic and visual may end up feeling modern and sleek by default, but lead with your user’s core needs and verify it truly works for them.

Your Users Access Your App in Remote Locations

If your users are accessing your application in the field or a foreign country without infrastructure, they likely have poor bandwidth.

If your application has large digital assets or too many, it may slow it down or cause it to time out. In these instances, it’s not worth adding any non-essential graphics or images.

Another example is forever scroll vs pagination. Forever scroll requires all content to download at once and pagination loads a few assets at a time. Therefore, in low bandwidth situations, pagination is a better choice.

These examples can make your app a little less “pretty,” however, functionality is more important than beauty.

Massive Regulations & Abundance of Information

Some industries have to manage their UX/UI strategy within constraints of government regulations. One of the most obvious industries is the healthcare industry.

The healthcare industry has to consider accessibility and compliance for their user interfaces. For example, allowing sight-impaired users to navigate websites and cloud-based apps.  They also have to consider things like the 2009 HITECH act, often-required fine print, and a desire to be seen as safe and reliable. Combine these requirements with brand guidelines and you’ve suddenly got a lot less creativity to utilize.

Older Demographics

Senior users have been a bit slower to adopt technology compared to younger generations, but this demographic is becoming more enthusiastic about leveraging technology.

That being said, they do have different limitations and preferences and any good UX/UI team should take them into account.

Limitations may include vision or hearing impairment, memory loss, or physical instability. On top of these limitations, their preferences could affect how you design your layouts, buttons, and sign-up forms.

You Can Still Provide a Good UX

Even if you have severe limitations on creating an attractive user interface, you can still create a nice user experience. These two things are not synonymous.

For example, Craigslist. Craigslist has a tried and true UX that is simple and intuitive, but it’s not the most attractive website.

Strategize around your software’s information architecture and how to organize pertinent information. Think about a user’s flow and how they navigate to and from different pages on your website or app. Be consistent with elements, provide a consistent experience across devices, and offer support where you can.

To think through some of your user’s limitations and strategize around their needs, contact the UX/UI team at Devetry!