Jakob Henninger, Dr. Friederike Römer
Jakob Henninger, Dr. Friederike Römer
Friederike Römer and Jakob Henninger have investigated how the goals of civil society organisations that advocate for migrants' welfare rights differ between autocracies and democracies. They explain their findings in an interview.

"Choose your battles. How civil society organisations choose context-specific goals and activities to fight for immigrant welfare rights in Malaysia and Argentina" is the title of a new paper by Jakob Henninger and Friederike Römer, published in Social Policy & Administration. In this interview, they explain their research design and results.

For all those who have not yet read the paper: Can you briefly summarise your most important findings?

Friederike Römer: In our paper, we examine how civil society organisations - for example, non-governmental organisations, but also trade unions - campaign for migrants' access to welfare benefits. We compare Argentina with Malaysia, and thus a democracy with a country that, at least until recently, was classified as an electoral autocracy. We asked ourselves: What strategies do these organisations pursue? More precisely, what goals do they set for themselves? And what actions do they take? We found that there are major differences between the two cases: In Argentina, the organisations pursued more ambitious goals, namely the inclusion of immigrants in the whole range of welfare benefits - including benefits that do not require prior contributions. In Malaysia, on the other hand, the commitment was rather limited to certain contribution-based benefits. Inclusion in the tax-financed poverty reduction programme, for example, was never part of the strategy.

Jakob Henninger: We were able to show that the contextual factor "political system" can explain at least part of these differences. In both countries there are activists who work for the inclusion of migrants. However, civil society organisations in Argentina are better integrated into political processes. They had different resources and opportunities to influence political decisions. But the type of arguments put forward by the organisations also differed: In Argentina, human rights are often referred to and interpreted in terms of equality between migrants and the domestic population. References to human rights can also be found in Malaysia - but rather as a demand to comply with minimum standards.

You argue that CSOs choose their goals and activities depending on the type of regime. Could it not be that they also align their goals and activities with the values and general sentiment towards migrants among the majority population? The point I want to make is: How do you make sure that the respective regime type is the cause of the differences in CSOs and not other factors that you have not investigated?

Jakob Henninger: Of course, these two cases are different. But what is important is that they are also similar in many crucial aspects. Both countries have a long history of migration that goes back to the 19th century and continues to shape societies today. Today, they are among the main recipient countries of migration in their respective regions and some sectors of the economy are heavily dependent on migrant labour. Similarly, the welfare states of the two countries have similarities, even if they are not the same: Both have long been focused on contribution-based benefits, but have recently introduced more benefits that do not depend on contributions. Thus, we can rule out at least some factors as explanations for the differences.

Based on preliminary theoretical considerations, you outline some expectations in the introduction of the paper, which are then confirmed by empirical evidence (e.g. that CSOs in democracies tend to pursue the goal of equality for migrants, while CSOs in autocracies tend to pursue the goal of meeting the basic needs of migrants). Were there also things that have surprised you?

Friederike Römer: We had expected that the activities of the organisations would differ significantly. We would have thought that the Malaysian organisations would concentrate more on providing concrete help in emergency situations, while the Argentinian organisations would focus more on political advocacy. However, when we analysed the organisations' self-descriptions, we realised that the differences were not very big at first glance. That surprised us. For example, in both countries, a similar number of organisations stated that they were active in political advocacy or in legal aid for migrants. However, a closer look revealed differences: In Malaysia, activists told us how difficult it is to arrange meetings with representatives of ministries. In Argentina, working groups on migrants' rights are sometimes organised directly by the ministries and civil society representatives are officially invited. Similarly, it is interesting to note what is meant by legal aid in the two contexts. While organisations in Malaysia are trying to work towards the enforcement of existing law and, for example, to make claims for compensation payments to employers, Argentinian organisations have partly tried to mark existing law as unconstitutional and, ultimately, to change the legal basis, for example, when it comes to the right to reduced working capacity benefits.

Your paper is titled "Choose your battles" and hints at the interpretation of your results. Can you elaborate on this? For example, what role do the elements of efficiency (i.e. that CSOs only strive for realistically achievable goals) and positioning vis-à-vis entities of state power (including the threat of repression/impact on funding sources) play in the choice of goals and activities of CSOs?

Jakob Henninger: Both considerations of efficiency and strategic positioning vis-à-vis state power are major factors influencing organisations in their choice of strategy. For one thing, organisations have limited resources at their disposal, so they have to prioritise their goals. Therefore, they think carefully about which problems to address and which not. On the other hand, they have to make sure that their proposals resonate with policy makers and the wider public - both of these considerations apply to both contexts.

Friederike Römer: In an autocratic context like Malaysia, however, the concern about repressive state power has a very different relevance than in Argentina. Our Malaysian interviewees report that they take precautionary measures to protect themselves and the migrants they work with. In Argentina, on the other hand, confrontational strategies are quite common. Here we would again emphasise that the cause of these differences is to be found in the political regime.

Read the full paper (open access):

Jakob Henninger, Friederike Römer: Choose your battles. How civil society organisations choose context‐specific goals and activities to fight for immigrant welfare rights in Malaysia and Argentina. Social Policy & Administration, 2021, online first: https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12721

Dr. Jakob Henninger
Mary-Somerville-Straße 7
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57077
E-Mail: jakob.henninger@uni-bremen.de

Dr. Friederike Römer
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 7
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-67469
E-Mail: friederike.roemer@uni-bremen.de


How early can you request to be induced?

How early can you request to be induced?

When a woman and her fetus are healthy, induction should not be done before 39 weeks. Babies born at or after 39 weeks have the best chance at healthy outcomes compared with babies born before 39 weeks. When the health of a woman or her fetus is at risk, induction before 39 weeks may be recommended.

At what stage can you be induced?

Usually, babies arrive anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. But if your baby is very late (if you are pregnant for more than 42 weeks), the placenta may not be working as well as it used to and the risk of stillbirth increases. In this case, you’ll be offered an induction between 41 and 42 weeks of pregnancy.

Can you be induced at 35 weeks?

Can I induce labor at 37 weeks?

To prepare for birth, the cervix softens and thins. As this happens, the opening gets bigger, or dilates. But if your cervix has not changed, even if you’re in the 39th week of your pregnancy, you should not induce labor without a medical reason. If your body is not ready, your delivery is less likely to go smoothly.

Can I be induced at 38 weeks?

This is why it’s important to wait until at least 39 weeks to induce labor. If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to let labor begin on its own. If your provider talks to you about inducing labor, ask if you can wait until at least 39 weeks to be induced.

When can you get an epidural if induced?

Can I ask to be induced at 38 weeks?

How can I guarantee my labor induction?

Are there natural ways to induce labor?

  1. Sexual intercourse: Semen contains prostaglandins, and having an orgasm may stimulate contractions.
  2. Nipple stimulation:
  3. Castor oil:
  4. Enemas:
  5. Evening primrose oil, red raspberry leaf tea, and other herbal remedies:
  6. Exercise:
  7. Bumpy car ride:
  8. Spicy food:

Does a 36 week baby need NICU?

As a result of complications, late preterm babies may need to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or even readmitted to the hospital after discharge. RDS is by far the biggest risk for babies born at 36 weeks. Baby boys seem to have more trouble than late preterm girls.

Do babies born at 37 weeks go to NICU?

Can I ask my doctor to induce me at 38 weeks?

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to wait for labor to start on its own. If your provider recommends inducing labor, ask about waiting until at least 39 weeks to be induced so your baby has time to develop in the womb.

How long does it take to go into induced labour?

It can take from a few hours to as long as 2 to 3 days to induce labour. It depends how your body responds to the treatment. It’s likely to take longer if this is your first pregnancy or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant. Induced labour is usually more painful than natural labour.

How long does it take for an induction to start?

Induction is always carried out in a hospital. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing exactly how long it’ll take for labor to start when you’re induced but we can give some general timings. In general, if your body was already preparing for birth, induction will be quicker.

When is it safe to have an induction?

You may be offered an induction if you have a condition that means it’ll be safer to have your baby sooner, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. If this is the case, your doctor and midwife will explain your options to you so you can decide whether or not to have your labour induced.

When does your health care provider recommend inducing labor?

Your health care provider might recommend inducing labor for various reasons, primarily when there’s concern for a mother’s health or a baby’s health. For example: You’re approaching two weeks beyond your due date, and labor hasn’t started naturally (postterm pregnancy)


Which of these is similar in meaning to the given word?

  1. Cheeky
  2. Respectful
  3. Probable
  4. Licit

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : Respectful
1.4 Lakh Users
100 Questions 200 Marks 60 Mins

Detailed Solution

Download Solution PDF

The correct answer is option 2.

Reverent means feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.

For eg; They observed a reverent silence in memory of him.

Cheeky means showing a lack of respect or politeness in a way that is amusing or appealing.

Respectful means feeling or showing deference and respect.

For eg; He was respectful towards his seniors.

It is clear from the examples that reverent and respectful are similar in meaning.

Probable means are likely to happen or be the case.

Licit means not forbidden; lawful.

So, options 1,3 and 4 are incorrect.

Latest SSC CGL Updates

Last updated on Sep 30, 2022

The SSC CGL 2022 Amendment Notice Out on 30th September 2022. The SSC CGL Notification was out on 17th September 2022. The candidates will be able to apply online from 17th September to 8th October 2022. The SSC CGL Eligibility will be a bachelor’s degree in the concerned discipline. This year, SSC has completely changed the exam pattern and for the same, the candidates must refer to SSC CGL New Exam Pattern.


epa07553083 Russian strategic nuclear missiles Yars roll on Red square during a traditional Victory Day parade during it's final rehearsal on Red square in Moscow, Russia, 07 May 2019. Russia marks 09 May 74-th anniversary of the victory in the World War II over Nazi Germany and it's allies.This holiday is the most beloved in the country. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the war.  EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV


Why we are living in 'Gothic times'?

There is a surge in goth-lit that channels our fears and anxieties. Hephzibah Anderson explores how the genre's past and new stories delve deep into disorder and darkness.

"We live in Gothic times," declared Angela Carter back in 1974. It's a theme Carlos Ruiz Zafón took up several decades later: "Ours is a time with a dark heart, ripe for the noir, the gothic and the baroque", he wrote in 2010. Both authors had good reason. The Gothic has always been about far more than heroines in Victorian nightgowns, trapped in labyrinthine ancestral homes, and along with the supernatural, its imaginings probe power dynamics and boundaries, delving deep into disorder and duality.

Monsters of Gothic Fiction

During the 1700s, as the world became better known through exploration and scientific experimentation, mythical monsters disappeared from studies of nature and medicine. But they became increasingly popular in the Gothic fiction that arose in the late 1700s and persisted as an important genre through the 1800s. Monsters of this literature personified the fears of society: fear of what happens when science is allowed to go too far; fear of the encroachment of contagious disease; and fear of the demons within ourselves.

Legend of the "Hunderprest" Vampire of Melrose Abbey

Melrose, Scotland

 In the heart of the Scottish Borders, Melrose is the perfect holiday destination for, walking, cycling and rugby. Melrose also boasts some of the best salmon and trout fishing in Scotland. Visitors to Melrose are drawn by a range of attractions. Best known is the ruins of the Melrose Abbey, which lies on the north east side of the centre of the town and, off course the ‘Hunderprest’ vampire that roams the ruins at the dark of night.

Political Vampires

Taken from The London Magazine, May 1732, courtesy of University of Michigan and Google

Submission: The Creepy Truth About Chupacabras

The Americas have many legendary creatures in their folklore like Bigfoot and the Mothman, but arguably its most terrifying legend is the Chupacabra. The name for the creature literally means “goat sucker,” and is derived from reported vampirism of livestock like goats.

Its first sightings were reported in Puerto Rico in 1995, and it's often described as either dog-like or lizard-like in appearance. The chupacabra is also said to be the size of a small bear with a row of spines that goes from its neck to its tail. It’s definitely not a creature you want to encounter in the middle of the night. If that’s not enough, we’ve made a video that looks into more creepy truths about the Chupacabra.

Her nearly 40 novels published over a half-century sold some 135 million copies, placing her among the most popular fantasy writers of all time.

By Lisa de los Reyes for The Hollywood Reporter, December 12, 2021

Anne Rice at her home in Palm Springs, California, in 2010. She wrote like a time traveller, layering her novels with astonishingly evocative period detail.

The Vjesci: A Canadian Vampire

A Vampire Legend from the Cherokee Nation


Surprising(ly Stinky) Stapeliads

Written byJen Greene

Animal lover, plant enthusiast, and addicted to the sunshine and warmth in San Diego.

March 15, 2022

Originally printed in the February edition of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society newsletter.

Easy San Diego Growers

The genus Stapelia hails mainly from South Africa, as many of our favorite succulent species do. They’re generally low-growing, spineless, and have simple branches or simply stems that grow in mats or as small shrubs. When it comes to foliage, they’re rarely something to write home about, although there’s a certain alien-world appearance to the unusual stems that’s attractive in a way.

What attracts most growers to Stapelia isn’t the foliage – it’s the incredible blooms that give them their common name: Carrion flowers.

There are dozens of species in the genus, and at least 160 that were once classified in this genus but have since been given genera of their own – Huernia, Caralluma, Hoodia and plants in those genera are still often referred to as Stapeliads, despite no longer being classified in the genus.

Fragrant Flowers

The flowers of nearly all stapeliads and stapeliad-like plants do tend to smell like rotten meat, but depending on where you have them planted, the smell isn’t always overpowering or even particularly noticeable. If you stick your face right up next to them, they’ll definitely knock your socks off, but grown outdoors and in open spaces, the smell is rarely so strong you can’t walk near them. Even growing some in my greenhouse, the solution to the freshly opened bloom smell was to open the greenhouse doors and let it air out.

Stapeliads are pollinated by flies and similar carrion-eating insects, and here in San Diego they’re quite convincing to the common houseflies we have buzzing around. The houseflies often will lay eggs around the fleshy center corona of the bloom, convinced that the flower is actually a source of food for their offspring.

Flowers are short-lived, typically only lasting a day or two after fully opening. Species with larger flowers, such as S. gigantea, will develop buds that look almost like balloons as they gain size. While individual flowers last only a day or two (making it easy to clip off fading flowers and dispose of them), the plant itself will often flower profusely over a longer period of time, weeks or even months.

Growing Your Stapeliads

Some genera/species are trickier than others, but care is roughly the same.

As with most succulents, if you’re growing them in a pot, use well-draining soil. Closer to the coast, where humidity is higher and daytime highs lower, you may want to create a soil mix that’s as much as 50% pumice to 50% succulent soil. If you’re further inland, like me here in Escondido, I find most of them do better with more organic material in their soil. My Stapelia giganteas are in straight succulent soil (I use E.B. Organics, or more recently, I’m giving the Gnosis Nursery “Alchemy Blend” a try), and they’ve needed that much organic matter to have water readily available.

Your stapeliads can tolerate extremely dry conditions, just like most succulents, but for thick fleshy stems and profuse blooms, you’ll want to water yours more often. They also do better when given a dry dormant period that corresponds to the same time of year they’d be dormant in habitat – but unless you’re growing one of the less common species, chances are you can ignore the dormancy period.

south african weather

This map of South African climates, with the key below describing moisture/seasons, should be a helpful resource to compare where your species of Stapeliad comes from and gain an idea of temperature and rainfall levels.  For most of South Africa, the rainfall season is during the hot summer months, with even the desert regions receiving several inches for a month or two.

When in doubt – water less often. It’s much easier to rehydrate your plant than it is to try and save it from rot. For most growers, rot is the biggest threat to cultivation, so be cautious!

The biggest indicator that your stapeliads need water is if they’re starting to wrinkle and shrink, or if the arms are drooping like a sad houseplant. I find my Edithcolea to be a bit of a drama queen, drooping and getting a bit floppy if it’s thirsty, and my Hoodia parviflora also drooped precariously when I left it a bit too long between watering.

A little bit of fertilizer helps encourage prolific blooms, just as it does in your stereotypical flower garden. Fertilize when you water during warmer times of year, and I’ve seen the best blooms when I use half strength fertilizer nearly every time I water. I’ve used fish emulsion and a dedicated cactus fertilizer with equal success, but I will say people seem far more offended by the smell of fish emulsion fertilizer than any of my stapeliad blooms.

Most stapeliads will blush a darker color when given more sunlight than they necessarily need, and some look more attractive with that protective blushing. When kept in brighter sunlight exposures, they tend to need more water for regular blooming, which is something to keep in mind.

If you’re in a part of the county that generally doesn’t get a frost, or if you do, it’s very light – try growing your stapeliads in ground! I have S. grandiflora, S. gigantea, and O. variegata all as in-ground plants and they are thriving in exposures that are often too hot for the pretty soft succulent hybrids that work well in arrangements. They also grow easily in a ground-cover like manner, so they work well around other plants that are more sculptural.

If you need a divider between yourself and a particularly unpleasant neighbor, you can always use them as edging between yourself and said neighbor. Might I also suggest some Voodoo lilies for summer blooms to offset your winter carrion flowers?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on how easy it is to propagate most of these species. They can be grown readily from cuttings for exact clones of the parent plant, or you can pollinate them to produce huge seed pods. The seed pods look almost identical to a Plumeria seed pod (if you’ve seen one of those), but failing that, they’re almost a jumbo-sized green bean that slowly darkens as they ripen.

For easiest growth when propagating from cuttings, take your cuttings in spring, as the weather is just warming up. They can be lain flat on succulent soil and may produce roots that way, as my Orbea variegata do constantly. Some species seem to do better when their cut ends are allowed to callous over, and then placed directly into damp soil or a 50/50 mix of soil and pumice. When waiting for roots, avoid watering much if at all. The rooting medium should be damp, at best, and misted or splashed with water to keep the soil from turning into dust until the cutting has firmly rooted. Just as with rooted plants, when in doubt, skip watering for at least a day or two.

You’ll know your cutting is rooted by gently wiggling it: a rooted cutting will feel like it’s “grabbed on”, while one that hasn’t will feel about the same as it did when you first put it in the soil. If you can’t feel a difference, it’s probably not rooted yet. Just don’t dig it out to stare at it! You’ll break or damage any baby roots that have tried to come out.

The Easier to Cultivate (And Easier to Find) Species

The species I’ll list and highlight here share one thing in common: they’re all easy to grow! Compared to some species which have very specific requirements, these are easy enough to use as landscape plants or stick in a container.

One of the most striking and well-known species in the genus is Stapelia gigantea, with flowers that can reach over 1 foot in diameter when fully open! These, like many of the Stapelia blooms, can and will grab the attention of even the non-gardeners in your family with their “Demogorgon head” looking blooms. This species is also the worst, in my experience, for attracting flies that lay eggs – if you want to avoid that but still find the flowers fascinating, select a species with smaller blooms. Flowers are fairly consistent, being extremely large, red and yellow banded, always star-shaped and 5 petaled, although flukes can and do occur. Shorter daylight hours in fall and early winter trigger blooming.

A very similar species but with smaller flowers is Stapelia grandiflora, with blooms that vary in shape, color, and size. Some growers have selectively bred this species for specific bloom colors, and you can find them ranging from a deep, almost black-red color to a striped pale pink-red with yellow bands. Smaller size of blooms means smaller smell and less chance of flies arriving, but these can be large enough to attract them anyway.

Not a “true” stapeliad, but one of the genera that was split out from Stapelia a while back, Edithcolea grandis (aka Persian Carpet Flower) is extremely popular, and for good reason! The flowers are of a decent size, up to 5” across, and striking enough to make most people stop and do a double take. The flowers typically have a yellow base, with red spots/edging and a complex pattern that almost resembles the Persian carpets that give them their name. Compared to the plants in the Stapelia genus, these have a more spiky-looking growth habit, and tend to be more densely packed with their branches and stems.

Formerly known as Stapelia variegata, the Orbea variegata is commonly called the Starfish Plant, or Starfish Flower. These tend to have longer stems compared to the Persian Carpet flower, but blooms are smaller. Flowers are extremely variable, and much like Stapelia grandiflora, these seem popular subjects for selective breeding to favor coloration. A typical flower is a yellow to pale white background with deep red to maroon speckles, with a distinctive raised center circle similar to the next species I’ll list: the Lifesaver Plant.

Many people probably recognize the Lifesaver Plant, or Huernia zebrina. Stems look almost identical to the Orbea variegata, so determining which of the two you have without seeing a flower is almost impossible. Once they do bloom, however, the Lifesaver plant has a glossy ring that’s deep red or pink, with zebra-striped yellow and red petals on the outer edge of the flower.

Less Common but Rewarding Species

The species here are those that are uncommon or downright rare, but rewarding if you find yourself captivated by this group of plants like I am!

Pseudolithos, or dinosaur eggs, are definitely high up there on the “alien looking plants” list. They are extremely challenging to grow for the novice, being highly sensitive to overwatering, and I’ve yet to successfully grow one myself. I’m told they produce truly noxious flowers, guaranteed to keep anyone and everyone you know far, far away from wherever you have them growing. Impressive for a plant whose body rarely gets larger than a few inches across or tall.

The genus Hoodia might sound familiar; some (many?) species are used to make appetite suppressants! They’re also very alien-looking plants that thrive in extreme heat and highly acidic soil. I grow my Hoodia parviflora with a chunk of limestone on the soil, and I’ve heard it recommended to mix a small amount of gypsum into their potting medium to help. Alternatively, using a small amount of vinegar to acidify your water (be sure to test the pH before watering your plants!) can accomplish the same thing. They’re also documented as somewhat short lived; in the wild, plants typically only live about 15 years, although cultivated specimens can live to 20 – 25 years of age.

Hoodia gordonii – Produces huge, pillowy blooms, beginning in late spring and extending through summer. Can reach just over 3 feet tall in ideal conditions. Under ideal conditions, can live up to 25 years in cultivation. One of the easier hoodia to grow.

Hoodia parviflora – Sometimes called the largest stapeliad, some sources say this can grow to the size of a small tree (up to 6 feet tall)! Less commonly grown as it is more susceptible to rot compared to H. gordonii.

The Caralluma genus also hosts some plants used for appetite suppressants, but their flowers’ smell will do the trick just as neatly. These can vary from very suspiciously stapeliad-like stem appearances that can be a challenge to tell apart from something like a S. gigantea, while others have huge, angled stems that almost resemble a Euphorbia and produce enormous clusters of putrid smelling flowers.

Orbea is the genus of two of the most popular species, but it’s also the genus of some truly hard to find species. Orbea oculata is one that is a challenge to find in the US, but produces clearly distinct and beautiful flowers. Orbea as a genus is nearly as popular for selective breeding and hybridization as Huernia, which also has a large number of species that range in bloom size, color, and pattern.

Thanks to the generosity of the Stapeliad enthusiasts online, the following photos of various Stapeliad species (particularly their blooms) have been shared to display the joy we take in growing these little alien plants.

Caralluma arachnoidea

Caralluma arachnoidea

Maria Schmidt

Duvalia Caespitosa

Duvalia Caespitosa

Christina Ann Wolf

Edithcolea grandis

Edithcolea grandis

Marcel René de Cotret

Huernia zebrina

Huernia zebrina

Carlos Lopez Ochoa

Huernia Oculata x urceolata

Huernia oculata x urceolata

Christina Ann Wolf

Huernia oculata

Huernia oculata

Tony Casler

Orbea decaisneana

Orbea decaisneana

Carlos Lopez Ochoa

Orbea dummeri

Orbea dummeri

Shannon Culp

You may also like…


COVID-19 cases rise in NSW as 11,338 new infections recorded

New South Wales has recorded another uptick in COVID-19 cases with 11,338 infections reported in the past 24 hours.
A further nine people have died in the state.
There are 1035 people in hospital, including 43 in ICU.
Victoria’s COVID-19 cases have remained steady, with 7093 new infections.
Another 23 people have died with the virus.
There are 262 people in hospital and 33 patients in ICU.


Save a Life: Learning CPR

Knowing CPR or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation will give you the skills you need to help us save lives. Cardiac arrests are the leading cause of adult death in this country. Many times, they happen in the home or at work. In those first few seconds, having someone nearby who knows how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how to use an AED, or automatic external defibrillator, can mean the difference between life and death.

Chest compression-only CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival. In medical emergencies, the sooner CPR can be administered, the greater the chance for the patient to have a good outcome. There are many CPR classes in the Denver metro area. Here are some:

Receive email updates from West Metro Professional Firefighters


Great Interview Questions for Indirect Procurement

Indirect procurement involves purchasing products or services that do not typically end up in the company’s products or services sold. Great procurement job interview questions challenge a candidate to demonstrate her knowledge of the characteristics of indirect procurement expenditures.

You may be asked about your experiences in purchasing, long-range goals for a career in this function or what you find rewarding about supporting other employees as they make their travel plans, buy supplies, or hire temporary staff to get work done.

What Experience Do You Have Managing Indirect Procurement Relationships?

Relationship building is an essential skill for a job in indirect procurement, according to Supply Chain Careers. Come to the interview prepared to explain how you successfully manage relationships with vendors, suppliers or sellers. For indirect procurement activities, the seller has less power over the buyer than in direct procurement activities. For example, you may describe how you require suppliers to buy from your company before you intend to do business with them. This balances the relationship.

How Do You Measure Savings?

In indirect procurement, savings cannot be clearly measured by operational metrics known as profit and loss. Indirect categories, such as temporary labor services, training, travel services and record management, represent different measurement challenges. To answer this type of procurement interview question, you need to explain how you’ve dealt with contracts in competitive environments.

For example, you might describe how you’ve managed the purchasing process successfully or used technology to manage company-wide contracts and to track savings. You might also show how you typically gather, classify and categorize financial data or explain spending trends to reveal opportunities to take actions that increase savings.

How Do You Contain Costs?

Companies want to know that the indirect procurement specialist they hire can track indirect costs throughout the business life cycle. Outsourcing indirect procurement contributes to a company’s bottom line because unnecessary spending on indirect goods and services represents lost profit.

Procurement Tactics suggests sharing examples of effective cost reduction strategies. Show how you have reduced the cost of indirect procurement in your past jobs by speeding up the process. You can also demonstrate your ability to get better deals. A proven track record and good reputation often get a candidate a great job and promising career.

What Strategic Abilities Do You Think Are Most Important in An Indirect Procurement Department?

This procurement job interview question allows you to describe the importance of strategic planning, in addition to the tactical role of buying. Show how familiar you are with process improvement concepts, such as Lean Six Sigma. List projects you’ve participated in that demonstrate a commitment to making it easier for employees to conduct business. Describe achievements that demonstrate your skills in strategic thinking, negotiation, communication and attention to detail.


10 Projects That Made the Industry Better in 2020

Here are 10 projects that represent the most supportive and innovative solutions to the disruptions of 2020

When SXSW was cancelled in March, no one had any idea what was going to happen. Soon after, the pandemic became a reality and everything changed completely. Freelancers found themselves without work, campaigns and internships cancelled, agencies reducing their teams and those lucky enough to have work, had to adapt to a new routine full of pressure, uncertainty and never ending Zoom meetings.


Businesses' profits under pressure from price increases due to military conflict

Russia and Ukraine hold a limited share of goods and services in world trade. Nonetheless, the effect of the military conflict on the global economy has proved substantial. Weakened confidence has been the leading factor in the price increase of oil, gas and numerous inputs and the further disruption of the trade chain. As a result, profitability in many sectors is under considerable pressure.

In contrast to the invasion of Crimea in 2014, the current war is sending a massive shock wave through the input markets. Oil and gas prices have hit record highs. Wheat prices have increased by +40%. And nickel trading on the London Metal Exchange had to be shut down last month. Since then, although most input prices have declined somewhat, they remain at high levels.

Businesses are suffering from this. In some sectors, the majority of operating costs are related to the purchase of inputs. For example, 80% of the operational costs in the metal sector are related to energy and metals. In the agri-food sector, 60% are related to agricultural inputs.

There is also significant price pressure on inputs that are crucial for electronics: palladium for chips and sensors; neon, xenon and krypton gas for semiconductor lithography processing. Even before the war, there was tension in the air. The current crisis is increasing the pressure and shortages. The automotive sector has been impacted because Russia produces aluminum, nickel and lithium, which are essential for batteries for electric vehicles.

Will current price levels for oil, gas and inputs remain this high throughout the year? If so, the energy and metal sectors will be the most severely affected. This is because they have relatively low pricing power. This means it is difficult for them to pass on the higher purchasing costs to customers. Both sectors will however remain profitable at current price levels.

A further rise in input prices could wipe out all profits in some sectors. If the Brent crude price stabilizes around an average of 140 dollars a barrel, the aviation sector will find itself in the red if the airlines cannot pass the cost increase on to consumers. Other sectors, such as the chemical sector, have much more leeway. The metal sector is taking a double hit as a result of the high oil price and higher inputs. Both make up a large part of their operating costs.

A further 15% increase in the prices of industrial metals could push the profitability of the household appliances sector down to zero if the cost increase cannot be passed on to consumers. A further +60% price increase in agricultural inputs or +50% in metal prices would have the same effect on the agri-food and metal sectors. At the other end of the spectrum, the ICT and chemical industries appear to be able to absorb higher input prices.

As the war intensifies and the global economy moves into our blackout scenario (resulting in continued increases in input prices), retail and leisure services will also be adversely affected. The latest mobility data already shows that consumers in the US, France, Germany and the UK are visiting shops and restaurants less frequently. If grocery costs and monthly energy bills continue to rise, it is likely that consumers will postpone or cancel unnecessary expenses.
Because of COVID-19 and the government support that has been offered, the bankruptcy figures have artificially fallen to a very low level. In the event of a prolonged crisis, the normalization of bankruptcy figures will be further delayed. If energy and input prices continue to rise, some governments will reintroduce support programs for businesses. On 16 March, the French government announced support measures that could amount to 130 billion euros by 2022. The government is offering up to €30 billion in energy subsidies and up to €100 billion in additional state-guaranteed loans. These kinds of measures prevent businesses from going bankrupt. We now expect the number of bankruptcies to grow by a modest +8% in 2022.

103 results

img desc

Oct 05, 2022

Low consumer price for basic energy needs

More and more households can no longer afford the energy bill. Our researchers argue for a fixed low price for basic energy needs. Read more.

img desc

Sep 30, 2022

Missing chips cost EUR100bn to the European auto sector

No industry has been hit harder by the chip shortage than the automotive industry. We estimate that it led to a shortfall of about 18mn of vehicles around the world.

img desc

Aug 31, 2022

Sharp decrease in inflation due to removing trade barriers

Our research department took a closer look at the effect of trade barriers on inflation. Find out the results of the study.

103 results


ABOUT US......

ALUMNI CAP is a non-profit company that produces Alumni CAPs (Career Achievement Plaques) for collegiate letter-winners for men's and women’s sports.

Fans, Family and Alumni can be "Sponsors" which allows them to purchase for a letter-winner.  Companies and public can give money as a sponsor directly to the Alumni Cap so we can sponsor additional letter-winners as our goal is to provide each letter-winner a CAP(1) at no cost to them.

We do this, to honor every letter-winner, both men and women. The CAP serves as a living memorial and standard of commitment to their school and their teammates and coaches.  It is an excellent way to display the outstanding achievements of student-athletes to enjoy for generations.


pearson office

Pearson Test Prep | General and Specific Tests for a Variety of Jobs

Last Updated on April 21, 2022

Pearson is a household name for students. As the major assessment provider in the world, Pearson has tests and assessments covering hundreds of industries. Job applicants that have taken several pre-employment tests will surely cross paths with Pearson tests at one point.

Taking a pre-employment test for Ford or 3M etc. can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know what to expect.

Widely used by international companies, such as ABC, HSBS, Intel, and Deloitte, Pearson tests are known to offer a fair judgment and assessment to the candidacy. Take a look at this study guide to prepare for your next Pearson test.

Take Practice Tests

What is on Pearson test?

There are hundreds of tests and assessments offered by Pearson. The range is extensive. Every test is designed to access certain qualities or characteristics. There are some general tests to evaluate the candidate’s ability to handle daily tasks like proficiency in Microsoft Office. There are also specific tests for positions like human resources, accountants, engineers, programmers, human resources, etc.

Some of the most famous Pearson tests include the GMAT, the Watson-Glaser, and the Miller Analogies Test. The format of each test can vary greatly depending on the target audience of the test. Each test has its own style to fulfill the purpose.

Below are some of the common characteristics you will find in a Pearson test.

Aptitude test

Entry-level tests may contain mostly multiple-choice questions to quickly eliminate unsuitable candidates. The whole process is monitored by the computer system to save manpower.

For more advanced tests or comprehensive tests, there will be challenging questions that involve creating graphics or inputting commands. For example, a programmer can be asked to find the error in the given code and correct it. A marketer may be asked to creatively come up with a concept for a campaign, or a human resources manager may be asked about the protocols to take in an unexpected event.

These questions aim to directly assess your suitability for the position. You need to have acquired the relevant ability before you take the test. Generally speaking, people that are fit for the role will not find these tests extremely difficult because they will already be equipped with relevant skills.

These tests are not made to rank candidates like a school exam but to see if the applicant possesses certain skills. Since you are not directly competing against others, most questions are straightforward work scenarios.

You have to pass the aptitude test before you are put through to the next stage. Most of the time, an aptitude test is sent to candidates after the initial resume screening. Those with a satisfactory background will be given the aptitude test.

Personality test

Opposite to an aptitude test, a personality test does not aim to evaluate your work performance directly but to estimate how well you will fit in the workspace. It evaluates whether you are prone to any criminal activity that may damage the company’s reputation.

A personality test often consists of around 150 exams. It should take around 20 to 45 minutes to complete. Each question is scale-based. You are asked to give a score on how agreeable a statement is.

A common personality test question usually looks like this, “when your boss rejects you, you get really frustrated and would insist on doing things the way you want.”

Companies require candidates to take a personality test so they can better estimate if their goals and work ethics align with the brand. A personality profile is drawn with the results.

Intelligence test

An intelligence test measures your creative thinking, logical reasoning, and graphic sensitivity. The most common intelligence tests are made of graphics. Candidates need to find the similarities or differences in the graphics. Guessing the next frame from the given patterns is also a common question included.

Unlike an aptitude test, an intelligence test does not directly relate to your work. There is no question about any work situation. Instead, you are given a bunch of graphics to measure the creative and thinking part of your brain.

Candidates with a faster response rate that can demonstrate strong reasoning skills are preferred. If you are detail-oriented or sensitive to visual elements, you will find this test fairly reasonable in terms of difficulty.

Quantitative and verbal reasoning

In the quantitative reasoning test, you will be given a set of basic mathematical questions to solve. These questions are likely not quite difficult. Your spatial sense and numerical reasoning skills are measured.

For the verbal reasoning test, you will be given several passages. Based on the content, you need to answer a series of questions like interpreting the message conveyed by the writer, a content summary, and other questions relating to the topic.

These tests see how comprehensive and well-rounded your skills are to see how well you will perform in the company. You need to demonstrate superb presentation and reasoning skills to express your ideas and train of thought thoroughly.

Take Practice Tests

How to prepare for a Pearson test?

Take a practice test

Check out Job Test Prep’s all-in-one study materials tailor-made for the Pearson tests. It offers study notes and a scoring guide so you can concentrate on studying the important parts of the exam.

Follow the instructions and review your results. After multiple test runs, you will be able to tackle the Pearson test without hesitation. Job Test Prep offers excellent customer service so your inquiries and needs are always catered to.

Take Practice Tests

Understand the requirements of each test

Make sure you are well-informed about the structure and content of each test before you start doing it. In the study materials, you will find notes provided by Job Test Prep that explain the expectations and requirements for each test and position in detail.

The requirements for the same test can be different for different positions. That’s why it is important that you know what you are dealing with. Read the job description several times. Make sure there is no misalignment in the expectations and requirements.

Match your skills with the job

As mentioned, the Pearson test is used to identify your strength and weaknesses, as well as your candidacy. Therefore, you should also perform a self-evaluation before you apply for jobs.

It is unlikely that you can learn a new skill in a short time. Hence, you should only apply for positions that fit your skills so you can pass the test. If you apply for a position that you are not suitable for, even if you pass the test, you will probably fail to give satisfactory performance.

About Pearson

Founded almost two centuries ago by Samuel Pearson, Pearson is a British assessment company and publication that provide study materials for schools, factories, companies, and employers.

Its expertise reaches most fields and is highly valued by corporates. Pearson is one of the most used test providers. During the hiring process, candidates are subjected to a series of tests to see how qualified they are for the position. Pearson offers that guideline and benchmark for reference.

Take Practice Tests

With this preparation guide, you should have a clear idea of what is in the Pearson test and how to prepare for it. Don’t forget to get your study guide on Job Test Prep so you can master the answering key efficiently.

Get Your Dream Job

Prepare For Any Job Get Access


Electronics Basics

A common task for a transistor is switching a device on and off. There are two configurations for a transistor switch: low side and high side. The location of the transistor determines the type of circuit and its name. Either transistor configuration can use a BJT or MOSFET.

In this post, I draw the configuration for both transistor types, talk about which requires a driver, and explain why you would use either. If you are new to transistors, check out the resource links at the bottom. I have a couple of videos I made and some from element14’s The Learning Circuit which do a great job introducing transistors.

One of the best ways to learn how to use a new piece of test equipment is to use it. Sounds easy, right? The problem is, sometimes when you are in the middle of troubleshooting your circuit, figuring out what the knobs on your scope do is an immense frustration. Use these 6 oscilloscope measurements, and just an Arduino Uno, to learn how to use a new or unfamiliar digital scope.

This tutorial is not a step-by-step guide on how to make each of these measurements on a particular scope. Instead, it is a general explanation on how to setup the Arduino and a screenshot to help identify if you set up your scope correctly. I reference the R&S RTM3004. However, practically any two (or more) digital channel oscilloscope should work.

Between each measurement, I highly recommend using your scope’s default setup (or autoscale) before proceeding to the next one!

Common question that comes up about pull-up resistors: what value do you pick and why not just use a piece of wire? In this follow-up electronics tutorial, the bald engineer looks at how to pick a pull-up resistor value. Note that while focused on pull-up everything said in this video would apply to pull-down as well. If you’re new to pull-up resistors, check out this longer Pull-Up Resistor Tutorial.

As a kid, I got the book “Upgrading and Repairing PCs.” (Now in its 22nd edition.) It was the first book to explain to me the PC architecture. I considered, how were there so few pins on an AT-style keyboard connector when there were 101 keys on the keyboard? That is when I first learned about the keyboard matrix.

The keyboard matrix itself did not amaze me, but instead the idea there was an entirely separate 8-bit microcontroller inside of the keyboard. Early keyboards may have used the P8049AH, which, there is still some stock available to purchase. I was fascinated with the idea an entire computer was necessary to run the keyboard, to use my “real” computer. Why did it take something as complicated as a microcontroller?

Can you use voltage dividers as regulators? What if you add a Zener Diode? In this AddOhms episode, I show what happens when you try to power a complex circuit like an ESP8266 with a voltage divider instead of a regulator. (Spoiler: Get a voltage regulator.) This video tutorial is related to a write up I did recently on Zener Diodes. For questions or comments visit the AddOhms Discussion Forum. Behind the scenes A significant change for…


This Day in History Quiz: June 1

Question: Which major news network made its debut on June 1, 1980?
Answer: Ted Turner's Cable News Network (CNN), headquartered in Atlanta, began 24-hour live news broadcasts on June 1, 1980, and gained worldwide attention in 1991 for its around-the-clock coverage of the Persian Gulf War.
Question: Which actor, famous in part for his deep voice and for being in movies such as The Shawshank Redemption (1994), was born on June 1, 1937?
Answer: On June 1, 1937, American actor Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Freeman became iconic for his deep voice and earned high accolades for roles in films such as The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Question: On June 1, 1794, the Battle of the First of June was fought in the Atlantic Ocean between France and which other country?
Answer: The Battle of the First of June was fought between France and Great Britain on June 1, 1794. It was the first great naval engagement of the French Revolutionary wars.
Question: On June 1, 1945, Sukarno articulated the Pancasila—the Five Principles—which became the founding philosophy of the independent Indonesian state. Which of the following is not one of the Five Principles?
Answer: Sukarno delivered a speech on June 1, 1945, in which he argued that an independent Indonesia should be grounded in what he called the Pancasila, or Five Principles: Indonesian nationalism; internationalism, or humanism; consent, or democracy; social prosperity; and belief in one God.
Question: Which American comedian made his debut as the host of The Tonight Show on June 1, 2009?
Answer: American comedian Conan O’Brien made his debut as host of The Tonight Show, NBC’s long-running late-night talk show, on June 1, 2009; however, he left after less than one year.


The relationship between language and culture is a fundamental principle of communication studies. While this relationship can seem obvious in examples, it can be difficult to identify language barriers and cultural influences that can easily divide people.

With Challenge #5 our team was challenged with the design question, “How might we support culturally aware engagement practices when interacting with businesses in communities new to the SWOT City program?”  Our team spent three weeks exploring Hamtramck, interviewing entrepreneurship business leaders in immigrant communities, and learning about the culture, practices, and traditions of Islam. We documented our experiences and conversations over the five weeks to share with partners at SWOT City as way to improve outreach and engagement in the Hamtramck community going forward. It wasn’t easy, mostly because we did not know what we did now know and struggled to ask questions we did not know how to ask.

I have recently taken on an interest in sign language. Through research I have learned that the deaf community shares a very unique culture, one of social behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and institutions that are influenced by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication (Cripps, 2017). What is particularly interesting about the deaf is that their difference is not visible to the eye and often a person of hearing will engage a deaf person in conversation without realizing their deafness. This example is so clear in laying out a barrier in communication that is has made me realize that other cultural and social differences exist that are not always visible, and are often associated with a unique language or ways of communicating that are distinctive to their community. This makes it particularly difficult for different cultural groups to be identifiable by sight. Another example for instance, within the Arab American community it is often the case that woman-to-woman interaction and man-to-interaction is viewed as appropriate and respectable, but woman-to-man interaction is more sacred and requires much more delicacy and consideration. Often a woman will raise her right arm and place her palm over her chest in place of shaking a males’ hand because personal space and touch are usually avoided between sexes. We had to let our curiosity lead us throughout this challenge, asking questions like “how would conflict be resolved between two members of different groups?” or “why is it important to understand and be able to recognize these differences, especially why trying to solve a particular problem in a community”. As a result we learned to identify assets that surround a community (like cultural resources already present within the community, or long-term customs, behaviors, and activities), and that it is imperative to create a safe place to live, work and play by promoting understanding of diversity within the community and protecting and conserving traditions, customs and resources. “It is not our difference that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”, once said Audre Lorde.

#unite #community #celebratedifferences


Wishes, Quotes And Sayings For Columbus Day 2022

Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated around the world on October 12-13 to commemorate the Italian explorer’s discovery of the New World. The name Columbus Day derives from Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who initiated the voyage. Celebrations include parades, parties and educational lectures about the explorer and the New World he discovered. As with other holidays, Columbus Day can be a time for families to reconnect and share their most heartfelt emotions with one another. It is also a time to give thanks for the remarkable discoveries that have led to the creation of new cultures and traditions.

American Columbus Day commemorates the Italian explorer’s arrival in the New World. On his second voyage, Columbus landed in what is now Cuba and found a path to the New World. Many people celebrate this holiday to acknowledge how Christopher Columbus helped inspire and establish many of today’s Western traditions. This includes adopting Christian beliefs and building cities, churches and schools. Additionally, many people celebrate this holiday by wearing traditional European clothing or carrying trinkets representing their home country. Some also eat meals representative of their culture to symbolically take part in those traditions. In this way, Columbus Day contributes to global understanding and can help communities find common ground on which to build new traditions.

Many people celebrate Christopher Columbus’ birthday on October 31 as well as Columbus Day. However, these celebrations have different significance among different countries. In Italy, people celebrate Columbus’ birthday on September 21 as part of festival di Costantinopoli. In addition, some Italian schools name their buildings after Columbus so they can remember his bravery in discovering a new country. Celebrations also include dancing, singing and distributing food among participants. In addition, people attend symposiums where experts discuss Columbus’ life and achievements in their fields of study. These celebrations demonstrate that each country has found new ways to honor Columbus since he was first honored in Italy decades ago.

The origin of the term ‘Columbus Day’ remains unclear due an ongoing debate among historians and enthusiasts of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. Some believe that it derives from a Latin phrase meaning ‘hearty thanksgiving.’ Other sources say that this phrase did not exist in medieval Europe where Columbus originally hailed from. Instead, some credit an earlier origin for the term ‘Columbus Day.’ This comes from a popular novel titled ‘The LOG-CABIN,’ which shows how early American settlers viewed Columbus’ arrival in America as an interruption of their peaceful lives rather than a discovery. These early American settlers saw Columbus as an uninvited guest who caused trouble by delivering goods late at night and upsetting everyone with his behavior. This led to the name ‘Columbus Day.’ The name illustrates how people felt uncomfortable around him since he did not fit into their peaceful lifestyle any better than they did into his exciting one-off lifestyle choice.

Thanks to Christopher Columbus’ bold exploration, Americans recognize the Italian explorer as the founding father of their nation’s holiday commemorating his discovery of the New World.- Although most Americans mark Columbus Day by celebrating their heritage, other countries celebrate theirs with great pomp and ceremony. Celebrations vary from country to country but can include singing songs about Christopher Columbus or hosting educational lectures about his accomplishments. No matter what you do on this holiday, consider commemorating it by thinking about how history would have differed if instead of dropping off pizza someone had brought contact with unknown cultures?

Best Wishes For Columbus Day:

Columbus Day will always have a special place in the heart of every American citizen because on the first glorious day we were discovered… Happy Columbus Day.
"As soon as I got to the first island I discovered in India, I forcibly took some of the locals away so that they could see what was going on in those areas and give me information. So they understood us and us very quickly, whether it was through language or symbols, they are all very useful."
I have been out at sea since my youngest and have been living at sea until today. Where someone has sailed, I have sailed.
Columbus Day, let's explore
Happy Columbus Day from my shores to yours!
Every ship that comes to America gets its chart from Columbus…Cheers to Columbus! ! !
There is an undiscovered continent within each of us. Blessed is the man who plays Columbus for his own soul.
I hope we too were born in a time when there are still undiscovered lands, and we are connected in this way too… Sending you warm Columbus Day greetings.
Discovery is why today we find ourselves in a big world full of diversity and beauty… We wish you a Happy Columbus Day.
Let's celebrate Columbus Day together with a promise to find the Columbus hidden deep within us, who lead exciting and adventurous lives.
You never know what your discoveries can bring to the world…
happy columbus day
We all have a Columbus in our hearts, but we all need to find him and be successful.
Let's celebrate Columbus Day by being inspired by Columbus and living a different life than the Union.
Columbus is an inspiration for all of us…let's be inspired by him and celebrate Columbus Day.


We are very happy to announce that we have another new library in the programme, the 17th Croatian library to join NAPLE Sister Libraries.

Vodice Public Library is the information, education and cultural center of a small Croatian town in the seaside. They deliver a wide range of activities for the patrons of all ages.

If you want to know more about them, and what they are looking for just go to the Libraries Section and click on its name.  You’ll also find there a detailed description of their activities and the specific project they want to develop in the Sister Libraries Program.

With this new incorporation, the programme reaches:

 88 European public libraries participating!

  Would you like to be the Vodice Public Library’s sister library? Go ahead and read the instructions in the Libraries Section!


Measuring Human Rights: High School Mathematics Unit

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Compare and Contrast Three Methods of Representing Data
  • Represent data appropriately using frequency tables, histograms, and box plots.
  • Draw conclusions from the data displayed.
  • Analyze data provided in various plot forms and draw conclusions from the data displayed
  • Identify similarities and differences in shape, center and spread of various data sets across and within specific representations.

Standards Addressed

Math Content Standards

  • S.ID.1. Represent data with plots on the real number line (dot plots, histograms, and box plots).
  • S.ID.2. Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean) and spread (interquartile range, Standard deviation) for two or more data sets.

Math Practice Standards

  • MP.1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
  • MP.4 Model with mathematics.
  • MP.5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

Instructional Approach

Teacher Introduction:

  • Ask students to imagine a class of 400 students doing the same exercise (of putting up post its on the number line). What do they think would happen? (Total chaos)
  • Remind students that one way to organize this data is by creating “bins”  (also known as ‘class’). In our case, we will take a range and divide it into equal intervals. In our case, we will divide the number line into 6 equal intervals  (in millions) 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, 76-100, 101-125, 126-150.
  • Distribute Handout #3
  • Project (or draw) a frequency distribution table with 5 population bins (classes) on the board and ask students to raise their hands if their estimate falls within the first bin (class). Make a tally mark for each student who raises his or her hand. Repeat this process for the rest of the ranges. Ask students to copy the results on the corresponding table in Handout #3.

Handout #3 With Example (Red)

Number of children (<5) in the world who are underweight (in millions)

Frequency (number of students vote)

Cumulative Frequency

(Answers in green)

Handout #3 With Example (Red and Green)

Frequency (number of students vote) (in red example of filled table)

Cumulative Frequency

(Answers in green)

II (2)

IIII (4)

II (2)

Individual Work

Begin filling the cumulative column on the board and ask students to complete the cumulative frequency column in Handout #3.

  • Once students complete the table ask them to individually complete the questions in the handouts (15 minutes), and then review answers as a class before going to next process (10 minutes).
    1. Use the table and create a histogram that matches the frequency table. (If needed, give students a refresher handout on how to create a histogram)
    2. Which of these representation(s)  (e.g. frequency table, histogram, and box plot) shows the most popular estimation in the class? Why?
    3. Which representation do you think shows students’ estimations most accurately? Why?
    4. Optional if time permits: Can you make up data for another class, which will be different from your class’s data set but result in the same box plot and histogram? If your answer is ‘yes’, show the data set. If your answer is ‘no’ explain why.

Small Group Work

  • Divide students into pairs or trios, hand out Class Mix Up cards to each group
  • Tell students that four (optional: six) more classes participated in this activity. Each class produced a card with a histogram and a card with a box plot that represent their classroom data. Unfortunately you mixed up the cards. The group’s task is to match each histogram card with the appropriate box plot card.  Tell students that each group will be asked to justify their matching choices to the rest of the class.  (Give each group set of 8 cards containing 4 box plots and 4 histograms, or a set of 12 cards with 6 histograms and 6 box plots)
  • Once all group members agree on the 4 matches (pairs), ask them to glue matching solutions on a poster.
  • Post and conduct a gallery walk and ask students to look for commonalities and differences across the posters.
  • Once the class reconvenes, using a projector, present the histograms and box plots and ask volunteers from various groups to explain why they matched their cards as they did.
  • Encourage the rest of the students to respectfully challenge and counter answers.
  • Ask students if they can tell the number of students for each match. Do they have enough information? How do you know?

Handout #4

Class Mix Up Cards: Match Box Plots with Histograms

   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-14.png
   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-15.png
   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-17.png
   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-18.png
   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-19.png
   Macintosh Speed Drive:private:var:folders:sk:st47mns97y5dx61zt7tgh5jw0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:boxplot-20.png

Teacher Explanation

According to the World Health Organization 15.7% of all children who are under the age of 5 in the world are underweight.  As we discussed in the previous lesson, in 2012 it was estimated there were 642 million children in the world under the age of 5.  Given this number, ask students to calculate the number of children under 5 in the world that are underweight. (Approximately 101 million)

Conclude the class with discussion of the following questions:

  • Which representation would you use to determine the number of individual students who had the closest estimation? (box plot, frequency table, or histogram)
  • How does our class’ estimation compare the other (6) classes? Which class came the closest (within the bin) to the actual number of children <5  in the world who are underweight  (101 million)?

Homework: The focus of the next class is on the first indicator:  Prevalence of underweight and stunted children under five years of age. Ask students to think about 3 ways to determine if children are underweight.

Differentiation and Supports

    • Struggling: During small group work students can work with the first 3 pairs of cards only.
    • Struggling: During the matching card game, direct students to focus on one aspect at a time. Begin with students figuring out how many students are in each class.
    • Advanced: Create additional set of cards for the card game and share it with class.

  • While students engage in the group task, teacher can work with a small group of students on the same task. Explicitly demonstrating how he/she goes about marching the cards.

Note: The lesson is dealing with the notion of body weight (e.g. prevalence of underweight in children and BMI in adults). Be aware of many students who may have low self-esteem due to body weight. In the first part of the lesson we are focusing on children under five years of age (the UN indicator). In the second part we are looking at adults BMI and the focus is on BMI<18.5 as a function of underweight. The notion of BMI has several limitations, which we will discuss in the lesson. In addition, both, the notion of standard weight for children and the classification for BMI are useful as indicators for evaluating populations. NOT individuals.

Handout #3 will provide assessment data on student learning.

Observations of Class Mix Up Activity.

Return to top


Body, Incorporated

Updated: Jul 13

Everyone has a primary assessment about themselves; that one-liner that sits right beneath the surface and seems to explain everything about their experience on the planet. For some, it's "I suck at relationships." For others, it may be, "everyone I trust leaves." Mine, which could double as my Six-Word Memoir is, "I have always struggled with weight."

With therapy and age, I have come to recognize that this identity and personal narrative has been passed down from generation to generation, both genetically and energetically. My mother took me to Weight Watchers with her at age 10. My parents enrolled me in a nutrition and exercise program for adolescents called Shapedown when I was in 8th grade so that I could be more confident in my appearance by the time I started high school. A number of years ago, my grandmother who was in her mid-80s at the time, fainted because she didn’t want to eat anything before getting on the scale for her weekly check-in at her weight loss accountability group called TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). Let's just say I come by it honestly. It’s not a stretch to see how these actions and other messages, both implicit and explicit, set me up for a very complicated, confusing, and layered relationship with food, exercise, and self-acceptance that has spanned more than 30 years. It is truly all I have ever known. I'm not totally convinced that there is even any other way.

A few years ago, as my classmates and I were getting to know one another in a professional development program, we were asked to share something of note about our childhood. I found myself starting to share this well-rehearsed story, this oral history which has become somewhat rote and mechanical in its telling by now. But, instead, I paused. I started crying. I noticed that even as the words were forming in my mouth that I didn’t want them anymore. I didn’t want to be defined that way. I didn’t want that to be my story. There was more to me, more dimensions, more angles that were more true and accurate. It felt empowering to notice that that had been my story, but it didn’t have to always be forevermore. It felt as though I was shedding a second skin; something that once encapsulated me and served a valuable purpose, but was no longer necessary. In fact, it now felt restraining and limiting. It was suffocating and holding me back from allowing my true self to emerge. I had been sitting cloaked in that extra layer for a long time because it felt familiar, but now it was just weighing me down.

One of my favorite authors, Glennon Doyle, writes about the holy trinity of women where the mind and spirit are intact, but we voted our bodies off of the island at some point. Somewhere along the way, we absorbed the message from society that our bodies don’t belong to us, that our bodies are meant to please and appease others. I resonated with that idea so deeply. It has often felt as though my body is a separate entity from me, an outsider, an unwelcome guest who had long overstayed her welcome. In Sonya Renee Taylor's book, The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, she shares that Eve Ensler had a similar feeling of out-of-body-ness until she was diagnosed with cancer. It was only then when she began to accept the fact that "it's not my body that has cancer...I have cancer."

I was on a beach vacation recently and spent time really noticing people's bodies. Not in the way I normally do where I'm envious of this thing, jealous of that (or those), and feel bad about my own. Not even in the judgemental way I might look at a person to size them up against some imaginary measuring stick in order to mentally take them down a notch resulting in a quick hit of faux superiority in return. For the first time, I just took it all in and appreciated the huge range of shades, widths, heights, shapes, contours, and textures.

I found myself feeling genuinely curious about what people might be thinking about their own bodies: too much here, not enough there, too bumpy, too flat, too crooked, too wrinkled. I noticed how we pump, plump, stretch, tuck, cover, lift, squeeze, and smooth to fit ourselves into this uncomfortable, unattainable box. When I dialed in on their body language (pun intended), I noticed that just about everyone seemed to walk around in a haze of self-consciousness, acutely cognizant of where they fell in the body hierarchy. Everyone, that is, except for the folks aged 75+ who I assume have run out of Fs to give. I noticed that the anointed few who - on the surface - seemed to check many of the socially-valued boxes appeared desperate to soak up the external validation by posturing and snapping selfies, aware that the feeling would be fleeting.

I noticed I felt something different wash over me: empathy.

I felt empathy for how we have all been conditioned to feel ashamed and less than for not meeting an arbitrary and unrealistic Barbie and Ken doll-type metric of success. I felt empathy that our value as people often gets conflated and confused with how close or how far we are from that narrow definition of beauty which is rooted in white supremacy and toxic masculinity. I felt empathy for the children who are growing up feeling disconnected because they are being raised in a society that makes them feel as though their bodies must look a certain way for the benefit of others. Most noticeably, I felt empathy for myself and the collateral damage I had endured for decades by believing all of it was true.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the meaning of the word "incorporate,” with the root of the word being “core” or “corporal." Instead of losing weight or exercising more, my new goal is to feel more embodied. It doesn't happen overnight, but I am working hard to redefine, rewire, and reprogram in order to reunite my mind, body, and spirit. The amazing part is that as I shed the shame, resentment, and judgment that have taken up so much energy, bandwidth, and real estate over the years, I am beginning to feel more integrated. More whole. More connected. More in my own body.

If you (or someone you know) could benefit from working with a certified coach and trained facilitator who will provide customized, holistic, and tireless support as you or your team identify and take action towards your goals, please reach out to One Eleven Leadership to set up a complimentary consultation.


Skip to Content

Arabian Oryx: Why Is It Endangered?

Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) are endangered species that live in the Arabian Peninsula. They are hunted by humans for their meat, horns, and hides which has brought their populations to the brink of extinction.

  • Status: Vulnerable
  • Estimated numbers left in the wild: Over 1,000 (reintroduced).

There is no accurate estimate of their total population size due to how rare they are, but it is believed that there are less than 250 Arabian Oryx left in the world.

A Close Arabian Oryx

Statistics show that there were once as many as 20,000 Arabian Oryx in the wild. However, an increase in hunting and habitat loss has reduced this to a mere 250.

The Saudi government is trying its best to protect this species by banning all hunting of the Arabian Oryx and they have also placed them under strict protection laws. However, it is estimated that there are less than 250 Arabian Oryx left in the wild.

Arabian Oryx are large, long-necked antelopes that live in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.

They stand up to five feet tall at the shoulder. Their unique horns can be seen from miles away. These animals are severely endangered due to humans hunting them for their meat, hides, and horns.

Anatomy and Appearance

Sunlight is reflected from the fur, keeping the animal’s cooler even in the full glare of noon. The dark legs, by contrast, absorb heat in the bitter chill of the cold winter mornings.

Arabian oryx are well adapted to their desert habitat, able to go for a long time between drinks, and detect rain at a long distance so that they can track down fresh growth of grass and other transient plants.

Only one young is born at a time after a two hundred and forty-day gestation. When population density is high, herds may number up to around a hundred individuals. The maximum lifespan of these oryx is around twenty years.

Arabian Oryx Habitat

Arabian Oryx live in the Arab world, which encompasses Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This is a vast desert-heat region where sand dunes are common. They typically survive on the rocky mountain slopes of northwest Yemen.

This species inhabits semi-arid areas, this happens because the hot climate allows vegetation to grow fast. The Arabian Oryx rely on this for food and shelter

Arabian Oryx Diet and Nutrition

The Arabian Oryx diet is based on the vegetation that they feed on. They are herbivores by nature, but they also eat insects and small invertebrates.

These animals are grazers which means they do not need to drink water because they get all the water they need from their food.

Arabian Oryx will travel long distances to look for food. They eat grasses as well as the leaves, flowers, and fruits of different kinds of plants and grasses. Their favorite foods include:

• Acacia trees (found in the Arabian Peninsula)

• Barberry shrubs (also found in the region)

• Bushy thorn bushes (these grow in the savannah)

Euphorbia trees (also called candelabra because of how branches emerge from central stems)

Arabian Oryx do not eat leaves off of low or sparse growth plants. They will feed on higher-growth plants that are easy for them to reach. This is important because it helps prevent the overgrazing of more tender plants.

Arabian Oryx Mating Habits

The mating habits of Arabian oryxes are quite interesting. Males have a harem of females that they have to fight off other males for. The males will mate with any female that is part of his harem. Female oryxes are also aggressive and will fight off other females from entering their territory too.

Arabian Oryx Group Structure

The Arabian oryxes live in groups that are separated by sex.

Males and females come together for mating but they avoid each other the rest of the time. They only group together to defend themselves against predators such as hyenas. The males will typically stay on their own, while groups of female oryxes will stick together.

Arabian Oryx Facts

Here are the interesting facts about this threatened species

  • They are large animals with an average weight of 570lbs
  • The males can grow up to 4 feet in height.
  • Arabian Oryx are able to run at speeds of 30 mph over long distances
  • Some of these species will form herds with other members of their species. These herds usually consist of 10-50 animals.
  • They are able to jump 6 ft high.
  • The ringed horns of the Arabian Oryx are able to grow 1.8 feet in length, but they have been seen up to 2.2 feet in length on older animals.
  • Arabian Oryx has a gestation period of 10 months, with one young per birth.

Conservation Status

Strolling Arabian Oryx

Conservation efforts

The Arabian oryx would not be extant today if it were not for massive and effective conservation via captive breeding programs and reintroduction. The World Wildlife Fund, the Phoenix Zoo, and Fauna and Flora International played, and continue to play, a critical role in the species’ survival. Saudi Arabia has created large fenced reserves to protect the local population.

The Dallas Zoo and various European zoos have joined and strengthened the captive breeding program of the active or private collections of this species.

Do you know of or are you a part of an organization that works to conserve the Arabian Oryx, then please contact us to have it featured on Our Endangered World.

Final Thoughts

The Arabian Oryx is endangered in the wild because of human hunting and oil prospecting. They are hunted for their meat, horns, and hides by humans which have brought them to the brink of extinction.

Organizations such as The World Wildlife Fund have been working with Saudi Arabia’s wildlife department to create large fenced reserves where they can be protected from predators like hyenas. In addition, there are reintroduced populations that seem to be increasing but conservation efforts must continue indefinitely if we want this species to survive into the future.

Arabian Oryx

How do Arabian Oryx reproduce?

Arabian Oryx reproduce only if the environmental conditions permit. The gestation period for these species is 13-14 months and they usually give birth to one kid at a time.

Due to their low numbers, mortality rates during birth and weaning periods are high, meaning there’s often high competition among females to produce offspring each year.

Where can Arabian Oryx be found?

The Arabian oryx, or desert oryx, is a species of antelope that may be found in the Arabian Peninsula and for which it is hunted for meat, horns, and hides.

Are Arabian Oryx endangered animals?

Yes, Arabian Oryx is an endangered animal. Because of their scarcity, there is no precise figure for their overall population size, but it is estimated that there are fewer than 250 oryx of this species remaining in the world.

How has conservation helped the population grow?

The Arabian Oryx’s conservation is made possible through the cooperative efforts of the World Wide Fund for Nature, International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, United Arab Emirates Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (UAE MW), and other partners.

The aim is to conserve wild populations in situ by the protection of migratory corridors that enable animals to move up into Saudi Arabia to areas where they are protected.

Effective conservation depends on understanding every phase of an animal’s life cycle-feeding habits, mating behaviors, migration patterns, water needs-all this information collected over many years help lead to long-term solutions for protecting these animals.

Our challenge now is figuring out how best to manage their native habitat so it remains suitable for these iconic animals.
In a study conducted by WWF and partners in Abu Dhabi, camera traps were used by researchers to monitor the oryx. A total of 16 cameras were used at two different sites with each camera being set up on a tree or pole 1-2 meters above ground level.

Why was human hunting prevalent to these animals and caused them to be endangered?

Hunting for sport, access to the lucrative trade in skins, and sport hunting was big business. Even poorer nomadic families were encouraged by human settlements close to their grazing grounds to hunt for food.

Other Species Profile

Related Resources


How you can get into web3 as a developer: Bilge Kesen’s story

Bilge Kesen submitted her NEAR Certified Developer project and became one of the first graduates in Turkey!

Patika launched its first web3 educational program in partnership with NEAR in March 2022. With 2,200+ sign-ups from 64 countries and 105 NEAR Certified Developer project submissions, the program was a success. But more important is personal stories of our students. Here is the story from our first cohort in web3: Bilge Kesen!

Can you tell us about yourself and your programming journey?

I am a software developer working in the finance sector. I graduated from Marmara University Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department.

I met with programming in the first year of university during the Introduction to Computer Programming class. I loved it and then shaped my career on it.

Why did you love programming so much?

It all started with the engineer mindset: I set up an algorithm for everything I do even in my daily life :) There is always a to-do list in my mind telling me what to do in what order. I guess that's why I'm interested in programming that combines logic, math, and algorithms. I like finding solutions to problems and see the results objectively.

How did you hear about & NEAR Developer Course? What were your expectations when applying?

I wanted to learn web3 and came across the program while researching several courses. Being a part of a community, having a roadmap, and having people around to talk with when I had a problem were important factors convincing me to sign up.

Can you tell us about your web3 learning journey?

It went pretty well for me. I met very successful people in the practicum groups. I saw people supporting each other. The training was very informative. I always got answers to the questions I asked. Thanks so much to Patika and NEAR Education teams!

What advice would you give to other candidates for future programs?

I recommend them to keep learning in the programs as much as they can. There are some really good resources out there, whether it's for learning new things or for refreshing knowledge.

Success stories

Hundreds of our graduates from different backgrounds started their software technology after Patika bootcamps

Partner şirketlerimiz, kendilerine özel Patika bootcamp’lerinden toplu işe alım yapıyor. Bu ücretsiz bootcamp'lere katıl, başarıyla mezun ol, ve hemen işe başla! Şu ana kadar binlerce kişi bootcamp'lerden sonra en iyi şirketlerde işe girdi.

Başvurulara açık programlarımız

Our partner companies open their own bootcamps with Patika to train new talent and directly hire from the bootcamps. Students never pay anything! Thousands of new developers launched their career in top companies thanks to this model.

Currently enrolling bootcamps


Improving Air Quality in the Office Helps Your Copier?

Almost every technician will tell you that dust is a prime culprit in the need for service calls. When the air quality is poor inside an office, dust will form more easily, which can affect your copier. Not only is improving the air quality good for your copier, it will also be good for you.

What can you do to improve the internal air quality?

First, hire a cleaner who will regularly vacuum, dust and mop the office. You will want them to dust under the phone, on your desk and with your desktop printers.

You can also improve air quality by reducing an over reliance on paper. As paper starts to degrade, it will begin to produce dust. That means that filing cabinets and magazine racks will become a hotbed for a lot of dust.

What else can you do to eliminate dust and improve the air quality at the office?

Consider buying an air purifier. This will catch the dust and improve the air quality. However, keep in mind that you will often have to clean this regularly to get the most from it.


The Supreme Court of the United States said Tuesday it would not review the case against four Dallas police officers involved in the death of Tony Timpa in 2016. A federal appeals court ruled in January that "qualified immunity" should not protect the officers from potential liability resulting from the death of Timpa, a man with mental illness who died after being restrained for nearly 14 minutes by the officers.

To keep the case from going to trial the City of Dallas fought all the way to the Supreme Court and on Tuesday the court refused to weigh in, which means the case will go forward to trial, reports 5NBC.

"The decision means that the case can proceed to trial and that there will be no more delays from any appellate court. Also, the decision means that the Fifth Circuit did it right that their ruling regarding deadly force will be the law of the land at least in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana for as long as we know," Geoff Henley, an attorney for Timpa’s family, tells FOX4.

The states mentioned by Henley are covered by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling allowing the suit to continue.

A Dallas County grand jury indicted the three officers on misdemeanor charges of deadly conduct, but those charges were dropped by the district attorney in 2019.


History of pizza: how did the edible symbol of Italy appear?

The history of pizza will be interesting to all fans of this super-popular national Italian dish. From the first bread baked back in the Stone Age, to flatbread with cheese and lard (!), from the Great Geographical Discoveries to the first pizzeria in New York, from Neapolitan street food for ordinary workers to a refined dish on the royal table... Just like pizza itself, its history is a motley quilt of bright moments. History of pizza: ancestors and relatives The history of pizza goes all the way back to antiquity. In Sardinia, archaeologists found bread baked more than 7,000 years ago! Flat bread was baked in clay ovens by the ancient Jews, Babylonians, Egyptians and Greeks. And in ancient Rome, the most popular food of peasants and soldiers was focaccia - panis focacius, which translates as "bread baked in the hearth." It is focaccia that is considered a distant ancestor and relative of pizza. Of course, these first "test of a pen" can not be 100% called a pizza in the minds of modern people. But they became the foundation on which the idea of pizza emerged. The origin of the word pizza The real history of pizza began in southern Italy. In 997 BC in a small port town Gaeta, which is located between Rome and Naples, was recorded the first written mention of the word pizza. In the document, the son of a feudal lord promises twelve pizzas to the local bishop as an annual tax.

Washington state

Washington is one of the Pacific states of the United States. A land of contrasts, a region that combines natural wonders with beautiful cities. The state's landscape is very diverse. In the central part of it, the majestic Cascade Mountains with their many volcanoes rise up. To the east, the hilly plains turn into semi-deserts. One of the largest and most beautiful rivers in the United States, the Columbia, flows through here. The western counties of the state are famous for their scenic Olympic Mountains and unique rain forests. History buffs and art lovers won't get bored in this region, with fascinating museums, entertainment venues and historic Victorian-style mansions in major cities. There is so much to see and experience. Geography Washington State is located in the northwestern part of the United States. Its western territories face the Pacific Ocean. The region shares borders with Canada (British Columbia Province), Oregon and Idaho. By area, it ranks 18th in the United States of America (184,827 km²). The state's main natural resources are dense forests and full-flowing rivers. Cities in Washington State Olympia. The state capital, a small city located in a picturesque place. Its main attraction is the majestic Capitol, which stands on a hill overlooking Puget Sound. Don't miss one of the state's oldest frame mansions, the home of attorney Daniel Bigelow. Take a walk to Olympic National Park, near the capital. It is famous for rain forests, beautiful lakes and glaciers, and rich flora and fauna. Seattle. The largest city in Washington state. Known for its beautiful bays and mesmerizing panorama of the city with its majestic mountain peaks as a backdrop. Seattle has many wonderful places and sites. The most popular ones are the 184-foot Space Needle Tower with an observation deck, the monumental St. James Cathedral, and the Pike Place Market, a public market with lots of little restaurants. Curious tourists will enjoy the Aviation Museum, the Log House Museum, and the Seattle Museum of History and Industry. Check out the D. Chihuly Glass Sculpture Garden, the intriguing Pop Culture Museum, and the Aquarium.


Works. IV. Part 1: Mathematical philosophy, pure natural theology. Part 2: The second special discipline of mathematical philosophy, the other part of pure mathematics: namely the archimetry, commonly used by the expression geometry. Edited and introduced by Thomas Behme. (Werke IV. Teil 1: Philosophia mathematica, theologia naturalis solida. Teil 2: Philosophiae mathematicae secunda disciplina specialis, purae matheseos pars altera: videlicet archimetria, seu expressioris usus communissimi geometria.) (Latin, German) Zbl 1284.01008

Clavis Pansophiae 3, 4. Stuttgart: Friedrich Frommann Verlag Günther Holzboog (ISBN 978-3-7728-2540-8/set). lxxvii, 372 p./pt.1; lvii, 536 p./pt.2. (2013).
The present edition of Erhard Weigel’s Philosophia mathematica, published originally in 1693, is part of a series of Weigel’s collected writings; for the first and third volume see [Zbl 1096.01017; Zbl 1143.01007]. Weigel’s treatise consists of two parts, entitled Theologia naturalis solida and Archimetria, respectively. Long (German) introductions of the editor to each part summarize the main ideas and place them within a broader context.
As Weigel’s earlier treatises mentioned above, also the Philosophia mathematica deals with a universal method of knowledge. In the Analysis Aristotelica ex Euclide restituta from 1658 the young Weigel had interpreted Aristotelian logic in the light of the Euclidean method in order to free it from the distortions of mediaeval scholasticism. In contrast, the present treatise critizises the restrictions of the Aristotelian method of knowledge and aims to overcome them by resorting to algebra. Weigel’s approach is rooted in the view that God’s creation follows mathematical laws and that men, by doing mathematics, take part in the divine wisdom. Thus the object of mathematics is universal; it may be applied to theology, to natural philosophy as well as to ethics. Weigel stresses the value of mathematics for moral education and argues for strengthening its role at school and university. His treatise is part of this pedagogical program and aims to introduce the epistemological and ontological foundations of his method to the youth. Therefore the mathematical parts are kept elementary. In the Archimetria Weigel illustrates how to produce new results via analysis (in the sense of ancient Greek philosophy) by reconsidering some theorems from Euclidean geometry and trigonometry. However, he does not believe that there is a general method of analysis; his derivations serve only as a guideline and source of inspiration. Another part of the Archimetria develops the metaphysics of motions since, for Weigel, by studying them, mathematics can be applied to natural philosophy and even to ethics.
Among the applications of mathematics presented by Weigel in his Theologia naturalis solida, the most important one is a proof of God’s existence. It has to be seen in the context of efforts, for example at the Royal Society, to which the treatise was dedicated, to counter atheism by a theology seconded by natural philosophy. The first publication of this proof in the 1670s had initiated a discussion with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz who critized its occasionalist parts. This is only one instance where the present treatise documents intersections and differences between the philosophies of Leibniz and his teacher Weigel. While their common interest in a universal method of knowledge based on mathematics was typical for the time, Leibniz took Cartesian analytical geometry and his own differential calculus, which first appeared in 1684, as a model. The editor notes that Weigel must have read Descartes, however his proofs do not use analytical geometry but are based on geometric and arithmetic arguments. Weigel’s concept of the human spirit as a mathematical point, which has no determinate direction, is close to ideas of Leibniz of a pointlike soul and his concept of monads. Here the influence might be mutual. In general, as the editor stresses, Weigel’s approach was less speculative and more didactic than Leibniz’s.
As the previous volumes, also the present one contains extensive annotations as well as name and subject indices (in German).

01A75 Collected or selected works; reprintings or translations of classics
01A45 History of mathematics in the 17th century
00A30 Philosophy of mathematics


Visitors : 24930371      Online Users : 57
Scope Adv. Search

Title: Electrooptical Responses of Carbon Nanotube-Doped Liquid Crystal Devices
Authors: Huang, Chi-Yen;Hu, Chao-Yuan;Pan, Hung-Chih;Lo, Kuang-Yao
Contributors: 光電科技研究所
Keywords: Liquid crystal;Carbon nanotube;Dielectric anisotropy;Viscosity;Backflow
Date: 2005-11
Issue Date: 2013-01-07T02:10:34Z
Publisher: The Japan Society of Applied Physics
Abstract: The electrooptical characteristics of carbon nanotube-doped liquid crystal (LC) devices were investigated. Two complementary operation modes of the liquid crystal cells were fabricated. The measured results reveal that anisotropic carbon nanosolids modify the dielectric anisotropy and the viscosity of the liquid crystal carbon nanotube mixture, hence significantly modifying the threshold voltage and the switching behavior of a liquid crystal device. Doping a small amount of carbon nanotubes into the liquid crystal mixture is effective in improving the electrooptical characteristics of an LC device when the employed LC mixture is viscous.
Relation: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 44(11): 8077-8081

Files in This Item:

File SizeFormat