Physiology Lab: Cow Eye Dissection Guide

The Exterior of the Globe:

The eye with orbital fat

The eye with orbital fat removed clearly showing optic nerve

In dissecting the eye, it is important to note the aspect in which the structures are located (anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, lateral, medial etc). Examine the external appearance of the eye. Some of the structures, which may remain intact on the globe, are the extrinsic muscles, orbital fat root of the optic nerve, the eyelids, (including the third eyelid known as the nictitating membrane) and the conjunctiva. Locate the positions of the eye with reference to the six aforementioned aspects. Some clues, which may help in this identification, are the shape of the pupil or cornea, the position of the optic nerve and the location of the nictitating membrane. The pupil, when contracted, and the cornea are pear shaped, with the broader end situated medially or nasally. On the posterior aspect of the globe, the root of the optic nerve is located somewhat ventral to the medial horizontal plane and curves nasally. The nicitating membrane is located in the medial and ventral quadrant when viewed from the front. In the human, a vestige of the nicitating membrane (the plica semilunaris) can be seen in the medial corner of the eye, situated behind the pink pad of tissue (the caruncle).

The specific extrinsic muscles need not be identified by name on your specimen, since some of them have been torn away at the insertion. However, their functions will be briefly described. There are six muscles concerned with the orientation of the eye in space: 1.) the superior rectus, 2.) the inferior rectus, 3.) the lateral rectus, 4.) the medial rectus, 5.) the superior oblique and 6.) the inferior oblique. The first two muscles rotate the eye upward and downward, the second two muscles rotate the eye nasally and temporally, and the third two are responsible for tilting ht eye. Of course, any rotation of the eye is due to an intricate coordination of all of these muscles responding simultaneously. Three cranial nerves innervate these muscles- the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens. There are two other muscles attached to the eye. The levator is located above ht superior rectus, which upon contraction raises the upper eyelid. Both the levator and the superior rectus are served by the oculomotor nerve and they act conjointly. Thus when the superior rectus contracts, rotating the eye upwards, the levator also contracts to withdraw the upper eyelid from the field of vision. Rhythmic inhibition of the levator causes blinking. The other aforementioned muscle is the retractor surrounding the optic nerve and inserted around the equator of the globe (the equator is defined with reference to the anterior and posterior poles). The retractor, which is absent in humans, pulls the entire eye deeper within the orbit. As a protective mechanism this action as results in the passive partial closure of the nictitating membrane over the sclera and cornea. The third eyelid has no muscle of its own, but is served indirectly by the retractor. The abducens nerve innervates the retractor. The lower eyelid has no separate muscle either, but a branch of the inferior rectus is attached to it, providing some degree of movement.

The yellowish orbital fat in which these muscles are embedded functions as a cushion absorbing any mechanical shocks to the eye and provides support to the globe within the orbit.

Around the root of the optical nerve is the dural sheath. This sheath is continuous with the dura matter of the brain, consistent with the embryological development of the optic nerve and retina as an extension of the central nervous system.

The conjunctiva is a delicate, folded membrane arising at the margin of the cornea and sclera (called the limbus region), covering the sclera for a short distance before folding backward to line the inner surface of the eyelids. The conjunctiva secretes a watery fluid lubricates the area between the eyelids and the cornea.

Now with the aid of a scalpel, scrape away the extrinsic muscles, orbital fat and the eyelids, but preserve the root of the optic nerve. These structures as well as any others surrounding the eye arte collectively termed the ocular adnexa. After the adnexa is removed, the sclera will be completely exposed over the entire surface of the globe. With a light pressure applies by the fingers and thumb, note any differences in scleral thickness at different points on the globe. Is the globe spherical or is one axis relatively short? Note any pigmentation at the corneal margin and examine the corneal surface for abrasions due to the loss of epithelium. If abrasions are not present, make a few by scraping with the scalpel. If the cornea is not too cloudy, the position and shape of the pupil should be noted. How does the cow pupil differ from the human pupil? The innervation of the cornea is standard in most mammals. Fine corneal nerve fibers emanate from a pericorneal plexus deriving from the ciliary nerves. The latter are both sensory and motor in function, supplying fibers to the ciliary muscle, iris, and cornea, and constitute two twigs of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. In the cornea both free nerve endings and terminals with rounded end bulbs have been identified histologically. All of the cutaneous sensations can be elicited from the cornea, but it is interesting that this sensitivity is reduced in the infant during the first year of life.

After the cleaning of the globe, immerse it in water and observe the episcleral fibers. These fibers connect the membrane loosely surrounding the globe and are commonly known as Teron's capsule.

Mark the top and bottom by means of a notch and bisect the globe around the equator. Hold the globe between the thumb and the forefingers of the left hand and make an incision through the sclera with the scalpel, using a sawing action. Upon penetration, registered by an escape of fluid, insert the scalpel or a pair of scissors and cut all around the equator. Without letting the two halves separate, take the scalpel and gently cut through the vitreous humor with a sawing motion. Unless the vitreous humor is cut first, it is liable to pull away as a whole, bringing the lens and retina with it. This method of bisection avoids the lens, which is ordinarily hard to achieve.

The Interior of the Globe:

Retina is white film, black is pigment epithelium and blue spot (on left) is tapetum

Here is a sheep eye showing the exit of the optic nerve.

Place the two halves in water to avoid drying out and to float out some of the more delicate structures. Note the inequities in scleral thickness. The appearance of the posterior half is similar to the view the ophthalmologist receives when examining the eye. This hemispherical bowl is called the fundus. Look for the optic nerve head or disc (devoid of receptor elements), the filmy retina and vessels (folds in the retina are artifacts), the choroid and any surface coloration it may have (the tapetum). Except in primate mammals, no central retinal area, macula or fovea, is macroscopically distinguishable.

The choroid is a heavily pigmented layer behind the retina, providing a dark chamber for the eye and absorbing incident light before it can be reflected. On the inner surface of the choroid is a brilliant patch of colors, the tapetum, varying from yellow to blue to violet. It is responsible for the glow so readily seen in the pupil of certain animals at night when they face a light source. The tapetum is not found in the human eye. Although its function is uncertain, it may act as a back reflector, increasing the amount of light passing through the retina, and hence its sensitivity at low levels of illumination. The receptor elements of the retina are located adjacent to the inner surface of the choroid, with the bipolars, ganglion cells and blood vessels lying over them. Light passing through the dioptric apparatus (cornea, aqueous humor, lens and vitreous humor) must therefore pass through these retinal layers before stimulating the photoreceptors or being absorbed by the choroid. Gently pull apart of the retina away from the choroid and note its transparency.

Now examine the anterior half of the globe. Notice the sharp termination of the retina along the circle of attachment called the ora ciliaris retinae (ora serrata in humans). Beyond this point the choroid thickens to form the ciliary body, which is roughly triangular in cross section. The ciliary body tapers down from the iris and from it emanate the sensory ligaments of the lens. The deeply pigmented sphere including the choroid, ciliary body and iris is termed the uvea or middle coat of the eye. A number of meridional folds, the ciliary processes, can be easily distinguished on the inner surface of the ciliary body. The lens is located behind the iris. Through it one may obtain "the cow's eye view" by holding the anterior half towards the light.

After making these observations on the interior of the globe, the dissection of the two halves may begin. First it will be necessary to remove the vitreous humor, a gel-like substance having the consistency of raw eye white. With a brushing motion, pull the vitreous from the posterior half. Of done properly, the retina and choroid will remain intact and in position. Place a small piece of the vitreous humor on a paper towel. Notice the gradual loss of water content leaving the small solid residue. A watery fluid called the aqueous humor fills the chamber between the lens and cornea. The vitreous is similar to, if not identical to the aqueous humor. The major difference between the two is that the vitreous contains a tenuous molecular sponge or network of immense capacity for water absorption.

Dissection of the Posterior Half:

After removal of the vitreous replace the posterior half under water and note how the retina comes away readily from the underlying choroid but remains attached at the optic disc. The greater strength of the retina in this area is due to the increased density of neuroglial cells around the optic disc. As in the glial cells of the retina are supportive and connective in function, as well as serving to insulate one neuron from another. The blood vessels of the retina are visible only insofar as they retain some blood in them, but tend to follow retinal folds.
With a scalpel, bisect the posterior half through the optic nerve root and the optic disc. Note that it is narrowest where it transverses the scleral foramen. With blunt forceps strip away the retina and examine the choroid and tapetum. Scrape away some of the black pigment of the choroid near the margin of the tapetum. How far does the tapetum extend beneath this pigment layer? Again with forceps peel off the choroid. This tears away from the sclera, the fibers of the suprachoroid, the outer cellular layer of the choroid composed of pigmented connective tissue, and exposes a pigment layer on the inner surface of the sclera upon which the imprint of ciliary nerves and vessels are seen as the lightest tracery. As described above, the ciliary nerves innervate the cornea, iris and ciliary muscle. In the eye, nerves and blood vessels tend to follow similar routes, frequently located adjacent to one another. Where this occurs they are often named similarly, thus ciliary nerves and ciliary vessels. The arterial circulatory system of the eye arises, in humans, from the internal carotid artery. From this artery branches the ophthalmic artery, which subsequently divides into the ciliary arteries and central retinal arteries. Venous blood leaves the globe primarily via the large vorticose veins and smaller ciliary veins between the choroid and sclera. These converge upward and downward into superior and inferior ophthalmic vein that empty into the cavernous sinus located in the floor of the cranium. The sinus is drained by the internal jugular vein. The vascular system of the cow eye differs considerably from the human eye. One of the major differences is that arterial influx and venous efflux are provided primarily by the external carotid and external jugular, respectively, rather then their respective internal branches as in humans.

Dissection of the Anterior Half:

Here is the lens of the eye

Invert the anterior half over a dish of water. If the lens and vitreous do not fall away, it will be necessary to cut through the suspensory ligaments of the lens (attached to the ciliary body) by working a scalpel around, between the lens equator and the ciliary processes, taking care not to damage either. Detach the lens and note any differences in curvature between the anterior and posterior surfaces. Then bisect the lens along the antero-posterior axis. Note the laminated structure and harder central nucleus. Using your fingers, break one of the lens halves into quarters. The laminations may be more apparent now. A thin, transparent membrane, called the lens capsule, should be visible at the point of fracture. The suspensory ligaments are continuous with the lens capsule. The lens is the mechanism for ocular accommodation. When the ciliary muscle, located on the broad anterior aspect of the ciliary body, contracts in a sphincter like fashion, tension on the suspensory ligaments is relieved, resulting in an increased curvature of the lens. Objects near to the eye are thus brought into focus on the retina. The innervation for the accommodation reflex is not well understood. It is thought to be primarily a parasympathetic effect, initiated by a change in the focus of the light incident on the fovea. Pathways to the visual cortex and superior colliculus via the optic nerve and lateral geniculate bodies return to the ciliary muscle is very small and probably has little significance. In considering the role of this muscle in accommodation, how does its small size relate to the location of the eyes on the head?

Now inspect the inner aspect of the remaining portion of the anterior half. With blunt forceps test the attachment of the retina at the margin of the ciliary body. Remove any vitreous that may remain. Strip off the anterior uvea in one piece with the forceps and place it aside. Examine the inner surface of the outer coat and then bisect it. At the edge of the cut, look for differences in corneal thickness between the center and periphery. Note the overlap the sclera over the cornea.

Now examine the anterior uvea. Note the white band denoting position of the ciliary body (and muscle), the iris pattern and pigment, and the size and shape of the pupil. Observe closely for traces of ciliary nerves and vessels. When contracted the pupil assumes a somewhat pear shape shaped horizontal slit with the broader end situated medially in conformity with the shape of the cornea, but upon dilation, the pupil becomes more circular. Changes in pupil size are a classical example of the antagonism between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. The dilator muscles of the iris, oriented radially and innervated by the sympathetic system, produce an increase in pupil size upon contraction. Fibers from the superior cervical ganglion reach the trigeminal nerve via the internal carotid nerve. The ciliary nerves of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal then terminate on the dilator muscles. In opposite fashion the sphincter muscles of the iris, oriented concentrically and innervated by the parasympathetic system, cause the pupil to shrink upon contraction. The sphincters are dominant over the dilators. Like the ciliary muscle sphincters, the iris sphincters are innervated by the oculomotor nerve. Afferents from the cornea, the ciliary muscle and the iris project into the trigeminal nerve. Although the iris muscles respond to a wide variety of stimuli of psychological origin, the simple and involuntary papillary light reflex is relatively straightforward. In the optic nerve a discrete bundle of fibers, the papillary fibers, are believed to be specialized for the papillary reflex arc. These fibers semi decussate at the optic chiasm and terminate in the pretectal nuclei of the midbrain. At this point additional crossing of fibers occurs via the posterior commissure, other fibers from the petectal nuclei synapse in the nuclei of the oculomotor nerves. As mentioned previously, the oculomotor nerves then innervate the sphincters of the iris (but after one synapse in the ciliary ganglion). The dilators of the iris remain in relatively tonic contraction, exerting their influence when the sphincter reflex arc is inactive. Finally, on the upper and lower edges of the iris are located several deeply pigmented masses, the corpora nigra. These bodies are arranged in such a way that when the iris sphincters contract strongly the corpora interlace with one another, providing an additional degree or closure of the pupil beyond that provided by the muscular response of the iris.

Thanks to Christine Zelle, Lab coordinator for upper division biology labs, for helping to prepare this lab, new Fall, 2004, for the General Physiology Lab

This page was last updated 6/2/05

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The kidneys are important regulators of homeostasis in the body. They regulate ions and pH as well as water. In addition, kidneys also serve as the principle organ for the elimination of metabolic waste products. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron and each kidney contains approximately two million of these structures. The nephron is divided into two regions: the glomerulus and the renal tubule. The heart pumps 7000 l/day (32 55 gal drums), and almost1/4 (8 55 gal drums) goes through kidneys. Via the glomerulus to the lumen of Bowman's capsule there is 180 l/day of filtrate (primitive urine) that passes on to the renal tubule. Finally, there is 1 l urine/day.

How is this volume reduced? The primitive urine is similar to the blood's plasma in composition except that the large molecules(>70,000 MW), such as plasma proteins, are excluded. As the filtrate passes through the renaltubule most of the water is reabsorbed and many of the essential substances are actively orpassively reabsorbed into the blood stream. Toxic byproducts of metabolism and substances inexcess are retained in the filtrate or are actively secreted into the filtrate and finally excreted asdefinitive urine. Thus the final composition of the urine is very different from that of theglomerular filtrate and reflects the integrity of kidney function and changes in blood composition.
An analysis of urine can yield valuable information about the health of the body in general. The
volume of urine produced and its specific gravity give information on the state of hydration or
dehydration of the body. Several diseases are characterized by abnormal metabolism and the
abnormal byproducts can be found in the urine. For example, phenylpyruvic acid appears in the
urine of someone suffering from phenylketonuria (PKU), a disease resulting in mental retardation.
Type I diabetes mellitus, a disease resulting from a deficient production of insulin by the pancreatic islets, is characterized by the appearance of glucose in the urine, a condition known as glycosuria. Readings above or below the normal range for specific gravity may indicate a pathological condition. For example, a low reading is found in chronic nephritis and a high one in acute nephritis.

Recent advances in urinalysis techniques have made it possible to perform, in a few seconds, tests which formerly took hours. The Multistix test is a combined test of pH, proteins, glucose, ketones and occult blood. Alkaline urine is found in many conditions. One example is cystitis, a condition in which urine decomposes in the bladder to form ammonia. Typically urine is slightly acidic (around pH 6); however, the pH can be lowered by a diet rich in proteins or citrus fruits. Thus pH by itself is not very informative. An abnormally low pH coupled with high glucose and ketones are characteristics of diabetes mellitus. The presence of proteins or blood in the urine is more useful as a diagnostic tool. Blood and proteins in the urine may indicate nephritis, a disease characterized by damaged glomeruli that allow plasma proteins and erythrocytes to leak into the urine. However, long distance runners sometimes test positive for blood in their urine.

In the first portion of this exercise, you will analyze your urine for some of the more clinically
important constituents. In the second portion of this exercise, the class will be divided into four test
groups and the members of each group will drink one of the following beverages:
(1) tap water
(2) Gatorade
(3) beer
(4) coffee

Beer - We card! Do not volunteer if you will be driving later.

Coffee - Do not volunteer to take caffeine if you do not normally have caffeine in your diet and/or you know to be sensitive to caffeine.

For convenience (so the lab proceeds in a timely manner), the schedule will be very different. As stated in the syllabus, you need to come prepared to micturate. Go to the rest room and fill the sample cup, and note the time. We do not need to know the volume, but, so that a volume measurement after drinking is more meaningful, please void completely after filling the cup.

Next, we will take a reading with the urinanalysis strip. I really do not understand how they expect you to make all those readings on the key that is rolled around the jar, so, conveniently, last year's TA, Marie Miller, put keys cleverly in water proog pages that will be provided.

Here's how:
Obtain a Multistix from the front lab bench. Dip the reagent part of the Multistix into the urine so that all reagents are completely covered. Dip quickly for not more than one second! Wipe off the excess urine by dragging the chemstrip across the lip of the urinalysis jar. The specified number of secondsseconds read the strip by comparing it to the colored scale on the Multistix pages provided.

Then we will drink, as fast as possible, noting the time,

Group 1: drinks 710 ml (the equivalent of 2 cans, 12 oz each) of tap water
Group 2: drinks 710 ml of Gatorade
Group 3: drinks 710 ml of coffee
Group 4: drinks 2 cans of beer

Gatorade is an electrolyte replacement with glucose and, in an 8 fl oz serving has 110 mg sodium and 30 mg potassium.

Caffeine and alcohol are famous for their diuretic effects. The latter (perhaps both) inhibit antidiuretic hormone.

This is when we will take the quiz. Maybe a few other business matters after that to kill time.

1 (or maybe 1.5) hr after drinking, each student will empty his/her bladder into a clean beaker or bottle of choice.

Analyze the urine from each collection for Volume--and for everything else, especially specific gravity, and we will tabulate the results.

The normal range of specific gravity for urine is 1.0015 to 1.035.

Reference: Familiarize yourselves with chapters 19 and 20 in Silverthorn

Use the data below to write a "half lab report" (results and discussion). What would you expect? Is that how it turned out? What can we do better this year?

Data from last year

Why was it so difficult to get good data collection? (Maybe we can do a better job this year!) While we used the strips to test everything that is on the strips (and we will do so again this year), you will note that everything is qualitative, except specific gravity and pH (which are quantitative). So those are the only values I can give you (before and after drinking). We had students come prepared to collect a sample for testing and, at the same time, void for time zero. We tried to get the subjects to drink quickly and hoped that students would need to "go" again in one hour when we could measure volume and test strip values. Instead, you will need to deal with differing times somehow.

Subject #, specific gravity before, s g after, pH before, pH after, volume, time difference (hr:min)

Last year I gave a quiz, and here are the questions and answers

BL A347 - General Physiology Laboratory Spring semester, 2004
Prof. Stark - 7th quiz - April 22

Why would you expect urine output to be higher after beer than an equivalent volume of water?

it inhibits ADH

Why is the blood vessel exiting the glomerulus called an efferent arteriole instead of a vein?

because, like hypothalamus->pituitary and gut->liver, kidney has a portal blood flow

Glucose is filtered into Bowman's capsule then "recovered." Why, then, do patients with untreated diabetes mellitus have glucosuria (glycosuria)?

glucose transport saturates

Why are we comparing the output after Gatorade vs water in the urinanalysis lab?

gatorade has electrolytes

After glomerular filtration, reabsorption and secretion processes recover important molecules and dispose of wastes respectively. If all reabsorption and secretion were blocked, what would that do to the volume of urine?

it would go WAY up

Hopefully your Multistix reading will give a low protein reading. What is the mechanism responsible for low protein in urine?

proteins don't fit through filtration sieve

Why is urine pH, by itself, not useful in diagnosis?

dietary factors can swing pH widely

Rounded off to the nearest digit (e.g. -1, 0, 1), what is the specific gravity of urine in a normal subject?

it's just decimal places above 1

Which part of the nephron goes into the kidney's medulla?

loop of Henle

What is the difference in the use of the words "excretion" and "secretion" in the context of your kidney coverage?

secretion is pumping out of wastes while excretion is the whole proces of urine manufacture

This page was last updated 11/5/04

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Guide To Buying Boat Engines – FAQS

There are many questions new and even experienced boat buyers like to know so we have tried to give a brief outline of the most important questions and observations you will need to know when buying an engine for your boat.

How do i check the engine?

There are two different types of engine, the outboard which is bolted or clamped to the back of the boat, or the inboard which is located inside the boat. There are three different types of outboards. Direct injection two stroke engines, two stroke engines and four stroke engines.

What is a two stroke outboard?

These are the thirstiest of all the outboards and require you to mix the fuel and oil separately unless the outboard has oil injection. On buying second hand, ask if there is any history and warrantee left on the engine.

Ask to see it running (this must be done in a tank of water) check to see if there is water pumping out of the engine. If not walk away, this could mean the impellor needs replacing (not expensive) or the outboard could have been run without the water cooling it causing other damage. Ask if they know if the compression is O.K all cylinders should be within 10% of each other or it means one or more of the cylinders could be losing compression (very very expensive).

What is PTT?

PTT means power trim and tilt, this is when the outboard has a ram which will lift the leg of the outboard out of the water (great to have) check it works and does not sound rough. (can be expensive).

What is direct injection outboards?

These boast in most cases to be 35% more fuel efficient than normal two strokes, these outboard have only been around for approx 5 years. These outboards are lighter than four strokes so in a lot of cases seem a better buy. These outboards do require computers some of the service works, so check the history. As well as that check as above.

What are four stroke outboards?

They are the most economical of all outboards; all the same checks are needed. These outboard are far heavier that the other two types.

What is an inboard engine?

They are always located inside the boat and are more difficult to do check we advise to get a trained marine engineer to look at the engine on your behalf. BE WARNED inboard motors are far more expensive to run and maintain. Great for wakeboard boats as they are very heavy and provide great torque and balas.

How do i maintain my outboard or inboard motor?

We recommend to anyone who owns an inboard or outboard motor to get is regally serviced, not only will this prolong the life of the engine it will ensure smother running. A must of all seawater run engines is to flush the through with fresh water.

There are different ways of doing this

Using flush muffs
Using a flushing attachment
Running in a test tank or bin full of fresh water

This enables the engine to flush all the salt water deposits out of the cooling system therefore reducing internal corrosion.

There products on the market which will also help protect your engine.
Quicksilver Corrosion guard
Spray this over the working parts of the engine and it will coat it in a film to protect the engine from corrosion.
Quicksilver Power Tune
Spray this into the carbs and it will help with performance
Quicksilver Fogging oil
Spray this into the cylinder when the outboard is running and it will coat the inside of the engines to stop rust though winter. This can only be done if you are not using your engine for a few months. Change the spark plugs regularly.

How to determine the correct outboard shaft length

First, lets get a better understanding of outboard shaft lengths and what they mean. Shaft length is simply a “what your boat requires” matter. In other words, you don’t really have a choice. A long shaft doesn’t go any faster or slower than a short shaft. However, selecting the right shaft length is crucial and improper selection could result in severe engine damage.

Measure from the top of your transom to the bottom of your keel. If it is 15″ to 17″ you’ll need a “short shaft” outboard. If it is from 20″ to 22″ you’ll need a “long shaft” outboard. Tohatsu/Nissan outboard shafts are measured from the bottom of the engine mounting clamp bracket to the cavitation plate (large fin above propeller) on the lower unit – see diagram below. Generally most boats need either a short or long shaft although some boats require a 25″ “ultra-long shaft” outboard. Below is a diagram on how to measure your transom for proper shaft length. NOTE: ANY OTHER MEASUREMENT OTHER THAN THE ONE DISPLAYED BELOW WILL BE USELESS INFORMATION

Correct Boat Shaft Length

For normal operation your engine’s cavitation plate should be even with the bottom of the hull. A gap of 1-2″ in either direction is acceptable and considered normal. If you are still unsure as to which shaft length your boat needs contact your hull’s manufacturer. Your outboard owner’s manual will also contain more information on shaft length and proper installation.

Shaft engine length - FAQ'S

Q: Can I use a long shaft engine on a short shaft boat?
A: We don’t advise it but many folks do. Having a long shaft engine on a short shaft hull can create extra drag and could have an effect on manoeuvrability.

Q: Can I use a short shaft engine on a long shaft boat?
A: No. This will not allow the engine to intake adequate cooling water resulting in overheating and severe engine damage

Q: I have an adjustable outboard motor bracket can I use a short shaft
A: Yes, if the bracket is correctly installed and allows for proper travel so that the engine is in the proper operating position in the bracket’s down position

Q: Can you convert a short shaft to long shaft?
A: Possibly. Some manufacturers have kits available to complete this shaft length conversion. Not all makes and models have these kits available. Tohatsu/Nissan has several kits available for certain hp’s and models

Q: My motor cavitates and comes out of the water. Do I have the wrong shaft length?
A: Likely so. This can occur if you are in very high seas, especially if the engine is mounted at the stern. However, if this is occurring more often you may need to adjust the tilt pin, motor/transom bracket (if possible), or you likely have the wrong size shaft length. Engines that cavitate frequently can wear out water pumps prematurely as well as not allow for adequate engine cooling both which could lead to severe engine damage. You should take corrective action immediately.

Part Names of an Outboard Motor


How To Flea Comb Pets

Pets & AnimalI originally wrote this text for APN and am now shifting it over to my private web site with updated data. My evaluate of the hit anti-Seaworld documentary Blackfish, and a few thoughts about zoos and captivity usually. Non-particular signs of intestinal discomfort and ache are generally detected in animals and humans contaminated with tapeworms. Intestional irritation and diarrhea may additionally be caused by the spiky tapeworm grip.

many thanks for stopping by and taking the time to depart a comment. Very glad that you just loved the hub. Take care! A cross-cultural evaluation of 60 nations discovered that fifty two of them saved canines, but have been only thought-about companions, or pets, in 22 of them.

This hub relates directly to picking which reptile pet is best for you. If you’re contemplating purchasing a snake, this article ought to provide help to out in a giant approach! Remember that the contents of this article are based alone experience!

As the identify implies, the Chinese language water dragon bears a slight resemblance to the legendary creatures with its pointed spikes. You can even guess from the title that these lizards like water, so that they require a large enclosure that they will each climb and swim in. You may have seen these lizards sold in chain pet shops like Petco, and they typically have damage on their snout from constant rubbing. This occurs as a result of they don’t perceive that they can not go by way of glass. Bigger environments for them can help.

Tremendous Hub! It makes me want one in all each… perhaps not the pigs but then why not. Thanks. She retains me from going out to eat at restaurants. I can’t afford to eat out. I can barely afford her particular prescribed pet food. Baby has meals allergies and has to eat a particular food plan that only the Vet. sells.


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Scientists Who Believe in God By Brett Keane

Sir Joseph J. Thomson, Nobel Prize winning physicist, discoverer of the electron. Thomson, who was a devout Christian, is recognized as the founder of atomic physics.
–Albert Einstein
“Atoms are weird stuff, behaving like active agents rather than inert substances. They make unpredictable choices between alternative possibilities according to the laws of quantum mechanics. It appears that mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent inherent in every atom. The universe is also weird, with its laws of nature that make it hospitable to the growth of mind. I do not make any clear distinction between mind and God. God is what mind becomes when it passes beyond the scale of our comprehension.”
–Physicist Freeman Dyson. When Einstein died, there was an opening for the title of “most brilliant physicist on the planet.” Dyson filled the opening by assuming Einstein’s professorship in physics at Princeton University. He is the winner of the 1981 Wolf Prize in Physics, the 1993 Enrico Fermi Award, the 1969 Max Planck Medal, amongst many other awards.
–Albert Einstein
Physicist and chemist Robert Boyle, who is considered to be the founder of modern chemistry. Boyle was a devout Christian.
Robert Jastrow, the astronomer and physicist who founded NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies. Please see Jastrow’s book God and the Astronomers for further reading.
Lord William Kelvin, who was noted for his theoretical work on thermodynamics, the concept of absolute zero and the Kelvin temperature scale based upon it. Kelvin was a devout Christian.
Albert Einstein
“God created everything by number, weight and measure.”
Sir Isaac Newton, who is widely regarded to have been the greatest scientist the world has ever produced. Newton was a devout Christian.
Max Planck, the Nobel Prize winning physicist who made the crucial scientific contribution of founding quantum physics. Planck was a Christian and a member of the Lutheran Church in Germany.
Gregor Mendel, who is regarded as “the father of modern genetics,” partly due to his pioneering work on plant hybridization. Mendel was also an Augustinian friar (Catholic priest). The above is an excerpt from an Easter sermon which he delivered.
Abdus Salam, winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in electroweak theory. He is here quoted in his article entitled Science and Religion.
–Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist and string theory pioneer.
–Nikola Tesla, the inventor and futurist scientist known for numerous inventions, but best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electrical supply system. Tesla was the winner of: Edison Medal (1916); Elliott Cresson Medal (1894); John Scott Medal (1934)
Physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell, who is credited with formulating classical electromagnetic theory and whose contributions to science are considered to be of the same magnitude to those of Einstein and Newton. Maxwell was a devout Christian.
“For myself, faith begins with a realization that a supreme intelligence brought the universe into being and created man. It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is a plan there is intelligence—an orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered—-‘In the beginning God.'”
“Science can have no quarrel with a religion which postulates a God to whom men are His children.”
Arthur Compton, winner of the 1927 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Compton Effect.
“Something which is against natural laws seems to me rather out of the question because it would be a depressive idea about God. It would make God smaller than he must be assumed. When he stated that these laws hold, then they hold, and he wouldn’t make exceptions. This is too human an idea. Humans do such things, but not God.”
–Nobel Prize winning physicist Max Born, who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics.
“…Those laws are within the grasp of the human mind. God wanted us to recognize them by creating us after his own image so that we could share in his own thoughts… and if piety allow us to say so, our understanding is in this respect of the same kind as the divine, at least as far as we are able to grasp something of it in our mortal life.”
–Johannes Kepler, the German mathematician and astronomer who discovered the laws of planetary motion which later served as one of the foundations for Issac Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. Kepler is considered to be one of the founders of the field of astronomy.
–Gottfried Leibniz, the German mathematician and philosopher (1646-1716) who founded calculus (concurrently with Isaac Newton). Leibniz also made major early contributions to physics.
–Biochemist Melvin Calvin, winner of the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of the Calvin cycle.
Former Oxford University Professor of Science and Religion Peter Harrison.
“The ghostly presence of virtual particles defies rational common sense and is nonintuitive for those unacquainted with physics. Religious belief in God, and Christian belief that God became Man around two thousand years ago, may seem strange to common-sense thinking. But when the most elementary physical things behave in this way, we should be prepared to accept that the deepest aspects of our existence go beyond our common-sense intuitions.”
–Nobel Prize winning physicist Tony Hewish as quoted in the foreword to John Polkinghorne and Nicholas Beale’s book Questions of Truth: Fifty-one Responses to Questions about God, Science, and Belief
Arno Penzias, the 1978 Nobel Prize recipient in physics as cited in New York Times on March 12, 1978 (first quote) and ‘The God I Believe in’, Joshua O. Haberman – editor, New York, Maxwell Macmillan International, 1994, 184. (second quote)
“There is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all. . . It seems as though somebody has fine tuned nature’s numbers to make the Universe. . . The impression of design is overwhelming.”
–Physicist Paul Davies, mentioned above.
“God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and of humankind, transcending the universe but immanent in it.”
“God’s nature embodies justice and holiness, but is also a personal and loving God who cares for each creature (so the name ‘father’ is indeed appropriate).”
“God’s nature is revealed most perfectly in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, who was sent by God to reveal the divine nature, summarized in ‘God is Love.'”
George Ellis, the South African astrophysicist who was a collaborator on the Hawking-Penrose singularity theorems (regarding the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe), as cited in What Your Atheist Professor Doesn’t Know (But Should) by Stephen Williams.
“I believe that a full understanding of this remarkable human capacity for scientific discovery ultimately requires the insight that our power in this respect is the gift of the universe’s Creator who, in that ancient and powerful phrase, has made humanity in the image of God (Genesis I: 26-27). Through the exercise of this gift, those working in fundamental physics are able to discern a world of deep and beautiful order–a universe shot thorough with signs of mind. I believe that it is indeed the Mind of that world’s Creator that is perceived in this way.  Science is possible because the universe is a divine creation.”
–Former Cambridge University Professor of Mathematical Physics John Polkinghorne, as quoted in his book Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship. Polkinghorne is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). In part because of his insights about God from physics, Polkinghorne changed careers and joined the Anglican priesthood.
“It is relatively unusual that a physical scientist is truly an atheist. Why is this true? Some point to the anthropic constraints, the remarkable fine tuning of the universe. For example, Freeman Dyson, a Princeton faculty member, has said, ‘Nature has been kinder to us that we had any right to expect.'”
–Quantum chemist Henry F. Schaefer III, five time nominee for the Nobel Prize, as quoted in his essay Stephen Hawking, the Big Bang, and God.
Read more at http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=338674&page=2#3OfP3gG6CdB1FU2V.99
–Nicolaus Copernicus, the mathematician and astronomer (1473-1543) who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe, as cited in The Language of God by Francis Collins. (“Heliocentric” places the sun, rather than the Earth, at the center of the universe).
Henry “Fritz” Schaefer, five time Nobel Prize nominee, Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry, and director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia, as cited in What Your Atheist Professor Doesn’t Know (But Should) by Stephen Williams. Schaefer is a devout Christian.
James Joule, propounder of the first law of thermodynamics (on the conservation of energy). He also made important contributions to the kinetic theory of gases. The unit of heat known as the “Joule” is named after him. Joule was a devout Christian.
“There are many ways in which people are made aware of their power to believe in the supremacy of Divine guidance and power: through music or visual art, some event or experience decisively influencing their life, looking through a microscope or telescope, or just by looking at the miraculous manifestations or purposefulness of Nature.”
Sir Ernst Chain, winner of the the 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology “for the discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in various infectious diseases.”
“Let me say that I don’t see any conflict between science and religion. I go to church as many other scientists do. I share with most religious people a sense of mystery and wonder at the universe and I want to participate in religious ritual and practices because they’re something that all humans can share.”
Sir Martin Rees, the British cosmologist and astrophysicist who has been Astronomer Royal since 1995 and was the president of the Royal Society between 2005 and 2010. Rees is the winner of the Crafoord Prize (which is the most prestigious award in astronomy), amongst many other awards.
“In good philosophy, the word cause ought to be reserved to the single Divine impulse that has formed the universe.”
Louis Pasteur, the founder of microbiology and immunology. Pasteur was a devout Christian.
“A Creator must exist. The Big Bang ripples and subsequent scientific findings are clearly pointing to an ex nihilo creation consistent with the first few verses of the book of Genesis.”
–Quantum chemist Henry F. Schaefer III, five time nominee for the Nobel Prize, as above.
“Nevertheless, just as I believe that the Book of Scripture illumines the pathway to God, so I believe that the Book of Nature, with its astonishing details–the blade of grass, the Conus cedonulli, or the resonance levels of the carbon atom–also suggest a God of purpose and a God of design. And I think my belief makes me no less a scientist.”
Owen Gingerich, research professor of astronomy and of the history of science emeritus at Harvard University. Gingerich, a devout Christian, is also senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
–Albert Einstein
Physicist Tony Rothman, former post-doctoral fellow at Oxford University
Professor of Mathematical Physics Frank Tipler, author of The Physics of Christianity and The Physics of Immortality. Tipler is one of the two founders of the famous anthropic principle regarding the fundamental physical constants necessary for the origin of life. He became a Christian as a result of his science.
Arno Penzias, winner of the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics.
MIT physicist Vera Kistiakowsky
–Cosmologist and astronomer Edward Robert Harrison
–Cambridge University astrophysicist and mathematician Fred Hoyle commenting on the incredible fine-tuning necessary for life to exist (as quoted in The Creator and the Cosmos by Hugh Ross).
–Former Harvard University Research Professor of Astronomy and the History of Science Owen Gingerich, who is also senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Gingerich, a devout Christian, is here reflecting on Fred Hoyle’s above comment.
“Perhaps the best argument…that the Big Bang supports theism is the obvious unease with which it is greeted by some atheist physicists. At times this has led to scientific ideas…being advanced with a tenacity which so exceeds their intrinsic worth that one can only suspect the operation of psychological forces lying very much deeper than the usual academic desire of a theorist to support his or her theory.”
–Imperial College of London astrophysicist Christopher J. Isham, who is Britain’s leading quantum cosmologist.
–Astrophysicist and mathametician Edward Milne (winner of the Royal Society’s Royal Medal, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, and the Bruce Medal)
“We all know that there are regions of the human spirit untrammeled by the world of physics. In the mystic sense of the creation around us, in the expression of art, in a yearning towards God, the soul grows upward and finds fulfillment of something implanted in its nature. The sanction for this development is within us, a striving born with our consciousness or an Inner Light proceeding from a greater power than ours. Science can scarcely question this sanction, for the pursuit of science springs from a striving which the mind is impelled to follow, a questioning that will not be suppressed. Whether in the intellectual pursuits of science or in the mystical pursuits of the spirit, the light beckons ahead and the purpose surging in our nature responds.”
— The great physicist Sir Arthur Eddington as quoted in his classic work The Nature of the Physical World
“What is the ultimate solution to the origin of the Universe? The answers provided by the astronomers are disconcerting and remarkable. Most remarkable of all is the fact that in science, as in the Bible, the world begins with an act of creation.”
–Astronomer Robert Jastrow from Until the Sun Dies
Then, last week, American scientists announced the discovery of radiation patterns in space that may mark the beginning of time itself. Said astrophysicist George Smoot, leader of the research team: “If you’re religious, it’s like looking at God.  The order is so beautiful and the symmetry so beautiful that you think there is some design behind it.”
“Whatever caused the rapid expansion of the universe following the Big Bang–the same forces caused tiny ripples. Because if you try to do something too fast, you shake a little. God might be the designer. “
–Maclean’s, May 4, 1992 (the two above quotes are by astrophysicist and cosmologist George Smoot).
Richard Smalley, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of a new form of carbon (buckminsterfullerene or “buckyballs”).
–Albert Einstein
“This much I can say with definiteness – namely, that there is no scientific basis for the denial of religion – nor is there in my judgment any excuse for a conflict between science and religion, for their fields are entirely different. Men who know very little of science and men who know very little of religion do indeed get to quarreling, and the onlookers imagine that there is a conflict between science and religion, whereas the conflict is only between two different species of ignorance.”
“To me it is unthinkable that a real atheist could be a scientist.”
“Religion and science, then, in my analysis are the two great sister forces which have pulled, and are still pulling, mankind onward and upward.”
“The impossibility of real science and real religion ever conflicting becomes evident when one examines the purpose of science and the purpose of religion. The purpose of science is to develop – without prejudice or preconception of any kind – a knowledge of the facts, the laws and the processes of nature. The even more important task of religion, on the other hand, is to develop the consciences, the ideals and the aspirations of mankind.”
Robert Andrews Millikan, who won the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the elementary charge of electricity and on the photoelectric effect. Millikan was a devout Christian.
“Science, with its experiments and logic, tries to understand the order or structure of the universe. Religion, with its theological inspiration and reflection, tries to understand the purpose or meaning of the universe. These two are cross-related. Purpose implies structure, and structure ought somehow to be interpretable in terms of purpose.”
–Charles Hard Townes, who received the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for his fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics. Townes was a devout Christian.
“Being an ordinary scientist and an ordinary Christian seems perfectly natural to me. It is also perfectly natural for the many scientists I know who are also people of deep religious faith.”
William D. Phillips, who won the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.
“Science is experimental, moving forward step-by-step, making trial and learning through success and failure. Is not this also the way of religion, and especially of the Christian religion? The writings of those who preach the religion have from the very beginning insisted that it is to be proved by experience. If a man is drawn towards honor and courage and endurance, justice, mercy, and charity, let him follow the way of Christ and find out for himself. No findings in science hinder him in that way.”
–William Henry Bragg, winner of the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution to the analysis of crystal structures by means of X-rays.
Bragg’s daughter Gwendolen Mary Caroe wrote about her father’s faith:
“Religious faith to W. H. Bragg was the willingness to stake his all on the hypothesis that Christ was right, and test it by a lifetime’s experiment in charity.”
Guglielmo Marconi, winner of the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the first successful system of wireless telegraphyMarconi is the inventor of the radio; his revolutionary work made possible the electronic communications of the modern world.
Sir Nevill Mott, recipient of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on the magnetic and electrical properties of noncrystalline semiconductors.
“Physics filled me with awe, put me in touch with a sense of original causes. Physics brought me closer to God. That feeling stayed with me throughout my years in science. Whenever one of my students came to me with a scientific project, I asked only one question, ‘Will it bring you nearer to God?’ ”
Isidor Isaac Rabi, who won the 1944 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei.
“Science is a game – but a game with reality, a game with sharpened knives. If a man cuts a picture carefully into 1000 pieces, you solve the puzzle when you reassemble the pieces into a picture; in the success or failure, both your intelligences compete. In the presentation of a scientific problem, the other player is the good Lord. He has not only set the problem but also has devised the rules of the game – but they are not completely known, half of them are left for you to discover or to deduce. The uncertainty is how many of the rules God himself has permanently ordained, and how many apparently are caused by your own mental inertia, while the solution generally becomes possible only through freedom from its limitations. This is perhaps the most exciting thing in the game.”
Erwin Schroedinger, winner of the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory.”
“I believe in God. It makes no sense to me to assume that the Universe and our existence is just a cosmic accident, that life emerged due to random physical processes in an environment which simply happened to have the right properties. As a Christian I begin to comprehend what life is all about through belief in a Creator, some of whose nature was revealed by a man born about 2000 years ago.”
Antony Hewish, winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of pulsars.
Alexis Carrel, who won the 1912 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology “for his work on vascular suturing and the transplantation of blood-vessels and organs,” as quoted in his book Reflections on Life
Sir John Eccles, who received the 1963 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for establishing the relationship between inhibition of nerve cells and repolarization of a cell’s membrane. He is here cited in his article titled “Modern Biology and the Turn to Belief in God.”
Joseph E. Murray, winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for work that “proved to a doubting world that it was possible to transplant organs to save the lives of dying patients.”
–Astronomer Allan Sandage, winner of the Crafoord Prize in astronomy (which is equivalent to the Nobel Prize). Sandage is considered to be one of the founders of modern astronomy and was widely regarded to be the world’s greatest cosmologist until his death in 2010. He came to belief in God as a result of his science, as he announced at a conference on the origin of the universe in 1985. He also became a Christian.
“We know that nature is described by the best of all possible mathematics because God created it. So there is a chance that the best of all possible mathematics will be created out of physicists’ attempts to describe nature.”
–Russian theoretical physicist Alexander Polyakov, winner of the Lars Onsager prize in 2011, the Dirac Medal and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics in 1986, the Lorentz Medal in 1994, and the Oskar Klein Medal in 1996.
“If we need an atheist for a debate, we go to the philosophy department. The physics department isn’t much use.”
Robert Griffiths, winner of the Heinemann Prize in mathematical physics.
“For many years I have believed that God is the great designer behind all nature… All my studies in science since then have confirmed my faith. I regard the Bible as my principle source of authority.”
Sir Ghillean T. Prance, the knighted British botanist and ecologist, Fellow of the Royal Society.
“I build molecules for a living. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult that job is. I stand in awe of God because of what he has done through his creation. My faith has been increased through my research. Only a rookie who knows nothing about science would say science takes away from faith. If you really study science, it will bring you closer to God.”
James Tour, one of the world’s leading nanoscientists, and a devout Christian.
–Cambridge University historian of science Colin Russell
” A little science estranges a man from God. A lot of science brings him back.”
Sir Francis Bacon, the 17th century scientist and philosopher of science who is credited with discovering and popularizing the scientific method, whereby the laws of science are discovered by gathering and analyzing data from experiments and observations. Bacon was a devout Christian.
–Srinivasa Ramanujam, who is widely regarded to be one of the greatest mathematicians of all time (on a similar plane with such greats as Archimedes and Newton).
“The observations and experiments of science are so wonderful that the truth that they establish can surely be accepted as another manifestation of God. God shows himself by allowing man to establish truth.”
–Sir Derek Barton, winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, as quoted in Cosmos, Bios, Theos: Scientists Reflect on Science, God, and the Origins of the Universe, Life, and Homo sapiens.
Walter Kohn was the winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for contributions to the understandings of the electronic properties of materials..
“They (evolutionists) challenge science to prove the existence of God. But must we really light a candle to see the sun? They say they cannot visualize a Designer. Well, can a physicist visualize an electron? What strange rationale makes some physicists accept the inconceivable electron as real while refusing to accept the reality of a Designer on the grounds that they cannot conceive Him?”
“Although I know of no reference to Christ ever commenting on scientific work, I do know that He said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Thus I am certain that, were He among us today, Christ would encourage scientific research as modern man’s most noble striving to comprehend and admire His Father’s handiwork. The universe as revealed through scientific inquiry is the living witness that God has indeed been at work.”
Werner von Braun, the father of space science and the most important rocket scientist involved in the development of the U.S. space program.
“There is no ground for supposing that matter and energy existed before [the Big Bang] and were suddenly galvanized into action.  For what could distinguish that moment from all other moments in eternity? It is simpler to postulate creation ex nihilo—Divine will constituting Nature from nothingness.”
–English mathematical physicist Edmund T. Whittaker, winner of the Copley Medal, which is the most prestigious award in British science.
“The universe is a put-up job.”
— Cambridge University astrophysicist Fred Hoyle, referring to the fine tuning of the laws of nature which he felt “could not be just a happy accident,” as his Cambridge colleague John Polkinghorne put it in Quarks, Chaos, and Christianity.
–Harvard educated NASA astrophysicist John A. O’Keefe.
–Physicist Richard Conn Henry from Johns Hopkins University
“This now tells how precise the Creator’s aim must have been, namely to an accuracy of one part in 10, to the power of 10, to the power of 123. This is an extraordinary figure. One could not possibly even write the number down in full in the ordinary denary notation: it would be 1 followed by 10 to the power of 123 successive 0’s. Even if we were to write a 0 on each separate proton and on each separate neutron in the entire universe- and we could throw in all the other particles for good measure- we should fall far short of writing down the figure needed.”
–Oxford University mathematical physicist, mathematician, and philosopher of science Roger Penrose, as cited in his book The Emperor’s New Mind. Penrose has received a number of prizes and awards, including the 1988 Wolf Prize for physics, which he shared with Stephen Hawking for their contribution to our understanding of the universe.
“In a quiet revolution in thought and argument that hardly anyone would have foreseen only two decades ago, God is making a comeback. Most intriguingly this is happening…in the crisp intellectual circles of academic philosophers.”
Time magazine, April 1980
Charles Babbage, the mathematician and inventor considered to be “the father of the computer” for his invention of the first computer. Babbage was a devout Christian.
“There are good reasons to believe in God, including the existence of mathematical principles and order in creation. They are positive reasons, based on knowledge, rather than default assumptions based on a temporary lack of knowledge.”
–Geneticist Francis Collins, the leader of the Human Genome Project and currently the director of the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Collins is a devout Christian.
Blaise Pascal, the 17th century French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher who made important contributions to the study of fluids, and who clarified the concepts of pressure and vacuum.
“…We then examine a particular coding system in DNA and discover that UI [universal information] is conveyed within the genes. Using this DNA evidence and scientific laws governing UI as premises, we are able to develop sound, logical deductions. This leads us to the following conclusion: the God of the Bible exists and He is responsible for originating and embedding Universal Information into biological life.”
Werner Gitt, Director and Professor at the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology, Germany. Gitt is also the head of the Department of Information Technology. The above is an excerpt from the introduction to his book Without Excusein which he utilizes the insights of information science to demonstrate that the origin of life can only be explained as the result of a conscious, intelligent creator. Please see my essay How Atheism Relies on Special Pleading, in which I cite Gitt’s skillful explanations.
“God created the universe out of nothing in an act which also brought time into existence. Recent discoveries, such as observations supporting the Big Bang and similar astronomical phenomena, are wholly compatible with this view.”
–Henry Margenau, Yale University Professor of Physics and Natural Philosophy, as cited in Cosmos, Bios, Theos: Scientists Reflect on Science, God, and the Origins of the Universe, Life, and Homo Sapiens.
“I think that God originated the universe and life. Homo Sapiens was created by God using the process that does not violate the physical laws of the universe significantly or none at all. (Hidden variables of quantum mechanics under God’s power?)”
–Shoichi Yoshikawa, Senior Research Scientist and Professor, Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, as cited in Cosmos, Bios, Theos: Scientists Reflect on Science, God, and the Origins of the Universe, Life, and Homo Sapiens.

***Lastly, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY please read Without Christianity, There Would Be No Sciencewhich describes how science itself owes it’s origins to Christianity.  Stanley Jaki, a leading philosopher of science and Distinguished Professor of Physics at Seton Hall University, explores this subject matter in detail. Please read Jaki’s books Christ and Science and The Savior of Science for a more thorough exploration of this subject.
Readers:  Please note that several of the quotes featured in this post were extracted from nobelists.net.  For a more exhaustive list of God believing scientists and Nobel Laureates (including exact citations), please visit this site and download the pdf.

According to a recent study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry religious affiliation is associated with significantly lower levels of suicide compared to religiously unaffiliated people, atheists and agnostics. Source: Kanita Dervic, Maria A. Oquendo, Michael F. Grunebaum, Steve Ellis, Ainsley K. Burke, and J. John Mann. "Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt" (161:2303-2308, December 2004).
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Princely Legacy

The death of one of my personal musical icons died at the end of April and it unleashed a well-spring of emotion in myself and so many others-- musicians from a variety of genres and the public at large. Prince was his own tour de force and thrilled so many of us with his imagination, originality, unfettered sexuality, ecstatic movement, prophetic lyrics and funky, eclectic sound.

What I loved about Prince was his ability to be a channel of Divine Sound and his willingness to let it come through with glorious freedom. Prolific doesn't begin to describe the amount of material he wrote, performed and produced during his lifetime.  HIs legacy of creating on his own terms has become legendary in the music industry and a beacon for recording artists all over the globe.

Although it seems that Prince died too soon and with so much music to share with the world, I have come to respect that each individual soul has its own path, its own Divine Timing and its own agenda. I am so grateful to have been on the planet during his lifetime and to continue to  appreciate his unique and mystical brand of music-making.

Why Travel for a Summer Music Festival?

One of the great pleasures in a musician's life is collaborating with other musicians. The work of immersing oneself in the great works of the musical repertoire and sorting out the musical nuances and the technically devilish passages forges friendships that can last a lifetime. One of the most memorable and effective ways of participating in this process is at a summer music festival. The intensity of the duration ( usually 1-8 weeks) coupled with a beautiful, often rural locale heightens the learning curve and offers an undistracted dive into all the components that weave together to create a compelling musical performance.

Interharmony Festival Students and Faculty 2015

Interharmony Festival Students and Faculty 2015

Historically, many of the great European composers would retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city to the quiet countryside to compose, connect with nature and create. We can hear these sensibilities in the music of Brahms and Mahler for example. Following in this tradition, summer music festivals all over the globe provide an environment of inspiration, motivation, challenge, and enthusiasm in which to become aware and achieve high levels of musicianship. Along the way, it is possible to meet musicians from different countries or regions, study with teachers and coaches from around the world and be stretched musically, culturally and linguistically. There is no better way to visit a far off land then as an ambassador of harmony, as I believe all musicians of every level are. These experiences evolve us and nourish us on multiple levels of our being and the vibrations are felt many months and years afterward.

Consider a summer festival this year and let the momenatum carry you to new musical heights!

There is No Age in Chamber Music

Communication starts at a very young age, fostering our connection us to each other, our families, friends, strangers who will become our friends, and humankind at large. Communication can come in the form of music, form, pantomime, sounds, crying, language, singing, acting, dancing, painting, numbers, the written word and more. How does communication stir our soul?  What makes us want to connect, communicate and experience something with another person, perhaps something exciting, something beautiful, something innovative, something energizing?

What I love about chamber music is the ability for us to communicate, share ideas, debate stylistic points, experiment with tempi and more. We do this all the time, regardless if there are differences in age or experience level in a group. As we bask in the glow of the recent Winter Recital around the Ossia Musical Forum, I find it meaningful to reflect on how grateful I am for the legacy of chamber music. Preparing works from the 16th century to the 20th century connects the musicians we are today to the composers and the musicians who lived centuries ago. The harmonies and interweaving of voices are fresh to the ear who has yet to experience them. The age range in our last concert spanned 12 yrs old to 80. Varying levels of experience were shared freely, generously, and respectfully. Fresh insights are available from each musician at every level,  as we each have unique filters with which we experience the notes on the page and the melodies and harmonies in our ears.

Such gratitude I have for the tradition of chamber music, the ageless beauty of a well-crafted string quartet, the fresh excitement of a musician discovering a classic work for the first time, the warmth of a seasoned musician sharing insights with a neophyte, and the matchless camaraderie that comes when a group works together authentically and with commitment. Such gratitude!

Nora Williams, Artistic Director

The Dawn of a New Musical Meme

mēm/  noun: meme; plural noun: memes

According to one of most inspiring futurists of our time, Barbara Marx Hubbard, we are now entering the age of conscious evolution where there is a mass appearance of a new type of human, which she calls universal.

“As universal humans, we are consciously integrating our social, spiritual, technological, and scientific capacities with our highest aspirations to create a world that works for everyone. We can now imagine living in a more synergistic, co-creative society with extended intelligence, extended life span, extended creativity…and much more. It was Albert Einstein who told us: ‘Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” (From Birth 2012 and Beyond; Humanity’s Great Shift to the Age of Conscious Evolution, by Barbara Marx Hubbard.)

Over the summer I had the opportunity to be part of a group familiar with this world view and tasked with discussing and notating the contrast between the Traditional Memes or paradigms found in the arts over the last several hundred years of Western Culture and the Quantum Based Arts memes that are presently dawning. The discussions were lively as we shared perspectives from the world of visual art and the world of music. The overviews were as follows:

 In Traditional Art, numerous restraints are placed on artists and their ability to have total creative freedom. Historically artists have been record keepers of the past and visionaries of the future.  Only a few individuals are seen to possess creative ability.

In Quantum Art creativity is accessible and affirmed for all. Artists are valued for their immense contribution to all sectors of society and compensated accordingly.  The inherent creativity of each human is expressed by each of us as a contribution to our global humanity.

 One of the aspects I love about the universal human world view is that it reinforces the truth that each and every human has a musical pulse running through their physical being in the form of their heart beat. This internal music, or foundational rhythm is with us from early on in the womb until we draw our last breath. It is one of the tenets of my musical pedagogy that this internal music inherently belongs to each one of us, regardless of the amount of our musical training or at what age we first picked up our instrument or decided to sing our first song. One of my colleagues enlightened me that Plato said something similar thousands of years ago. As  this concept is quite self-evident, how is it that we have convinced ourselves as a culture that only a few have artistic or musical “talent”, and there are precious few artists on the planet that are worthy of our time and attention due to the level of their mastery?

 I believe that the world around us benefits from more harmony, not less, and that each and every effort to attune to the most resonant chord that we are capable of perceiving is elevating not only to ourselves, but to those around us too. One of the beautiful things about music and art is that it is living, breathing and constantly evolving, just as we evolve. For me the masterful artists on the planet are there to inspire us to what is possible, not dissuade us or shame us into not exercising our creative capacities.

 So, let us imagine and embody a new meme in our culture that celebrates each artistic and creative endeavor, and compels us to heighten our awareness of the technical and musical demands of our instruments without the need to assign judgments during the process that assault our character or someone else’s. The sense of freedom to explore, question, experiment, fail gracefully, and quiet our minds so that the structure and nuance of our inner music and creative process can be perceived and executed is one of life’s great joys. Be courageous, and play on!

Nora Williams, Artistic Director

Bolt of Inspiration

I’ll neither forget the day, nor the frustration nor the discomfort within myself as I sat practicing the viola. The musical passage was awkward, the shift of positions was creating a hiccup in the phrase, and I had tried and failed with numerous different fingerings and bowings to find the technical path that would allow the musical idea to flow. Multiple practice sessions couldn’t seem to budge the obstacle and I was at a loss on how to proceed. As I sat there stewing, a recent bodywork session came to mind in which I was describing to my practitioner an image of myself as a 5-year old girl encased in a block of ice. The ice was situated in a field of daisies and I could feel the heart of that little girl longing to be playing, running, dancing in that field with a daisy crown on her head. She was frozen and unable to move, although able to perceive the daisies, the sun and the field through the blur of the ice.

As I continued practicing, a new thought came into my mind and it was a decidedly different approach. My internal censor protested, but my internal creative director argued: “Nothing else has worked, so what the heck, there is nothing to lose.” As I went over the passage again, I allowed my thinking mind to relax and began to visualize the warm sun beaming down on the block of ice causing it to sweat and begin to melt. I returned my focus to the sheet music in front of me while opening to a peripheral focus in the corner of my mind of that sunny field, the warm sun, and the melting ice. Over and over the passage I went, minutes ticked by, repetitions piled on top of one another, and water trickled off the ice. Achingly slowly did the top of the girl’s head begin to emerge. My body itched, my back began to tire, the musical passage still caught in the vice grip of --what? Was it frozen emotions, or an icy shield hiding my vulnerability, my deficiencies, and lack of confidence? Where did the music stop and me, the musician, start? What was vibrating that day? Was my denser vibration attempting to recalibrate to the elevated vibration of the musical composition? Where was the path? How to connect? Still the practice continued, still the sun was shining; still the ice was receding from the girl’s form. Back and forth my attention flew from the musical process to the melting ice. Impatience threatened to end my practice session and my resolve weakened as  yet again I began to slip into an attitude of defeat.

I don’t recall the shift; somehow I woke up to being in a timeless space that replaced the excruciating effort where everything seemed to float. Achievement didn’t seem to matter anymore; each drop of melting ice became soothing, and the icy paralysis of the girl inconsequential. I surrendered into the sun and with a jolt the girl’s torso became free and she was able to wiggle out of her icy prison and tumble into the field of daisies, laughing, dancing, flexible and free. At that moment the musical passage snapped into place, never to be lost again. In fact I couldn’t even seem to recall what the technical issue had been. What had happened-- emotional healing or musical breakthrough? Had my personal vibration been recalibrated to that of the musical composition, which itself had reflected more perfectly the vibration of cosmic harmony? How to recreate this process for the next musical conundrum and could I teach it to my music students or was it a fleeting moment of grace, too ethereal to be called up at will?

I have reflected on this moment over time, shared it with students, and come to believe that the power of music reaches further than I can imagine. Grateful, I am, for its healing capacity, and grateful, I am, for its beauty and power

-Nora Williams, Artistic Director


The History of Diving Museum

Enjoy a day with the family at The History of Diving Museum! You’ll feel like Captain Nemo and his crew as you navigate through the maze of exhibits and relive the story of man’s quest to explore under the sea. Experience the thrill discovery as you lift a silver bar from a sunken Spanish galleon in our treasure room! Marvel at the courage and ingenuity of diving pioneers throughout the ages. Learn how diving technology has contributed to marine science, underwater photography and treasure hunting. Plan your Florida Keys vacation to include an immersion in the exciting world of underwater exploration!

Average Visit Time

1 - 2 hours, Less than 1 hour

Disabled Traveler Information


2 Following

The Backup Boyfriend

The Backup Boyfriend - River Jaymes Rating: 3.25?

Maybe my hormones are off today. The gay-for-you trope is my absolute favorite and the blurb sounded so promising. I was expecting the equivalent to a hot shower after a long, cold day, but ended up getting lukewarm water instead.

My biggest issue with The Backup Boyfriend was my inability to sympathize and like Alec. Don't get me wrong, Alec is a good guy. Heck, he runs a clinic for homeless people! But he just didn't stick out to me as anyone special. Compared to Dylan's tragic past, Alec was just...boring. Even his problems with the ex-boyfriend, Tyler, seemed trivial to the issues that Dylan has lived through. When confronted with the ex, Dylan saw the vulnerability in Alec and wanted to help by being the fake boyfriend. I wanted to roll my eyes and tell Alec to get over it.

My second issue with the book was that most (if not all) the conflicts seemed to stem from misunderstandings. Even when they agree to start communicating with one another, things continued to escalate into the BIG clusterfuck towards the end. I understand that misunderstandings seem to be the underlying problem with most M/M romance, but I felt like I needed more Hell, give me a life and death situation, give me alien invasions or zombie attacks. Just...something.

But overall, this book wasn't bad. Even though the situations presented were cliche, it worked well. Dylan's humor was charming and the sex between him and Alec caused some brain overheating. Alec even got more likeable when he got his big, fat revelation towards the end (took long enough). The epilogue even left me grinning like a looney.


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    The voting patterns in the Eurovision Song Contest have attracted attention from various researchers, spawning a small cross-disciplinary field of what might be called 'eurovisiopsephology' incorporating insights from politics, sociology and computer science. Although the outcome of the contest is decided using a simple electoral system, its single parameter - the number of countries casting a vote - varies from year to year. Analytical identification of statistically significant trends in voting patterns over a period of several years is therefore mathematically complex. Simulation provides a method for reconstructing the contest's history using Monte Carlo methods. Comparison of simulated histories with the actual history of the contest allows the identification of statistically significant changes in patterns of voting behaviour, without requiring a full mathematical solution. In particular, the period since the mid-90s has seen the emergence of large geographical voting blocs from previously small voting partnerships, which initially appeared in the early 90s. On at least two occasions, the outcome of the contest has been crucially affected by voting blocs. The structure of these blocs implies that a handful of centrally placed countries have a higher probability of being future winners.

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    Volume (Year): 9 (2006)
    Issue (Month): 2 ()
    Pages: 1-1

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Welcome to the web pages of the Keccak Team!

In these pages, you can find information about our different cryptographic schemes and constructions, their specifications, cryptanalysis on them, the ongoing contests and the related scientific papers.

Latest news

    ARX is fast! It is! Is it?

    ARX is secure! It is! Is it?

    ARX is serious! It is! Is it?

    So, maybe better skip ARX?

  • We congratulate Yao Sun1 and Ting Li1 for solving the 3-round pre-image challenge on Keccak[r=240, c=160].

    The previous pre-image challenge on the 400-bit version was solved on 2 rounds by Paweł Morawiecki in 2011. This present challenge was solved by combining brute-force and algebraic techniques. It took 5 days with eight GPU cards (nvidia 1080Ti).

    1. State Key Laboratory of Information Security, Institute of Information Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

  • We are happy to announce that we moved the contents from {keccak, sponge, ketje, keyak}.noekeon.org to our new domain keccak.team. Many thanks to Benoit Viguier for designing the engine behind these new pages!

    We hope that you will enjoy the refreshed look. Do not hesitate to contact us if you see something incorrect or missing.

  • In a recent post, Adam Langley complains that “SHA-3 is slow”. Similar comments appear from time to time on the web (see also David Wong's post). But what does it mean precisely? Let us dig into it.

    Hardware and software

    There are a couple of ambiguities in this statement. Let's start with the first one: where would it be “slow”?

    Keccak, the winner of the SHA-3 competition, is blazing fast when implemented on dedicated (ASIC) or programmable (FPGA) hardware. Its throughput for a given circuit area is an order of magnitude higher than SHA-2 or any of the SHA-3 finalists. And if you care beyond plain speed, note that it also consumes much less energy per bit. In this sense, Keccak is a green cryptographic primitive.

    Keccak has other implementation advantages, like efficient protections against side-channel attacks, but let's go to the point: what seems to be at stake is the speed in software.

    Did you say “SHA-3”?

    How come then, that SHA3-512 is slower than SHA-512 on modern processors? This brings up to the second ambiguity of the statement: what is “SHA-3”?

    “SHA-3” initially refers to the target of the competition that NIST organized from 2008 to 2012, namely a new hash standard that would complement SHA-2 in case it is broken. Hence, the initially-intended outcome of the competition is a set of four functions called SHA3-224, SHA3-256, SHA3-384, and SHA3-512.

    If “SHA-3” means these four functions, then indeed SHA3-512 is unnecessarily slowed down by an excessive security parameter. Due to an absurd rule in the competition, followed by a fierce controversy in 2013, the parameters of SHA3-512 are stuck at offering 512 bits of pre-image security, a nonsense for anyone who can compute powers of two.

    It turned out that Keccak has more to offer than just the drop-in replacements for SHA-{224, 256, 384, 512}. In FIPS 202 (“the SHA-3 standard”), NIST also approves two extendable-output functions (XOFs) called SHAKE128 and SHAKE256. These generalize the traditional hashing paradigm by allowing any arbitrary output length and by being parameterized by their security strength, instead of their output length.

    If the term “SHA-3” embraces the aforementioned XOFs, then SHAKE{128, 256} are on par with SHA-2 on common processors. But could “SHA-3” actually be super fast in software?

    To answer this last question, let us go further down the standardization road. Recently, NIST released the SP 800-185 standard (“SHA-3 derived functions”), which proposes a framework for customizable functions, called cSHAKE, that generalize SHAKE{128, 256}. And, as an application of this framework, it approves the ParallelHash functions. These functions internally use a parallel mode of operation, which an implementation can exploit to speed-up the processing.

    With these standard functions included, “SHA-3” can actually outperform SHA-2 and even SHA-1 (broken but usually considered fast) for long messages on modern processors.

    Security and performance hand-in-hand

    Of course, a cryptographic functions should carefully balance speed and security. Keccak makes use of sound design properties, like fast linear and differential propagation or purposely weak alignment, and it clearly stays away from the ARX (modular additions, rotations and exclusive or's) approach. What we understand of Keccak now made us wonder: aren't 24 rounds too much?

    KangarooTwelve is a recently proposed variant of Keccak, in which the number of rounds has been reduced to 12—yet, with exactly the same round function, no tweak! It may seem like a drastic reduction, but it is in line with our proposed solution for authenticated encryption, Keyak, submitted to the CAESAR competition. And, more importantly, this wouldn't have been possible if Keccak hadn't had the chance of getting such a rather extensive scrutiny from cryptanalysis experts throughout the years—and to resist to them.

    KangarooTwelve is defined on the “SHA-3” components from FIPS 202 and may please the aficionados of extreme software speed. But beware: with such speeds, the hard drive or the network connection has long become the bottleneck for most applications.

    Speed measurements of various hash functions on Skylake

  • In a joint work with Silvia Mella (STMicroelectronics and University of Milano), we propose a framework for bounding the weight of differential trails. We apply this on Keccak-f with widths of 200, 400, 800 and 1600 bits to show that no trail of weight less than 92 over 6 rounds exist in either of these Keccak-f instances. Should a 6-round differential trail be used as part of a collision attack, the ratio of complying pairs is thus guaranteed to be at most 2-92.

    This work improves over our results of FSE 2012, both extending the coverage of differential trails both over the different Keccak-f widths and over a higher weight per round. In particular, Silvia was able to scan all 3-round trails up to weight 45. At 15 per round, and given the exponential growth of trail number per weight, this is a significant improvement over previous works.

    Silvia presented her work at FSE 2017. The paper can be found here.

News archives


Riding the bench

So far this season, I have had to sit on the bench during two basketball games. A few teammates and I have had to do this together and so far it’s been a terrible experience. Having to sit and watch as your teammates are out there gives me a sickening feeling that only those who have experienced it will know. All of the hard work you put in is for nothing in that moment. Everytime someone messes up, you wish you could go out there and play better. Everytime someone does something good, it’s hard to celebrate because you know you’re not actually out there with them.

Sports are basically half of my life, so not being able to play basically kills me on the inside. But not only am I not allowed to play in basketball games, I am also not allowed to run in my indoor track meets. I can’t get better in the sport that I’ll be playing in college. I have to constantly get better and improve my times but because of this I can’t and because of this I may not get noticed by some coaches. Not being able to play may look like just an inconvenience on the outside, but it’s terrible experience that I wish on no athlete.

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The White Knight And The Dark Horse

Given the discussions so far, every time it would be either about how an optimist is always the white knight and a pessimists end up as the dark horse. But it is high time that, someone cast a shadow and bring the darkness into the light. There is Yin in Yang and the other way round, but many of us just stick to black and white. Continue Reading!

Optimism and Pessimism !

When trying to differentiate between optimism and pessimism, we often hear that one sees the glass as half full and the other sees it as half empty. It’s simply not the case that optimism is “good” and pessimism is “bad”—although that’s how we’ve been encouraged to think about them. Rather, both are functional and both have value.  Continue Reading!

The ‘will that I will write some day!’

(Image Credits: marydemuth.com)

The Intro

Continue Reading!


Harnessing Computers to Create a Sustainable Future

Sustainable Future

Harnessing the power of computers to help create an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable future – that is the purpose of a major new grant issued by the National Science Foundation.

The five-year, $10 million grant is part of NSF’s Expeditions in Computing program and will provide funding to establish a national and international research network, called CompSustNet, that will explore new research dimensions in “computational sustainability,” a new field devoted to developing computational solutions to the challenges involved in creating a sustainable future.

According to Fisher, who is the network’s Director of Outreach, Education, Diversity, and Synthesis, Vanderbilt’s role will involve research that applies machine learning and other computational approaches to sustainability challenges, like management of smart electrical grids. But Vanderbilt’s major role will be to promote CompSustNet’s broader impacts by monitoring and synthesizing research across network institutions and then translating it into sustainability-themed online educational materials.


Enjoying beautiful views of Agrari beach, this all whitewashed home is located close enough to the capital of the island (Chora) while isolated enough to offer a tranquil and discreet location making it the absolute retreat at the most famous and cosmopolitan island in the world.

The villa decorated in French style with white being the dominant color in every room, inspires freshness and timeless elegance.
With its spacious 6 bedrooms and open air space living areas and its private secluded outdoor areas with wood fire BBQ, infinity pool and sundeck offering the ultimate al fresco entertainment.


These stunning photographic information books picture nature in extraordinary close-up and with an intimacy unrivaled by other wildlife books - Each title features magnificently detailed, larger-than-life photographs on each spread - Will enthrall any child who has ever wondered how a butterfly wing looks to another butterfly or how a spider sees its own web - Text and annotations give a real sense of where each plant or creature lives, how it eats, breeds, survives, and adapts to its particular habitat - Color artworks ...

Meadow 1998, DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)

ISBN-13: 9780789434760

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