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Commodification is a multifaceted concept, having roots in political and economic theory as well as cultural and literary studies. Broadly defined, commodification is the transformation of immaterial, social relationships into commercial relationships that often utilize the language and ideological stances of a market driven economy and capitalist society (for example, terms and ideas surrounding “buying and selling,” “supply and demand”). In order to understand this important and complex idea, we need to understand the etymology of the word commodification. At the root of the word is commodity, which in modern language usage is defined as “a kind of thing for use of sale, an article of commerce, an object of trade” and “food or raw materials as objects of trade” (Oxford English Dictionary).
The act of trading one good for another is an ancient one, and the act of using currency to purchase a grown or manufactured good is almost as ancient. The act of commodification (sometimes referred to as commoditization) is significant, then, because it is a modern metamorphosis of an ancient idea. Today, it is not only grown and manufactured goods that can be bought and sold: Ideas, social relationships, even individuals can now be viewed as commodities—goods available for trade or purchase. Commodification, in effect, turns people and ideas into goods and machines. The idea of commodification was first broadly explored when, in the Communist Manifesto (1848), Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, noted that everything— not merely food, clothing, and other tangible goods—can become a commodity in a modern, industrial, capitalistic society. It is important to remember, however, that a commodity derives its value not from what it can do (use value) but from what it can be sold or traded for (exchange value), often in order to attain some sort of perceived cultural prestige or social status or identity. To Marx and Engels, people (more specifically, the modern working class), as well as the goods they produce, have become commodities themselves, since people “live only so long as they find work, and who find work only so long as their labor increases capital.” In other words, industrialization has increased the amount of commodities that can be produced (and often increased their exchange value as well), but the machine cannot run without the human being. However, the commodity costs money to produce, and so it must always be sold at a set minimum price. The human being, though, has no set minimum price, requiring only “the means of subsistence that he requires for maintenance, and for the propagation of his race.” As a result, the laborer himself becomes a commodity in that his wage is tied to his use in producing the original good. In other words, the “worth” of the laborer is directly associated to the worth of the good (and the exchange value of the laborer is nearly always lower than the exchange value of the good).However, more and more the workers are separated from the means of production: Workers in a capitalistic society often have no connection to the commodity they are producing; the commodity will often not be purchased or utilized by the laborer’s own community.
Rather, they work for a company that is not connected to their community, producing commodities that have no relationship to them, by using machines that they merely operate. Eventually, this leads to the Marxist concept of alienation, in which laborers feels disconnected from their own work, from what they produce, and ultimately from other human beings in their community (since the product of their work is purchased by others and made by machines). The idea of alienation is important to understanding commodification because it deflects the focus of production from the human being, making him a minor part of the process. When this happens, goods can take on a life of their own, almost seeming to appear magically on the shelf of a store, where someone will purchase the good, often without having any idea where, how, or by whom it was made. The process of production (including the human factor) is hidden, and the commodity itself appears as a “natural object,” as if its existence is a matter of natural means, as opposed to manufactured means.
When this occurs, it is often referred to as “commodity fetishism” (Marx, Capital) or “reification” (Lukács, History and Class Consciousness), within which the material world is viewed as objectified and out of society’s control; the primary human actions in a reified world are those of buying and selling. In recent years, the concepts of commodification and reification have been analyzed within the sphere of popular culture. For example, theorists such as Theodore Adorno and Max Horkheimer (1944) have identified the emergence of “the culture industry,” which views popular culture as a “factory,” mass-producing goods for society’s consumption. This easy consumption of goods—being a “good consumer” in a capitalistic society—results in satisfying a perceived need for “culture,” and that being able to purchase and thereby participate in this culture will therefore create happy citizens.A criticism of such a relationship, however, is that the culture industry does not accurately reflect true human needs; instead, it creates false needs—to own certain goods in order to belong as a functioning member of society—as opposed to fulfilling “true” human needs such as liberty, creativity, and community. In other words, the culture industry creates a commodity that it sells to society as a “need” (often through the effects of advertising); society purchases the commodity, which minimizes identity and creates new, similar needs for newer, similar goods. Along the way, the human aspect of society’s consumption is weakened, and culture itself becomes commodified, creating a “culture industry.”
The need and the way of belonging and having identity in a culture industry is through ownership and image. Anything, it seems, can be commodified: art, music, footwear, ideas, “beauty,” human relationships, even dreams and ideas. The use value of the good becomes obscured, and the culturally manufactured exchange value is what compels the consumer to buy a Degas painting, an original pressing of The Beatles’ White Album, copyright a new idea or way of doing something, sell cosmetic surgeries and “fad diets,” participate in human trafficking, and even corrupt (or change) the American dream. Literature has long been society’s way of taking a close look at itself, and many literary works have taken a long, hard look at commodification and its related process, commercialization. Perhaps the most significant work to examine how something immaterial and human can be changed into a commodity—something to be purchased, or something that has an exchange value greater than its use value—is Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. In Death of a Salesman, the Loman family is struggling to find its identity and place in mid- 20th-century America. This struggle, however, is compounded by modern society’s generally uncaring attitude, best exemplified by Willy Loman’s heartless and dramatic firing by Mr. Wagner, and its obsession with material possessions and social status. While each character in the play is complicit in the commodification of the American dream, none exhibits it better than Willy Loman, who commodifies his personal image, especially in his perpetual desire to be “well liked” and his valuing of labels. For example, he believes a punching bag to be of good quality because “It’s got Gene Tunney’s signature on it!” (1.1). Willy’s willing participation in the culture industry will not allow him to separate real, human needs from the reified, manufactured image of the American dream—in Willy Loman’s case, to be a successful, well-liked, and influential salesman. In a similar vein, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of an idealized, successful image of himself—in short, the commodified version of the American dream—led him to a lifelong pursuit of buying an image and a reputation.
Yes, Gatsby is a “self-made man,” part of the American dream mythos, but he is a self-made man who places greater exchange value on things and ideas than he should, and conversely, he places little value upon human friendships. The “pursuit of happiness” in Gatsby devolves largely into a pursuit of quick, greedy, superficial moments of happiness. It is money, possessions, and reputation—as well as being part of a social group (being invited to one of Gatsby’s parties, for example) that stand in as “needs,” not the traditional American dream ideas of rugged individualism, human connection, or liberty. Jay Gatsby, however, was not the only character to buy into the commodified American dream being produced by the early culture industry. Daisy, in how she views herself and how she is viewed by others, also acts as a commodity within The Great Gatsby. Daisy, married to her husband, Tom, but in love with Jay Gatsby, is a bright and progressive woman.
However, in the commodified world of the Roaring Twenties, within which Gatsby is set, it is easier for her to “buy into” the image of the woman upon whom society has placed value: simple, fun, and beautiful. Putting such an exchange value on the image and role of a woman in this society has the consequences of Daisy wishing the following for her baby girl: “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 12). Daisy hopes that her daughter will be “marketable,” and valued for her successful image within the society of Gatsby. But Daisy is not the only character commodifying women. Daisy’s husband, Tom, views her as a possession rather than as a human being—as he does many women in the novel, even having an affair, not out of love but out of exchange value. For Tom, women are merely something to be “owned.” In a different yet similar manner, Jay Gatsby also views Daisy as a commodity. While both Miller and Fitzgerald examined the commodification of ideas and ideals, Don DeLillo focuses not only on ideas, but also provides a strong critique of the culture industry in his postmodern novel White Noise. Within this novel, DeLillo examines modern suburban life. From the opening paragraph, the reader is bombarded with lists of goods being moved into college dormitories: “stereo sets, radios, personal computers; small refrigerators and table ranges; the cartons of phonograph records and cassettes; the hair dryers and styling irons; the tennis rackets, soccer balls, hockey and lacrosse sticks, bows and arrows; the controlled substances, the birth control pills and devices; the junk food still in shopping bags—onion-and-garlic chips, nacho thins, peanut creme patties, Waffelos and Kabooms, fruit chews and toffee popcorn; the Dum-Dum pops, the Mystic mints” (1). By presenting us with such an exhaustive list, we are immediately submerged into a materialist and image-conscious society—a society that has a department of Hitler Studies, taught by Jack Gladney, a professor who does not speak German and who is helping a friend establish a department of Elvis Studies; a society where the children are often more mature than the adults, where drugs are exchanged for sex, where the rearrangement of the supermarket is profoundly disorienting to the people of the community, and where the omnipresent television chatters in the background. Other literary works address commodification in different and interesting ways. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, for example, asks about the relationship between the use value and the exchange value of books and knowledge. In Catch-22, Joseph Heller presents an absurdist narrative of war within which soldiers and prostitutes alike are viewed as disposable commodities. In Beloved, Toni Morrison examines how human beings can be commodified, largely through the portrayal of characters who were born into slavery and who are not viewed as subjects but as objects or commodities.
A good example of self-commodification can be seen in the character of Joshua, who changes his name to Stamp Paid after he “handed his wife over to his master’s son” (124) in order to “buy” his life, and later his freedom. Stamp Paid spends the rest of the novel questioning notions of identity, obligation, and community. Commodification and the culture industry are part of modern-day society; they are built into our political, economic, and entertainment industries. While commodification can be difficult to identify, it is worthwhile to consider its role in everyday life. How does commodification change (for better or worse) how we see the world? How does it change how we view ideas and products? Most important, how does it change how we view each other? Literature, it seems, remains one of our best means of asking—and answering—these questions.
See also Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders; Dinesen, Isak: Out of Africa; Erdrich, Louise: Bingo Palace, The; Hawthorne, Nathaniel: House of the Seven Gables, The; Huxley, Aldous: Brave New World; Kincaid, Jamaica Small Place, A; Kingston, Maxine Hong: Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book; Lawrence D. H.: Rainbow, The; Women in Love; Melville, Herman: “Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street”; O’Connor, Flannery: Wise Blood; Pope, Alexander: Rape of the Lock, The; Roy, Arundhati: God of Small Things, The; Steinbeck, John: Grapes of Wrath, The; Swift, Jonathan: Modest Proposal, A; Tolkien, J. R. R.: Hobbit, The; Twain, Mark: Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, A; Updike, John: “A & P”; Wharton, Edith: House of Mirth. | <urn:uuid:ba00c7c6-7708-42a4-a6fd-4513cb3b497f> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://literacle.com/literary-themes-commodificationcommercialization/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370518622.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20200403190006-20200403220006-00315.warc.gz | en | 0.95853 | 3,052 | 3.984375 | 4 |
The U.S. Army Air Corps' BC−1 low-wing monoplane was North American Aviation's first trainer aircraft (company designation was NA−16). The "BC" part of the designation stands for "Basic Combat," so the Army intended to use the BC−1 on missions. If you think it looks a lot like the AT−6 Texan trainer, it is because the AT−6 evolved from the NA−16. In fact, the Wikipedia entries give April 1, 1935 as the date of maiden flight for both of them. 17,000 variations were built from 1935 through 1939. This construction article and plans appeared in the May 1941 issue of Flying Aces magazine. Wingspan is about 20", making it a rather small model. Standard stick and tissue methods are used, and a pattern is provided for carving your own propeller. Send me an e-mail if you need full resolution scans of the plans.
Follow these plans and instructions for building one of the most realistic scale models ever designed to fly.
A perfect example of craftsmanship. It flies as well as it looks.
by Milton Kahn
Devotees of flying scale jobs haven't a very wide selection these days since most of our planes are either mid-wingers or low-wingers. On top of that, the majority are military types.
Some sort of a bugaboo still exists, however, that low-wing flying scales are not so hot, and as a result are more or less treated like a stepchild. Nonsense! That's all this author has been building and flying for the last three years, and he can report nothing but excellent flights with swell flying characteristics to boot - including this month's job.
The North American trainer in Air Corps circles is known as the BC-1 basic combat. The manufacturer's designation is NA-16-3. This two-place ship is widely used in preparing Flying Cadets to eventually handle swift, single-seat fighters. This "prep school" ship is a tricky job, and has to be flown every minute. The BC-1 is powered with a 550-h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and cruises at 195 m.p.h. It has a maximum speed of 210 and a rate of climb of 1500 feet per minute. Landing speed with flaps is 67 m.p.h. and cruising range is 900 miles. Structure is all-metal throughout and tail surfaces are stressed-skin covered while moving parts are fabric faced.
Easiest way to start things right is to remove Plates 1 and 2 from the magazine and pin down to a flat surface. Over these pages, spread a convenient sized sheet of wax paper. The necessity of this will be obvious. Your first step is to cut to correct size the four longerons and pin them into position on the side view. The longerons are identified by the dotted longitudinal lines.
Cement the uprights (also called compression members) in position. After one frame is completed, lay down the second side and in due time remove so that both sides can be attached by cross braces. The cross members are cemented at right angles to each upright. An illustration is best given on Plate 1 showing a front view of the frame with formers around it.
Crack the frame slightly at the point where former F-3 is to be mounted. Taper the nose so that F-1 can be cemented as shown in the top view. The remaining three formers (also parts of F-1) required to round off the nose is shown in full size front view on Plate 1. The side formers are notched for a single side stringer, top and bottom formers, for three stringers.
Formers, F-4 to -7 inclusive, are cemented as shown, while on the bottom, formers F-8 and 9 (formers and wing spars combined) to F-13 are cemented in position. Later, F-2 formers are attached on each side of the body. After this is secured, fit in the 1/16" by 3/32" stringer as shown and taper as noted on Plate 2. Up front, this stringer is cracked slightly and cemented at the angle shown between the nose bulkhead and F-2.
Wing fillet parts WF-1, of which two are required, are cut to shape and attached after the leading edges of the stub wing are cemented into position. Rear wing fillet WF-2 is likewise attached when ready.
The cockpit hatch is strengthened by cementing in the stringers where required. The curved rear part of the stringers are cut to the necessary shape from 1/16" sheet. Stringers required for the top and bottom formers are attached next. Omit the center stringer for the bottom formers until the entire wing has been built and cemented in position. Study your plans so that this is made entirely clear to you before covering the model.
Wing and Tail
Sturdy construction throughout enables the craft to stand up well.
Graceful lines and beauty of flight are captured by this excellent take-off shot.
Before making right and left wing panels, the center section or stub wing, must be built into the fuselage. Since formers F-8 and -9 are already cemented in place, attach wing ribs R-1 and 2 into the notches provided for them. Next fit into their leading edge slots, the leading spar. The trailing edge spar is tapered as required and also glued. Curved sections forming fillets WF-1 and -2 are next to be cemented.
Wing construction is conventional and simple. Shape the designated ribs and cut the notches out carefully. Pin down the wing spars directly over the wax paper covered plans and cement each rib as noted. Add the leading edge spar, followed by the trailing spar which should be tapered to conform correctly. The tips are added on last. Cement all joints well and later sand down the rough spots. The second half of the wing may be made by reversing the plan. Beforehand, however, go over the outlines with a pencil so that the impression shows clearly through the reverse side.
Ribs, spars, and leading edge of both the rudder and elevator are cut to correct lengths from 1/16" sq. hard balsa. The curved edges are trimmed to shape from 1/16" sheet. Apply cement liberally on all the connecting parts.
The rear hook is shaped from No. 12 piano wire, inserted into the tail post as shown, and bent to shape and cemented. The tail wheel fork is made likewise and cemented securely. At is time, metal fittings for the landing gear and prop shaft may be shaped from wire of the same gauge.
Cowling and Landing Gear
The front edge of the cowling is sanded to shape from a disc of required proportions. Use a compass to obtain the correct diameter and trim with a sharp razor. Make an opening in dead center for the removable nose plug. A slight recess is sanded in about 1/16" deep as indicated by the dotted lines in the side view of the cowling.
To attach the frontispiece of the cowling, first lay it flat on its face. Then cement four pieces of balsa each measuring 1/8" by 1/8" by 11/16" upright at quarterly intervals. After they have hardened in this position, take the whole unit, and cement it flush against the open-faced nose. When this dries, the cowling sides are covered with 1/32" sheet. However, first round off the 1/8" square mounts with sanding. Use model-making pins to aid in holding the sheet covering until the cement hardens sufficiently to warrant their removal.
The landing gear legs are made from hard balsa dowels a single length and then sanded and cut to shape. The front view plan of this unit is shown on Plate 1. After the leg is shaped, take a perfectly straight length of wire and carefully insert it through dead center of the strut all the way down until enough of it comes through the bottom to be bent outward for the axle. Apply a dab of cement on top and bottom ends.
The outer flaps are cut to the required pattern from 1/6". sheet. This is shown in full size on Plate 1. Flatten the outer side of the upper part of the landing strut slightly so that when the flap is cemented it may adhere more easily.
When both landing gear legs are ready, attach them with a liberal amount of cement as indicated by the positions shown in top and side views.
Propeller and Covering
Cover the propeller from a hard balsa block measuring 1" by 1-1/2" by 7". By using slightly larger wheels the diameter may be increased. Enlarge the pattern shown on Plate 3 in order to obtain the full size blade. The spinner cap is carved integral with the prop. Cup the inner sides of the blades for greater efficiency. Insert the wire shaft as required, slip through the nose plug and bend to shape. Balance the blades perfectly.
Covering the ship must be done in an expert manner in order to bring out the best looks for this craft.
Start with the tail parts. Use yellow Japanese tissue as in this case it is the standard color for a military plane. Apply the dope lightly along the leading edge of the elevator from one end to the other. Lay on the paper and smooth out the wrinkles. When the liquid dries, apply the dope more generously to the ribs, center spar and trailing edge. Fold the paper over these parts and pull tightly.
The outer edges are then trimmed leaving a 1/8" margin. This is doped and folded in all around the edges. The uncovered side is heated likewise and trimmed. The rudder is covered with yellow tissue and after this is completed, both surfaces are sprayed lightly with water and set aside to dry. These surfaces must not be doped with banana liquid as they will warp completely out of shape.
The wing panels are also covered with yellow tissue. First cut out a pattern of the outlines, leaving a quarter inch margin all around. Apply the dope over the front edges of the ribs and flatten the paper to them. As soon as the liquid dries, extend applications of dope down to the trailing edges and smooth the paper right over it. Then the leading and trailing edges are tacked down and the tips trimmed. The top part of the wing is covered in the same manner.
When both panels are completed, shrink the tissue by water spraying both sides of each wing. After that, apply at least two coats of dope. Regulation colored stars are attached to the top and bottom surfaces as shown in the wing plan view on Plate 3. The letters spelling out U. S. ARMY should be trimmed out of black paper and mounted in the correct manner. The flight photograph illustrates this best.
Before covering the fuselage, install the rubber power and hook on the washers and propeller.
The fuselage is covered in sections. First the sides, then the rounded top, and lastly the bottom. Blue paper is used throughout for the body, including the fillet section extending from the side of the body out to the first rib of the stub wing. The space between that rib and the outer rib of the stub is covered with yellow paper. The cowling may be covered with blue paper if desired. It may, however, require more than one covering in order to darken the lighter colored sheet balsa.
The cockpit hatch is covered with either isinglass or thin sheet celluloid. Trim the rudder with regulation red, white, and blue stripes. A sheet of such tri-colors may be purchased at any model supply shop.
Assembly and Flying
Attach the wing panels to the stubs with plenty of cement. Place object at the extreme tips of the wings so that the dihedral angle measuring 1-1/4" will be obtained. Insert small model-making pins between the first wing rib and the stub wing rib to aid in holding this angle. Later remove the pins and fill up the holes with small dabs of cement.
The stabilizer is slipped into position and cemented fast. The rudder is mounted next. Be sure that these surfaces line up at right angles to one another.
As the ship stands, it is a bit tail heavy and therefore requires additional weight to the nose. This can be accomplished by adding five or six coats of dope to the cowling, and after they are dry dab another several coats of blue dope. Paint the landing gear flaps blue. Coat the propeller several times, and if slightly more weight is needed, use the inner trough of the cowling to accommodate small pieces of lead, solder, etc.
Trim the model by balancing it on your fingers. The balancing point should be right in front of the last.
The ship shown in the photographs is equipped with celluloid wheels. These are a bit hard and noisy. A pair of balloon tired wheels of the same diameter may be purchased at any model shop. It is suggested that this kind may be substituted for hard wheels as they make for easier landings. Glide the ship until the best is brought out. Then follow up with minor power flights. Study its behavior and make any adjustments that are required.
For real flights, use a geared winder and stretch out the strands at least twice their length. Try take-off flights. They're really very fascinating to watch.
Army BC-1 Fuselage Plans
Army BC-1 Wing Plans
Posted March 7, 2020 | <urn:uuid:f59f2d28-64c2-4540-9c2a-a35cba50a9d3> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.airplanesandrockets.com/magazines/flying-aces/army-bc-1-flying-aces-may-1941.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497301.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330181842-20200330211842-00115.warc.gz | en | 0.952639 | 2,825 | 2.984375 | 3 |
6.1 Children Living in Households where there is substance misuse: Guidance
- Action to be taken
- Substance misuse in pregnancy
- Babies withdrawing from substances
- Importance of working in partnership
- Related guidance
- Related Policies, Procedures, and Guidance
Substance misuse is the problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs. While there are different treatment methodologies for adults with these problems, they are considered together because the consequences for the child are quite similar.
Substance misuse usually refers to someone who inappropriately uses or is dependent on illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs or solvents; and their use of these is associated with having a harmful effect on the individual, their family or the community. However, professionals should be mindful that a single use of alcohol and/or drugs can have consequences which are equally as devastating as long-term use.
Many substance-misusing adults also suffer from mental health problems. This may be referred to as ‘dual diagnosis’. However, mental health problems may go undiagnosed because substance or alcohol use is masking the symptoms, or because they render a proper diagnosis not possible.
Domestic abuse, parental mental illness, and drug and alcohol misuse have been identified in serious case reviews and domestic homicide reviews as significant factors in families where children have died or been seriously harmed. Where all three issues are present, they are often described as the ‘toxic trio’.
Throughout this document reference is made to parents or carers who misuse substances. Professional should also be alert to situations where older siblings within a household may be misusing substances. This may put other children at risk, in particular where the older sibling is left in charge or takes on a significant caring role for younger children.
Children’s physical, emotional, social, intellectual and developmental needs can be adversely affected because of their parent’s (or carer’s) misuse of substances. These effects may be through acts of omission or commission, which then have an impact on the child’s welfare and protection.
Substance misuse can consume a great deal of time, money and emotional energy, which will unavoidably impact on capacity to parent a child. It also puts the child at an increased risk of neglect and emotional, physical or sexual abuse, either by the parent or because the child becomes more vulnerable to abuse by others.
The circumstances surrounding dependent, heavy or chaotic substance misuse may inhibit responsible childcare. For example, substance misuse may lead to poor physical health or to mental health problems, financial problems and a breakdown in family support networks. Substance misuse may also impact on the ability of a parent or carer to assess and manage risks to their children, including the risk of harm.
Children may be introduced to drug and alcohol misuse at an early age by the behaviour of the parent and the availability of the substances within the home.
Parents who misuse substances may be good enough parents who do not abuse or neglect their children, and it is important not to generalise or make assumptions about the impact on a child of parental substance misuse. However, it is important that the implications for the child are properly assessed, having full regard to the parent’s ability to maintain consistent and adequate care. Equal regard should be given to each and every child's level of dependence, vulnerability and any special needs.
Services for children and adults will need to work together to tackle the problems caused by substance misuse in families in order to safeguard children and promote their well-being. Support and intervention should be holistic and consider the needs of all family members.
Where there is concern that a parent is involved in substance misuse, the impact on the child needs to be considered, including:
This section outlines a number of potential indicators which may be present. However, it is important not to generalise or make assumptions about the impact on a child of parental substance misuse. Only a full assessment will identify the level of risk.
If a parent (or carer) is concerned with funding an addiction, or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this may impact their ability meet their child’s basic needs. Whilst some users are high-functioning even with significant addiction, a disorganised lifestyle is a frequent consequence of substance misuse. Parents may fail to shop, cook, wash, clean, pay bills, attend appointments, etc.
Substance misuse may affect a parent’s ability to engage with their child and their ability to control their emotions. Severe mood swings and angry outbursts may confuse and frighten a child, hindering healthy development and control of their own emotions. Such parents may even become dependent on their own child for support. This can put stress on a child and mean they miss out on the experiences of a normal childhood.
Other consequences of substance misuse can (but do not always) include lost jobs, unsafe homes, broken marriages, severed family ties and friendships, and disruption of efforts made by a local authority to help. Where these exist, they are also likely to negatively affect a child.
Any professionals, carers, volunteers, family or friends who are in contact with a child in a substance-misusing environment must ask themselves: ‘What is it like for a child in this environment?’.
Action to be taken
Professionals who are concerned about the children of parents (or carers) who misuse substances should follow the BSCP's Neglect Guidance. Professionals should use risk assessment to assess the extent to which substance misuse is likely to be impacting on the unborn child or on the ability of the adults to safely parent their child/children. In line with the Thresholds document, consideration should be given to making a referral to Children’s Social Care using the Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF).
Where a referral is deemed by Children’s Social Care to meet the threshold for level 3, appropriate action will be taken to assign this to the most appropriate agency to lead a coordinated, multi-agency, Early Help response to meet the needs of the whole family. Early Help in Buckinghamshire is now provided by the Family Support Service.
Where the child/children are deemed to be suffering, or are at risk of suffering, significant harm (level 4), statutory safeguarding processes will be followed, led by Children’s Social Care. Relevant agencies will be involved in the initial assessment and strategy meeting, which will determine the most appropriate course of action.
Substance misuse in pregnancy
Substance misuse in pregnancy can have serious effects on the health and development of the child before and after birth. Not every woman who uses substances will need additional support or a referral to specialist services. Many other factors affect pregnancy outcomes, including poverty, poor housing, poor maternal health and nutrition, domestic abuse and mental health. Assessment must be used to understand the impact of, and risks associated with, parental substance misuse and this must take account of other factors such as these.
Women who experience problems with substances don’t always realise that they are pregnant until later in the pregnancy – their periods may have stopped and they may have believed they couldn’t get pregnant. They may present and book late to maternity services, and be fearful of being judged and stigmatised. It is vital that women who use misuse substances have informed consent, receive support in their pregnancy, are promptly referred to treatment services where needed, and, crucially after the birth, are supported to enable the baby to remain with them if it is safe and appropriate.
The Department of Health recommends that women should avoid alcohol altogether during pregnancy. NHS Guidance reflects that experts remain unsure exactly how much, if any, alcohol is completely safe to drink when pregnant and so recommends that the safest approach is not to drink any. No alcohol means no risk of alcohol harm.
If a woman does drink during pregnancy, alcohol passes freely through the placenta and so can affect the growing baby right the way through until birth. A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop and does not mature until the latter stages of pregnancy. The unborn baby cannot process alcohol as efficiently as the mother and the alcohol can seriously affect their development.
Alcohol consumption is associated with infertility, miscarriage and still birth. Drinking, particularly during the first three months of pregnancy, increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.
The adverse effects of alcohol consumption on the developing foetus represent a spectrum of physical, behavioural and neurocognitive impairments and the risks are greater the more alcohol is consumed. The term Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is used to describe the problems a baby has as a result of exposure to alcohol in the womb. Some children may develop mild symptoms, while others may be severely affected. Problems associated with FAS include:
Drug use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of miscarriage and pre-term labour, low birth weight babies and stillbirths. Stimulants (e.g. crack) can cause an increased risk of placental abruption. (The placenta normally separates from the wall of the uterus after the baby has been born. In placental abruption, part or all of the placenta separates from the uterus before the baby has been delivered. The condition is potentially life-threatening, especially for the foetus). Babies may be born with withdrawal symptoms (neonatal abstinence syndrome) where drugs have been taken regularly during pregnancy.
Although full information is not available on all of the longer term effects of drug use during pregnancy, different drugs are associated with a range of potential impacts including different types of behavioural and learning difficulties. As with alcohol misuse, the impact on some babies may be mild, but others may be seriously affected.
Professionals providing care for pregnant women should ask sensitively, but routinely, about all substance use, prescribed and non-prescribed, legal and illegal, including alcohol. If it emerges that a woman may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, she (and her partner) should be encouraged to attend substance misuse services or specialist maternity services, and staff should offer to make the referral. Professionals asking questions of a pregnant woman should also factor in presentation and known history, as well as the information provided, as usage of substances may be minimised.
It is important not to make generalisations and to consider the nature, type and frequency of the substance misuse, and the stage of pregnancy. Where appropriate, services should arrange a multi-disciplinary meeting to review the extent of the woman’s substance use, including type of drugs, level, frequency, pattern and method of administration, and consider any risks to the unborn child from current or previous use. Such discussions should include relevant drug treatment agencies that will be able to contribute to decision making around the appropriate course of action, even where the parents are not currently engaged in drug treatment programmes.
If Children’s Social Services are not involved, the obstetrician, midwife or GP should ask the mother to consent to liaise with them. If the woman does not consent, staff should consider whether the extent of substance misuse is likely to pose risk of significant harm to her unborn baby. Consent is not required if the unborn baby is considered to be at risk of significant harm.
If significant harm seems likely and/or the mother continues to misuse substances, or is unwilling to engage with the substance misuse services, a referral to Children’s Social Care must be made (also see the Pre-birth procedure).
It is important not to delay making a referral to Children’s Social Care in order to:
The midwife should ensure appropriate screening is undertaken in line with local procedures, and test results should be available in hospital notes.
Babies withdrawing from substances
If it is known that a baby is going to be born with neonatal abstinence syndrome or evidence of drug toxicity, pre-birth planning will have taken place (see Pre-birth procedure) and there should be a Child in Need Plan or a Child Protection Plan in place.
If a baby is born suffering from withdrawal symptoms or Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, and this is unexpected, the midwife must refer the baby to Children’s Social Care immediately. In these cases, the baby has suffered significant harm and normal child protection procedures apply (see Neglect Guidance).
Unless the baby is already the subject of a Child Protection Plan, a strategy discussion should be held with the CAIU, medical professionals and any other relevant professionals.
This discussion will need to decide and plan:
Children’s Social Care should be informed by hospital staff as early as possible prior to discharge.
Importance of working in partnership
It is important that services working with adults recognise the potential risks of adult substance misuse to children.
Where safeguarding concerns are identified, all professionals should follow the advice set out in What to do if you have a Concern. Information should be shared in line with this procedure and the Buckinghamshire Multi-Agency Information Sharing Code of Practice. Effective and timely information sharing will help ensure relevant professionals are able to assess risks to an unborn baby, child or young person, and ensure appropriate action is taken.
Substance misuse professionals must identify those adults who are parents, or who have regular care-giving access to children, and share the information with Children’s Social Care as early as possible.
Children’s Social Care, substance misuse services and other relevant agencies must undertake a multi-agency assessment including specialist substance misuse and other assessments, to determine whether or not parents with substance misuse problems can care adequately for their child/children. Such assessments should include whether they are willing and able to lower or cease their substance misuse, and what support they need to achieve this.
Meetings in adult services regarding drug or alcohol misusing parents must include consideration of any needs of, or risks to, children concerned. Children’s Social Care must be given the opportunity to contribute to such discussions.
All care programme meetings for adults who are parents must include ongoing assessment of the needs or risk factors for the child/children concerned.
Children’s Social Care should be invited to and contribute to such meetings if appropriate.
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2003) Hidden Harm: Responding to the needs of children of problem drug users
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2007) Hidden Harm: Three Years On: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities
- Local Safeguarding Children Boards (2011) Joint Working Protocol: Safeguarding children and young people whose parents / carers have problems with: mental health, substance misuse, learning disability and emotional or psychological distress
- Home Office (2012) Alcohol Strategy
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (reviewed 2012) Drug Strategy
- Office of the Children's Commissioner (2012) Silent Voices - supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuse
- NSPCC (2013) Parents who misuse substances: learning from case reviews | <urn:uuid:a8791bd6-3440-43d9-8054-b3e2bbf50660> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://bscb.procedures.org.uk/lkqox/parents-who-have-additional-needs/children-living-in-households-where-there-is-substance-misuse-guidance | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371886991.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410043735-20200410074235-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.942436 | 3,072 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Portico Jackson Magazine
Turn on any country radio station and you’ll likely hear at least a dozen songs describing what it means to be Southern. Family, food, friends, and love of country always seem to be a common thread. And frequently God is included right at the top of that list. But as you begin to peel back the layers of what it means to be Southern, you may discover something surprising – a Jewish community that, while small, has played an active role in the towns they live in, built businesses from the ground up, and worked tirelessly to preserve their heritage for future generations.
Jews have had a presence in Mississippi since the mid-1800’s. Because European laws once prohibited Jews from owning property, many Jewish immigrants that settled in America arrived with no agricultural experience. Therefore, they drew on their knowledge of business to support themselves and their families. Many began as traveling salesmen, often buying goods from wholesalers in Memphis or New Orleans and traveling from small town to small town to sell their wares. Once they saved enough money, frequently, they would buy a storefront in one of the very same small towns they traveled through.
While Jewish communities have existed in Mississippi for over 150 years, they statistically only make up about 1% percent of the population. Early on, this made adhering to some Jewish traditions difficult. Kosher food was impossible to come by and many had no choice but to work on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. A lot of small towns did not have their own synagogue, so many families traveled sometimes hundreds of miles in one day in order to attend services.
Winona-native Macy Hart grew up at the height of the Civil Rights movement. While pockets of anti-Semitism were being reported across the state, Hart recalls an idyllic childhood growing up in small-town Mississippi during the 1950’s and 60’s. His parents were prominent community members as owners of the largest department store in Winona. He admits that he and his three siblings were the only Jewish children in their school. Because there was no local synagogue, Hart’s parents would load the family in the car every Sunday morning for the 160-mile round trip to the nearest synagogue in Cleveland, MS.
Even though Mississippi Jews assimilated to their new culture, they also recognized a need to maintain their heritage by teaching younger generations about their religion and its practices. However, because the population was so spread out, finding other Jewish children to form relationships with was a challenge. Several state and regional “social networks” developed, and during his youth Hart was an active member of organization such as National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and the Southern Federation of Temple Youth (SOFTY), which would come to encompass Memphis, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
In 1970, congregations in these states came together to establish a camp in Utica, Mississippi, which was centrally located between the two largest cities in the camp’s footprint – Memphis and New Orleans. The Henry S. Jacobs Camp, named in honor of an early camp advocate, set out to not only teach Jewish values to young Jewish children, but instill a pride in their heritage. Still in operation today, the camp has also sought to provide Jewish role models and create opportunities for social contact with other Jewish kids, something that many Jewish children from small towns have never experienced.
In 1970, Hart had just graduated from the University of Texas. America was in the middle several major social changes stemming from Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, and the June 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The climate of change and opportunity inspired a desire in Hart to spend the next two years giving back to the Jewish organizations that had done so much to shape his future. One of Hart’s mentors suggested that he go to work at the newly opened camp in Utica. He arrived planning to stay only two years, was named camp director in his second year at the age of 23, and would remain there for the next 30 years.
Along the way, Hart began observing some of the national issues taking place within Jewish communities. For instance, there is as a growing number of congregations, not just in the South, but nationwide, operating without a full time rabbi. In 2000, Hart stepped down as camp director to found the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL), named after two prominent Southern Jewish businessmen and philanthropists. An expansion of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience founded in 1986, Hart hoped to be able to provide smaller congregations with the components and support they were missing.
Today, the Institute encompasses six departments – History, Cultural Programs, The Museum of Southern Jewish Experience, Community Engagement, Rabbinic Services, and Education. Together, these departments serve 13 states – Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Northern Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
History and the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Jewish communities in the South were much larger. People naturally gravitated to where the jobs were and small towns that saw a surge in population during the heyday of cotton production would later see their economies change after The Great Depression and WWII. The same is true among many Jewish communities in the rural South. Younger members have moved to more urban areas, leaving behind congregations that dwindle as members pass away.
Despite their small size, these congregations still have deep historical roots within their communities. In many cases, they serve as the only link to a long Jewish lineage for many families. The ISJL History Department and the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, directed by Stewart Rockoff, Ph.D, work to preserve this legacy through actively collecting and compiling information about Southern Jewish communities and sharing them with both Jewish and Christian audiences. Its programs include an Oral History Project, which currently boasts over 700 firsthand accounts of life as a Jew living in the Deep South. It also helps to preserve synagogues and cemeteries that face an uncertain future once their congregation ceases to exist.
Probably one of the most impactful projects to date is the Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. This online repository provides state-by-state history about the Jewish presence in each community. Currently, 10 of the 13 states served by the ISJL have been documented, with work actively underway to bring the remaining two states online.
The Museum also hosts several traveling exhibits nationally as well as the Traveling Truck exhibit geared towards school-aged children in Mississippi. The Traveling Trunk is a handson educational opportunity designed to teach both Christian and Jewish children about Jewish religion and culture. The trunk contains artifacts, photographs, maps and lessons focusing on Jewish immigration from Europe to the South and how these immigrants left a lasting influence on their communities.
The cultural programming department partners with artists, singers, performers, authors, and musicians nationwide to bring Jewish arts and entertainment to communities all over the Deep South. Their projects include Jewish Cinema South – which showcases Israeli and Jewishthemed cinema, the Southern States Jewish Literary Series, and the Southern States Music Series.
If you were to look at a map of all the Jewish congregations spread out across the Southeast, you may be surprised to find quite a few. The majority of these congregations a very small, numbering only a handful of members, and many cannot afford to employ a full-time rabbi to lead services. In Mississippi, only two out of the fifteen congregations have a full-time rabbi. In the 13-state footprint that the Institute serves, the number is less than half.
The mission of ISJL Rabbinic Department, headed by Rabbi Marshal Klaven, is to travel to these under-served congregations. The rabbinic department coordinates these visits through their “Rabbis on the Road” program, which works in conjunction with other rabbis all across the country to lead services, give sermons, teach, and officiate at important events. In 2012, the rabbinic department made 90 visits in 50 communities spanning from Texas, to Virginia, to the Florida panhandle. Through these efforts, it is estimated that they served over 4,000 Jews.
In the Christian church, children are bought up being taught the same Biblical stories and lessons. According to Hart, this is not necessarily the case among Jewish congregations.
“The Jewish community does not have a secular approach to education. Every single congregation in the United States has to come up with their own Sunday cchool lessons. There is no similarity between one congregation to the next,” he explains. “We wanted to change that, therefore we created a secular-world approach to Jewish education called ‘A Common Body of Jewish Knowledge.’”
The program provides age-appropriate curriculum for each child based on grade level. It covers topics such as Jewish community, culture and symbols; God; Hebrew and prayer; Israel; history, holidays; life events; Mitzvot and values, and Tanach (Torah, Prophets, and Writings).
The curriculum also provides teacher support through an annual education conference and site visits to the congregation three times a year by education fellows who provide teacher workshops, community programs, or lead services.
There is a Hebrew saying, “Tikkun olam,” which translates to “repair the world.” It describes what many Jewish people believe is man’s responsibility – no matter their religious affiliation – to transform the world into a better place.
The ISJL is doing their part to make the Jackson-metro area a better place by piloting programs in literacy and leadership in addition to peer mediation and conflict resolution. Eventually, the Institute plans to roll these programs out to other communities.
“A lot of the emphasis of our work is to celebrate everyone’s differences. I’m comfortable in my beliefs just as people of other religions are comfortable in their beliefs,” says Hart. “We should be able to live in the same world without telling each other we’re wrong. We ought to be able to respect the differences and be able to work together.
He adds, “The myth that there aren’t a lot of Jews in the South is a myth. Numbers-wise, no there are not a lot of Jews in the South. But their impact on their communities is far greater.” | <urn:uuid:a9c6f2f1-eda7-4a91-ba14-0a93e94e7b45> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://lisalbynum.com/2013/03/01/tikkun-olam-transform-the-world-institute-of-southern-jewish-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370500331.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331053639-20200331083639-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.970244 | 2,145 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Brain cancer strongly linked to cell phone radiation in brand-new, large-scale study
(Naturalhealth365) Even if the wireless industry would like you to ignore this truth: it looks like very little cell phone use – per month – can cause a big increase in the risk of brain cancer.
An astounding 95 out of 100 adult Americans currently own cell phones, a testament to the nation’s near-universal embrace of a mode of communication that – as recently as 25 years ago – was considered by many to be nothing more than a ‘novelty.’
Clearly, cell phones are here to stay – but at what cost? As natural health advocates continue to warn of the potential dangers of cell phone radiation, a panel of experts recently assessed a landmark government study that links radiation produced by cell phones and wireless devices to the development of heart and brain cancer in rats.
Study results link cell phone radiation to brain cancer and heart tumors
In 2011, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Cancer Research officially categorized radiofrequency cell phone radiation as a “possible” human carcinogen.
Last month, after assessing a $25 million study conducted by the National Institutes of Health’s National Toxicology Program (NTP), an expert peer review panel found that RF radiation’s association with heart and brain tumors provides “clear evidence of carcinogenicity” – at least, in animals.
In the NTP study, thousands of rats were exposed to the two types of radiation emitted by modern cell phones – CDMA and Global System for Mobile – for up to nine hours a day, beginning in the womb and ending with their natural deaths.
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According to Dr. Ronald Melnick, Ph.D., the scientist who helped design the study, no previous cell phone radiation research had ever studied so many animals for so long.
The panel found radiation exposure to be a “definitive link” that raised the risk of certain heart and brain cancers – and also caused a significant increase in cancers of the liver, pancreas, prostate, pituitary and adrenal glands.
Significantly, greater amounts of exposure led to greater increases in cancer, showing a dose-dependent relationship.
The panel characterized malignant schwannoma tumors – found in the hearts of exposed male rats – as “clear evidence of carcinogenicity,” while malignant gliomas – or brain tumors – found in male rats were categorized as “some evidence of carcinogenicity.”
Male rats exposed to cell phone radiation also had increased incidence of a “new” type of tumor of the adrenal medulla – which the scientists also characterized as “some evidence of carcinogenicity.”
Although only male rats appeared to experience increased rates of heart and brain cancer, the researchers noted that there was also a “statistically significant” increase in an unusual type of cardiomyopathy (or damage to heart tissue) in rats of both sexes.
The team noted that even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to RF radiation could have “broad implications for public health.” They called for strengthening the conclusions regarding various health effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cell phones and wireless devices.
To view the findings of the NTP study, visit this link for more details.
Italian study backs up the warning about cell phone radiation exposure
Other research corroborates the finding of the NTP study.
A study conducted at the Ramazzini Institute for Environmental Policy and published in Environmental Research was consistent with the results of the NTP study. Both reported a statistically significant increase in the very same rare malignancies as found in the NTP study – even when lower radiation levels were used.
Most significantly of all, these are the same type of tumors as those observed in epidemiological studies of human cell phone users – a truly chilling finding.
According to researchers, the pair of studies provides sufficient evidence to call for the re-evaluation of the IARC conclusions regarding the carcinogenic potential of RF radiation in humans.
Experts and health advocates call for ‘precautionary measures’ NOW
Although some conventional scientists were surprised at the study results, most natural health experts were not. Consumer health advocates and activists have long decried the effects of radiation from cell phones and wireless devices, pointing out that the EMFs (or electromagnetic frequencies) involved in radiofrequency radiation have been linked to damage to the blood-brain barrier.
In addition, cell phone radiation interferes with DNA replication – a potentially cancer-causing effect.
NTP study designer Dr. Melnick said the FDA should start immediately working on the development of a quantitative risk assessment from the study data. In the meantime, said Dr. Melnick, the FDA, FCC and other government agencies “should promote precautionary measures, especially for children.”
Predictably, CTIA, a cell phone industry group, maintains that an already existing body of peer-reviewed studies shows that there are no established health effects from RF radiation from cell phones.
But Dr. Devra Davis, founder and president of the Environmental Health Trust – an organization dedicated to educating people on controllable environmental health risks – reports that studies of people with 10 or more years of exposure to cell phones show higher risks for tumors.
Dr. Davis warns of “increasing exposures” in schools and homes throughout the nation, and points out the folly of children being routinely given “two-way microwave radiating devices” to use next to their developing bodies.
Warning: 5G is spreading all over the world, like a wild fire out-of-control
Unfortunately, the situation is only expected to worsen.
The “Internet of Things” – a planned network of interconnected devices such as thermostats, lights, home appliances and even vehicles – promises to present an even greater threat to health. Its implementation will involve augmenting existing 4G technology with the 5G system – massively increasing the population’s exposure to radiation.
According to EHT executive director Theodora Scarato, the imminent rollout of 5G “must be stopped.”
Scarato also calls for public health campaigns to boost awareness of methods for reducing exposure in schools and homes – including the use of wired internet and conventional landlines.
(As always, natural health experts advise reducing personal exposure by using speakerphone or wired headsets whenever possible – and keeping cell phones well away from the body).
As evidence of radiation harm continues to accumulate, Dr. Annie Sasco, a former chief of research at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, issues a no-holds-barred directive. “Enough is enough,” declares Dr. Sasco. “It’s time for action.”
Editor’s note: Find out how to protect yourself from wireless radiation. Click here to gain INSTANT, free access to the NaturalHealth365 Podcast and how to create a ‘healthier home.’
Sources for this article include:
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Yellowjacket or yellow jacket is the common name in North America for predatory social wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. Members of these genera are known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries. Most of these are black and yellow like the eastern yellowjacket Vespula maculifrons and the aerial yellowjacket Dolichovespula arenaria; some are black and white like the bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata. Others may have the abdomen background color red instead of black. They can be identified by their distinctive markings, their occurrence only in colonies, and a characteristic, rapid, side-to-side flight pattern prior to landing. All females are capable of stinging. Yellowjackets are important predators of pest insects.
Yellowjackets may be confused with other wasps, such as hornets and paper wasps such as Polistes dominula. A typical yellowjacket worker is about 12 mm (0.5 in) long, with alternating bands on the abdomen; the queen is larger, about 19 mm (0.75 in) long (the different patterns on their abdomens help separate various species).
Yellowjackets are sometimes mistakenly called "bees" (as in "meat bees"), given that they are similar in size and general coloration to honey bees, but yellowjackets are actually wasps. In contrast to honey bees, yellowjackets have yellow or white markings, are not covered with tan-brown dense hair on their bodies, do not carry pollen, and do not have the flattened, hairy hind legs used to carry it.
Yellowjackets have lance-like stingers with small barbs, and typically sting repeatedly, though occasionally a stinger becomes lodged and pulls free of the wasp's body; the venom, like most bee and wasp venoms, is primarily dangerous to only those humans who are allergic or are stung many times. All species have yellow or white on their faces. Their mouthparts are well-developed with strong mandibles for capturing and chewing insects, with probosces for sucking nectar, fruit, and other juices. Yellowjackets build nests in trees, shrubs, or in protected places such as inside man-made structures, or in soil cavities, tree stumps, mouse burrows, etc. They build them from wood fiber they chew into a paper-like pulp. Many other insects exhibit protective mimicry of aggressive, stinging yellowjackets; in addition to numerous bees and wasps (Müllerian mimicry), the list includes some flies, moths, and beetles (Batesian mimicry).
Life cycle and habits
Yellowjackets are social hunters living in colonies containing workers, queens, and males (drones). Colonies are annual with only inseminated queens overwintering. Fertilized queens are found in protected places such as in hollow logs, in stumps, under bark, in leaf litter, in soil cavities, and in man-made structures. Queens emerge during the warm days of late spring or early summer, select a nest site, and build a small paper nest in which they lay eggs. After eggs hatch from the 30 to 50 brood cells, the queen feeds the young larvae for about 18 to 20 days. Larvae pupate, then emerge later as small, infertile females called workers. Workers in the colony take over caring for the larvae, feeding them with chewed up meat or fruit. By midsummer, the first adult workers emerge and assume the tasks of nest expansion, foraging for food, care of the queen and larvae, and colony defense.
From this time until her death in the autumn, the queen remains inside the nest, laying eggs. The colony then expands rapidly, reaching a maximum size of 4000 to 5000 workers and a nest of 10,000 to 15,000 cells in late summer. (This is true of most species in most areas; however, V. squamosa, in the southern part of its range, may build much larger perennial colonies populated by scores of queens, tens of thousands of workers, and hundreds of thousands of cells.) At peak size, reproductive cells are built with new males and queens produced. Adult reproductives remain in the nest fed by the workers. New queens build up fat reserves to overwinter. Adult reproductives leave the parent colony to mate. After mating, males quickly die, while fertilized queens seek protected places to overwinter. Parent colony workers dwindle, usually leaving the nest to die, as does the foundress queen. Abandoned nests rapidly decompose and disintegrate during the winter. They can persist as long as they are kept dry, but are rarely used again. In the spring, the cycle is repeated; weather in the spring is the most important factor in colony establishment.
The diet of the adult yellowjacket consists primarily of items rich in sugars and carbohydrates, such as fruits, flower nectar, and tree sap. Larvae feed on proteins derived from insects, meats, and fish, which are collected by the adults, which chew and condition them before feeding them to the larvae. Many of the insects collected by the adults are considered pest species, making the yellowjacket beneficial to agriculture. Larvae, in return, secrete a sugar material to be eaten by the adults; this exchange is a form of trophallaxis. In late summer, foraging workers pursue other food sources from meats to ripe fruits, or scavenge human garbage, sodas, picnics, etc., as additional sugar is needed to foster the next generation's queens.
- European yellowjackets, the German wasp (Vespula germanica), and the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) were originally native to Europe, but are now established in southern Africa, New Zealand, and eastern Australia
- The North American yellowjacket (Vespula alascensis), eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons), western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica), and prairie yellowjacket (Vespula atropilosa) are native to North America.
- Southern yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa)
- Bald-faced hornets (Dolichovespula maculata) belong among the yellowjackets rather than the true hornets. They are not usually called "yellowjackets" because of their ivory-on-black coloration.
- Aerial yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria)
- Tree wasp (Dolichovespula sylvestris)
Dolichovespula species such as the aerial yellowjacket, D. arenaria, and the bald-faced hornet, tend to create exposed aerial nests. This feature is shared with some true hornets, which has led to some naming confusion.
Vespula species, in contrast, build concealed nests, usually underground.
Yellowjacket nests usually last for only one season, dying off in winter. The nest is started by a single queen, called the "foundress". Typically, a nest can reach the size of a basketball by the end of a season. In parts of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and southwestern coastal areas of the United States, the winters are mild enough to allow nest overwintering. Nests that survive multiple seasons become massive and often possess multiple egg-laying queens.
In the United States
The German yellowjacket (V. germanica) first appeared in Ohio in 1975, and has now become the dominant species over the eastern yellowjacket. It is bold and aggressive, and can sting repeatedly and painfully. It will mark aggressors and pursue them. It is often confused with Polistes dominula, an invasive species in the United States, due to their very similar pattern. The German yellowjacket builds its nests in cavities—not necessarily underground—with the peak worker population in temperate areas between 1000 and 3000 individuals between May and August. Each colony produces several thousand new reproductives after this point through November. The eastern yellowjacket builds its nests underground, also with the peak worker population between 1000 and 3000 individuals, similar to the German yellowjacket. Nests are built entirely of wood fiber and are completely enclosed except for a small entrance at the bottom. The color of the paper is highly dependent on the source of the wood fibers used. The nests contain multiple, horizontal tiers of combs within. Larvae hang within the combs.
In the southeastern United States, where southern yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa) nests may persist through the winter, colony sizes of this species may reach 100,000 adult wasps. The same kind of nest expansion has occurred in Hawaii with the invasive western yellowjacket (V. pensylvanica).
In popular culture
The yellowjacket's most visible place in American popular culture is as a mascot, most famously with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, represented by the mascot Buzz. Other college and university examples include the American International College, Baldwin-Wallace University, Black Hills State University, Cedarville University, Defiance College, Graceland University, Howard Payne University, LeTourneau University, Montana State University Billings, Randolph-Macon College, University of Rochester, University of Wisconsin–Superior, West Virginia State University, and Waynesburg University.
Though not specified by the team, the mascot of the Columbus Blue Jackets, named "Stinger," closely resembles a yellowjacket. In the years since its original yellow incarnation, the mascot's color has been changed to a light green, seemingly combining the real insect's yellow and the team's blue.
Note that yellowjacket is often spelled as two words (yellow jacket) in popular culture and even in some dictionaries. The proper entomological spelling, according to the Entomological Society of America, is as a single word (yellowjacket).
- Akre, R. D. et al. (1980). The Yellowjackets of America North of Mexico. USDA Agriculture Handbook 552. 102 pp.
- Lives of Social Insects Peggy Larson p.13
- "About Yellowjackets and the Benefits of Wasps in the Garden". Mother Earth News.
- "Yellow jackets building enormous nests". TuscaloosaNews.com. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
- Extension Daily: What is Causing Super-sized Yellow Jacket Nests? Archived 2007-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
- "Response of Native Plant Communities to Alien Species Management on the Island of Hawaii" on the Hawaiian Cooperative Studies Program website
- "Which NHL mascot would you want with you in a bar fight?". 2018-03-19.
- "Common Names of Insects Database | Entomological Society of America". Entsoc.org. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
- "Yellowjackets and Hornets of Florida" on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- Successful Removal of German Yellow Jackets by Toxic Baiting | <urn:uuid:3afa1e81-bf5e-45b1-bd73-cc7881552c78> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Jackets | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370511408.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410173109-20200410203609-00434.warc.gz | en | 0.930142 | 2,299 | 3.640625 | 4 |
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More than 80 years ago, Smithsonian paleontologist Charles Whitney Gilmore supervised the installation of the mounted Diplodocus skeleton known as USNM 10865. In December 2014, that same skeleton was finally disassembled for conservation and eventual re-mounting.This post is about the history of this particular mount: where it came from, who put it together, and what it has and continues to tell us about prehistory.
Predecessor at CMNH
The story of the NMNH Diplodocus mount actually began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania around the turn of the century. In November of 1898, Steel tycoon-turned-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie read that the remains of a giant “Brontosaurus” had been discovered in Wyoming. Carnegie’s interest was piqued and the following year, he contributed $10,000 to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (which he had founded two years earlier) to find a complete “Brontosaurus” – or something like it – for display in Pittsburgh. Perhaps proving that money can indeed buy anything, on July 4th, 1989 the CMNH team found a reasonably complete sauropod skeleton in Sheep Creek Basin, Wyoming. CMNH Curator of Paleontology John Bell Hatcher declared the specimen to be a new species, which he named for the Museum’s benefactor: Diplodocus carnegii.
Back in Pittsburgh, the task of preparing and mounting the fossils fell to preparator Arthur Coggeshall and his staff. Creating a permanent armature for a delicate 84-foot skeleton was a monumental undertaking, beyond anything that had ever been attempted before. Coggeshall used a steel rod, shaped to the contours of the vertebral column, as the basis for the mount. Once the backbone was in place, the limbs, ribs, and other extremities were mounted on steel rods of their own and attached to the rest of the skeleton. The fossils were connected to the steel armature by drilling screws and bolts directly into the bone. Since the original Diplodocus carnegii skeleton was not complete, the mount was supplemented with fossils uncovered during subsequent field seasons at Sheep Creek and elsewhere in Wyoming.
The CMNH Diplodocus was unveiled in 1907 in a brand-new wing that had been constructed to display it. Although the American Museum of Natural History had by that point completed a sauropod mount of their own, the Pittsburgh display was well-received by paleontologists and laypeople alike. Not to be bested by the New York competition, Carnegie also commissioned eight Diplodocus replicas, which he donated to museums throughout Europe and Latin America.
This wave of publicity allowed the paleontology staff at CMNH and elsewhere to continue to undergo large-scale fossil hunting expeditions. In 1909, a team led by Earl Douglass hit the jackpot north of Jensen, Utah. At the site now known as Dinosaur National Monument, CMNH teams excavated over 300 tons of Jurassic fossils over 13 field seasons. The immensely productive “Dinosaur Quarry” site is thought to represent a prehistoric river bar, where dead animals from upsteam accumulated over time. In addition to an assortment of crocodiles and other small reptiles, this location has yielded remains of Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus and many other taxa. Although the site was far from exhausted, the CMNH team moved on in 1922, at which point paleontologist Charles Gilmore from the United States National Museum took over.
USNM Excavation at Dinosaur National Monument
Gilmore led the first USNM field season at Dinosaur National Monument in May of 1923. In their final year at the site, the CMNH team had located two partial sauropod skeletons. Gilmore opted to focus on excavating these “in order to secure a mountable skeleton” for display (Gilmore 1932). As with the CMNH team before them, the primary motivation of Gilmore’s team was not scientific research, but to bring back spectacular display specimens. Gilmore was unarguably a phenomenal scientist who made lasting contributions to our knowledge about prehistory, but this focus on impressive displays was typical of early 20th century paleontology. As such, valuable taphonomic and ecological data that would been collected by modern paleontologists was probably destroyed when unearthing this and other exhibition-caliber dinosaur specimens.
Once the excavation began, Gilmore decided that the Diplodocus skeleton dubbed specimen 355 was the best candidate for a mount. The skeleton consisted of an articulated vertebral column, from the 15th cervical to the 5th caudal, a separated but virtually complete tail, the pelvis, both pectoral girdles, much of the rib cage, both humeri, and a complete left hind limb. Unfortunately, the head and most of the neck had eroded out of the hillside and long since weathered away. Some elements not preserved with specimen 355 were reportedly cherry-picked from another specimen at the same site. Again, this sort of selective excavation is discouraged today, but was typical at the time. On August 8, the team wrapped up and shipped 25 tons of material back to Washington, DC via railway.
Preparation, Mounting and Description
Preparing and mounting the Diplodocus was, according to Gilmore, the single most ambitious undertaking attempted by the department during his tenure. In his words, “the magnitude of the task, by a small force, of preparing one of these huge skeletons for public exhibition can be fully appreciated only by those who have passed through such an experience” (Gilmore 1932). Gilmore, along with preparators Norman Boss, Thomas Horne, and John Barrett, spent 2,545 working days over the course of six years preparing the skeleton for exhibition. Gilmore reported that his team followed the method Arthur Coggeshall had developed at CMNH over 20 years earlier for mounting their sauropod. The vertebral column was assembled first, supported by a series of steel rods. This structure was mounted at the appropriate height on four upright steel beams securely anchored to the floor. Limbs and other extremities were subsequently added, with steel rods shaped to the contours of the fossils supporting each portion of the skeleton.
Missing parts of the skeleton, including the right hindlimb and the distal portions of the forelimbs, were filled in using casts of the Carnegie Diplodocus. According to Gilmore, the casted elements were colored “to harmonize with the actual bones but with sufficient difference to be at once distinguished from the originals” (Gilmore 1932). This is noteworthy, because the creators of other dinosaur mounts at that time had been known to deliberately disguise artificial elements by painting them to match the fossils. Although the Smithsonian Diplodocus was a composite of multiple specimens and therefore does not represent any single animal that actually existed, the decision to make the casted elements readily visible represents a degree of honesty and integrity that is more common in modern museum displays than it was in Gilmore’s time.
In the process of preparing and mounting the Diplodocus (at this point designated USNM 10865), Gilmore was able to further refine our understanding of sauropod physiology. Looking at the specimen, Gilmore was easily able to dismiss notions by earlier workers that Diplodocus had sprawled like a crocodile, asserting that “the crocodilian attitude for Diplodocus involves anotomical imposibilities” (Gilmore 1932). Additionally, since the entire dorsal portion of the vertebral column was present and intact, Gilmore determined that the presacral vertebrae (in the lower back) arch downward, toward the sacrum. The CMNH Diplodocus and AMNH Apatosaurus had been mounted with completely straight backs, so Gilmore was able to create a more accurate mount. Studying the articulated vertebral column also convinced Gilmore to raise the tail higher than in previous sauropod mounts. Although it would be decades before paleontologists started raising the tail completely clear of the ground, this was certainly a step in the right direction. Gilmore refrained, however, from definitively assigning USNM 10865 to a particular species of Diplodocus, since at the time (and to this day, apparently) the differences among the named species of this genus were unclear.
Exhibition and Legacy
The completed Diplodocus skeleton was 70 feet, 2 inches long and 12 feet, five inches tall at the hips, making it about 14 feet shorter in length than its CMNH counterpart. The mount was introduced to the Hall of Extinct Monsters at the United States National Museum in 1931, positioned atop three pedestals so that visitors could walk right underneath it. The Diplodocus was placed right in the center of the gallery, facing west so that it could stare down visitors as they entered the hall.
The unveiling of the Diplodocus mount was a big deal, but did not catch the public’s attention in quite the same way as its CMNH predecessor. After all, by 1931 several of the other major natural history museums had had sauropods on display for over two decades. Nevertheless, for residents and visitors in Washington, DC the new mount was an unforgettable look at the life of the past.
The Diplodocus was not moved during the 1963 modernization of the fossil exhibits, but the walkable area around the mount was significantly reduced. Visitors could no longer walk under the skeleton, or get as close to it. The Diplodocus was not moved during the 1981 renovation, either, but the neck support coming up from the floor was replaced by less intrusive cables suspended from the ceiling. In the new exhibit, the sauropod centerpiece was surrounded by contemporaneous friends from the Morrison Formation, including Stegosaurus, Camptosaurus, Camarasaurus and Allosaurus.
From 1931 to 2014, the Diplodocus remained an unchanging fixture of the Museum’s east wing. Although this specimen’s story has not been as widely told as that of the CMNH Diplodocus, the Smithsonian sauropod is certainly just as interesting. For more than 80 years, USNM 10865 has mesmerized generations of viewers with its size and elegance. What’s more, this specimen, and the associated measurements and drawings meticulously prepared by Gilmore, are frequently referred to in publications by modern paleontologists. For its contributions to public education and to scientific inquiry, USNM 10865 is one to celebrate.
Brinkman, P.D. The Second Jurassic Dinosaur Rush: Museums and Paleontology in America at the Turn of the 20th Century. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.
Gilmore, C.W. “On a Newly Mounted Skeleton of Diplodocus in the United States National Museum.” Proceedings of the United States National Museum 81:1-21, 1932.
Gilmore, C.W. “A History of the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology in the United States National Museum.” Proceedings of the United States National Museum 90, 1941. | <urn:uuid:b2abbfc5-9933-43bb-bcd3-1ce5d502a12c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://extinctmonsters.net/2012/07/16/extinct-monsters-gilmores-diplodocus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371637684.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406133533-20200406164033-00554.warc.gz | en | 0.966758 | 2,306 | 3.578125 | 4 |
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles in the shoulder that allow a wide range of movement while maintaining the stability of the glenohumeral joint. The rotator cuff includes the following muscles:
A helpful mnemonic to remember these muscles is "SITS."
The glenohumeral joint is a ball and socket joint and comprises a large spherical humeral head and a small glenoid cavity. This anatomy makes the joint highly mobile, however, really unstable. Stabilization in the shoulder is provided collectively by the non-contractile tissue of the glenohumeral joint (static stabilizers) such as the capsule, the labrum, the negative intraarticular pressure and the glenohumeral ligaments; and the contractile tissues (dynamic stabilizers) such as the rotator cuff and the long head of the biceps brachii.
The primary biomechanical role of the rotator cuff is to stabilize the glenohumeral joint by compressing the humeral head against the glenoid. These four muscles arise from the scapula and insert into the humerus. The tendons of the rotator cuff muscles blend with the joint capsule and form a musculotendinous collar that surrounds the posterior, superior, and anterior aspects of the joint, leaving the inferior aspect unprotected. This arrangement is an important factor since most of the shoulder luxations occur because the humerus slides inferiorly through the unprotected part of the joint. During arm movements, the rotator muscles contract and prevent the sliding of the head of the humerus, allowing full range of motion and providing stability.
Additionally, rotator cuff muscles help in the mobility of the shoulder joint by facilitating abduction, medial rotation, and lateral rotation.
During the physical examination, each muscle can undergo independent evaluation based on the specific movement of each muscle.
Mesoderm gives rise to the muscles and ligaments in the body.
The vascular supply to the rotator cuff muscles is mainly via the suprascapular artery, the subscapular artery, and the posterior circumflex humeral artery.
The suprascapular artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk (a major branch of the subclavian artery) and originates at the base of the neck. It enters the posterior scapular region superior to the suprascapular foramen (the nerve passes through the foramen) and supplies the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles.
The subscapular artery is the largest branch of the axillary artery. It originates from the third part of the axillary artery, follows the inferior margin of the subscapularis muscle, and then divides into the circumflex scapular artery and the thoracodorsal artery. It gives vascular supply to the subscapularis muscle.
The posterior circumflex humeral artery originates from the third part of the axillary artery in the axilla. It enters the posterior scapular region through the quadrangular space (accompanied by the axillary nerve) and supplies the teres minor muscle.
All lymphatics from the upper limb drain into lymph nodes in the axilla.
The subscapular nerve (upper and lower branches) innervates the subscapularis muscle.
The suprascapular nerve innervates the infraspinatus and supraspinatus
The axillary nerve innervates teres minor
The subscapularis is the largest component of the posterior wall of the axilla. It prevents the anterior dislocation of the humerus during abduction and medially rotates the humerus. A large bursa separates the muscle from the neck of the scapula.
The supraspinatus muscle is the only muscle of the rotator cuff that is not a rotator of the humerus.
The infraspinatus is a powerful lateral rotator of the humerus. The tendon of this muscle is sometimes separated from the capsule of the glenohumeral joint by a bursa.
The teres minor is a narrow and long muscle entirely covered by the deltoid, hardly differentiated from the infraspinatus.
Rotator cuff muscles can undergo independent evaluation when the patient presents with rotator cuff syndrome (explained ahead).
Rotator cuff syndrome (RCS) describes a spectrum of clinical pathology ranging from minor injuries such as acute rotator cuff tendinitis to advanced/chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy and degenerative conditions.
Rotator cuff injuries represent a common cause of shoulder pain. The rotator cuff tendons, particularly the supraspinatus tendon, are uniquely susceptible to the compressive forces of subacromial impingement. Improper athletic technique, poor posture, poor conditioning, and failure of the subacromial bursa to protect the supporting tendons results in a progressive injury from acute inflammation, to calcification, to degenerative thinning, and finally to a tendon tear.
Rotator cuff (RC) tendonitis/tendinosis
Acute or chronic tendinopathic conditions that result from a vulnerable environment for the RC secondary to repetitive eccentric forces and predisposing anatomical/mechanical risk factors.
A clinical term often used nonspecifically to describe patients experiencing pain/symptoms with overhead activities. It is best to subdivide shoulder impingement into internal and external conditions:
History and Physical for RCS
The primary complaint is shoulder pain localized on the lateral aspect. It worsens with overhead activities, and patients often describe a painful arc during flexion and abduction at 60 degrees to 120 degrees and report pain at night due to lying on the same side. The presentation can be acute or chronic in onset. Young patients usually have an acute presentation because of a recent traumatic event or significant overexertion (e.g., lifting a heavy box). The function is often significantly impaired. Older patients or patients with repetitive overhead activities present chronically, and the loss of strength and function occurs gradually. The range of motion is normal, with positive provocative tests like Hawkins. Neer test rules in impingement syndrome. The drop arm test is confirmatory. If weakness is present on shoulder abduction, a rotator cuff tear should be suspected (MRI is the best test for diagnosis of rotator cuff tear).
Treatment for RCS
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) suggests patients with rotator cuff problems without tears can be treated conservatively with exercise and NSAIDs. The patient must understand to limit overhead activities and to use ice packs or heating pads. Proper physical therapy effectively treats most patients without subacromial decompression. No difference in outcome has been reported for surgery over physical therapy in several trials. Subacromial injection with steroids showed a short-term benefit in some trials and may improve a patient's compliance with physical therapy. Surgical consultation merits consideration if symptoms do not improve three months after conservative management. Arthroscopic acromioplasty may be a topic to discuss with the patient.
Partial- versus Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Etiologies and underlying causes are known to be multifactorial. Degeneration, impingement, and tension overload due to trauma may all lead to rotator cuff tears. Most often, the tears initially begin as partial tears of the supraspinatus tendon. Eventually, they can progress to full-thickness tears to include all the four muscles.
It primarily presents in middle-aged to older patients. Repetitive overhead activities are commonly the reason for younger athletes.
History and Physical
Pain and weakness are the presenting symptoms. Pain is prominent over the lateral deltoid, worsens with overhead activities, and by lying on the side at night. The absence of pain, however, does not exclude the diagnosis because a chunk of patients may also be asymptomatic. In fact, partial thickness tears cause more pain and disability than full-thickness tears. Painful arc test, drop arm test, and weakness in the external rotation is the most common observations on physical examination.
X-rays are usually normal and can help in diagnosing large rotator cuff tears if imaging shows humeral migration over the glenoid, and the patient has a symptomatic shoulder.
MRI can provide a degree of muscle tear, tendon retraction, and muscle atrophy, which is critical in planning for rotator cuff repair.
Conservative treatment with NSAIDs, and most importantly, physical therapy, should be the first attempt at therapy. Surgical treatment with arthroscopy is done in cases of both acute or chronic full-thickness tears since delay can result in significant muscle atrophy, tendon retraction, and poorer surgical results.
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From an audience of Pope Benedict XVI, on the life and spirituality of St. Catherine of Siena, given on November 24, 2010:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today I would like to talk to you about a woman who played an eminent role in the history of the Church: St Catherine of Siena. The century in which she lived — the 14th — was a troubled period in the life of the Church and throughout the social context of Italy and Europe. Yet, even in the most difficult times, the Lord does not cease to bless his People, bringing forth Saints who give a jolt to minds and hearts, provoking conversion and renewal.
Catherine is one of these and still today speaks to us and impels us to walk courageously toward holiness to be ever more fully disciples of the Lord.
Born in Siena in 1347, into a very large family, she died in Rome in 1380. When Catherine was 16 years old, motivated by a vision of St Dominic, she entered the Third Order of the Dominicans, the female branch known as the Mantellate. While living at home, she confirmed her vow of virginity made privately when she was still an adolescent and dedicated herself to prayer, penance and works of charity, especially for the benefit of the sick.
When the fame of her holiness spread, she became the protagonist of an intense activity of spiritual guidance for people from every walk of life: nobles and politicians, artists and ordinary people, consecrated men and women and religious, including Pope Gregory XI who was living at Avignon in that period and whom she energetically and effectively urged to return to Rome.
She travelled widely to press for the internal reform of the Church and to foster peace among the States. It was also for this reason that Venerable Pope John Paul ii chose to declare her Co-Patroness of Europe: may the Old Continent never forget the Christian roots that are at the origin of its progress and continue to draw from the Gospel the fundamental values that assure justice and harmony.
Like many of the Saints, Catherine knew great suffering. Some even thought that they should not trust her, to the point that in 1374, six years before her death, the General Chapter of the Dominicans summoned her to Florence to interrogate her. They appointed Raymund of Capua, a learned and humble Friar and a future Master General of the Order, as her spiritual guide. Having become her confessor and also her “spiritual son”, he wrote a first complete biography of the Saint. She was canonized in 1461.
The teaching of Catherine, who learned to read with difficulty and learned to write in adulthood, is contained in the Dialogue of Divine Providence or Libro della Divina Dottrina, a masterpiece of spiritual literature, in her Epistolario and in the collection of her Prayers.
Her teaching is endowed with such excellence that in 1970 the Servant of God Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church, a title that was added to those of Co-Patroness of the City of Rome — at the wish of Bl. Pius IX — and of Patroness of Italy — in accordance with the decision of Venerable Pius XII.
In a vision that was ever present in Catherine's heart and mind Our Lady presented her to Jesus who gave her a splendid ring, saying to her: “I, your Creator and Savior, espouse you in the faith, that you will keep ever pure until you celebrate your eternal nuptials with me in Heaven” (Bl. Raimondo da Capua, S. Caterina da Siena, Legenda maior, n. 115, Siena 1998). This ring was visible to her alone. In this extraordinary episode we see the vital centre of Catherine’s religious sense, and of all authentic spirituality: Christocentrism. For her Christ was like the spouse with whom a relationship of intimacy, communion and faithfulness exists; he was the best beloved whom she loved above any other good. This profound union with the Lord is illustrated by another episode in the life of this outstanding mystic: the exchange of hearts. According to Raymond of Capua who passed on the confidences Catherine received, the Lord Jesus appeared to her “holding in his holy hands a human heart, bright red and shining”. He opened her side and put the heart within her saying: “Dearest daughter, as I took your heart away from you the other day, now, you see, I am giving you mine, so that you can go on living with it for ever” (ibid.). Catherine truly lived St. Paul’s words, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
Like the Sienese Saint, every believer feels the need to be conformed with the sentiments of the heart of Christ to love God and his neighbor as Christ himself loves. And we can all let our hearts be transformed and learn to love like Christ in a familiarity with him that is nourished by prayer, by meditation on the Word of God and by the sacraments, above all by receiving Holy Communion frequently and with devotion. Catherine also belongs to the throng of Saints devoted to the Eucharist with which I concluded my Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis (cf. n. 94).
Dear brothers and sisters, the Eucharist is an extraordinary gift of love that God continually renews to nourish our journey of faith, to strengthen our hope and to inflame our charity, to make us more and more like him.
A true and authentic spiritual family was built up around such a strong and genuine personality; people fascinated by the moral authority of this young woman with a most exalted lifestyle were at times also impressed by the mystical phenomena they witnessed, such as her frequent ecstasies. Many put themselves at Catherine’s service and above all considered it a privilege to receive spiritual guidance from her. They called her “mother” because, as her spiritual children, they drew spiritual nourishment from her. Today too the Church receives great benefit from the exercise of spiritual motherhood by so many women, lay and consecrated, who nourish souls with thoughts of God, who strengthen the people’s faith and direct Christian life towards ever loftier peaks. “Son, I say to you and call you”, Catherine wrote to one of her spiritual sons, Giovanni Sabbatini, a Carthusian, “inasmuch as I give birth to you in continuous prayers and desire in the presence of God, just as a mother gives birth to a son” (Epistolario, Lettera n. 141: To Fr Giovanni de’ Sabbatini). She would usually address the Dominican Fr. Bartolomeo de Dominici with these words: “Most beloved and very dear brother and son in Christ sweet Jesus”.
Another trait of Catherine’s spirituality is linked to the gift of tears. They express an exquisite, profound sensitivity, a capacity for being moved and for tenderness. Many Saints have had the gift of tears, renewing the emotion of Jesus himself who did not hold back or hide his tears at the tomb of his friend Lazarus and at the grief of Mary and Martha or at the sight of Jerusalem during his last days on this earth. According to Catherine, the tears of Saints are mingled with the blood of Christ, of which she spoke in vibrant tones and with symbolic images that were very effective: “Remember Christ crucified, God and man….. Make your aim the Crucified Christ, hide in the wounds of the Crucified Christ and drown in the blood of the Crucified Christ” (Epistolario, Lettera n. 21: Ad uno il cui nome si tace [to one who remains anonymous]).
Here we can understand why, despite her awareness of the human shortcomings of priests, Catherine always felt very great reverence for them: through the sacraments and the word they dispense the saving power of Christ’s Blood. The Sienese Saint always invited the sacred ministers, including the Pope whom she called “sweet Christ on earth”, to be faithful to their responsibilities, motivated always and only by her profound and constant love of the Church. She said before she died: “in leaving my body, truly I have consumed and given my life in the Church and for the Holy Church, which is for me a most unique grace” (Raimondo da Capua, S. Caterina da Siena, Legenda maior, n. 363). Hence we learn from St Catherine the most sublime science: to know and love Jesus Christ and his Church. In the Dialogue of Divine Providence, she describes Christ, with an unusual image, as a bridge flung between Heaven and earth. This bridge consists of three great stairways constituted by the feet, the side and the mouth of Jesus. Rising by these stairways the soul passes through the three stages of every path to sanctification: detachment from sin, the practice of the virtues and of love, sweet and loving union with God.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us learn from St. Catherine to love Christ and the Church with courage, intensely and sincerely. Therefore let us make our own St Catherine’s words that we read in the Dialogue of Divine Providence at the end of the chapter (chapter 30, pp. 79-80) that speaks of Christ as a bridge: “out of mercy you have washed us in his Blood, out of mercy you have wished to converse with creatures. O crazed with love! It did not suffice for you to take flesh, but you also wished to die!... O mercy! My heart drowns in thinking of you: for no matter where I turn to think, I find only mercy.”
The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine of Siena by Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia. c. 1450 | <urn:uuid:6c28b7c5-ac74-4df9-8427-eb8f6b044866> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://stcathtrumbull.com/our-patron-saint | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494064.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329074745-20200329104745-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.966348 | 2,080 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Molecular biology has led to the most important discovery of biotechnology: it is today it is possible to separate the gene responsible for coding the production of certain substances, to transfer it to another host organism and thus to produce certain useful proteins more efficiently. Thanks to these advances, biotechnology today produces large-scale hormones, vaccines, blood clotting factors and enzymes.
Furthermore, biotechnological production of proteins avoids the disadvantages production from higher organisms:
1. Unlike the culture of microorganisms, the culture of cells of organisms greater than large scale is not practical because their growth is slow and their contamination is frequent.
2. The cost of a cell culture is much higher than that of a microbial culture.
3. The source of cells of higher organisms is much more limited than that of organisms unicellular, which, another advantage, reproduces easily and quickly.
This field of biotechnology therefore makes it possible to produce new proteins, for example enzymes that will be used as biocatalysts. The specific capacity of biocatalysts is governed by molecular structure; using the recombinant DNA technique, it’s possible to selectively modify genes that encode cell synthesis of enzymes. Subsequently, when transferring the new DNA into a host icroorganism, one can obtain a new strain that will produce the desired enzyme.
Plants and plant tissue culture
Plants, in addition to their key role in food production, are an important source of raw materials and medicines. Indeed, remember that 25% of current drugs
are of plant origin.
On the other hand, the cultivation of single-celled plant organisms for the production of biomass or the extraction of high value-added products is a practice that is increasing day by day, as molecular biology develops.
Finally, the reproduction of modified plants, via replication techniques, has already been successfully tested.
This technology makes it possible to remedy deficiencies, to improve species and to develop resistance to the plagues and diseases of many plant species.
Culture of mammalian cells
The first study on the spontaneous fusion of two different somatic cells to form a heterokaryote (a minimum of two nuclei and a single cytoplasm) was published in 1960 by Barsky and his French collaborators. However, we had already observed at that time the appearance of polynuclear cells in tissue cultures of mammals infected with certain inactivated viruses.
Heterokaryotes provide the expression of genes for the two parental cells. In
1975, Kohler and Milstein applied this property to their famous synthesis of monoclonal antibodies, obtained by the fusion of antibody-producing lymphocytes with malignant cells myeloma, which have the property of rapid reproduction. These hybrid myeloma cells retain this property (rapid reproduction) while expressing specific antibodies.
Some proteins are produced only from cultures of mammalian cells, this large-scale cell culture is one of the goals of molecular biologists. Monoclonal antibodies and interferon are two examples of this type of protein, which are very important for the preparation of therapeutic and analytical products.
Enzymes are natural catalysts; as is the case with all natural processes, they are very specific and demonstrate thermodynamic efficiency. Used for centuries, especially in the food production sector, they are one of the most of biotechnology.
The use of enzymes (isolated or in dead or dying cells) is of great importance not only in the food industry but also in the production of substances chemicals, analytical and diagnostic systems, disease treatment, and the emerging cleaner technology industry.
The use of enzymes in all these areas has been made possible thanks to better knowledge of the function of enzymes in the metabolic systems of living beings,
structure of enzymes and above all thanks to the possibility of obtaining synthetic enzymes through genetic manipulation of microorganisms. These factors have resulted in many companies specialize in the large-scale production of enzymes of microbial origin.
Enzymes are becoming more and more important in sustainable industrial development. They have have already been used in the development of industrial processes in order to obtain products without waste or containing a minimum of biodegradable waste. Manufacturing companies should in the near future pay great attention to the compatibility of waste as well as recycling used water and enzymes can solve many of these problems.
Indeed, they can replace toxic or corrosive chemicals in some processes. In addition, their advantage is that they can be used, deactivated and decomposed
in simpler, fully biodegradable products. Many industrial processes work at high temperature or pressure or under highly acidic or basic conditions. Enzymes can avoid these extreme conditions as well than corrosive reagents. They work at moderate temperatures, at atmospheric pressure and in solutions close to neutral pH. These are highly specific catalysts that give purer products with less side reactions.
Consequently, any process replacing chemicals with enzymes is a process less polluting, more environmentally friendly and less expensive. We now offer you a quick list of the enzymatic processes currently used in many sectors in order to reduce the chemical load by eliminating the industrial production of aggressive and toxic or simply polluting substances.
Detergent industry :
- enzymatic degradation of proteins, starch and fat stains in washing clothes,
- use of lipolytic enzymes in substances for dishwashers,
- use of enzymes as surfactants.
Textile industry :
- stone washing of jean type fabrics,
- enzymatic desizing of flat woven cotton fabric,
- ecological bleaching,
- enzymatic scouring of cotton fabrics,
- degumming of silk.
Enzymatic production of dextrose, fructose and special syrups for pastry, confectionery and the refreshment industries.
Enzymatic degradation of starch, proteins and glucans made from the cereal blend used to make beer.
Pastry and bread-making industry:
Enzymatic modification of carbohydrates and cereal proteins in order to improve the properties of bread.
Wine and fruit juice industry:
Enzymatic degradation of fruit pectin in the production of fruit juices and wines.
Degradation of the starch in sugars before the fermentation of the latter and the production of alcohol.
Food and additives industry:
- improvement of the nutritional and functional properties of animal and vegetable proteins
- conversion of lactose from milk and whey into sweeter and more easily digestible sugars,
- production of cheese aromas.
Animal feed industry:
Enzymatic hydrolysis of protein material from slaughterhouses to obtain flour with high nutritional value intended for animal feed.
Biotechnological production of collagen and other products for application to beauty creams.
- enzymatic dissolution of the pitches,
- ecological bleaching of paper pulp,
- enzymatic control of the viscosity of starch coatings.
Skin preparation and removal of hair and grease.
Oils and fats industry:
Enzymatic hydrolysis of fats and lecithin and synthesis of esters.
Fine chemicals industry:
Synthesis of organic substances.
Recall that bioremediation is the application of biotechnology to the treatment and reuse of waste products. Let’s take a look at some applications in this area.
Biological purifiers are a good example of simple applied biotechnology. It’s in
this case of a fixed bed of microorganisms which degrades the residual organic products up to obtain acceptable levels in waters that must be discharged directly. Sludge of these scrubbers are used as biomass for animal feed. There is also biotechnological processes for treating urban solid waste using aerobic or anaerobic fermentation to obtain biogas.
Another example of this technique, the tests of treatment of specific problems using of biotechnology: let us cite digestion, via microorganisms, of floating oil slicks on the sea after an oil tanker accident resulting in a spill. Also in this area, microbial degradation studies of cellulose waste are carried out in order to obtain biomass (single-cell proteins).
It has been estimated that the amount of protein likely to be obtained from agricultural waste in this way would be sufficient to feed the entire world population. Finally, note the presence of other studies in progress: the application of biotechnology for the detoxification of polluted soils. This technique uses higher plant cultures that fix heavy metals and remove organic pollutants.
With biocatalysis, fermentation processes are the oldest forms of biotechnology. Fermentation is the application of microbial metabolism to transform matter into value-added products. This process is able to produce an incredible variety of useful substances, for example citric acid, antibiotics, biopolymers, unicellular proteins, etc.
The potential is immense and very vast, it is enough simply to know the adapted microorganism, to control its metabolism and its growth and to be able to use it on a large scale.
The enzymes business
It is estimated today that the world market for enzymes is approximately 1.108 billion euros. Depending on the industrial application of enzymes, this market is divided in the following way:
The most widely used enzymes are proteases, amylases and cellulases. Even though enzymes are widely used in industry, they represent only a small amount of the total of the chemicals market. This is due to the following reasons:
• The absence, in many industrial sectors, of sufficient enzymological knowledge.
• Refusal to incorporate enzymes into traditional manufacturing processes due to
compulsory investment in new machinery and materials.
• The obstacle represented by the change of attitude in certain sectors.
• Finding the right enzymes for each process is very important, the need for filtering prior enzymatic.
Fuels and organic products as an alternative to petroleum
Petroleum is a non-renewable raw material, which means that its uncontrolled use or ascending is limited. As biotechnology uses renewable materials, its controlled use can extend endlessly. In the event of oil depletion, biotechnology can therefore provide two solutions: on the one hand, new fuels and, on the other hand, an alternative source of organic products. The use of cane sugar manufacturing waste for getting alcohol is an example of a process that saves energy.
Methane, from the fermentation of agricultural waste (biogas), is another fuel
potential from biotechnology. This is a biotechnology easily adaptable to
agricultural societies with few resources. The most sophisticated and perhaps the most sought after biotech fuel is hydrogen derived from the biophotolysis of water. This technology is based on the association of the photosynthetic capacity of chlorophyll in plant cells and the hydrogenase activity of a bacterial enzyme.
The great advantages of this water-derived fuel is that it does not produce pollution when it burns and its original reagent regenerates. Unfortunately,
this technique is still under study.
Biotechnological process engineering
The application of chemical engineering techniques to biotechnology processes has led to the emergence of the science of bioreactors, a technical area linked to both chemical engineering and biology, microbiology and biochemistry and which includes the study and design of reactors fixed bed, pH and temperature control probes, reagent and aeration dosing pumps, the design of agitators, the study of different methods of immobilization of enzymes and microorganisms and the design of various filters. All of these techniques have today a name, process engineering. All this biotechnological knowledge must move to a production level that will transform them into profitable elements.
This mostly requires scaling processes and technologies from the engineering sector, which have to adapt to the specific properties of living biotechnology organisms. here is some examples of processes: collection, pre-treatment and filtration of raw materials, reactor design, recovery and reuse of biocatalysts, extraction and product analysis, effluent treatment and water recycling. | <urn:uuid:7952d7be-e60e-4915-b402-8d4ffb789355> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://advancedbiotech.in/recombinant-dna-and-genetic-engineering/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506988.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402143006-20200402173006-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.931258 | 2,459 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Ukraine Independence Day is celebrated annually on August 24 to commemorate the day when the Parliament declared the country fully independent of the Soviet Union in 1991. The people and government of Ukraine mark the day by honoring the men and women who fought and sacrificed their lives for freedom. This day is celebrated with parades, cultural concerts, free public markets and fairs, carnivals and circus performances, sports events, outdoor exhibitions, and fireworks. The local folks proudly don their native costumes.
- 1. Ukraine is a democratic country
- 2. Ukraine has good means of social mobility
- 3. Verkhovna Rada is a safety-catch from authoritarianism
- 4. Communism is now a thing of the past
- 5. Ukrainian has more rights and freedoms than duties
- 6. Ukrainians are determined and self-devoted
- 7. Ukraine takes care of its heroes
- 8. Ukraine’s army is among the top strongest in Europe
- 9. Ukraine has won world support
- 10. Ukraine has chosen the pro-EU and pro-NATO way
- 11. Ukraine has a visa-free regime with the EU
- 12. Obtaining a Ukrainian passport is easier than obtaining citizenship of another state
- 13. 41 – 45 million people speak Ukrainian
- 14. Ukraine is developing and implementing a policy of gender equality
- 15. Ukrainian women have right for abortions
- 16. There is no death penalty in Ukraine
- 17. Ukraine expands the rights and freedoms for the citizens
- 18. Ukraine is a secular state
- 19. Ukrainian temples are the most stunning in the world
- 20. Ukraine has a very beneficial geopolitical location
- 21. Ukraine is a world granary
- 22. Ukraine has a rich history
- 23. Many Ukrainians are the steely-eyed men of science
- 24. The power of sport that we believe in
- 25. Our culture is a treasure
- 26. Our contemporaries are the point of proud
- 27. Ukrainian embroidery conquers the world fashion
- 28. Ukraine is very picturesque
Ukraine Independence Day 2019: 28th reasons to be proud of Ukrainian:
On the occasion of Ukraine’s 28th anniversary of gaining independence, we gathered 28 motivating reasons to love our country.
1. Ukraine is a democratic country
Democracy predominates in Ukraine. At best, half of the former Soviet republics can boast of it. We have neither “long-ruling” “Turkmenbashi” nor “eternal” Putin. We go to the polls, the result of which is completely unexpected. Which, in fact, has been proven this year.
There are social elevators, although they work in a somewhat unusual way. A man, who a year ago could not think of being a president of Ukraine, has got such a success. This event has its negative sides, because Volodymyr Zelensky came to power in the wake of populism, although he will still have time to show himself. The main thing is that the power in Ukraine, unlike neighboring Russia and other post-Soviet states, has not become synonymous with the royal title and is not inherited.
We have a parliament whose composition is capable of radical renewal.
4. Communism is now a thing of the past
We have not yet overcome the consequences of the communist past, but we will assume that we have coped with external manifestations. At least, there is no nostalgia for Stalin or Brezhnev.
5. Ukrainian has more rights and freedoms than duties
Ukraine has a pretty good Constitution. By the way, it mentions much more rights and freedoms of a citizen than his or her duties. Another thing is that an imperfect system of power prevents the Basic Law from being respected and implemented. It is appropriate to recall that at one time Ukraine could have received a much worse version of the Constitution. The situation was saved by the famous “constitutional night,” because in the fall of 1996 Leonid Kuchma planned a referendum at which his wording of the Basic Law was to be approved.
6. Ukrainians are determined and self-devoted
Ukrainians are capable of good self-organization. In some critical moments, we are capable of both determination and self-sacrifice.
7. Ukraine takes care of its heroes
That is why the citizens of our country breathed new meaning into the concept of volunteering, which began on our Maidan (since 2001, when the Kuchmahate action swept through the country) and continued at the front.
8. Ukraine’s army is among the top strongest in Europe
Actually, the Ukrainian army, which consists of both professional military and volunteers, and which is actively supported by our volunteers, is a separate subject for pride. Our fighters confront the strongest European army in the east. But, by the way, in 2018, our Armed Forces were among the European top ten. Only Russia, France, UK, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Greece are ahead of us.
9. Ukraine has won world support
Ukraine managed to secure global support In its confrontation with Russia. And the “Ukrainian issue” has long become one of the main issues on the European and world agenda. Not without a reason, even current US presidential candidate Joe Biden is introducing points related to Ukraine into his election program.
10. Ukraine has chosen the pro-EU and pro-NATO way
Ukraine has made an application for membership in the European Union by signing the Association Agreement with the EU. Our country is also moving towards NATO membership. The importance of these two world institutions is difficult to overestimate.
11. Ukraine has a visa-free regime with the EU
Ukrainians received a visa-free regime with the EU, more than two million citizens traveled, using it, over the past two years.
12. Obtaining a Ukrainian passport is easier than obtaining citizenship of another state
To obtain citizenship of Ukraine, our compatriots just need to be born in the country. Now, this opportunity is not appreciated, because it is taken for granted. For example, in Estonia, according to the Citizenship Act of 1993, a person needs to work hard to get an official status: in particular, pass an exam in the state language. President Zelensky even simplified the procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship for Russians.
13. 41 – 45 million people speak Ukrainian
Speaking of language. Ukrainian is one of the most melodic languages in the world. In the Ukrainian language system, vowels make up 15.8%, and consonants – 84.2%.
14. Ukraine is developing and implementing a policy of gender equality
Ukraine has been actively developing gender equality in recent years. The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on combating domestic violence, and political parties receive additional payments for expanding women’s political participation.
15. Ukrainian women have right for abortions
In Ukraine, abortions are not prohibited. However, from time to time there are some attempts to limit the artificial termination of pregnancy. However, the triad of exceptions (threatening the life of the mother, severe malformations of the fetus, rape) remains unchanged.
16. There is no death penalty in Ukraine
In Ukraine, unlike, for example, the United States, the death penalty is prohibited. Its opponents justifiably point out that this type of punishment might take the life of an innocent person. Statistics show that in the United States, every 25th death sentence is handed down to a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
17. Ukraine expands the rights and freedoms for the citizens
In recent years, Ukraine has been actively discussing the possibility of expanding civil rights and freedoms. The range of such discussion is quite wide – from protecting the rights of LGBT people (legalizing same-sex marriage) to legalization and free sale of weapons.
18. Ukraine is a secular state
The church in Ukraine is officially separated from the state and does not have a dominant influence on events, although it plays an important public role.
19. Ukrainian temples are the most stunning in the world
At the same time, Ukraine can be proud of the most beautiful temples in the world. For example, only six monasteries in the world have the status of Lavra, and three of them are in Ukraine. Ukraine has more than 125,000 historical and archaeological monuments, many museums that store more than 10 million exhibits, 14,000 architectural monuments, 46 historical-cultural reserves.
20. Ukraine has a very beneficial geopolitical location
The territory of Ukraine is the second-largest in Europe (after Russia). The country is located on strategic trade routes and has access to the sea. Not every state can boast of such a successful location.
21. Ukraine is a world granary
Ukraine has been and remains a world granary. According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine is actively exporting grain crops, seeds, and fruits of oil plants, fats, and oils of vegetable or animal origin, ores, ash, mineral fuels, ferrous metals, and wood.
22. Ukraine has a rich history
Ukraine has a rich, vibrant history, which could be a good film plot. Everyone knows about Anna Yaroslavna, the Queen of France, about the Zaporizhzhya Sich and Ukrainian Cossacks. By the way, a few years ago a monument to the Ukrainian Cossacks, who in 1683 liberated Vienna from the Ottoman forces, was unveiled in the Austrian capital.
23. Many Ukrainians are the steely-eyed men of science
In addition to warriors, Ukraine is famous for its outstanding people, who have become famous in various fields of science. Ukrainian Igor Sikorsky is the creator of the helicopter, Ivan Puluy designed a tube, which later became the prototype of modern x-ray machines 14 years before German Wilhelm Roentgen. Serhiy Korolev, a native of Zhytomyr, is considered the designer of Soviet rocket and space technology and the founder of astronautics, and Mykola Amosov is the legend of the world medicine.
24. The power of sport that we believe in
Ukrainians have every reason to be proud of their athletes. And these are not only the champions and Olympians of the past decades – the Klitschko brothers, Serhiy Bubka, Andriy Shevchenko, Yana Klochkova, and Lilia Podkopaeva. 13-year-old Oleksiy Sereda has won the title of the youngest European champion in diving. 17-year-old Yaroslava Maguchikh provided another record in her age category: she overcame the 2-meter bar in high jumps. And Muzychuk’s sisters – Anna and Maria – occupy the fourth and sixth places in the world chess rating.
25. Our culture is a treasure
Ukrainians are also famous in the humanitarian fields. Just recall Maria Zankovetska, the queen of the Ukrainian scene. Or the famous “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych, the author of the popular processing of the Christmas composition, known worldwide as Choral of Bells. Or paintings by artists Kateryna Bilokur and Maria Prymachenko. Pablo Picasso said about Kateryna Bilokur: “If this woman lived in France, we would make the whole world talk about her.”
26. Our contemporaries are the point of proud
Ukraine has amazingly talented contemporaries. So, thanks to the artworks of Ivan Marchuk, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph in 2007 introduced his name to the list of one hundred geniuses of our time. In Europe, the masters of the Ukrainian word are also famous – Yuriy Andrukhovych, Serhiy Zhadan, Maria Matios, Andriy Kurkov, Irene Rozdobudko, and others.
27. Ukrainian embroidery conquers the world fashion
Ukrainian embroidery – one of our most famous trends – can argue for superiority in beauty with any other ethnic clothes. And although its roots go back to the pre-Christian times, the Ukrainian embroidered shirt gained special popularity after the Orange Revolution of 2004. Famous French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier decided to create his “Ukrainian collection,” and in 2008, a furor caused a show by Dior Director John Galliano, based on Ukrainian ethnic motives. Subsequently, Frida Giannini, art director of one of the most famous world brands – Gucci, created a collection whose models were decorated with geometric ornaments characteristic of Podillia and Hutsulshchyna.
28. Ukraine is very picturesque
Ukraine has a very beautiful nature and extremely powerful opportunities for the development of tourism, because so many natural landscape zones as in Ukraine are found in almost no European country: two seas, Crimea, mountains of the Carpathians and Crimean mountains, forests, canyons, Europe’s only desert is Oleshkivsky Sands, Askania-Nova Steppe Reserve, Shatsk Lakes and the like.
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Age Related Macula Degeneration
AMD or Age-related Macula Degeneration is currently the leading cause of sight loss in the western world and is becoming more of a problem as medical advances enable us to living longer. There are different stages to AMD and two different types of the disease, both are explained in more detail below. Dry AMD is a very slow progressive condition whereas Wet AMD is much more aggressive and affects the vision greatly very quickly. Currently there are more treatment options available for Wet AMD but there is advice available to try and prevent the disease from affecting you. Before we get to the detail of AMD lets have a look at the normal retinal structure and how the retina works. This will help you to understand what exactly is happening in the AMD eye.
Just click any image on this page to enlarge
The retina is a marvel of evolutionary bio-engineering. By it’s very nature it is a highly sensitive structure which is susceptible to attack from harmful substances and even light (the wrong kind that is).
The normal retinal structure can be seen adjacent. Think of it as the film in a camera, except the circuitry of the camera is sitting on top of the film. The light enters the eye and is focused by the cornea and the crystalline lens onto the retinal surface where it passes through the retinal nerve fibres and activates both the rod and cone cells (named after their shape), resulting in a electrical signal being conducted through the nerve cells (the ganglion, bipolar and amacrine cells) on it’s way to the Occipital cortex within the brain enabling us to see the world around us. As you can see the retina is very much part of the nervous system and is a peripheral component of the brain. Just like in a brain injury, should the worst happen and the retinal tissues be damaged in any way then the tissue does not repair itself and simply leaves a scar behind. In the retina, scarred tissue is blind. Think of the damage as clumps of pixels not working on your computer screen. The screen will produce an image but that image will have patchy areas of no signal.
You can experience retinal sensitivity for yourself by switching the lights off in a dark room. Instantaneously the room will go pitch black and your vision will take a few minutes to be restored. This is because there are only certain light sensitive cells (the rods) within the retina which can see in low light levels. In the higher illumination they are completely bleached out and over-stimulated, this means that when they are needed for low-light viewing it takes them roughly about 30 minutes to recover from the over-stimulation (or light damage) from when the room lights were on. Conversely, you may notice that once you are adapted to the low light levels, if you look directly at a small object it will disappear. This is because the light sensitive cone cells are predominantly found in the central vision and not so many rod cells. Because the cones are not sensitive enough to see in low light levels it can cause a small blind spot in the centre of your vision in lower light levels. The cone cells also provide the colour vision that we see; you may also notice that in a dark room you cannot decipher the colour of objects, again this is because the cone cells are not providing you with the information as they are not sensitive enough to see in low lighting conditions.
Thankfully the body has developed protective mechanisms and structures to help prevent any undue damage to the retina rods and cones but what if these processes degenerate with age or disease?
Because the macula is the area of the retina that is most highly sensitive with lots of rod and cone cells packed together, it is used for the detailed central vision, the part we use when inspecting something, reading, looking at peoples faces or watching television. When the AMD damage occurs it does not affect the peripheral retina, therefore patients with AMD will NEVER go completely blind from the condition, they will always be able to see out of the corner of the eye. What AMD does affect is the central portion of the vision, when a patient with AMD looks directly at something it will disappear, rather like the dark room experiment suggested above.
What causes AMD?
Unfortunately the answer to this question is “we don’t really know fully”. What we do know, however, is the risk factors. We do know that UV light, smoking and poor nutrition are all significant risk factors. Racial and gender specific risks are also evident. By far the largest group exposed to AMD is caucasian females, we believe this mainly to be a result od UV light exposure, caucasians have a smaller proportion of melanin pigment in their tissues. Melanin is instrumental in mitigating the harmful effects of UV light. Blood pressure, cholesterol and obesety have all been linked to an increased risk of AMD. Those who have a family member with AMD have also been shown to have a greater risk of developing the disease.
The current thinking is that a specific type of particle call a free radical attacks the retinal tissue progressively over you lifetime eventually causing irreversible damage resulting in AMD. Free radicals are formed by oxidants which can be found in all sorts of food and drink such as tea, coffee, particularly in tobacco smoke. They can also be formed by the activation of UV light. Cumulative exposure to these free radicals eventually causes damage to the retinal cells. For more information on ways to try and prevent AMD please scroll to the bottom section of this page.
Dry AMD is a very slow and progressive condition and accounts for almost 90% of those with AMD. It is characterised by the slow atrophy or death of the photoreceptor cells (the rods and cones).
In Dry AMD the photoreceptor support structure called Bruch’s Membrane thins or breaks down resulting in damage and death to the photoreceptors.
The earliest sign of Dry AMD is small fluffy yellow/white spots in the retina seen at the macula called Drusen, they consist of Lipid, a fatty like substance. It is thought that they are created when the retina fails to adequately dispose of the waste products formed by the chemical reactions in the photoreceptor cells by the process of capturing the light information for your sight. Over time the waste product builds up and eventually harms the photoreceptor cells causing their death.
The presence of Drusen does not automatically mean that you vision is affected and they can be present without visual disturbance for many years. They may start out as small distinct and scattered spots but as they enlarge and coalesce then they pose a greater risk of sight loss and progression to the Wet form of the disease. As the Drusen enlarge they can disrupt the layers of the retina resulting in a pigment epithelial detachment as outlined below.
As for treatment, unfortunately there is currently no treatment for Dry AMD. There is advice regarding prevention of progression (please see below) and lots of organisations can offer help and support for those in need. Many people cope very well with their vision. It is important to remember that AMD is NOT a blinding condition and with a little change in routine many can cope very well.
Magnifiers, although cumbersome can offer a vital lifeline and modern technology has provided a plethora of gadgets and innovations to help those affected. Advice and demonstrations can be sought via one of our Optometrists or the local Blind Society, N-Vision at Squires Gate (click the image, on the right, for more information).
Pigment Epithelial detachment or PED occurs when there is a separation between the support structure called Bruch’s membrane and the pigment epithelial layers of the retina. They can occur for a variety of reasons, not all associated with AMD. Clinically they are seen as small domed elevations within the retina usually caused by the presence of large coalesced drusen or by the growth of new blood vessels through Bruch’s membrane into the inter-cellular space between the two layers.
If caused by a neo-vascular membrane (new vessel growth) then there may be sub-retinal fluid associated with the PED. New blood vessels are particularly subject to haemorrhages, they are very leaky pipes, which can result in a pocket of fluid forming within the retina. This is a very early stage of Wet AMD, named after the fluid association. The raised area of tissue then disrupts the retinal structure and affects the ability of the photorecepters to function properly.
Treatment of a PED is not always necessary and they can be highly resistant therapy. The PED itself is not treated but the underlying cause can be. Any fluid build up can be targeted with an appropriate anti-VegF agent. These are a group of drugs that target new-blood vessels and hinder their formation, resulting in an absorption of the intra-retinal fluid. Some practitioners advocate the use of laser treatment for PED’s, this again is treating the blood vessel formation but in a much more destructive way. The laser is used to burn the surrounding retina destroying it, since a dead retina does not need oxygen or nutrients the new blood vessel growth is no longer needed resulting in resolution of the PED. This should only used when the laser treatment itself would not threaten the central vision.
Upon resolution the retinal structure can be mostly restored to normal helping the photoreceptors to function better improving the vision to much better levels.
Wet AMD is named as such due to the presence of fluid within the retina. This is a sudden event arising from haemorrhaging new blood vessels (neo-vascular membrane) which has grown through Bruch’s Membrane. The sudden nature of this event results in a sudden loss of vision centrally and can be quite significant.
The haemorrhage causes a neuro-sensory detachment where the photoreceptors detach from the nutrient giving support structures of the Pigment Epithelium and Bruch’s Membrane and can be damaged beyond repair. The most significant symptom preceding a Wet AMD event is that the central vision becomes distorted, sometimes significantly. Objects known to be straight such as chair legs or door frames appear to be “kinked”. This is because the photoreceptor layer has become distorted by the haemorrhaging (see opposite).
In recent years there has been major advancements in the treatment of Wet AMD. Anti-VegF treatments such as Lucentis (Ranibizumab) have offered real hope to those suffering with the disease. Anti-VegF agents inhibit the growth of new blood vessels and promote absorption of any intra-retinal fluid. In a large proportion of patients vision is restored to manageable levels.
It is very important that the eye is treated as soon as possible once a Wet AMD event has occurred. The photoreceptors will not survive for long separated from the retinal support structures for long, therefore, the quicker the disease is diagnosed and treated then the more photoreceptors can be saved and the greater possibility of a good visual outcome. We currently operate a FAST-TRAK macula referral scheme where we notify the Hospital Eye Service directly who then have a protocol to assess any relevant patients within two weeks of referral.
An older treatment known as PDT or Photo-Dynamic Therapy uses a laser to destroy the new blood vessels causing the bleed. This is a destructive treatment, however, meaning that the retina will also be destroyed around the area of bleed. It is only used where the visual outcome is not expected to improve and aims to slow or stop any progression of the disease.
OCT Macula Scanning
The role of OCT scanning technology is invaluable in both the early detection, diagnosis and management of AMD. It offers a level of detail that is unsurpassed by any other and is used as the gold standard in determining whether Anti-VegF treatment is indicated. The process of scanning the macula is quick and painless and anything from early stage AMD to the extent of sub-retinal fluid in a Wet AMD event can be clearly seen within minutes.
We highly recommend that those who have risk factors associated with AMD or are concerned about developing the condition to have a screening OCT scan at their routine eye examination as this will enable us determine whether any further advice or investigation is necessary.
Preventative and Nutritional Advice
Prevention is better than cure! The best advice to prevent, as much as possible, the disease from affecting you is as follows:
- Stop smoking
- Watch your cholesterol
- Keep your blood pressure down
- Eat a well balanced diet
- Protect yourself in the sun — Wear sunglasses
The nutritional advice for AMD currently involves altering your dietary intake to include the pigment chemicals Lutein and Zeaxanthin, both of which are found in large concentrations with the retina. Beta-carotene and Omega3 Fish oils are also thought to play a part in the maintenance of a healthy retina.
It is important to mention at this point that is is known that an increased intake of Beta-carotene increases the prevalence of lung cancer in smokers. The most important message about risk with AMD is to cease smoking and in particular, do NOT take nutritional supplements for AMD if you are a smoker.
Green leafy vegetables, in particular spinach & kale, are a very good natural source of of Leutin. If you are more inclined to look for a specifically prepared formulation of the recommended nutrients there are a number of brands available some of which are outlined below. (click to images for links to information websites)
The science behind these formulations is, in the main, theoretical. However, there is one large study group based in the USA which has attempted to develop a more scientific approach. The AREDS and subsequently AREDS2 studies have been running for some time now. They have shown that those taking the AREDS2 formulation have a 20-30% lowered risk of developing AMD. This may not seem a large percentage, however, the studies are limited in both subject group size and time scale meaning that the results may be more of conservative estimate and the actual risk reduction may be much higher. We take the view, however, that any reduction in the risk should not be taken lightly as the treatment options, especially for Dry AMD, are currently very limited. We would certainly recommend that Caucasian females over the age of 50 should consider taking these supplements and also those for those with early stage disease or those who have a family member with the condition. | <urn:uuid:3daae7af-250e-4ed6-b2a4-065b60fb44b5> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://nvision-nw.co.uk/eye-conditions/amd-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370500482.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331115844-20200331145844-00313.warc.gz | en | 0.955594 | 2,993 | 2.984375 | 3 |
I welcome back to the course. So in the last module, we wrapped up our discussion on sniffing
in this module. We're gonna talk about social engineering.
So what is social engineer? Well, basically, it's someone using deception to manipulate the human behavior
to get confidential or personal information, so that could be things like you're using a password. It could also be something like making having you wire money to a certain place. If you remember back to, like the Nigerian phishing email scams that used to go out, you don't see those too much anymore.
But they are still out there that they try to get you to send money because you want some magical lottery in another country,
so different types of phases. This is more so based off going after a company, not in a specific individual s. So basically, we would research the target company than selective victim that cos we're looking for people that are maybe a little mad, you know, they're stuck in the same position year after year or they're being told they're gonna be laid off.
Just somebody that's frustrated, you know, they're not being paid Well, whatever the case might be,
you know, And that might be you know, you may if you were doing like Wal Mart, for example. That's pretty easy, right? Because a lot of some companies out there may or may not have certain benefits or pay people correctly or released what their value is
after we select a victim. We want a deal. Develop a relationship. So we may casually, we might also note that they go to a certain coffee shop, right? So we may casually strike up a conversation of the coffee shop. We gotta chat et cetera, et cetera, and then eventually rebuild that trust relationship, and then we're gonna exploit that relationship. So at a certain point, we're gonna
just kind of ask like, Oh, what kind of technology does your company use?
You know, for X Y Z You know, you guys used to cloud for email, you know? What do you guys use?
Hey, are they offering? You have any positions? You know who you who? You guys, you know, like, what's your financial department? You know how big is your company? How many people work there? Are you guys global? You know, all these little bits of information that once you build that trust relationship, the person is very willing to give you
so human based social engineering on this is gonna be basically a psychology type stuff, right? So we're doing it on a human level. Eso We're doing things like impersonation fishing, which we'll talk about what that is. Fairly straightforward. Eavesdropping, shoulder surfing, dumpster driving, reverse social engineering, piggybacking and tailgating.
So impersonation. Everyone probably knows that one. It's pretending to be somebody else, right? So generally when Attackers doing it, they're gonna act like they're in some position of authority. So that might be them calling and saying Hey, on the on the police, you better do what I say. It could be more common. One is actually a tech support. So it could be
doing the tech support type of thing is saying, Hey, it's tech support.
I need to reset your password. What do you want it to be? I'll go, Henry said it. Now we had some issue with it on than any other type of authority. You know, they could call and say, Hey, I'm you know, Joey, the VP of whatever and you know, blah, blah, blah and generally you know, larger companies, they may not know who this all the executives or management people are,
so they might feel that there's,
you know, some type of thing they need to take action on for them
fishing. Actually, the exact same things. Impersonation except for using a telephone. So again it stands for voice phishing. That's really the relationship there. This is the most popular with the tech support's games that you'll hear about in the media and stuff, or that he may have even been a victim of a known somebody that's become a victim of them.
He's dropping. This is very straightforward. So basically, we're listening in on conversations so we may not use ah glass at the side of the door like this guy's doing. But just sitting there inside of places where, like employees of a company you're targeting,
are going right. So I mention the coffee shop earlier. That's a great place, you said at the coffee shop. Just sit there for a few hours in the morning, few hours in the evening. I just read a book or whatever, but really, you're listening in death here with conversations have to say,
or even If you're in the waiting area of a company, you might hear different conversations as well
shoulder suffering. So basically, as the name implies, we're looking over the shoulder of somebody else. So that could be a good way to see what kind of password there typing in. Maybe could get some of the password there. You could also see user names. You can see what kind of software they're using, what they're doing on that device. You know what, what they're doing on the laptop and, you know, it gives you a good idea of kind of
the software that the company might be using.
Uh, you know, does this user even acknowledge that you're looking over the shoulder? A lot of people don't even notice, you know, they're so in growing and whatever they're doing that they don't notice that someone's looking over the shoulder and seeing everything that they're doing. That could be also beneficial as an attacker, if if this is a financial person for the company. And so now you can see some of the financial rector's, if that's what they're accessing
dumpster diving. So most people don't actually do this. It's tested on the City Council material, so we we touch on it. But basically, most people are gonna jump in the dumpster just to get some shredded papers that may or may not have a password written on them far easier ways to get that stuff.
But basically dumpster diving. As the name implies, we jump in the dumpster, and, you know, we probably don't jump in like this guy here. But we do jump in the dumpster, we sort around and try to find a different documentation from the company that might be beneficial for us in our testing
reverse social engineering. So this is more of the tech support scam stuff. So what they might do is some kind of brother redirect or, you know, even poison your cookies and basically this might show up under computer, actually had someone I know. Their kid had the show up on their laptop. And, you know, of course, they were all panicking. They're not I t stuff in all our security at all,
s So he asked me and was like, Oh, yeah, this sounds like you need to clear the cache,
and you let me know if the message is still there. she cleared the cash and she was gonna go. But
you might You might get this type of thing popping up here, and basically, it's trying to create a sense of urgency and telling me like you got a you know, you gotta call us, right? And that's where the reverse social engineering comes into play. The attacker wants you to contact them, and then they could do whatever they want, Right? So this type of thing that might say, Hey, we found mail. You're aware on your computer, which they actually have a little
public there that says that the route kid in the
the Trojan is well, s o they may tell you that. And then you call and you call that number and then, you know, or you chat with them here and they tell you Okay, you know, we just need to reset your using a password and I'll fix this for you. I just need those credentials, and I could do this. And let me tell you, real tech support can just reset your stuff if they need to get in your computer.
So this is obviously a scam
piggybacking and tailgating, which will touch on next. In real life, these were pretty much the same thing. Most people just link them together for the E C Council exam. You want a? No. Tailgating contains an I d. And that's the main difference. So piggybacking we basically go up to the doors, the attacker and we say, Hey, you know, I forgot my badge. Can you let me in?
And then, you know, if the person is not security aware, they'll just let you right in
tailgating again. I mentioned the attacker usually has it like a fake badge made, and so they may or may not just come up to someone and say, Hey, can you let me in a lot of times with the doings of this walking behind you that kind of hang out by the door, Whatever. Pretend they're on the phone or something, and then just walk in right after you. And if you're not,
if you don't recognize you like the badge looks somewhat legit,
you might just glance over, you know, like okay, it's a big company. I probably don't know everybody, so this might be legit
fishing. You see that with the phishing emails and then also Ah, things like whaling, where they go after the CEO and stuff like that thistles. An example of a phishing email. And basically you can pretty much tell him that there is, ah, highlighted that Give it away. But if you hover over the link, it's gonna take you to actually a different link.
Bank of America does not use a Comcast email address, especially one on one with random characters in it.
Um, you know, they don't send it to undisclosed recipients. They'll send it like directly to you on then. Also things that say, like, Do you remember? You know, you know, different banks will actually say, like, you know, and most of time the bank won't email you, but they'll say, Dear whomever you know, our here's your statement, that sort of stuff,
and they also generally won't make you sign into your account or anything. You'll just go to your actual bank's website and sign it.
So phishing e mails are pretty easy to spot as long as you're on the lookout for them.
So that's why security awareness is very important in any organization.
Dismissing similar think here is trying to get you to click on sent up a link. So this is gonna come for your text messaging? Zor es esa Excuse me? SMS messaging. And that's why it's called Smashing on. So if you get some kind of text here saying, Hey, you don't take some kind of action and click this link. So
in this example here Hey, you just got a you know, a free best buy gift card.
All you gotta do is click this link and then enter free for 15 and you're good to go.
Obviously, you don't click that length is just gonna download malware on your device.
So insider threat. So as the name implies, these were people inside of the company or with inside access. So employees, former employees, even people that were recently terminated and then contractors were business associates. Basically anyone that has thean route of the company
two different types of a starter threats based on the resource is might differ. But you've got non responders and those are the ones. They don't really pay attention in the security awareness training, so they're consistently negligent on their actions of security.
Then you've got inadvertent insiders, and this is actually the biggest category so they generally comply with, like security policies and training. However, those little times that they forget to do that, that's when they cause the most damage, right? They click on that link or they download that file. Whatever the case might be
inside of collusion. Celeste, basically an insider colluding with an external actor. You don't see that too much, but it does occur.
Persistent, delicious insiders also the ones that basically steal data to build out a second stream of income. So they sell the data, and they're usually pretty good about keeping it very like small amounts. So they're generally not caught for a long period of time.
And then you've got to your disgruntled employee. So people that were just recently fired a would not nominate do things like sabotaging data. Or they might even steal intellectual property with a motive of making profit off it as they go to the next position.
So social media are fake profiles. We've all heard of them in the media, and there's a ton of them out there. I will say that
if you're gonna work as a pen tester, you wantto make sure you understand the laws in your jurisdiction. So, for example, where I live right now is actually a felony charge. If you create a thick account and impersonate a fake individual online, you know, obviously assuming, like what you're doing a four, right? If it's if it's for malicious intent than
you know that you're more than likely. If they catch you, you're gonna be charged and again. Potentially, it's a felony charge.
So fake profiles again. We've seen them all out there, And female profile is kind of work better if you're gonna work as a pen tester and you wanted to see, like, created fake profile while I get responses created with a female on in definitely attractive female and that should get you a lot of people connecting with you. They don't even check and verify who you actually are
so different. Engineer, social engineering countermeasures. So obviously research rights if you get a friend request, unlike Lincoln or something that you don't really recognize, and it just doesn't seem right to trust your gut if it doesn't seem right, you know, trying to research down and see like Is this a real thing?
Reject requests for help or like hey, you know I can help you do something. Reject all those don't post personal data or photos. Obviously, people still do that. But don't put post like a birthdate. Use all the privacy settings that are available in the social media platforms. So you don't worry about that stuff.
Don't reveal any sensitive data to people you don't actually know and then follow your organization's policies and procedures.
So different countermeasures for insider threat. Basically, we want to make it a deterrent. So we wanted to make it difficulty so that the people going to be insider threats kind of separate themselves from the pack so we can quickly see who they are. No, you're weaker. Links are some people that might be frustrated. Excuse me, Frustrated in their current position,
Identify a different valuable information. So what other people may be targeting and then monitor that like crazy. So the ingress and the egress were inside in and turn coming in and exiting. Basically, that's what that needs.
So a couple of post assessment questions here, So I should post my personal information online because of Social Media Website has https. So they're using like t l s S L in the west that you're ill. So I'm safe, right? They're using encryption, right?
Right. Exactly. That's false that we don't want a post personal information at all.
So our second question here, I don't wanna be rude, so I should respond to this email message that's asking me for help. And I should go ahead and click on this link to give the person's go fund me page some money,
All right, again, That's false as well. We don't want to click on any legs that we don't actually know the center from, and that we verify that this is a legit like
So in this video, we covered social engineering. We're gonna jump into the lab next. We're actually gonna do, ah, hands on of social engineering reconnaissance. So we're gonna look a particular social media page. It's a fake page, but we'll go through all the aspects of kind of researching of what we need to look for | <urn:uuid:ade20f8f-b971-4043-9a81-98d505a56f39> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://fastfix.my/?exam=video/7-1-social-engineering/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371803248.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407152449-20200407182949-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.97239 | 3,441 | 2.65625 | 3 |
What is GST full form | GST Meaning| What is GST?
GST full form, What is the complete form of GST? What is the meaning of GST? What is GST and types of GST?? Definition of GST? How do I apply Gstin ?. What are the benefits of GST? Who started GST in India? How is GST charged? Who invented GST? What are the features of GST? When did GST start?. What is the benefit of the GST number? What is the objective of GST? What is the conclusion of GST? These questions may arise in your mind. So I am writing a detailed article about GST so that you become familiar with GST. Clear all doubts about GST. Today in this publication we will also know what is GST Full Form. So let us know what the full form of GST, so let’s first know what GST is: –
What is GST:-
The GST is a nationwide indirect tax that will make India a unified common market. GST tax is charged when we buy a product or service. In this way, GST is the Indirect Tax imposed on us. This tax was implemented in the year 2017. Before that many taxes like Sales Tax, Excise Tax, Service Tax was used. Now all types of taxes have been included in GST. The GST is a destination-based tax that applies only to the value-added at each stage since the entry tax credits on entry purchases will be available. Therefore, the final consumer will only admit the GST charged by the last distributor in the supply chain, with compensatory benefits in all the previous steps.
GST Full Form:
G Stands for Goods and
S Stands For Services
T Stands For Tax
Types of GST?
There are three types of GST in India.
1.CGST (Central Goods and Service Tax)
According to the GST, the CGST is a tax that taxes intrastate supplies of goods and services by the Central Government and will be governed by the CGST Act. If you talk about SGST, it will also apply to the same intra-state assets but will be represented by the state government.
This implies that central and state governments will agree to combine their assessments with an appropriate proportion for the distribution of income among them. However, it is clearly mentioned in Section 8 of the GST Law that taxes are taxes on all supplies of goods and / or services within the state, but the tax rate should not exceed 14% each.
2.SGST (State Goods and Service Tax)
According to the GST, SGST is a tax levied on Intra-State goods and services by the State Government and will be governed by the SGST Act. As explained above, CGST will also be charged for the same Intra-State supply but will be governed by the Central Government.
3.IGST (Integrated Goods and Service Tax)
According to the GST, IGST is a tax levied on all interstate supplies of goods and / or services and will be governed by the IGST Act. IGST will apply to any supply of goods and / or services in both cases of importation into India and exportation from India.
Who started GST in India?
Now one question on your mind is who started GST in India. The answer is Late. Shri Arun Jaitely. Seven months after the Modi government was formed, former Finance Minister Late Shri Arun Jaitley introduced the GST bill in Lok Sabha, where the BJP had a majority. In February 2015, Jaitley set another deadline for April 1, 2017, for GST implementation. Officially, The GST was launched at midnight on July 1, 2017, by the President of India and the Government of India.
Who invented GST?:-
The concept behind GST was invented by a French tax authority in the 1950s. In many countries, it is also known as a value-added tax(VAT). Today, more than 162 nations, including Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and China, and the European Union practice this form of taxes.
Rate Of GST:-
The GST Council has approved a total of five GST boards for different types of products. These are 0, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. An attempt was made to make the ICMS more and fairer by imposing a minimum tax on essential goods and a maximum tax on luxury and minor items. For example, 28% of GST has been corrected in air conditioning, refrigerator, makeup, etc. Although the zero tax has been set on raw materials such as fresh grains and vegetables, etc. Similarly, education and health institutions are excluded from the scope of taxes.
How do I apply Gstin ?
1. Log in to the GST online portal
2. Go to ‘Register Now and fill in part A of the app with your name, email ID and mobile number
3. The portal will verify your details by sending an OTP to your mobile phone and email.
4. When the verification process is complete, you will receive the Application Reference Number (ARN) via mobile or email.
5. You can now populate Part B of the application using ARN. The documents you will need in this step include:
Business Place Proof (s)
bank account details
6. Fill in all information and upload all required documents in the order and submit it using DSC or Aadhaar OTP
The GST employee will verify your application within 3 business days. The officer will approve your application, in which case you will receive your registration certificate (form GST REG 06) or request more information using form GST-REG-03.
What is the benefit of GST number
GST registration is required for certain categories of business entities, such as manufacturers / traders / service providers, based on last year’s turnover. After registering, a GST is not assigned and, based on the GST number, one can propose its liabilities. You can charge GST on your sales invoices and your buyers can claim the credit called incoming credit that they can use to pay their taxes. A person registered with the GST department can obtain incoming GST credit paid on purchase invoices that can be used/adjusted for GST payment.
1. Legal acknowledgment as a supplier of goods or services. This helps attract more customers.
2. You will be more competitive than small businesses, as buying them will guarantee entry credit.
3. Register with e-commerce sites or open the e-commerce site itself. This will broaden the business scope of a registered person.
4. A person with a GST number may receive inbound credit on their own purchases and inbound services.
5. You can make interstate sales without too many restrictions (they will be treated as occasional taxpayers). This expands the potential market for SMEs.
6. It is good for export-oriented companies because it does not apply to goods / services exported outside India.
7. In the long run, a lower tax burden could result in lower prices for consumers.
8. The tax structure will be simplified and simple.
9. The entire Indian market will be a unified market that can translate into lower commercial costs. It can facilitate the continuous movement of goods between states and reduce commercial transaction costs.
10. Suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers can recover the GST incurred in entry costs as tax credits. This reduces the cost of doing business by allowing fairer prices for consumers.
11. It can provide more transparency and better compliance.
12. The number of departments [fiscal departments] will decrease, which in turn can lead to less corruption.
13. More commercial entities will be subject to the tax system, expanding the tax base. This can lead to better and more tax revenue collection.
14. Companies in the unorganized sector will be subject to the tax regime.
You may also like these Topics:-
What is the objective of GST?
- Reduced compliance cost
- Less waste of time and effort to achieve
- The little amount of taxes
- Transparent and free from corruption
- Continuous Credit Flow
- No tax cascade
- The fiscal impact on inflation should be minimal.
- Support to compete in the national and international markets.
What are the features of GST
- Elimination of multiple taxes.
- Prevention of cascading effects.
- Distribute the tax burden equally between production and services.
- Accelerate the economic union of India.
- This will promote a common market throughout the country.
- This will facilitate exports.
- Increase in tax collection due to the wide range of goods and services.
- The growing proximity of our tax system to the global tax system.
- Better compliance and income fluctuations.
- Tax rates for consumers may fall.
- This will reduce the tax rate by expanding the tax base.
- This will stimulate growth.
- Lower transaction costs for final consumers.
- Get a very simple and transparent character.
- Uniformity of tax treatment.
- Efficiency in the tax administration.
- It can stimulate our economy and allow us to compete globally.
- This will certainly reduce the tax burden of consumers.
- This will reduce production prices and attract more investments.
- Create jobs through rationalization and fiscal simplification.
What is the conclusion of GST ?
The GST will ensure transparent and corruption-free tax administration, addressing current loopholes in indirect taxation. GST is friendly to both businesses and consumers. GST in India is ready to dramatically improve the position of each of these stakeholders. We need better tax changes than previous taxes. This need for change leads us to the “need for GST”.
The GST will allow India to better negotiate its rules in international trade forums. The GST aims to increase the taxpayer base by exposing SMEs and the unorganized industry to their compliance. This will make the Indian market more stable than before and allow Indian companies to compete with foreign companies.
Today I have told you about GST, what is GST?GST full form, What is the complete form of GST? What is the meaning of GST? What is GST and types of GST?? Definition of GST? What is the objective of GST? How do I apply Gstin ?. What are the benefits of GST? What are the features of GST? Who started GST in India? Who invented GST? When did GST start?. What is the benefit of the GST number? What is the conclusion of GST? I hope you understand everything, answer what you are searching for and clarifying all your doubts related to GST. I hope you liked my post on GST full form. kindly share it | <urn:uuid:e5ee5fd1-7248-4eef-955b-8a49e77720ce> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.technicalcuriosity.com/gst-full-form-what-is-gst/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371700247.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407085717-20200407120217-00194.warc.gz | en | 0.949978 | 2,192 | 3.234375 | 3 |
This complex system of beneficial microbes might seem difficult to understand, so let’s break it down.
What is the Gut Microbiome?
Here’s some news that might surprise you; your body has more bacteria than human cells. You have approximately 40 trillion bacterial cells within your system, and a mere 30 trillion human ones. Everyone carries up to two kilograms (kgs) of microbes within their gut, which breaks down to an estimated 10,000 unique species and tens of trillions of individual organisms. And, while a third of this concentration of bacteria is the same for most people, up to two-thirds are unique to you, almost like a digestive fingerprint.
When referenced collectively, these microbes are known as your gut microbiome. They create an “ecosystem” composed of both symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria that dwell together. Some of these bacteria merely tag along without contributing much to your body, while others are helpful or harmful to your wellbeing. By keeping your microbiome well-balanced through a healthy lifestyle, you can prevent potentially dangerous microbes from becoming established.
When functioning well, your gut microbiome will:
- Aid the digestive process for foods that are challenging for the stomach or small intestine to digest
- Help your system produce and utilize B and K vitamins
- Prevent pathogenic microorganisms from invading
- Bolster the immune system to control how it responds to infections
- Help break down fiber to improve your health
- Improve central nervous system functioning for better brain health.
Note: While microbes in the microbiome can also include viruses, fungi and other forms of microscopic organisms, bacteria are the most studied and what we are primarily referencing in this article.
What Forms the Gut Microbiota?
Though your body’s microbiome is as crucial for your health as an organ, it’s not something you are born with. Babies leave the womb with nearly sterile digestive systems, and the bacterial colonization begins immediately after birth because of contact with microorganisms from their mother’s vagina, skin and breast milk. From as early as day three, a baby’s gut composition will look different depending on whether they drink breast milk or bottled formula. As an example, drinking breast milk increases the amount of beneficial Bifidobacteria within a baby’s gut.
As you age, your gut microbiome will continue to grow in complexity as you become exposed to new species of microbes.
Eight Benefits of a Healthy Microbiome
When you eat a meal, your stomach and small intestine will inevitably struggle to digest certain compounds within it. This is where microbes come into the picture. Many varieties work to break down the particles in your food, which helps your system extract the vitamins and nutrients it contains.
However, these bacteria do even more for your health. Below are some of the most significant benefits of maintaining a well-functioning microbiome.
1. Maintains Your Metabolism
A balanced gut microbiome controls a variety of metabolic functions that aid digestion. For instance, gut bacteria help your system extract vitamins, synthesize amino acids, and process insoluble fiber and resistant starches. This gives your system the energy it needs to maintain a healthy metabolism.
2. Promotes a Stronger Immune System
When your microbiome is populated with beneficial microbes, there’s less room for pathogens to establish themselves. Some kinds of bacteria also produce antimicrobial substances called bacteriocins that inhibit the growth of competing microbes. This is called the competitive-exclusion effect, and it helps promote a stronger immune system. A lacking microbiome can lead to problems, as young children with allergies often have different compositions of intestinal bacteria than their peers who don’t.
3. Improves Heart Health
A well-balanced gut microbiome can improve your heart health. One study of 1,500 people found that their digestive bacteria influenced their “good” HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which affected the functioning of their cardiovascular system. Likewise, certain pathogenic microbes produced trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound that can build up and block arteries, potentially triggering heart attacks and contributing to heart disease.
4. Controls the Gut-Brain Axis
Your stomach and brain have a direct connection known as the gut-brain axis. This communication system impacts the signaling between the two organs, and it also creates a potential pathway for digestive bacteria to influence the brain, and vice versa. Recent research reveals that stress and depression affect the makeup of your gut microbiota, and its functioning will affect your mood.
5. Reduces Risk of Weight Gain
The type of bacteria that reside within your gut impact your risk of obesity and other metabolic conditions. A 2014 study revealed that your genetics play a role in what bacteria are in your stomach and that some types are found more often in thinner people. For instance, Christensenellaceae minuta (a strain of bacteria influenced by genes) is more common in those with low body weight. Even more revealing, tests with mice suggest that introducing this type of bacteria into the digestive system can cause you to gain less weight and potentially prevent obesity.
Likewise, a lack of bacteria in the large intestine can slow down the activity of brown fat, which can cause you to burn fewer calories and gain weight. The evidence is still forthcoming about the direct relationship between gut bacteria and obesity, but the connection is worth exploring further.
6. Plays a Role in Autism Symptoms
Autism research today seemingly introduces more questions than answers, but the role of gut bacteria is gaining extra scrutiny. A 2013 study found that children with autism had lower levels of three types of digestive microbes (Prevotella, Coprococcus, and Veillonellaceae) than other children. Likewise, the concentrations of byproducts produced by specific types of gut bacteria in the fecal material of autistic children were statistically different than those without it. This leads researchers to speculate that gut microbes make a significant impact on the connection between the gut and the brain, and potentially affect brain functioning.
7. Affects Cancer Development (and Treatment)
Recent research shows a strong link between gut bacteria and cancer. A 2013 study shows that the presence of Lactobacillus johnsonii in the intestines might impact your risk of developing lymphoma. Further research shows that the gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori might deactivate your immune system’s ability to regulate inflammation, potentially triggering ulcers and stomach cancer. Likewise, other reports have found that certain strains of gut bacteria can improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment like chemotherapy.
8. Plays a Role in Mental Health
Gut bacteria is a factor in your mental state, as the microbes produce a variety of neurochemicals that are used to regulate your brain’s physiological and mental state. According to reports from the American Psychological Association, 95% of your body’s serotonin supply (a compound that affects mood and happiness) is produced by gut bacteria.
How to Promote a Healthy Microbiome
How can you improve your digestive system’s bacterial levels? While most healthy people have relatively similar microbiomes, your lifestyle, environmental exposures, and diet will all make a difference in its precise makeup. While there is still a lot to learn about what influences your digestive microbial makeup, research shows that one of the best ways to work towards improvements is changing what you eat.
Optimal Diet for Better Gut Health
If you’re ready to make a positive change for your microbiome, your diet is the best place to start. Every meal presents a new opportunity to affect your intestine’s microbe population, so follow these suggestions to keep it filled with beneficial microbes.
- Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods: Refined carbohydrates and processed foods break down quickly in your small intestine without the help of microbes. This causes them to go hungry and potentially begin breaking down the cells that line your organs. This allows particles of food to break through the walls, enter your bloodstream, and trigger inflammation. To prevent problems, avoid these foods altogether.
- Eat Leafy Greens and Low-Sugar Fruits: For gut health, try to get your carbohydrates from fresh produce. Smart options include kale, spinach, radishes, leeks, asparagus, carrots, garlic, and turmeric. If you plan to eat grains, stick to varieties with plenty of fiber and beneficial carbs like beta-glucan, which your gut bacteria can digest.
- Try a Food Elimination Diet: If you aren’t sure what food is triggering your digestive problems, consider a food elimination diet. You can remove common foods from your diet (like dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts, and corn) for a week or more and see if your symptoms improve. For better results, stay away from alcohol, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners as well.
- Consume Fermented Foods: Thanks to their probiotic content, fermented foods are a smart way to seed your stomach with beneficial bacteria. Strive to fill your diet with sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, pickles, and other fermented foods.
- Take Probiotics: You can improve your digestive bacteria levels by supplementing your natural levels with quality probiotics. This is especially beneficial after a round of antibiotics, as it helps you replenish your system’s depleted bacteria supply with beneficial microbes.
- Eat Prebiotic Foods: Though probiotics get most of the attention, prebiotic foods will also improve your microbiome. Prebiotics are a type a fiber that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria, and they can be found in bananas, oats, apples, artichokes, and more.
- Breastfeed Babies for Half a Year: Regarding digestive bacteria, infants are essentially born as a blank slate. That’s why breastfeeding is critical for developing a healthy microbiome, as it introduces bacteria from mom’s system to her baby’s.
- Fill Up on Polyphenols: As the plant compounds found in green tea, olive oil, red wine, and dark chocolate, polyphenols are broken down by the microbiome to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Balance Your Microbiome for Better Health
The state of your digestive system has wide-reaching consequences for your health, which is why monitoring your microbiome is essential for optimal wellness. By paying attention to what you eat and how it makes you feel, you can encourage the presence of good gut bacteria. Taking time to build awareness about what works for your body will benefit you in a multitude of ways. | <urn:uuid:cae8a05d-8bae-4e32-9838-dabb99ef82b7> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.afpafitness.com/blog/the-microbiome-of-your-gut-what-you-need-to-know | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521574.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404073139-20200404103139-00073.warc.gz | en | 0.924482 | 2,161 | 3.546875 | 4 |
Job seekers wait in line at a job fair in New York City.
THE recent global economic crisis took an outsized toll on young workers across the globe, especially in advanced economies, which were hit harder and are recovering more slowly than emerging market and developing economies.
Young people have always had a tough time finding work. Historically, the unemployment rate for those ages 15 to 24 in advanced economies has been two to three times higher than for older age groups. But since the global crisis began in 2008, young people have suffered a much sharper rise in joblessness than older workers, and structural issues—especially in Europe—have exacerbated youth employment problems.
Unemployment can exact a big personal toll on young people. Failure to find a first job or keep it for long can have damaging long-term consequences on their lives and career prospects. But youth unemployment also has broader social consequences and contributes significantly to growing income inequality in advanced economies.
Bad, then worse
In 2007, the year before the global recession began in earnest, young workers were already in trouble. Unemployment among workers ages 15 to 24 in advanced economies averaged 13 percent, compared with about 5 percent among older workers. The unemployment rate among those young workers has now climbed to nearly 20 percent, three times the roughly 7 percent average that prevails in older age groups. And because advanced economies are recovering so slowly, the rate is likely to remain high for some time.
Youth unemployment has varied widely across countries. Although just before the crisis it averaged 13 percent in advanced economies (Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the United States, western Europe), in Greece and Italy the youth unemployment rate exceeded 20 percent, in the Netherlands and Japan it was less than 10 percent, and in the United States it was about 10 percent. In several countries, including Sweden and the United Kingdom, youth unemployment was four times greater than that of adults.
Since 2008, youth unemployment has increased (see chart)—in the United States it climbed to more than 18 percent, and in Italy and Sweden, it is about 25 percent. The biggest increase was in Spain, where youth unemployment doubled, from less than 20 percent in 2008 to almost 40 percent three years later. In Germany, however, youth unemployment fell, thanks to well-functioning apprenticeship programs and the introduction of short-time working policies that subsidize firms when they reduce hours rather than lay off workers during a business slowdown. Young German workers, however, are still one and a half times more likely than adults to be unemployed.
But it is not only the overall unemployment rate that is worrisome. Equally alarming is the length of time young workers are unemployed, often while seeking their first job. Two of every ten unemployed youths in advanced economies have been seeking a job for a year or more. In the euro area countries, the ratio is even higher, at 3 out of 10. The highest incidence is in Spain, where 40 percent of young workers have been seeking a job for more than 12 months. Workers unemployed for an extended period lose their skills and their ties to the workplace. Growing frustration over unemployment has also led a large number of discouraged youths to give up looking for a job—so it is likely that unemployment statistics understate the joblessness picture.
Hard to find
Young people usually have more trouble finding a job than do older workers for many reasons. They have less work experience, less knowledge about how and where to look for work, and fewer job-search contacts. In addition, many young people lack the skills employers need, often because of backward-looking education systems. As a result, for many young people the transition from school to work is bumpy and sometimes long, and now is even more arduous because of the crisis. Even those who find jobs are more vulnerable than older workers, especially in economic downturns, because the last hired tend to be the first fired.
But there are also labor market practices, especially in Europe, that add to long-term problems. Young people are more likely than older workers to work under temporary contracts. Almost a third of employed youths in advanced economies held such contracts before the crisis. In boom years, companies relied heavily on temporary workers— largely to get around regulations that make it difficult to fire permanent workers. As the economy contracted, the temporary workers were among the first let go; moreover, many did not qualify for company-paid severance—not only was it easier to fire them, it was cheaper. Half of young workers in Spain were on temporary contracts before the crisis and were the first to lose their jobs. Young workers often face a double whammy when they are let go. Not only do they lose the job, they often have less access to social welfare benefits.
In addition to the short-term problems unemployment causes for young people, it has long-term debilitating effects. Studies have shown that those who experience unemployment early in their life are more likely to be unemployed again in later years. Moreover, they are likely to earn less over their working life than are their peers who find jobs more easily (von Wachter, Song, and Manchester, 2009; Kahn, 2010). Experts call the negative long-term consequences of early unemployment “scarring effects.” Those scarring effects are the result of such factors as deterioration of skills and forgone work experience. But they can also come from potential employers’ belief that these workers will not be productive. The longer a person is unemployed, the longer the scarring effects are likely to last. The earnings penalty can be as high as 20 percent compared with their peers who find employment early, and the earnings deficit can persist as long as 20 years.
The adverse effects on lifetime earnings are most pronounced for unemployment experienced in youth, especially at the time of college graduation. Those who entered the job market during Japan’s so-called lost decade of the 1990s, for example, experienced such scarring effects. Long-term youth unemployment more than doubled and persisted well after the recovery began, because Japanese employers preferred to hire recent graduates rather than those trapped in long-term unemployment or persistent inactivity.
In addition to harmful effects on future wages and employ-ability, studies find evidence that spells of unemployment for a young person often hurt the individual’s happiness, job satisfaction, and health for many years thereafter.
Youth unemployment can also lead to high economic and social costs for society. Underutilization of young people in the labor market can result in a vicious circle of intergenerational poverty and social exclusion. Lack of employment opportunities may trigger violence and juvenile delinquency. Recent high youth unemployment has contributed to social unrest in many countries—advanced, emerging, and developing.
Income inequality, a growing problem in many advanced economies, is made worse by rising youth unemployment. Extrapolating from the underlying factors between 1980 and 2005 that caused income inequality in advanced economies that are member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that the global crisis will exacerbate inequality, mainly by increasing unemployment and inhibiting job creation (Morsy, forthcoming). Youth unemployment contributes significantly to rising income inequality.
A sinking feeling
Except in Germany, the youth unemployment rate rose during the global crisis—increasing by more than 20 percentage points in Spain and by nearly that much in Ireland.
(real GDP percent change, 2007:Q4—2009:Q4)
Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Note: AUS = Australia, AUT = Austria, BEL = Belgium, CAN = Canada, CZE = Czech Republic, DNK = Denmark, FIN = Finland, FRA = France, DEU = Germany, GRC = Greece, ISL = Iceland, IRL = Ireland, ITA = Italy, JPN = Japan, KOR = Korea, LUX = Luxembourg, NLD = Netherlands, NZL = New Zealand, NOR = Norway, PRT = Portugal, SLV = Slovenia, ESP = Spain, SWE = Sweden, CHE = Switzerland, GBR = United Kingdom, USA = United States.
The increase in youth unemployment during the crisis is estimated to have raised income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, by 4 percentage points among all advanced economies and by as much as 8 percentage points in the countries on the periphery of Europe—Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain—where the youth labor market deteriorated much more than in other countries. The Gini coefficient measures inequality on a scale of zero to 100, with zero denoting perfect equality of household income and 100 representing a situation in which one household has all a society’s income.
The more a country’s employers hire workers on temporary contracts, the higher the level of inequality.
The global crisis also produced more “discouraged” workers, young and old, who dropped out of the labor force, which likely further exacerbated income disparity. The rise in youth unemployment rates further widened the gap between rich and poor. Spain and Ireland are estimated to have suffered the largest deterioration in income distribution: a rise in income inequality of 18 percentage points and 12 percentage points, respectively. This reflects large job losses in construction, a major source of employment for many low-skilled young workers. Close to half of the unemployment contribution to inequality in these countries can be attributed to long-term unemployment. By contrast, inequality barely changed in Germany and the Netherlands, where the cost of firing workers and programs to support part-time work propped up employment. The effects of unemployment on inequality might have been even greater without advanced economies’ extensive social safety nets.
The analysis of OECD data also indicated that the more a country’s employers hire workers on temporary contracts, the higher the level of inequality. This gap is particularly noticeable in countries such as Spain and Portugal that relaxed regulations on temporary contracts while maintaining strong employment protection for permanent workers.
Resolving the problem
A healthy recovery accompanied by job creation will bring down youth unemployment, improve income distribution, and strengthen social cohesion. But recovery alone won’t be enough to prevent many of today’s young people in advanced economies from marginalization and exclusion from the workforce.
Some essential far-reaching labor and product market reforms include the following:
• Addressing the mismatch between the skills students acquire and the needs of employers: This will go a long way toward helping reduce long-term youth unemployment. Policies should ensure that the education system prepares young people for the skill demands of employers through outreach programs, training, apprenticeships, and access to job-search assistance measures. Governments could entice private employers to hire more young people by such actions as reducing employer social security contributions for new hires and/or subsidizing firms that hire long-term unemployed, low-skilled youths.
• Relaxing protections for regular workers, while enhancing them for temporary workers to support job creation: A pervasive dual labor market system, with a flexible temporary workforce and a highly protected permanent workforce, can increase unemployment (Blanchard and Landier, 2002; Dao and Loungani, 2010). Easing regulations only for fixed-term contracts strengthens the power of permanent workers in wage bargaining, which pushes up wages and makes it harder for others to get hired. This is why both steps must be taken together.
• Fostering competition and creating a more business-friendly environment: Such steps would open up various sectors to new firms, promoting both innovation and efficiency and in turn stimulating private investment and employment. Policies should remove entry barriers and reduce operating restrictions in sectors such as services, retail, energy, and telecommunications. Studies have shown sizable employment gains when labor market liberalization is accompanied by more competitive product markets.
Not all these reforms yield immediate gains, but they are necessary to deal with the chronic unemployment problem.
The energy, skills, and aspirations of young people are invaluable assets that no society can afford to waste. With a significant and growing proportion of young people at risk of prolonged unemployment, the potential negative long-term scars to their careers, earnings, health, and well-being could be profound. Moreover, the economic and social costs associated with youth unemployment, including greater income inequality, are high. It is important to introduce policies to enhance the skills and capabilities of younger workers and assist them in joining the labor market as quickly as possible.
Hanan Morsy is an Economist in the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department.
Blanchard, Olivier, and AugustinLandier, 2002, “The Perverse Effects of Partial Labour Market Reform: Fixed-Term Contracts in France,” The Economic Journal, Vol. 112 (June), pp. 212–44..
Dao, Mai, and PrakashLoungani, 2010, The Human Cost of Recessions: Assessing It and Reducing It,” IMF Staff Position Note 10/17 (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
Kahn, Lisa B., 2010, “The Long-Term Labor Market Consequences of Graduating from College in a Bad Economy,” Labour Economics, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 303–16.
Morsy, Hanan, forthcoming, “Unemployment and Inequality in the Wake of the Crisis,” IMF Working Paper (Washington: International Monetary Fund).
vonWachter, Till, Jae Song, and JoyceManchester, 2009, “Long-Term Earnings Losses Due to Mass Layoffs During the 1982 Recession: An Analysis Using U.S. Administrative Data from 1974 to 2004,” (unpublished; New York: Columbia University). | <urn:uuid:80e3f4ef-1eb9-4768-87c7-cd942fda7dfa> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://china.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF022/12564-9781451922141/12564-9781451922141/12564-9781451922141_A005.xml?rskey=1CrAZi&result=12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371818008.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408135412-20200408165912-00153.warc.gz | en | 0.957863 | 2,775 | 3.1875 | 3 |
by Michael Sones
One of the first beauty contests took place in the mists of mythic time when Paris of Troy had to choose which of three beauties was the most comely.
Helen was the daughter of the Greek god Zeus and Leda, who was the wife of Tyndareus. Zeus approached Leda in the form of a swan. Helen was born from this union and she was the sister of the Dioscuri, the twins Castor and Pollux, who were renowned for their bravery and skills at fighting. Helen was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world. Theseus, who had killed the Minotaur, carried her off as a child but the Dioscuri rescued her. All of the kings of Greece wanted to marry her because of her beauty and courted her. To save conflict between them Odysseus suggested that they let Helen choose and then all agree to protect her husband. She chose Menelaus but was later kidnapped by Paris, the son of Priam and Hecuba of Troy. At Zeus’ command Paris had been the judge at a beauty contest and had to choose which of the goddesses Hera, Athene, or Aphrodite was the fairest. He chose Aphrodite who had promised him the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife. He carried Helen off which did not please Menelaus and so the Greeks set sail to Troy. The Trojan war lasted ten years.
While modern beauty contests have almost always been dogged by controversy we are not aware of any which have started a war. However, in 1921 a few hoteliers hatched the idea of staging a local beauty bathing contest on the shores of Atlantic City as part of a larger plan to get vacationers to stay in town beyond Labour Day Weekend. They almost certainly had no idea of the tradition and institution they were starting.
The Great War had ended a few years before and it was the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. Women had made an enormous contribution to the war effort on the home front and this had led to a change in the way they saw themselves. Many no longer felt that they had to remain quiet and corseted at home. Ten years previously the idea of “bathing beauties” would probably have never seen the light of day but now, with strict Victorian principles being challenged everywhere, the idea had immediate appeal to enough people that eight beauty finalists were chosen from photo entries to local Eastern newspapers.
Miss Margaret Gorman, representing Miss Washington, D.C., was the first “Miss America.” Only 16, she was said to bear a strong resemblance to Mary Pickford the legendary matinee idol of the silent screen. The following year the contest was held again and that year’s winner was Mary Katherine Campbell. She won the following year as well and it was decided after that to bring in a rule that no one could win twice.
As the contest increased in popularity, more contestants entered. The following year the rules had to be amended once again when it was discovered that Miss Alaska, Heidi Leiderman, was neither a “miss”, nor from Alaska. Instead she was a married woman hailing from New York.
The arrival of the Great Depression at the end of the 1920’s saw the postponement of the Miss America contest until 1932 when it was revived in Wildwood, New Jersey. That year it was won by Dorothy Hann. 50,000 onlookers proved that while it had been gone for three years, the Miss America contest had not been forgotten. It returned to its original home in Atlantic City the following year under new management and a new banner, The Variety Showman’s Jubilee. The winner, Marian Bergeron, broke with tradition in being the first to be crowned wearing an evening gown instead of a swimsuit. Controversy ensued when it was revealed that she was underage and only 15! Should she be disqualified? The waters were further muddied when her crown was stolen from her hotel room and the contest was a financial failure. The good news for Marian was that she was allowed to keep the title and hold it for two years as there was no contest the following year.
In 1935 the pageant was resurrected again under the successful directorship of Lenora Slaughter. Hollywood by now was really coming into its own and the Miss America contest was seen by some as being a fast track to acquiring the fame and fortune of the Hollywood Stars. Movie moguls such as Howard Hughes also saw the potential of these young, beautiful women as future starlets. Dorothy Lamour was one such contestant who went on to become a glamorous movie star.
The contest however continued to be haunted by unexpected and publicity-bringing events. In 1937 the winner, Miss Bette Cooper, disappeared in the night. Speculation about her disappearance abounded; had she sacrificed her place on the beauty throne for the love of her life, as the heir to the English throne had? Pictures in the papers featured an empty throne, surrounded by runners-up. In the end, the truth was much more banal. The young woman had persuaded her chaperone to take her back home so she could go back to school.
In 1938 the competition altered. Would-be Miss America Queens now had to participate in a compulsory talent competition.
History intervened again with the advent of the Second Great World War. America joined the war effort after Pearl Harbour was bombed and the future of the Miss America contest was again uncertain. However, it survived because of the belief that it could raise morale and boost the American spirit. As the war ended the contest director, Lenora Slaughter, decided that it would be in the best interests of future contestants, and perhaps of the contest itself, if winners also received a pageant scholarship.
The year was 1945. Not long after the atrocities of the Holocaust in war-torn Europe had been relayed to peoples worldwide, the Miss American contest winner was Miss Bess Myerson, a first-time Jewish winner and scholarship recipient.
Other changes were in the offing and in 1948 Lenora Slaughter ruled that Miss Americas would now be crowned wearing gowns rather than the traditional swimsuits. Reporters were up in arms and threatened to boycott the event altogether. As a compromise to those adamant that tradition should be upheld, the winner wore a gown and the runners-up wore swimsuits.
In 1951 Yolande Betbeze, winner of the Miss America contest, took this change in the costume climate one step further when she refused to pose in a swimsuit altogether. While she managed to get the support of the contest officials one of its major sponsors, Catalina swimwear, quit in protest. In the same year the first Miss World Pageant was held. The winner, Kiki Haakonson, represented Sweden.
A year later, Armi Kuusele, from Finland won the first Miss Universe title. To raise its profile and to gain further public approval the contest now aligned itself with many Variety Clubs and helped them to raise funds for many worthwhile charities worldwide.
Pageantry in the conservative postwar 1950’s was becoming mainstream. It was bolstered in 1953 by all the pomp and pageantry that went alongside the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England. In 1954, as television was making its presence felt in many homes throughout the western world, the Miss America contest was broadcast from coast to coast for the very first time. Grace Kelly, a famous movie star of the day, was one of the panel of judges and Lee Merriweather the joyful winner.
1955 saw the introduction of Bert Parks, a well-known and popular television personality, as the master of ceremonies. What was to become the event’s signature theme tune “There She Is, Miss America”, written by Bernie Wayne, was also introduced and became instantly popular.
The conservatism of the 50’s was followed by the liberalism and human rights movements of the sixties. Women were becoming more educated and black and minority peoples were becoming more vocal and politically active in their search for a fairer deal. In line with this Corinne Huff, in 1960, became the first black woman ever to win a state pageant title and then go on to compete in the Miss USA title contest. Another black woman, Miss Haiti, reached the semifinals of the Miss Universe contest the following year. But if black and minority peoples were finally being included in mainstream beauty events, alongside their inclusion there was growing an increasing disillusion with the whole idea of beauty pageants. Women were becoming more vocal about their secondary role in society and the domination of men in so many areas based upon gender rather than ability. Beauty pageants were “sexist” and women criticised them because they felt they were demeaning to women and treated them as “sex objects.”
During the sixties other beauty events also became established; Miss USA, Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Teenage American Pageant, and several pageants for children. New pageants were established the following decade; the Miss National Teen-ager Pageant and the Miss Teen All America Pageant were two of these. Other milestones included the first-time winning of the Miss Universe title by a black woman, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad-Tobago. The following year would see her crown Margaret Gardiner, a white South African, as her successor.
The 1980’s saw further racial milestones established. In 1983, Vanessa Williams, an African-American won the Miss America title. Her moment of glory was short-lived. It was revealed that she had posed for Penthouse magazine in some sexually explicit photos. She was asked to resign and she did. Suzette Charles, another African-American, and her runner-up, inherited the crown.
The following year Mai Shanley, a Eurasian, won the honour and in 1985 the crown was passed on to a naturalized Mexican-American, Miss Laura Martinez Herring. The same year Deborah Carthy-Deu, Miss Puerto Rico, won the Miss Universe contest. The passion for pageantry seems to have snowballed in the 1980s and several more pageants were founded: the Mrs. World Pageant, the Mother-Daughter pageant, the Mrs. United States Pageant and the Mrs. International Pageant.
The idea was also born and became very popular that future contest winners might become role models for the community through their public service commitments. Commitment to social and topical issues also mark pageantry in the 1990’s.
Miss America 1992, Carolyn Sapp, gained a starring role in a film about her life after it was discovered that she had been subject to violent treatment by her fiancé. The media coverage of this part of her life brought the problem of domestic violence in the lives of many women to national attention.
Next year’s Miss America winner, Leanza Cornett, did the same for Aids Education and Prevention.
Charlotte Lopez, who was to become Miss Teen USA in 1993, won sympathy and possibly votes through the telling of her moving tale about being a foster child for more than a decade.
And what about the amazing achievement of Mrs. Sandra Earnest, who in 1993, managed to win the Mrs. International title, after having had ten children?
In 1994 the Miss America title went to Heather Whitestone. This was another pageantry first, for Miss Whitestone was profoundly deaf.
The following year, 1995, saw the age-old debate about swimsuits revived and resolved once again. This time it was by viewers of the Miss America competition who were invited to phone in their votes. By a significant margin of 3-1 swimsuits were given the thumbs-up!! (Never completely resolved however, a few years hence and things would be slightly amended again: in 1997, two-piece swimsuits were allowed for the first time in 50 years).
Back in 1995, however, while Americans were trying to come to terms with the devastation and trauma that followed the Oklahoma bombing, it was perhaps significant that both the Miss and Mrs. American titles were won by Oklahoman women.
As the century drew to a close, contestants worldwide continued to enter beauty pageants with hopes of winning the coveted crowns. Whatever one’s creed, colour or background, with the right combination of good looks and talent anyone might be a winner. This was further demonstrated in 1998 when Virginia Nicole, an insulin dependent diabetic who wore an insulin pump on her hip, became the first long-term physically ill person to become Miss America.
What will the 21st century bring? Now a multi-million dollar enterprise, pageantry shows no signs of decline but only time will tell what the new parameters will be.
The controversy continues. There were riots in Nigeria in 2002 because of the Miss World contest and the contestants had to flee. In October 2003 and Afghanistan woman, resident in the United States since the mid 1990s, provoked outrage and condemnation by the Afghanistan government when she wore a red bikini in a beauty contest in the Phillipines. | <urn:uuid:4e3670b6-dac5-42e4-9d04-868f7171cdc8> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.rightshape.com/beautypageant/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370493120.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20200328194743-20200328224743-00515.warc.gz | en | 0.985742 | 2,675 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Calorie counters on treadmills, ellipticals, and other cardio machines are convenient. At the end of your work, the number of calories you burned can be surprising. It can certainly make you feel better and keep you motivated to run or exercise more.
It's important to know that these calculated calories are just rough estimates. While some types of cardio machines are more accurate than others, none of them will be 100 percent accurate. In general, they overestimate your calorie burn by 15 to 20 percent because there are too many factors involved. Learn what these factors are and how you can improve your estimated burned calories.
Calorie Burn Factors
Many of the high-tech cardio machines found in gyms today ask you to enter your personal details before you begin. This often includes your weight and some also factor your gender and age into the equation. The problem, however, is that there are other important factors to consider.
Cardio machines such as treadmills use standard formulas to figure out the number of calories burned. It is like a calorie-burn formula that you can do on your own. In either of these, factors like your fitness level and your body composition and size are not accounted for.1
Experience and Efficiency
More than with other machines, when you run on a treadmill, your form and efficiency play a larger role in calorie burn. The machine cannot account for these factors.
This is because beginner runners tend to be inefficient, running with a side-to-side movement and lots of bouncing up and down. These extra motions expend more energy than the experienced runner's efficient stride. This will change over time as a beginner runner perfects her/his stride, but it's an important consideration.
Also, if you are using the handrail on a treadmill or stair stepper, you may be diminishing your calorie burn because you're making the workout easier. You won't be swinging your arms naturally with your stride.
Due to the way athletes use them, there are also variables in the accuracy of different types of machines. For example, a stationary bike limits movement so everyone uses it in generally the same way. The calorie counters on these are much more accurate than treadmills and stair steppers, which offer more freedom of movement.
Cardio Machine Formulas
The formulas that cardio machines use to calculate can vary from one manufacturer to another. Generally, most machines will base their formula on The Compendium of Physical Activities. Initially developed in 1987 and receiving regular updates, it assigns a value to a variety of activities, from exercise to inactivity, and sex to home repairs. The values are based on the Metabolic Equivalent, known as MET.
he amount of energy (calories) you burn for other activities is compared with this baseline.
Once again, there are many factors involved and the Compendium gives many options. For instance, the running category is filled with variables. It states that jogging burns 7.0 MET (7.0 kcal/kg/hour), running 6 miles per hour (a 10-minute mile) burns 9.8 MET, and running 10 miles per hour (a 6-minute mile) burns 14.5 MET. This does not account for any factors relating to you personally.
Wearable Fitness Trackers
If you can't rely on the cardio machine's calorie counter, can you turn to your personal fitness tracker? These popular wearable devices can monitor all sorts of your things related to your health and activity level, so they're a great option for tracking your workouts.
A study at Stanford University took a look at seven different devices to check their accuracy. The results showed that the most accurate of them was off by an average of 27 percent and the least accurate by 93 percent.2 The heart rate monitor was the most reliable function, but the researchers concluded that the calorie counter should not be counted on.
Whether it's a cardio machine or your fitness tracker, it's best to take the calories burned readings with a grain of salt. It's fine to use the numbers as a benchmark for your workouts, but don't plan on consuming additional calories based on that number. Sometimes, this leads to gaining weight despite your best exercise efforts.
You can also gauge your workout by your perceived exertion or track your target heart rate. This can also help you when moving from one machine to another. If you get the same reading on two machines for the same duration but one seems easier, you're probably burning fewer calories on the easier machine.
Having a general idea of how many calories you're burning during exercise is a good way to manage your health and weight. Just keep in mind that any of the calorie counters are probably overestimating what you're burning. These are just numbers, though, and how you feel after the workout is more important
The moment you go on a run, the body produces lactic acid which makes the muscles fatigued and sore. Hence, it is important to stretch as stretching eliminates the lactic acid that has accumulated inside the body and relaxes the muscle
Post-run is a great time to stretch because your muscles will be warmed up. These stretches target areas that frequently get tight during and after running. Make them part of your post-run routine to help improve your flexibility, comfort, and performance. I am going break down for you, five essential stretches you should be doing, that can help to prevent DOMS and minor injuries are running
This hamstring stretch feels great, and it's easier on your back than the bending-over stretch. Here's what to do:
1. Lie on your back with your legs extended and your back straight. Make sure your lower back is on the floor and your hips are level.
2. Bend your left knee and keep your left leg extended on the floor.
3. Slowly straighten your right knee, grabbing the back of your leg with both hands.
4. Gently pull your right leg towards you while keeping your hips on the floor. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat on your left side.
If straightening your leg is too difficult, you can also do this stretch with a bent knee.
Your quadriceps (front thighs) are powerful muscles that work hard when you're running, so it's important that you stretch them. Here's what to do:
1. Stand straight (don't lean forward), lift the foot of your cramping leg up behind you, and grab your foot with your hand on that side.
2. Pull your heel gently toward your butt, feeling a stretch in your quad.
3. Keep your other leg straight and try to keep your knees as close together as possible.
4. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Release and repeat. Switch legs and repeat steps on the other leg.
Your calf muscles work hard when you're running, so they'll need a good stretch when you're done. Stretching your calves can also help prevent shin splints. Here's what to do:
1. To begin, stand facing up a flight of stairs or exercise step.
2. Position yourself so that the ball of your foot and your toes are on the edge of the step. You can hold a railing or wall for extra support.
3. Drop the heel of one foot toward the ground, while bending the knee of the opposite leg. You should feel the stretch in the calf of the leg dropping the heel.
5. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, then repeat with the opposite side.
This is a great stretch for your hip flexor muscles, which work hard lifting your legs up during running. Here's what to do:
1. Step into a lunge position.
2. Keep your toes pointed forward and your upper torso straight. Your back leg should be straight back behind you.
3. Press down with your hands and extend the hips forward until you feel a stretch from the front of your hip and the top of your thigh (of your back leg).
4. Hold 30 to 60 seconds, then switch sides.
If you talk with most people in the fitness world, they will tell that 3 out every 10 persons that started an exercise program to lose weight only to find their weight going up. That change in the scale doesn't necessarily mean you're doing anything wrong, nor does it mean you're going in the wrong direction. There can be some obvious and not-so-obvious reasons you're gaining weight.
Are You Really Gaining Fat?
Your first step is to determine if what you're gaining is fat, muscle, or water.
Muscle is denser than fat, but it takes up less space. That means if you gain muscle, your scale weight may go up even as you're slimming down. It's normal for you to lose inches, even if you're not losing weight.
Another culprit is water retention. There's a theory that the body will retain water when you exercise, not only as part of the healing process but also as a method of getting glycogen to the body in a more efficient way. That more efficient fuel system means you may carry around a few extra pounds of water.1
Either way, the scale can't tell you any of this, which is why it isn't always the best way to measure progress. One option is to forget the scale, at least for a little while, and get your body fat tested. You can do with a home body fat scale, or by a trainer at your gym.
If these aren't options, take measurements at different areas of the body on a regular basis. If you're losing inches, you're on the right track.
5 Reasons You May Be Gaining Weight on an Exercise Program
If you've measured yourself in different ways and realized you really are going in the wrong direction, take some time to go through the following possibilities—you may need to make some small changes in your diet to see better results.
You're Eating Too Many Calories
It may seem obvious, but people sometimes eat more after starting an exercise program to compensate for burning those extra calories. You may think you're eating a healthy, lower-calorie diet but, unless you're keeping a food diary, you don't know how many calories you're really eating.
Most people are surprised when they start keeping a journal and begin adding up the calories. It almost always turns out to be more than they thought. Keep a food diary for at least a week or use an app or online tracking site like MyFitnessPal or Fit Watch to get a sense of what and how much you're eating.
If you discover you are eating too many calories, you can make changes in your diet to reduce your calories. Try to avoid the mindset that says you can eat whatever you want since you're doing all this great exercise. To lose weight, you still need to monitor your calories.
You're Not Eating Enough Calories
It may seem counterintuitive but eating too few calories can stall your efforts to lose fat.
As Cathy Leman, a registered dietitian and creator of Nutri Fit! says, "...if there is a severe restriction in calories, the body may counteract this reduction by slowing down its metabolism."
Be sure you're eating enough calories to sustain your body, especially if you've increased your activity.
You're Not Giving Your Body Time to Respond
Just because you start exercising doesn't always mean your body will respond to that immediately.
As Cathy Leman puts it, "...in some instances the body needs to sort of 'recalibrate' itself. Increased activity and new eating habits, such as taking in more or fewer calories require the body to make adjustments."
Give yourself several weeks, even months to allow your body to respond to what you're doing. You didn't gain weight overnight, and you won’t lose it overnight either. You must exercise and reduce calories most of the time to really see significant changes. That means, weight loss isn't always a linear process.
Sometimes you'll lose and then something happens, sickness or injury, that changes your plans and sets you back a bit. That's normal and something you must build into your plan.
You Have an Underlying Medical Condition
If you really believe you're eating less and exercising more, creating the calorie deficit you need to lose weight, now is the time to talk to your doctor,
While not everyone has thyroid problems, they can cause weight gain and weight loss to be more challenging.
You'll also want to discuss any medications you're taking that could affect your body's ability to lose weight.2
Keep in mind that age can also be a factor in slow weight loss. It's unfortunate that getting older means it's that much harder to lose weight as your metabolism changes. It's nothing you're doing wrong, just one more thing to pay attention to.
You're Gaining Muscle Faster Than You're Losing Fat
If it seems that you're getting bigger after you've started a weight training routine, it may be because you aren't losing body fat as fast as you're building muscle—a common problem.
Genetics can play a role; some people put on muscle more easily than others. If that's the case for you, don't stop training. Instead, you might simply adjust your program to make sure you're getting enough cardio exercise to promote weight loss and focus your strength training workouts on muscular endurance by keeping the reps between 12 to 16.
Whatever is the cause of your weight gain, don't give up on exercise. It's often a temporary situation that will correct itself if you just keep going and, if it doesn't, don't give up all that great exercise time you've collected.
Consider hiring a trainer or meeting with a dietitian to help you tweak your workouts and diet. Sometimes, all you need are a few different changes.
This blog is updated by Tranquillity 360 fitness personal trainers, as well as other guest bloggers. | <urn:uuid:0461dd8f-220b-4e01-97e1-06c35661d9d4> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.tranquillity360fitness.com/blog/archives/09-2019 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370500331.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331053639-20200331083639-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.959133 | 2,862 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Are we omnivores, carnivores or herbivores? It’s important for animals to eat what they are physiologically and anatomically designed to eat, to improve the chances of survival and health. So, what are humans designed to eat? Dr. Sofia Pineda Ochoa discusses this often misunderstood topic.
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• HC McGill and CA McMahan. Determinants of Atherosclerosis in the Young. Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) Research Group. Am J Cardiol. 1998 Nov 26;82(10B):30T-36T. Available here (accessed Feb. 7, 2016).
• TH Lee reviewing JP Strong et al. Early Atherosclerosis Present in Virtually All Americans. J Am Med Assoc. 1999 Feb 24. Available here (accessed Feb. 7, 2016).
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• WF Enos, RH Holmes and J Beyer. Coronary Disease among United States Soldiers Killed in Action in Korea; Preliminary Report. J Am Med Assoc. 1953 Jul 18;152(12):1090-3. Available here (accessed Feb. 7, 2016).
Hi this is Dr. Sofia Pineda Ochoa with Meat Your Future.
Are humans herbivores, carnivores or omnivores? It’s very important for a given animal to eat what they are physiologically and anatomically designed to eat, to improve the chances of survival and health. So, what are humans designed to eat?
When looking at a species to determine what they are in terms of carnivore, omnivore or herbivore, we can look at their behavior or we can look at their biology. From a behavioral standpoint, humans behave as omnivores because we observe many humans in their behavior eating a wide variety of both animal and plant-based foods. Biologically, however, from a physiologic and anatomic standpoint, it’s a different story.
Dr. Williams C. Roberts from the National Institutes of Health and Baylor University — who is the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Cardiology and one of the most prominent cardiologists in the world with over 1,500 publications in peer reviewed medical journals — summarized our answer very nicely. He wrote:
“Although most of us conduct our lives as omnivores, in that we eat flesh as well as vegetables and fruits, human beings have characteristics of herbivores, not carnivores. The appendages of carnivores are claws; those of herbivores are hands or hooves. The teeth of carnivores are sharp; those of herbivores are mainly flat (for grinding). The intestinal tract of carnivores is short (3 times body length); that of herbivores, long (12 times body length). Body cooling of carnivores is done by panting; herbivores, by sweating. Carnivores drink fluids by lapping; herbivores, by sipping. Carnivores produce their own vitamin C, whereas herbivores obtain it from their diet. Thus, humans have characteristics of herbivores, not carnivores.”
That’s right. Humans have characteristics of herbivores, not carnivores or omnivores — because omnivores, like bears and raccoons, actually retain most of the carnivorous characteristics, so that they are still able to digest and hunt their prey, and do so effectively.
Although we behave like omnivores, our digestive system actually resembles that of the chimpanzees and other great apes, who eat mostly plants. The percentage of animal foods that chimpanzees do eat is very low, if any, about 2 to 3% and mainly termites and other insects.
Regarding the gastrointestinal system — humans, like herbivores, have a relatively smaller opening of the oral cavity compared to the head size. Carnivores have a wide mouth in relation to the head size, and their jaw joint is a hinge joint, very strong and stable, lying in the same plane as the teeth; the lower jaw of a carnivore doesn’t move forward, and there is very limited side-to-side motion. Like herbivores, our jaw joint is positioned above the level of the teeth, and because it has an expanded angle, the lower jaw has more sideways motion, and more lateral and complex motion for chewing plant foods. Our jaw joints are less stable and strong than those of carnivores therefore, and could be easily dislocated if we actually tried to prey on an animal. On the other hand, if a carnivore had our more unstable jaw, and dislocated their jaw, they would probably starve and die, or be prayed upon; so, it would be very disadvantageous to carnivore to have jaws like ours.
Herbivores chew food to disrupt plant cell walls for better digestion and to mix it with saliva, because unlike carnivores who mostly swallow the food without chewing and mixing it with saliva, herbivores and humans have saliva that contains digestive enzymes. So, our digestion starts in the chewing process. The saliva of carnivorous animals does not contain any enzymes for digestion.
Teeth are strikingly different as well. Our canines are flattened, blunt and small, shaped like a spade and non-serrated; unlike carnivores, who have them elongated and dagger-like, which are often serrated for killing and tearing their prey. Our molars and premolars are squared and flattened, for grinding and crushing; unlike carnivores, who have them sharp, jagged and shaped like a blade.
If we humans tried to kill a giraffe with our teeth, we’d sooner get kicked by the animal. Or, if we successfully snuck-up and actually tried to really bite into the live animal, it could easily result in some of our teeth falling out or our jaw dislocating. We would for sure end up with a very annoyed giraffe, but not a dead one to prey upon.
And on to the stomach. Our stomach volume is, like herbivores, about 25% of our gastrointestinal tract; unlike carnivores, who have a very large stomach volume with twice as much capacity, about 60-70% of their total G.I. tract volume, which allows them to kill maybe once a week, gorge on large amounts of meat, and digest later.
The pH of our stomach is about 4 to 5 with food, unlike carnivores who secrete a lot more hydrochloric acid and have a stomach pH that is a lot more acidic (their pH is usually one or less with food). The more acidic stomach of a carnivore is advantageous to kill bacteria found in decaying flesh.
As Dr. Roberts mentioned, humans, like herbivores, have a very long small intestine, about 10 times the length of our body; unlike the intestines in carnivorous animals, which are short, only about 3 to 5 times their body length. The long intestines in humans and herbivores is necessary for the fibers in plants, which require longer and more elaborate guts, sometimes even sacculated like the human gut.
Also there are some striking physiologic differences as well.
Just like other herbivores, humans require vitamin C from plants. If we don’t eat vitamin C, we get a disease called scurvy where we are unable to make collagen, which is the building substance of mostly everything in our body (so, the lack of vitamin C can result in problems in our bones, bleeding gums, problems with healing, etc.). And vitamin C is found exclusively in plants. Mammals that are primarily carnivorous do not need to eat vitamin C from their diets. They make their own vitamin C.
Also, vitamin A is telling. There are two types of vitamin A: (1) Preformed vitamin A, like retinol, found in animal products like meat, liver, dairy products, eggs and fish; and (2) pro-vitamin A, carotenoids, found in plant foods. The form of vitamin A that comes from animals can be toxic to humans in large quantities. The livers of animals that are primarily carnivorous have the capacity to detoxify vitamin A. However, our livers are unable to do this.
In this paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists expressed concern that excess of the Vitamin A that comes from animals is not always identified and can cause serious problems. They say, “excessive vitamin A intake may be a growing but under-appreciated problem.” And apparently this problem is nothing new. The scientists reported that:
“Fossilized skeletal remains of early humans suggest that bone abnormalities may have been caused by hypervitaminosis A [which means excess of vitamin A]. From these and other reports, vitamin A toxicity is known to be an ancient phenomenon.”
So, it looks like we have been behavioral omnivores for quite some time now, notwithstanding our biology.
The last thing I want to point out is actually a very sad thing. A characteristic that is unique to herbivores and not in carnivores, and it’s a problem in humans. It’s something that Dr. Roberts pointed out as well:
“Atherosclerosis affects only herbivores. Dogs, cats, tigers, and lions can be saturated with fat and cholesterol, and atherosclerotic plaques do not develop.”
That’s right. Carnivores and omnivores — animals who are designed to eat other animals — can eat all the animals and animal products they want and they never develop atherosclerosis, which are plaques of cholesterol coating our vessels that can occlude the blood flow that goes to our heart and brain [and] cause heart attacks and strokes.
Cholesterol in our diet is only present in animal products, and we don’t need to consume any of it because our body synthesizes already all of the cholesterol that we need for all of our biologic needs. Animals that are not designed to eat meat, like herbivores including humans, do develop atherosclerosis. We do develop this problematic coating of cholesterol in our arteries, and we do it big time. Atherosclerosis is ubiquitous on a Western diet with animal products since very early in our lives.
We really do end up paying a price for behaving like omnivores, when we are biologically designed as herbivores. Thank you very much.
This transcript is an approximation of the audio in above video. To hear the audio and see the accompanying visuals, please play the video.
This video was written and narrated by Sofia Pineda Ochoa, MD, and edited by Bob Rapfogel.
This presentation may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Meat Your Future is using such material in its efforts to advance the public’s understanding of the implications of animal consumption on health, the environment and ethics. We believe that this not-for-profit, non-commercial and educational use constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in 17 U.S. Code §107). If you wish to use this material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use,” you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Without limiting the foregoing, this presentation also includes the following (in order of appearance in the video):
- The photograph of William C. Roberts, M.D., under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.
- The photograph of chimpanzee (“Hello, Human…”) by Chi King, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- The photograph of the woman with open mouth by Dan Zen, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- The photograph of the tiger with open mouth by Karen Roe “The Long Awaited Yawn”, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- The scientific illustration of lion’s head and skull from onlineveterinaryanatomy.net via http://scientificillustration.tumblr.com/search/jaw/page/7.
- Scientific illustration of human’s skull, University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- The photograph of the boy’s open mouth by Ben Husmann under license from freeimages.com.
- The photograph of the woman’s teeth by Shmoo18 under license from freeimages.com.
- The photograph of the tiger’s teeth by fPat Murray, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- The diagram of digestive system by Mariana Ruiz Villarreal (LadyofHats) (own work), in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons; edited by Meat Your Future.
- The (1) featured image of two “food” faces, (2) diagram of a carnivore’s digestive system, (3) vector art of vitamin A symbol, and (4) atherosclerosis vector drawing, each under royalty-free licensed from Adobe Stock.
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Arguably, since the spin of the 20th century there has been impossible demographic change in aging. Ageism is the abuse, discrimination, avoidance and stereotyping of the old people in the society (William & Julian, 2008). We are presently living in a society in which its population is growing tremendously, especially individuals over the age of 65. The modern world is probably characterized by a rapid rate of aging. Ageism comes up with different types of social problems. For example each year in America, a minimum of one million and a maximum of three million elderly people are exploited, injured and mistreated by those individuals whom they depend on for care and support. Furthermore they are set of attitudes, norms, beliefs and values which are used to justify time based discrimination, inequality and subordination. These situations are either consistent or occasional.
There exist lots of challenges facing the western societies. In the modern aging society, the circumstances affecting people during growth are totally linked to the overall well-being of the society. In the community there is mounting facts that various effects of aging are neither inevitable nor irreversible. Age is one among many causes of social problems. This is because the pure older and the extremely young are more vulnerable than any other age groups in society. Problems related to the elderly include financial instability, poverty, victimization, isolation, dependency, lack of access to appropriate health care and inadequate housing (William & Julian, 2008).
Debatably, parts of the society do not work amicably as expected. Conflict is all what the society undergoes. The young and elderly are in constant competition for the limited resources. Despite the fact that the resources are abundant in the ground, competition that each an individual faces is so difficult hence conflict is always kept in check. Whether they perceive it or not, the elderly are suppose to compete with the young for health care and resources. As competition heats up, it leads to open conflict between the young and the senior thus throwing the society into turmoil. Actually the guiding opinion of any social life is conflict and disequilibrium.
On conflict perspective, social problems are inevitable and come naturally as result of social struggle. Actually at the base of any social problem there lies strong contest over supply of privilege and power (William & Julian, 2008). For examples in America the elderly who have retired have fought for the resources through the formation of political lobbies. According to conflict theorists the social problems associated with the elderly come in two different forms. First concerns the elderly been oppressed by the powerful in the society. The other problem comes when the elderly resist oppression and appeal to moral values.
Conflict theorists believe that the primary source of social troubles come as a result of oppression and exploitation. They consider inequality in society as a wrong and unprincipled aspect of a society. Structural-functionalist view it in a different perspective in that they view the conflicts between the aged and other members of the society as an essential for the integration and smooth running of the society. Both theories though arguing on a different perspective, believe that discrimination and stereotyping strengthens the dominant groups and oppresses the elderly. Conflict theorists see social change as continuous, immediate and inevitable as the young groups seek to replace the old in social chain of command.
Aging in the modern society is a social problem on its own. The elderly individuals in the modern society have less power and lower social status, but they cannot accept ageing as a way in which cannot be avoided at all. It is a natural way in which the human body undergoes some deterioration. In United States, an elderly generation is persistently increasing (William & Julian, 2008). This fact has significant impacts on lives of individuals and the social institutions that exist in society. The problems related to the aged are motivated by three significant factors: the notion of work as an individual value, economic hardship and labeling.
In the society each institution has a duty to fulfill. Aging has become a social problem because institutions in the modern society do not meet the needs of the elderly people who are weak. The elderly face stigmatization because they are not in a position to adapt to the society full of youth-oriented norms. Conflict theorist’s review the social problems of the elderly as stemming from lack of evidence to influence societal institutions to meet their needs.
The issue of modernization has changed almost all activities in the society. Many of the problems facing the aging generation in America recently emerge from the nature of modernization of the western society. The elderly face lots of challenges in the production sector. More of the work is carried out using machines which the elderly have no idea on how it operates. Ageism is not well defined in all sectors hence the elderly have no choice but to agree to negative branding that the society gives them. For example people believe that as individuals grow older their intellectual ability and capacity declines.
The society is dominated by youth and glamour therefore the actual role of the elderly has no value. Growing old implies that there is continuous deterioration of mental and physical mechanisms that are essential for effectual performance in the community. A capitalist nation such all in the world today, old age is significantly viewed as been a handicap. The youth does not appreciate the fabulous contribution and the high positions held by the so called the “handicapped”. The elderly should be held in particularly high esteem and idolized for their knowledge, contributions, wisdom and experiences.
Perhaps age stratification has affected the elderly tremendously. In the modern society people are mostly segregated on the basis of age. This segregation limits the type of roles in which members of each cluster can hold and work on. This scenario leaves the elderly in a worse off group, leading to conflict in the society. The elderly are in the recent past been discriminated (William & Julian, 2008).Stereotypes believe that the old people are intellectually rigid, asexual, unproductive, reclusive and ineffective. Furthermore discrimination causes emotional and psychological abuse to the elderly resulting to depression and low self-esteem. Continuity of discrimination makes the elderly grow apathetically and finally withdraw from the society. Additionally age discrimination erodes senior’s confidence and dignity, finally affecting their romance and love lifestyle.
Aging comes up with drastic health issues. In most cases they are prone to highly chronic diseases. These diseases associated to old age include the metabolism of glucose in the brain and cardiac disturbance. As individuals grow old they stop or reduce their workload, therefore affecting the general lifestyle and functioning of the body. The change in lifestyles activities and other social contacts affect morbidity and mortality. Health issues of the aging increase spending on health care programs which include medical expenses and nursing homes. This problem increases daily; this is so because the elderly face exceptionally high medical bills with decreasing or low incomes. In America the old spent twice as much on health care as their youthful counterparts, more than half of this goes to insurance (William & Julian, 2008).The elderly who are poor, women and the minority spend higher ratio of their total resources on health care.
Abuse and victimization has become part and parcel of the elderly in the 21st century. These abuses include financial exploitation, physical abuse, psychological abuse and the medical abuse. In America the elderly who are abused in one way or another is estimated to be 2.1 million or more. Those abused at home or institutions are mostly female, whites, individuals with low income and widows.
The elderly who retire have a problem adjusting to the new environment. Retiring puts much pressure on the elderly to adjust to their new status. In the society there are no role models in which the elderly can learn from. Retirement comes with reduction of income hence spending should be adjusted in order to guarantee survival .Now days policies have been put in place which makes retirement a mandatory at a certain age. They also face extra hardships such as discrimination when seeking new jobs. Most countries have no articulate policies that deal with housing; in addition the programs that deal with health care of the elderly are inadequate and costly. Hence it is difficult for the old to enjoy their short life .The social security systems have also faced lots of criticism; it discriminates against those elderly who are still working and women. The payments from the systems are extremely minimal to offer support to the elderly who have no other supply of income (William & Julian, 2008).
The baby boomers age group consists of individuals who were born between the years 1946-1964. Due to the shifting needs and steep statistics baby boomers will still influence the society in different ways. The world has improved on the health care to its people therefore life expectancy has increased and individual don’t want to bear children hence there is a total demographic shift. Baby boomers are currently at their 40s and 50s. They have fully affected the overall age structure of society. In addition, they are the barriers to the employment of the young, this is because they have increased the average age of those who are working and the general size of labor force. Arguably, the World will still feel the impact of baby boomers in the labor sector for more years to come. Recently, baby boomers occupy the highest percentage of positions in the labor force. As baby boomers increase in work force, the percentage of the unemployed youth increases. The youth too will be growing old and when they are employed they will be of an older age. This type of trend will persist for many years.
Baby boomers are financially better off when compared to their parents. The households’ real median income of baby boomers is 35-53 percent higher than what their parents had. In every society, not all people in the same class achieve the same things; some baby boomers did not perform well economically hence most of them remained poor. As the baby boomers generations ages, lots of policies should be put in place so as to help the elderly in the future. The baby boomers too faced different conditions of the economy because of variances in their cohorts (William & Julian, 2008).Some enjoyed economic boom while others were born during economic recession. This scenario caused differences in age distribution of the economically disadvantaged and the poor in society.
The society should go beyond aging and learn more about the concept of aging. In fact we should do away with the erroneous thinking and beliefs that are associated to aging. The old have their rights and freedoms that should be respected. They are human beings hence they have sexual feelings and emotions. The elderly should not be blamed for the persistent increase in social and health care costs. The increase of health and social costs are caused by global economic crisis. The youth need to stop the stereotype thinking and listen to seniors who have wisdom and experience. The media too need to change the ways in which they portrayed the elderly in society. Media reaches many people therefore the perception of ageing can be changed easily by them.
In conclusion we expect that the society changes its negative view of the elderly. Otherwise in the meantime we should comprehend and accept that there is something inherently erroneous with the way the old in society are viewed. Very little research has been carried out to determine the causes of ageism. Therefore more concern should be put on the causes of ageism. We should not be stereotypes and only believe that it is nature taking its course. Mostly the problems of the elderly in society are compounded by a deficiency of interaction, inactivity and loneliness. The old are segregated and left alone either in retirement institutions or nursing homes away from friends and family members. Furthermore they are isolated from schools and flow of work. This should not be the case, the elderly should be made active and interacted with family members and friends.
William, K & Julian, J. (2008). Social Problems, 13th Ed. New York: City University. | <urn:uuid:09574d09-3d71-4780-9867-48f8a3ea8f35> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/social-problems-in-an-aging-society-essay/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521876.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404103932-20200404133932-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.961695 | 2,378 | 3.3125 | 3 |
The Hennops River-valley forms the base part of the proposed Sanctuary, timelessly the Hennops river has carved an ancient and spectacular coarse here through the solid rock foothills of the Schurweberg, meaning rough mountain, the extreme rockiness of the area has saved its grassland from agricultural destruction. It remains largely intact still harbouring some very old trees, plants and bulbs as well as a highly diverse insect and small animal life, some larger ones like Eland and Kudu are also present most from precious wild gene-pools having found a last refuge here. By returning the other original species some severally threatened and adding to this existing bio-diversity a magnificent Wildlife park can be created in the heart of Gauteng.
In this valley are also the stone-tools and living areas of our first ancestors, the riverside caves and stone structures of early man. The stone tools are highly diverse and flaked with a great degree of skill achieving curved and even round shapes, some have been dated at 2,8million years ago corresponding to the earliest Cradle periods. Here early man lived along these perennial streams in continuous habitation through the successive stone ages as shown by the range of stone tools some smoothed through continuous use in a complex and varied lifestyle. The clues to the lives of our first ancestors still lie scattered here, mixed with the Stromatolite fossils of the first creatures, the sacred places of our first ancestors along with the timeless ancient ecosystems can be preserved here for the benefit of all mankind as our shared place of origin.
Currently the Valley is under severe threat of development from all sides, becoming a surrounded last natural refuge situated on the edge of large scale developments marching closer with a new high density node on its doorstep. With land prices still low unscrupulous illegal developments are rife, eating away at the scenic beauty and endangered Grassland that has miraculously survived here due to its rugged nature. Parts of it are now in process of being declared a Nature Reserve forming part of the larger Crocodile River Reserve. These are core areas however while the edges are being eaten away, by defining proper borders with a perimeter fence and having wildlife free-roaming over the whole area protection and prosperity can be brought to this area, forming a large and spectacular part of a Birthplace of Humankind Nature Reserve.
The Hennops river feeding this nature area has been in a highly polluted state harming its riparian life, the necessary restoration and protection as a river sanctuary will ensure clean water and thriving ecosystems that can migrate along these natural corridors to repopulate them, stretching out from a base of intact high biodiversity.
Forming the longest part of the proposed larger Birth-source Reserve the Hennops river meanders for over a hundred kilometres and can form the first part of the restoration project so that the life from here can form the basis to repopulate the other denuded rivers of the Rand with their original diversity of life. The Jukskei, Crocodile and Klip River, as well as the Apies River through Pretoria and their tributaries are all born on the Witwatersrand and need to be protected as individual River Sanctuaries. Starting at the top with a connected Freshwater Birth-source Fountain Reserve to celebrate
Humankind`s origin that radiates out connected through the River Sanctuary corridors to a large Birthplace of Humankind Wildlife reserve where three of these rivers merge, functioning as an adjunct to the Cradle by being the restored environment where the first Hominids would have lived and evolved near these abundant sources of permanent water.
Protecting also the hugely important underground water held like a sponge in the Limestone Karst system that is underlying this and the Cradle area holding large volumes of interconnected underground water reserves in eroded caves harbouring an estimated forty percent of the country`s total supply. Underground rivers connect a large area with some from here reputed to feed as far afield as the Kuruman Eye .The health of our whole environment supporting millions of people is at stake as river pollution seeps through the porous Limestone into the groundwater where it is virtually impossible to clean in slow moving caverns that can be harbouring diseases over long periods with underground river spreading toxins over a very large interconnected area surfacing as fountains. We are all facing a grave health risk and can lose our underground re-sources making a wide-spread area of the country virtually uninhabitable.
The biggest threats to this ancient freshwater system comes from the huge volumes of pollution in the form of raw or partially treated waste-water that is being dumped into the rivers, used as a waterborne sewerage system to carry all the city`s waste-water effluent in whatever state it is. Gigantic sewage spills have been happening regularly, some from blocked and backed-up sewerage mains causing a thick layer of foul smelling white foam to cover the whole length of the Hennops River. Starting in its tributary the Kaalspruit and flowing downstream to pollute the Crocodile and Limpopo systems into the sea, a white death tide destroying life over thousands of kilometres. Another black death-tide coming down in huge volumes has the fish gasping for air and dying, the cause seems to originate in the sedimentary fall-out from malfunctioning sewage works building up, or from the toxic black sludge dumps of sewage treatment works illegally dumped, the cause uncertain but the volumes are gigantic. This shocking state is exasperated by the large percentage of malfunctioning sewerage works, up to 80% at some stage, the main reason recently has been continual debilitation resulting from cable theft and poor maintenance of infrastructure.
Leaking sewerage mains and raw-sewage spills into the upstream tributaries of the Hennops, especially in the Kaalspruit through Thembisa have been a longstanding problem here the stream poses a big health-hazard in this densely populated area. Infrastructure needs to be fixed properly and the system effectively maintained. Once everyone benefits from the fresh spring-water, vandalism and crime will be frowned upon and communities along the river will protect their own stretches of these miraculous natural streams. Having pristine indigenous parklands with life filled wetlands constantly fed by sparkling fountain water running through their world will enrich the lives of many in this highly populated area, bringing the natural wonder of healing waters in perennial spring-fed parks meandering through Thembisa East. Patrolled and made safe to create a clean place of recreation and tranquillity for all. The wetlands through here are currently in a toxic state where the children play, they need to be restored as the tranquil focal point of the area and a vital part of the upper Hennops River Source Sanctuary.
The Hennops has two sources this origin on the one side flowing down through a series of long wetlands originating from an area of many fountains on top of a high point, this area should be protected as part of the Birth-Source Freshwater Reserve. These strong fountains are on a watershed that also forms one of the sources of the Jukskei River flowing towards the other side. These high areas containing the precious spring sources are severally threatened by industry and development with their wetlands mostly lifeless, one hill is even called Chloorkop (chlorine hill) referring to the chemical factories in the vicinity. Further down the large volumes of clean water emanating from the Kaalspruit joins these streams to become immediately polluted. These springs must be protected as part of the Central Birth-source Reserve as they are the constant heart-pump of these Freshwater River Sanctuaries.
The second origin of the Hennops lies in the fountains protected by the Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve our premier grassland reserve giving an indication of the richness of this system when the wildlife is returned. Sadly even here near the eye water is already polluted and foamy from sewage inflow higher up, even containing difficult to treat Cyanobacteria in the dam and reputed to be making the animals sterile, this in our only proper grassland reserve with rare fully restored animal life. Sheltering also the strong fountains that serve as piped water for large parts of Centurion polluting this source does much harm. The grassland here also has severe alien Pom-pom infestations threatening the grazing capacity of the veld in this beautiful reserve.
These waters should be crystal clean fountain waters flowing out into the Sesmylspruit and meeting further on with the Kaalspruit where they officially start the Hennops. The proposed Source-River Sanctuary will create life filled parklands meandering far, a living winding river corridor between the two existing Nature reserves on the Hennops from the Rietvlei Dam at the top to the new Crocodile River Reserve at the bottom. The Sanctuary of the Hennops will be protecting this corridor in-between and allowing for animal migration thus ensuring healthy biodiversity by preventing gene pools from isolating and collapsing - saving the natural Grassland life and returning endangered species to a safe and clean habitat in our bosom.
A protected Source-River Nature Sanctuary running through Irene and Centurion will be facilitating fish migration through sculpted fish ladders at weirs and animal movement along a safe green nature corridor running along the riparian zones and widening in natural areas, parks and golf courses. Natural varieties of wildlife and birds will be revitalising the Centurion lake area perhaps built with bird islands and reed-beds. The front part on the Mall side can have a lakeside recreational area with soft river-sand beaches sculpted next to clean water to become a tranquil nature area at the heart of Centurion. Providing a healthy river recreational space in a wide flowing part of the River Sanctuary of which it can be an important part enlivening this central area. There can be a cultural space with an information centre that can house a museum of the riverine ecology and human pre-history to showcase the ancient and natural wonders of the Source-River Sanctuary of the Hennops and of the larger freshwater Birthplace Reserve that it forms a dynamic part of. An aquarium and education area can show the fascinating creatures in this dynamic fresh-water riverine ecosystem portraying the whole interconnected web of life.
Downstream the connected nature areas along the banks can be repopulated with the original Wild- life to revitalise the nature of our urban environment, protecting the endangered riverine life while the grazing herbivores care for the Grasslands as it meanders through Centurion. An existing natural stretch with wildlife along the Hennops at the Swartkops Nature Reserve serves as a model of the larger idea and the area can be enlarged and connected as an important part of the Sanctuary Hennops flowing through.
Connecting through the river under the bridge with the large natural area on the other side of theR55 near Erasmia, this large old farm is under severe threat and should be integrated and protected within the Sanctuary of the Hennops, large scale illegal dumping as well as the industrial park of Sunderland Ridge on the other side of the Hennops threaten it with development. The Sewerage works across the river poses a huge threat that could strangle the Sanctuary here, already polluting the river and blocking one side of the bank by being built right on the edge disregarding the 30m building restrictions. A highly important and historical place with very large indigenous trees in an area which needs to be conserved containing a strong riverside fountain that used to supply the whole town`s water for Erasmia, now immediately polluted. Near the spring is also some very old and skilled stonework of large shaped stones reminiscent of sacred site something like a temple complex, considering the importance of these magical sources to our ancestors. This whole old farm is currently on the market and should be purchased for the Sanctuary and Reserve to form a central heartland area when restored and protected it can house the headquarters of the Sanctuary as well as featuring many natural and cultural attractions that can benefit and educate the larger community place to interact with the nature of the River Sanctuary.
This piece joins onto the Mooiplaas conservancy which can form an important buffer area joining this part of the riparian area with the proposed Birthplace Park, where the Hennops Sanctuary joins up with the Crocodile River Nature Reserve. Here there is another ancient site near the river on a strategic rocky outcrop where a cluster of communal dwellings was built integrated with the natural rock and situated next to the perennial stream of the Swartbooispruit.
The Hennops changes from wide meandering to more rocky rapids as it flows in a spectacular course carved through the limestone hills where the scenery is still wild and free in what should be a completely restored environment with intact animal life in the proposed Birthplace Park. Throughout the Hennopsriver Valley the extreme limestone rockiness of the Schurweberg`s rough terrain has protected this meandering course through what was the ancient sea-bed billions of years ago, still containing many Stromatolite fossils in the tidal zones with some very large specimens.
Mixed with these fossilised first creatures are the stone tools of early man, some dated at 2, 8 million years ago and corresponding to the earliest Cradle period. This area contains some highly important remains of our earliest pre-history with riverside cave complexes carved by the river when she was still young, that appear to have been used as sacred sites since the earliest times, the caves were formed in a red conglomerate rock that appears connected with related stonework and walls of large shaped stones of the same rock. There seems to have been a larger early community connected along the riverbank creating a similar style of structures that have been built of large multifaceted shaped stones
integrated into the natural rock outcrops of a specific kind which seems to have held special significance for them, being linked to their caves. Here perhaps are the tantalising remnants of the very first human culture with similar style of sites connected by this perennial life-giving river which must have held special spiritual significance for these people and contributed to the essence of their religious activities.
An important base part of the reserve can be created here in this large and spectacular nature area that is still relatively pristine by integrating the through-fare road that is dividing the valley`s nature and declaring it as a scenic route by lowering the speed limit to give animals the right of way. As part of the Crocodile River Reserve the whole area can be protected with a perimeter fence and entrance gates on either side to give access and create the large Birtplace Wildlife Reserve in the heart of Gauteng. The endangered Egoli Granite Grassland and threatened High-veld species can be restored here to revive and re-establish the original life in an important place of human origin, protecting our shared Human Heritage while forming a strong base for biodiversity so that these original species can spread upriver to repopulate the whole River Sanctuary, our birthplace alive and abundant again.
The Hennops river valley will comprise an important base part of the Fountain River Earth Sanctuary and will form a large and vital part of The Birthplace of Humankind`s Freshwater Reserve, with the proposed Birth-Source-River Park protecting the sources of all the River Sanctuaries. Together they will protect the natural freshwater heritage that nurtured the birth and growth of our species and save the ancient grassland nature of Gauteng along with these rivers of life to heal ourselves, our species and our precious planet. To Ward off the extinction of our fellow species through our actions currently happening and predicted to wipe out sixty percent of them. | <urn:uuid:03c58c48-2352-4e68-a956-8072b56d1e6d> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://fresh.ngo/projects/23-starting-the-hennops-river-fountain-source-sanctuary | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371807538.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408010207-20200408040707-00393.warc.gz | en | 0.945 | 3,206 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Hymns and Our Stewardship of Time
Our God is sovereign over time. He holds the future with same perfection and certainty that He holds both present and past. He was in the beginning (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1) and He is “the Alpha and the Omega,” the One “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). He declares “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). In the opening verses of Psalm 90 Moses reflects on the sovereignty of God over time:
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
God is above time, He created time, and He delights in taking time to make known His glory. At creation God did not speak the world into existence all at once. He took time to delight in the act of creating. For six days He worked and then rested on the seventh day. When God gave His Word, He did not give it all at once. He took time revealing His Word to prophets and apostles through many ages. And when Adam fell and God promised the coming Savior, the Seed of the women who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), He did not send Him right away. God took time to prepare the way. Jesus came “at the right time” to die for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
God is sovereign over time. He is intentional in crafting time for His own glory. And He calls on us to be good stewards of time. All our moments and days are gifts from Him. We are to value time and use the time we have wisely. Moses prays in Psalm 90:
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Many hymns speak of time. They teach us of God’s sovereignty over time and they encourage us to be wise in how we use our time. Here are some hymns that remind and exhort us to steward our time to the glory of God:
God’s Sovereignty over Time
Sovereign Ruler of the Skies (John Ryland, 1777)
1. Sovereign Ruler of the skies!
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand,
All events at Thy command.
3. He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.
[A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship—William Gadsby, 1965 #64]
O God Our Help in Ages Past (Isaac Watts, 1719)
1. O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch the ends the night
Before the rising sun.
[Baptist Hymnal, 2008 #122]
Our Stewardship of Time
O Could I Find from Day to Day (Benjamin Cleavland, 1733–1811)
1. O could I find, from day to day,
A nearness to my God,
Then would my hours glide sweet away,
While leaning on His Word.
2. Lord, I desire with Thee to live
Anew from day to day,
In joys the world can never give,
Nor ever take away.
[The Baptist Psalmody, 1850 #656]
The Time Is Short (Joseph Hoskins, 1789)
2. The time is short, O who can tell
How short his time below may be?
Today on earth his soul may dwell,
Tomorrow in eternity.
3. The time is short; sinner, beware!
Nor squander these brief hours away;
O flee to Christ by faith and prayer
Ere yet shall close this fleeting day.
[Our Own Hymnbook—C.H. Spurgeon, 1866 #823]
Forever and Always (Words and Music ©2011 Kenneth A Puls and Rebecca Ascol Sissons)
1. Each moment is a treasure,
A present to employ,
Not chasing fleeting pleasures,
But finding lasting joy.
The truth that Christ is risen,
It changes everything;
My hopes, my dreams, my passions,
Now center on my King!
I live to serve my Savior,
Not just to seize the day;
But to lay hold of glory,
Forever—Forever and always!
The Value of Time for Daily Devotion
In 1674 Thomas Ken published A Manual of Prayer for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester College. In the manual he mentioned three hymns he composed: one for morning, one for evening, and one for midnight. These hymns were included in the 1695 edition to assist the students in their daily devotions. Each hymn ended with the same verse—the verse we now know as the Doxology: “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” The hymns are wonderful reminders to think of God through the day, to begin and end the day with prayer, and to be ever ready for the day of His coming.
Morning Hymn (Thomas Ken, 1695, text of 1709)
1. Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
[Trinity Hymnal—Baptist edition, 1995 #331]
Evening Hymn (Thomas Ken, 1695, text of 1709)
1. All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O Keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.
[Trinity Hymnal—Baptist edition, 1995 #341]
Midnight Hymn (Thomas Ken, 1695, text of 1709)
1. May I always ready stand,
With my Lamp burning in my hand,
May I in sight of Heaven rejoice,
When e’er I hear the Bridegroom’s voice.
More Hymns to Begin the Day
A Prayer for God’s Presence Throughout the Day (Words ©2000 Kenneth A Puls)
1. Lord, as I begin to wake,
Just as I become aware,
Draw my waking thoughts to You;
Stir my heart to praise and prayer.
Then as I arise from sleep,
Stand to face another day,
Let Your Word be my delight,
Guiding all I do and say.
2. Help me, Lord to meditate
And apply the truth I know;
As I preach to my own soul,
Grant that I may heed and grow.
As I walk throughout this day,
Help me cast away all fear;
Let me not forget or doubt
Your abiding presence near.
Christ Be in My Waking (Steward Townsend and Simon Brading ©2011 ThankYou Music)
1. Christ be in my waking as the sun is rising
In my day of working, with me every hour
Christ be in my resting, as the day is ending
Coming and refreshing, watching through the night
Jesus, this is my devotion
All my life to know You
Everyday to walk with You
Savior, You’re my deepest longing
You’re the One I live for
Teach me, Lord, to walk with You
As the Sun Doth Daily Rise (Anon, Latin, translated by O.B.C., recast by Earl Nelson, 1864)
1. As the sun doth daily rise,
Bright’ning all the morning skies,
So to Thee with one accord
Lift we up our hearts, O Lord!
2. Day by day provide us food,
For from Thee come all things good;
Strength unto our souls afford,
From Thy living Bread, O Lord!
[Trinity Hymnal—Baptist edition, 1995 #329]
And More to Face the Night
Immanuel’s Land (Anne Ross Cousin, 1857, based on the Letters of Samuel Rutherford)
1. The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks,
The summer morn I’ve sighed for,
The fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory—glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
4. With mercy and with judgment
My web of time He wove,
And aye the dews of sorrow
Were lustered with His love!
I’ll bless the hand that guided,
I’ll bless the heart that plann’d,
When throned where glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
[Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 2004 (Founders Press) #21]
Abide with Me (Henry F. Lyte, 1847)
1. Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Though cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
[Baptist Hymnal, 2008 #88]
Many more could be added to this list. What hymns encourage you to take time to worship God throughout the day?
Read more in the series Hymns and Doctrines | <urn:uuid:32175ccc-9e68-44f3-b4e8-67401dfd378c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://founders.org/2016/12/27/hymns-and-our-stewardship-of-time/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370511408.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410173109-20200410203609-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.900423 | 2,188 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Squamous cell carcinoma in dogs
What is squamous cell carcinoma?
Carcinomas are cancers that develop in cells which cover the internal organs and outer surfaces of the body. A squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer; more specifically it is a malignant tumour in the epidermal cells of the skin. The skin consists of several layers, of which the outermost layer, or epidermis, contains scale-like cells called the squamous epithelium. A squamous cell carcinoma is so named because it is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells originating from the squamous cells in the epidermis.
Squamous cell carcinomas in dogs often appear as a white skin mass or a raised lump on the skin, in the nail beds of the toes, or in the mouth. The mass may bleed or ulcerate as the condition progresses. In dogs, squamous cell carcinomas are the most frequently diagnosed carcinomas.
Squamous cell carcinomas are defined by their location on the body:
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Cutaneous is the scientific word for “related to or affecting the skin.” These are generally slow-growing yet aggressive tumours that occur in the skin, especially under-pigmented areas where hair is sparse and where there is a high rate of exposure to sunlight. Most cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas appear on the head, limbs, abdomen (underside) and perineum. Tumours appear as firm, raised, often ulcerated lesions and nodules that frequently grow outward and have a wart-like surface.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are more common in older dogs, with Bloodhounds, Keeshonds, Standard Schnauzers, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds and Collies at greatest risk. Short-coated dogs that spend lengthy periods of time outdoors also have a higher incidence. No sex predisposition has been found.
Subungual squamous cell carcinoma
These are slow-growing tumours that arise in the epithelial layer of the nail bed. They may occur on multiple toes and limbs, and in around 13% of cases they metastasise to the lymph nodes and lungs. This is the most common form of squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for about 50% of digital tumours in dogs. Both the fore and hind limbs are equally predisposed to tumour development.
Breeds with increased incidence of Subungual squamous cell carcinoma include Giant, Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, Scottish Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers and Briards. Generally, these are dark-haired breeds, and a dark coat colour has been associated with the occurrence of subungual squamous cell carcinomas. Females have a slightly higher rate of occurrence.
Oral Squamous cell carcinoma
These are squamous tumours that occur in the mouth or throat, and are most commonly located in the gums or tonsils. They can metastasise, depending on their location, and may invade the bone. Breeds with increased incidence include English Springer Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs, and more frequently develops in older neutered females.
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma in dogs
Symptoms may vary depending on the location of the tumour. They may also be difficult to spot or distinguish from other sores, ulcers, bumps, or lesions. Squamous cell carcinomas in dogs may be found anywhere on the body, with typical locations being the nose, toes, legs, scrotum and anus.
Common symptoms of squamous cell carcinomas in dogs include:
- A firm, raised, wart-like lump or nodule
- Sores in areas where hair is white or light in colour
- White growths or skin masses
- Erosive and ulcerated skin lesion, rather than a lump
- Growths on the nose, toes, legs, scrotum, or anus
- Inflamed, crusty or bleeding sore that do not heal, even with antibiotics or creams
- Swelling and pain of the nailbed
- Loss of the nail
- Limping or pain when walking
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Mild or nagging cough
- Swollen, bleeding or inflamed areas in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Oral bleeding
- Halitosis (bad breath)
Causes of squamous cell carcinoma in dogs
It can be difficult to identify the exact cause of squamous cell carcinomas as there are a number of genetic and environmental factors that may contribute. These are some of the risk factors which may increase the dog’s likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma:
- The mean age for diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma is between 6 and 11 years old
- Risk generally increases with age
Exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight:
- Tumours often develop in areas of skin most exposed to sunlight (UVA and UVB radiation)
- More common in outdoor dogs, dogs that spend a lot of time in the sun and those living at high altitude
Physical characteristics associated with increased risk:
- Short haired
- Light coloured skin and hair
- Dark coloured coats
- Large breed dogs
- Large breed black dogs are more prone to squamous cell carcinomas on their toes
Other medical conditions that may increase risk:
- Compromised immune system
- Papilloma virus
How is squamous cell carcinoma in dogs diagnosed?
An accurate diagnosis will help in determining the outcome of squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. A thorough history of the dog’s health should be provided, and a complete blood count and blood chemistry profile should be performed to identify any abnormalities. Accurate diagnosis relies upon microscopic examination of tissue samples, as well as medical imaging such as x-rays.
- A thorough inspection of the dog’s skin, to identify any growths or sores that have not healed over time.
- Palpation of lymph nodes to detect swelling, which may indicate the presence of disease or infection.
- Microscopic examination of tissue to determine the type of tumour is essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Tissue may be taken by means of fine needle aspiration with cytology (FNAC), punch biopsy (the primary technique for obtaining skin samples) or complete resection (removal) of the suspected tumour.
- A sample of lymph fluid may also be analysed.
- Chest and abdominal x-rays may be performed to inspect the lungs and other organs, in case of metastasis (spread of the cancer).
- For oral squamous cell carcinoma, x-rays of the mouth and jaw to determine the degree of invasiveness of the lesion.
- For tumours on the legs, x-rays of the leg to see if the cancer has spread to the bone underneath it.
- Computed tomography (CT) may be undertaken to evaluate the location and extent of tumour, particularly those of the ear canal, oral and sino-nasal cavities.
- Imaging can also be useful for the planning of surgery and radiation treatment.
The prognosis will vary, depending on the size and location of the tumour, as well as the probability of recurrence of the cancer in the same area or metastasis (spread) to other areas. As carcinomas are normally malignant and predominantly invasive, life expectancy is also affected by any delay in diagnosis and onset of treatment. Malignant cancers can spread to the local lymph nodes, and then throughout the body via the blood, lymph fluid and nerves. Often the immune system is compromised, which facilitates the cancer’s progress.
Canine squamous cell carcinomas of the skin are typically only locally aggressive with a low potential for distant metastasis. Where the tumour is well-differentiated (the cancer cells look more like normal cells) and can be completely excised, the prognosis is favourable. Conversely, the prognosis is poor if the tumour is inoperable or poorly differentiated or has metastasised. Any recurrence is usually seen within weeks to months.
Nail bed squamous cell carcinomas may recur in the same or another digit from months to years later; they also have a greater likelihood of metastasising, even after surgical removal or amputation, because they can spread up the nerves. Prognosis for oral squamous cell carcinoma depends on the location of the tumour and its rate of metastasis. If the tumour is not located in the tonsils and has not metastasised, the prognosis is positive with surgery and/or radiation treatment. However, tumours that originate in the tonsils tend to be aggressive and have a poor prognosis; they tend to spread to regional lymph nodes.
Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma in dogs
Treatment for squamous cell carcinomas in dogs depends upon the location of the tumour, its size, and whether it has spread. The most common form of treatment is surgical removal. If sores are diagnosed before they become cancerous, they can be treated with topical medication. If a tumour cannot be surgically removed, treatment may entail chemotherapy and / or radiation. The veterinarian will determine the best course of action.
Surgical excision is the primary treatment option for squamous cell carcinomas in dogs. Successful removal of the tumour depends on factors such as its size and location. Wide surgical excision, with margins of at least 2 cm around the tumour, is usually curative.
Some cases will necessitate a more severe removal of tissue. For example, tumours located on the toes require amputation of the affected toe, those on the nose will require a partial removal of the nose, and if the tumour is found on the ear, part of the ear will be removed. In cases of oral tumours, the tumour and some of the underlying tissue and bone are removed; sometimes part of the jawbone is excised.
Other than an altered cosmetic appearance, most dogs recover well from these surgeries. Surgery is considerably successful if the margins are clear; that is, no cancer cells are present in the outer edge of the removed tissue. Even if surgery isn’t curative, surgery can prolong survival.
Radiation therapy is usually recommended in addition to surgery if the tumour is not completely removed. It may also be used as a primary treatment for inoperable tumours. Radiation is most commonly used for tumours of nose and oral cavity. Small, early-stage tumours respond best to this treatment.
While squamous cell carcinomas are not generally regarded as chemo-responsive, chemotherapy may be added to therapy, depending on the circumstances. If the tumour cannot be entirely removed or is inoperable, the veterinarian may recommend chemotherapy. In these situations, the chemical treatment will keep the tumour from growing as quickly and help to make the dog more comfortable.
Alternative treatment may be used where the position of the tumour precludes successful surgery, such as the nose, face, or eyelids. These include cryosurgery, a freezing technique, and photodynamic therapy, a type of light therapy. These therapies can in some cases also be used successfully where the dog has a small, superficial tumour that has not spread to other organs.
On-going management and care:
- Pain medication may be prescribed during treatment and / or after surgery.
- The dog’s physical activity will need to be restricted during the recovery period – set aside a quiet place for rest, away from household activity, children, and other pets; cage rest may be beneficial.
- Only take your dog for short walks until advised otherwise by the vet.
- Monitor the dog’s food and water intake while it is recovering; a feeding tube or a high protein liquid supplement may be necessary to ensure adequate nutrition.
- Topical medication may need to be applied to any lesions or sores.
- Limit the amount of time the dog spends in the sun, especially between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, when the sun is at its highest and the rays most damaging.
- When taking the dog outdoors during daylight hours, apply sunscreen to the ears, nose, and other areas that are either lightly furred or coloured.
- Regular follow-up examinations will be scheduled in order check for any new skin tumours, and x-rays of the chest and abdomen will be taken to see if there are any new tumours in the lungs or internal organs.
- If any new sores or masses are observed, take the dog to the vet immediately so that treatment can commence as soon as possible.
In a nutshell
Squamous cell carcinomas are common tumours in dogs, often appearing as a mass or raised lump on the skin, in the nail beds of the toes or in the mouth. They are malignant cancers that are typically locally aggressive, although they metastasise slowly. Tumours in the nail bed, however, grow more quickly and are more challenging to treat.
The cause of a squamous cell carcinoma in dogs is difficult to determine, as there are several genetic and environmental factors that are associated with the development of the condition. Dogs that are aged 6 to 11 years old and large breed dogs with dark coats are most at risk, as are those with prolonged exposure to sunlight and those with light coloured skin and hair and sparse fur.
Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma are essential. Diagnosis relies on microscopic examination of the tumour. A number treatment modalities are available, depending on the size, location and spread of the tumour. The most common treatment is surgical removal of the tumour. The prognosis for dogs with squamous cell carcinomas varies. Prognosis is good for those with well-differentiated tumours that can be completely excised and have not spread; prognosis is poor for dogs with inoperable or poorly differentiated tumours or with metastasis. | <urn:uuid:5602fe02-5ff5-4335-a1ac-5cd38e68f7e9> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-care/diseases-conditions/squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-dogs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497301.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330181842-20200330211842-00114.warc.gz | en | 0.937796 | 2,921 | 3.359375 | 3 |
is commonly found growing wild in a variety of
settings, including roadsides. The Latin
name is Silybum
The seeds of the dried flower are used. The
active ingredient in the plant is a flavonoid called silymarin,
an antioxidant said to protect liver cells from toxins. Silymarin apparently promotes
liver cell protein synthesis and decreases the oxidation of glutathione. The
plant's flowers and seeds have been used for more than 2,000 years to treat
disorders of the liver and gallbladder.
Milk Thistle benefit in health and disease
Studies show silymarin, silibinin, and other flavonoids found in milk thistle may benefit in a number of conditions including alcoholic cirrhosis and tumors. Many compounds in milk thistle, for instance silibinin, have shown potent anti- prostate and anti-lung cancer activity. Milk thistle herbal supplements are mostly used for liver health.
J Nat Prod. 2015. Silymarin Suppresses Cellular Inflammation By Inducing Reparative Stress Signaling. Silymarin, a characterized extract of the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), suppresses cellular inflammation.
Cancer treatment of
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb that is increasingly used in oncology research and treatment settings. Historically, it has been used to treat liver and biliary disorders and has been used in detoxification and cleansing protocols. However, milk thistle is increasingly being investigated for its use in adult and pediatric populations for oncology indications. Possible indications during cancer treatment include cleansing and detoxification after chemotherapy, preventing hepatotoxicity during chemotherapy, treating hepatotoxicity after chemotherapy, and potentiating chemotherapy and radiation therapy as an adjunctive treatment. Milk thistle may also have applications in ameliorating long-term hepatic and cardiovascular effects of cancer treatment. Preliminary studies are investigating its use as a chemopreventive agent and possibly to treat cancer directly. Much of milk thistle's current clinical use grows out of historical uses but is informed by an increasing number of clinical trials and animal studies.
Number of studies has established the cancer chemopreventive role of silymarin in both in vivo and in vitro models. Silymarin modulates imbalance between cell survival and apoptosis through interference with the expressions of cell cycle regulators and proteins involved in apoptosis. In addition, silymarin also showed anti-inflammatory as well as anti-metastatic activity. Further, the protective effects of silymarin and its major active constituent, silibinin, studied in various tissues, suggest a clinical application in cancer patients as an adjunct to established therapies, to prevent or reduce chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy-induced toxicity.
Silibinin causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cells by regulating CDKI-CDK-cyclin cascade, and caspase 3 and PARP cleavages. Carcinogenesis. 2004.
Silibinin modulates CDKI-CDK-cyclin cascade and activates caspase 3 causing growth inhibition and apoptotic death of human TCC cells, providing a strong rationale for future studies evaluating preventive and/or intervention strategies for silibinin in bladder cancer pre-clinical models. Carcinogenesis. 2004.
In a study of 50 children undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), milk thistle appeared to reduce treatment-related liver inflammation. Dr. Kara M. Kelly, a pediatric oncologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York randomly assigned 50 children with ALL to take either milk thistle capsules or placebo (inactive) capsules for one month while undergoing their "maintenance" round of chemotherapy. Going into the study, all of the children had signs of liver inflammation from their previous round of treatment. After one month, however, children taking milk thistle had lower levels of two liver enzymes than those in the placebo group -- a sign of lesser liver inflammation. Kara M. Kelly reports that children on milk thistle were also somewhat less likely to need their chemotherapy dose lowered at any point. Cancer, 2009.
Depression and mood disorders
Comparison of Silybum marianum with fluoxetine in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2009.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common neuropsychiatric condition. Although a variety of pharmaceutical agents is available for the treatment of OCD, psychiatrists often find that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects of these medications; do not respond properly to the treatment; or the medications lose their effectiveness after a period of treatment. Herbal medicine can be a solution to some of these problems. In fact many herbs with psychotropic effects exist which can have fewer side effects. They can provide an alternative treatment. Silybum marianum is a well-known medicinal plant with a long history of usage in Iran. Our objective in this study was to compare the efficacy of the extract of milk thistle with fluoxetine in the treatment of OCD. The study was an 8-week pilot double-blind randomized trial. Thirty five adult outpatients who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD based on the structured clinical interview participated in the trial. The minimum score of Yale-Brown Scale for OCD was 21 for all patients. In this double-blind and randomized trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either capsule of the extract (600mg/day) or fluoxetine (30mg/day) for 8weeks. The results showed no significant difference between the extract and fluoxetine in the treatment of OCD. There was also no significant difference between the two groups in terms of observed side effects.
The efficacy of Silybum marianum in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Phytother Res. 2006.
Oxidative stresses are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications which may either cause direct pancreatic beta-cell damage or lead to metabolic abnormalities that can induce or aggravate diabetes. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the herbal medicine, milk thistle seed extract (silymarin), which is known to have antioxidant properties on the glycemic profile in diabetic patients. A 4-month randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 51 type II diabetic patients in two well-matched groups. The first group received a silymarin (200 mg) tablet 3 times a day plus conventional therapy. The second group received the same therapy but a placebo tablet instead of silymarin. The results showed a significant decrease in HbA(1)c, FBS, total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride SGOT and SGPT levels in milk thistle silymarin treated patients compared with placebo as well as with values at the beginning of the study in each group. In conclusion, milk thistle silymarin treatment in type II diabetic patients for 4 months has a beneficial effect on improving the glycemic profile.
Milk thistle and
liver disease, alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C
virus liver conditions
Is there scientific evidence that milk thistle protects the liver or is helpful as a treatment for liver disease?
As of 2017, I believe more research is needed in order to know such benefits. There are many types of liver disease and perhaps milk thistle or extracts will be found to be of benefit in certain types of liver conditions.
Silymarin, a flavonolignan from milk thistle plant, is used for the protection against various liver conditions in both clinical settings and experimental models.
J Vet Intern Med. 2013. Milk thistle and its derivative
compounds: a review of opportunities for treatment of liver disease. Hackett ES,
Twedt DC, Gustafson DL. Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Milk thistle extracts have been used as a "liver tonic" for centuries. In recent years, silibinin, the active ingredient in milk thistle extracts, has been studied both in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the beneficial effects in hepatic disease. Silibinin increases antioxidant concentrations and improves outcomes in hepatic diseases resulting from oxidant injury. Silibinin treatment has been associated with protection against hepatic toxins, and also has resulted in decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Limited information currently is available regarding silibinin use in veterinary medicine. Future study is justified to evaluate dose, kinetics, and treatment effects in domestic animals.
Dr. Christian Gluud of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, reviewed 13 clinical trials of milk thistle for liver disease due to alcoholism or hepatitis B or C. The gold standard for clinical trials is for them to be placebo-controlled and double-blind, meaning neither patients nor the study administrators know whether a patient is taking the real drug or placebo. Just six of the trials analyzed met this standard. The researchers found no effect of milk thistle versus placebo on mortality rates or liver disease complications. While the remedy appeared to reduce death from liver-related causes when all data was included, an analysis limited to the best-quality studies found no effect. No increased risk of adverse events was seen with milk thistle. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, November 2005.
The Clinical Utility of Milk Thistle
in Cirrhosis of the Liver.
J Herb Pharmcother. 2002.
Silybum marianum is a flowering herb utilized for its potentially protective effects on the liver. Although the mechanism of action is not fully understood, one explanation may be that it concentrates in the hepatocytes and competes with toxins for hepatocyte binding and penetration. Preliminary clinical evaluations of milk thistle for cirrhosis of the liver indicate potential benefits in healthier patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. However, major flaws in many of the studies make it difficult to draw solid conclusions. Milk thistle appears to be relatively safe, even with long-term use.
Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.
To determine the effect of silymarin on the outcome of patients with cirrhosis, a double blind, prospective, randomized study was performed in 170 patients with cirrhosis. 87 patients (alcoholic 46, non-alcoholic 41) received 140 mg silymarin three times daily. 83 patients (alcoholic 45, non-alcoholic 38) received a placebo. The mean observation period was 41 months. The 4-year survival rate was 58% in silymarin-treated patients and 39% in the placebo group. Analysis of subgroups indicated that treatment with silymarin in milk thistle was effective in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. No side effects of drug treatment were observed.
Q. I am
just wondering what form of milk thistle I should order for my husband who has
always had elevated levels in blood test. AST 138 and ALT 60. I don't know
whether to get a liver cleanse or just milk thistle supplements.
A. There are many causes for elevated AST and ALT and it is not possible to predict the role of this herb would have on the liver when the diagnosis is not clear.
Biomed Res Int. 2013. Antiosteoclastic activity of milk thistle extract after ovariectomy to suppress estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. Bone integrity abnormality and imbalance between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts are known to result in metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Silymarin-rich milk thistle extract (MTE) and its component silibinin enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity of osteoblasts but reduced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity of osteoclasts. The osteoprotective effects of MTE were comparable to those of estrogenic isoflavone. Low-dose combination of MTE and isoflavone had a pharmacological synergy that may be useful for osteogenic activity. This study attempted to reveal the suppressive effects of MTE on bone loss. C57BL/6 female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) as a model for postmenopausal osteopenia and orally administered 10 mg/kg MTE or silibinin for 8 weeks. The sham-operated mice served as estrogen controls. The treatment of ovariectomized mice with nontoxic MTE and silibinin improved femoral bone mineral density and serum receptor activator of nuclear factor- κB ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio, an index of osteoclastogenic stimulus. In addition, the administration of MTE or silibinin inhibited femoral bone loss induced by ovariectomy and suppressed femoral TRAP activity and cathepsin K induction responsible for osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Collectively, oral dosage of milk thistle extract containing silibinin in the preclinical setting is effective in preventing estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss.
Compounds in the plant and their ability to be absorbed
There are many compounds in the herb, mostly flavonoids, including silymarin, silybin, isosilybin, and silibinin.
Phytomedicine. 2012. Absorption and metabolism of milk thistle flavanolignans in
humans. This study evaluated the absorption and metabolism of milk thistle
flavonolignans silychristin, silydianin, silybin and isosilybin isomers (all
together known as silymarin) in humans. Fourteen volunteers consumed an extract
of milk thistle and urine was collected up to 48 h after consumption. Thirty-one
metabolites were identified in urine by means of HPLC-MS/MS, monoglucuronides
being the most common excreted form, followed by sulphate-glucuronides and
diglucuronides, respectively. These flavonolignans are extensively modified
after ingestion and recovered in urine as sulpho- and glucuronyl-conjugates,
indicating a strong affinity for hepatic phase II enzymes. All future studies
(in vitro and in vivo) dealing with the effects of milk thistle should start by
considering the modification of its flavonolignans after ingestion by humans.
Milk thistle dosage
The dose of silymarin used in studies has ranged from 200 to 800 mg per day. Milk Thistle extract is sold in a variety of concentrations including 70 percent silymarin, 80% or a 10 to 1 milk thistle extract. One option is 80 to 200 mg extract (80% sylmarin) once or twice daily.
side effects, risk, danger
No significant milk thistle side effects have yet been reported thus far with milk thistle extract but it is possible that, as more people take this herb, potential side effects could be uncovered. It is unlikely that milk thistle side effects exist in drinking the tea, but perhaps using several milk thistle extract capsules daily for prolonged periods could cause problems.
other herbs and nutrients
I've heard that milk thistle and alpha lipoic acid can be taken together to fight fatty liver and high liver enzimes. Is this true? What are the correct dosages and do they hurt the kidneys?
I have not seen human studies that have evaluated the combination of the herb and alpha lipoic acid as a treatment for liver damage so it is not easy to say what the right dosage would be when taken together and whether they have any effect on kidney function. I personally prefer using lower dosages than other people recommend.
Milk Thistle research review
Drug Metab Dispos. 2013. Milk thistle's active components silybin and isosilybin: novel inhibitors of PXR-mediated CYP3A4 induction.
Inhibition of telomerase activity and secretion of prostate specific antigen by
silibinin in prostate cancer cells.
J Urol. 2004.
The down-regulation of PSA by silibinin and its counteraction on DHT effects indicate that this compound can interact with the expression of genes that are regulated through the androgen receptor. Silibinin can also inhibit the telomerase activity that mediates cell immortality and carcinogenesis. The 2 effects underline the possible therapeutic use of silibinin as an antiproliferative agent in intervention for prostate cancer.
Q. Is is safe to take vitamin-E with C and milk thistle? What about taking it with serrapeptase?
A. No one can definitely promise 100 percent safety with the use of vitamin combinations, but milk thistle and vitamin C and E you mention are relatively benign and should be fine to use together if not used in excess. As to serrapeptase, we don't know enough about this enzyme to be certain how it interacts with medicines and herbs and vitamins.
Q. I know it is difficult to predict, but do you
foresee any problems taking small amounts of milk thistle extract with
A. I would suggest at first trying them separately each for a week before combining. Use low dosages when combining many herbs or supplements.
Q. Milk thistle is a well-known liver cleanser but is it
also a diuretic, and as such, could it cause frequent urination, especially for
long term use? And possible cause some dehydration?
A. I am not aware of studies that show it to cause dehydration.
Nature's Bounty, Milk
Thistle, 250 mg, 200 Capsules
buy Milk Thistle Extract 80% Silymarin
Milk Thistle Extract is standardized to 80% silymarin, the key constituent that exerts a protective effect against substances potentially harmful to the liver.
Buy Milk thistle extract
Amount Per Serving
Milk thistle, dried extract 250 mg
(seed) standardized to 80% Silymarin
|Serving Size: 1 Capsule|
|Amount Per Serving||%Daily Value|
|Milk Thistle Seed Extract (Silybum marianum) (Standardized to contain a minimum of 80% Silymarin)||250 mg||**|
|**Daily Value not established.|
Recommendation: Take 1 or two milk thistle capsules daily or as recommended by your health care provider.
Nature's Answer, Milk Thistle, Alcohol-Free, 2,000 mg, 1 fl oz (30 ml) - liquid extract | <urn:uuid:3133c0e3-f64f-4778-a2c9-c3fe36b76b10> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.raysahelian.com/milkthistle.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494349.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329140021-20200329170021-00153.warc.gz | en | 0.929949 | 3,902 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Over the last two decades, Lower Mekong countries have all experienced economic development and social transformation, though there is wide variance among them. At one end of the spectrum sits Thailand, an upper-middle-income country with an impressive track record on poverty reduction and industrial growth; at the other end are Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia which have made significant progress but still receive low scores for many indicators on the United Nations’ Human Development Index.1
When looking at the proportion of each country’s population living in multi-dimensional poverty there is a stark division. UNDP statistics for 2018 indicate that Thailand has the lowest proportion at just 0.8 percent of its population and Vietnam, 5.0 percent.2 In contrast, the figures are 34.9 percent for Cambodia, 38.3 percent for Myanmar and 40.5 percent for Laos. (Multidimensional poverty is where someone is deprived in at least one-third or more of their non-monetary indicators reflecting health, education and standard of living.)
While poverty levels are falling, improvements are not equally experienced, even by people within the same country. Poverty is twice as high in the countryside where the majority of the population lives. Remote border areas, home to minority ethnic groups, and areas emerging from conflict are particularly poor. A look at the available data on poverty ratios over time suggests that poverty has reduced at a slower rate for the region’s rural populations than for their urban counterparts. (A 2017 report by the UN, UNDP and ADB found that while almost one in ten people in urban areas in the Asia/Pacific region live in multidimensional poverty, the figure for rural areas in developing countries is two in five.)3
Considering urban poverty, rates are significantly higher in Laos than the other Lower Mekong states. In Laos, 26 percent of the urban population live in moderate poverty (less than US$3.10-a-day in 2011 purchasing power parity terms); in Cambodia the figure is just under 7 percent, Vietnam 2.64 percent and Thailand 0.42 percent.4
Extreme poverty (people living below US$1.90 a day in 2011 purchasing power parity terms) is highest in Laos (22.7 percent in 2012)5 and Myanmar. In Myanmar, 6.5 percent of the population were estimated to be living in extreme poverty in 2015, with 93 percent of them in rural areas.6
The percentage is lower in Vietnam (2.8 percent in 2014)7 but focused in one sector. Ethnic minorities account for only 15 percent of the total population but for over two-thirds of the extreme poor.8
Thailand’s gross national income (GNI) per capita in 2017, at $17,090, was vastly higher than that of the other Lower Mekong countries – Laos ($6,650), Vietnam ($6,450), Myanmar ($5,830) and Cambodia ($3,760)9
Income inequality is not as high as some other parts of Asia. The Quintile Ratio is a measure of the gap between rich and poor – specifically, it is the ratio of the average income of the richest 20% to the average of the poorest 20%.10 The ratio for Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was broadly similar at 5.9–6.5. The gap between rich and poor is more pronounced in some other Asian countries such as the Philippines at 7.2 and Malaysia at 11.2.11
Life expectancy at birth continues to increase across the Lower Mekong countries but with a divide across the region of about 10 years. Vietnam’s life expectancy at birth in 2016 was 76 years, Thailand 75 years, Cambodia 69 years, and Laos and Myanmar each 67 years.12 These gains in longevity can be attributed to improved standards of living, better nutrition, water and sanitation, greater access to quality health services meaning fewer children are dying before their fifth birthday, and increased control of communicable and other diseases.
Source: World Bank. World Development Indicators: Life expectancy at birth. Chart by Open Development Mekong, February 2016, updated May 2017. Licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0.
Despite broad regional improvements in life expectancy at birth, both Laos and Myanmar have comparatively high rates of infant (birth–1 year) and under five mortality. For Laos the figures are 48.9 and 63.9 per 1000 live births; for Myanmar, 40.1 and 50.8.13 This means that over 6 percent of children born in Laos and over 5 percent born in Myanmar don’t survive to the age of 5. The mortality rates for Cambodia are 26.3 and 30.6; for Vietnam 17.3 and 21.6; for Thailand, 10.5 and 12.2.
These high mortality rates can be attributed to the prevalence of acute respiratory infections and diarrhea in children, and conditions like anemia and under-nutrition among pregnant women. The unequal distribution and accessibility of reproductive and maternal health services and facilities, such as pre-natal, delivery and post-natal care,14 is often due to ethnic and geographical differences, which disproportionately affects communities living in remote, mountainous regions.15
Laos’, Myanmar’s and Cambodia’s maternal mortality rates are the highest in the region at 197, 178 and 161 deaths per 100,000 live births respectively—almost eight times that of their neighbor Thailand (20 deaths per 100,000 live births). It should be noted, however, that these rates have declined significantly in all three countries since 2006, and were below the global average in 2015.16
The Lower Mekong’s average gross primary school enrollment rate was 108 percent for 2012–2017. This suggests that students are enrolling in primary school beyond primary age. Thailand’s rate is 101 percent; Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam sit at 110 percent and Myanmar 112 percent.17 These high enrollment rates mask deficiencies in student–teacher ratios for some countries. There are high dropout rates from some countries’ primary schools: 26.5 percent in Cambodia, 25.2 percent in Myanmar, 20.4 percent in Laos, 15 percent in Thailand and 4 percent in Vietnam in the period 2007–2016.18
Enrollment at secondary school level was lower than primary school for all countries from 2012–2017, hitting just 61 percent of the secondary school-age population in Myanmar and 67 percent in Laos.19 Both these figures represent a marked improvement on earlier years, however.
There is a huge spread of tertiary education enrollment figures, from 13, 16 and 17 percent respectively for Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, to 28 percent for Vietnam and 46 percent for Thailand (2012–2017).20
The graphics below illustrate the average primary school class sizes in each country, using the latest data from the UNDP’s measure of student to teacher ratios, 2010-2015.
The diagram below compares the percentage of the adult population (25 years or older) with some secondary education, with the gross enrollment in secondary education between 2008-2014.
Gender equality shows a lot of disparity throughout the Mekong region, particularly in areas of education, employment and representation. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Thailand and Myanmar have the lowest levels of female representation in national parliaments, at 5.3 percent and 10.2 percent respectively, as of November 2018. Female national parliament representation was 20 percent for Cambodia, 26.7 percent for Vietnam and 27.5 percent for Laos.21
In all Lower Mekong countries, women are more likely to be in vulnerable employment (unpaid family workers and own-account workers) than men. The rates are 89 percent vs 77 percent in Laos; 62 percent vs 50 percent in Vietnam; 62 percent vs 56 percent in Myanmar and 57 percent vs 45 percent in Cambodia. The gap is smallest in Thailand, with at 52 percent of women and 49 percent of men in vulnerable employment in 2017.22 The index ranks 149 countries on gender parity on numerous indicators in four areas: economic participation, educational attainment, health and political empowerment.
Overall, Laos ranked best in 26th place, Thailand 73rd,Vietnam 77th, Myanmar 88th and Cambodia 93rd.
The best score in a subcategory was Laos’ 1st place in economic participation and opportunity. Laos is one of just five countries (out of the 149) where there is full parity between men and women in managerial positions. Thailand ranked in 22nd place, Vietnam 33rd and Myanmar 35th for the same economic participation and opportunity category.
The poorest comparative scores were held by Vietnam, in 143rd place for health and survival and Thailand in 13oth place and Myanmar in 133rd place for political empowerment.23
The biggest gap between Lower Mekong states and the global average was in political empowerment, indicating low representation of women in all political roles. The world figure was 0.22 (where 1 would be perfect parity between men and women). The lower Mekong figures were 0.14 (Laos), 0.12 (Vietnam), 0.10 (Cambodia), 0.07 (Thailand) and 0.07 (Myanmar).24
Social protection is defined by the United Nations Research Institute For Social Development (UNRISD) as “preventing, managing and overcoming situations that adversely affect people’s wellbeing.”25 Essentially, it is an umbrella term to describe the policies, systems and services a nation employees to mitigate economic and social risks to its population. There are different ways of measuring it, but Vietnam’s social protection spending is the highest in the region, at 6.61 percent of GDP in 2015.26 Cambodia spent around 0.9 percent of its GDP on social assistance in 2015.27 The extent of Vietnam’s expenditure reflects the dominance of the state-owned social insurance system, which provides a wide range of protection to workers. In addition, 34.5 percent of people of pension age receive a pension, topped only by Thailand at 81.7 percent.28 Cambodia and Laos have limited social protection systems in place.
- 1. United Nations Development Programme. “Human Development Reports 2016.” Accessed 18 May 2017. http://report.hdr.undp.org/
- 2. United Nations Development Programme 2018. Human Development Indices and Indicators 2018 Statistical Update. Accessed 28 December 2018. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2018_human_development_statistical_update.pdf
- 3. UN, UNDP, ADB, Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing AsiaPacific. March 2017. http://sdgasiapacific.net/download/Asia%20Pacific%20Annual%20Thematic%20Report%202017_FINAL_e%20Version.pdf accessed 18 May 2017.
- 4. The World Bank 2017, East Asia and Pacific Cities: Expanding Opportunities for the Urban Poor, The World Bank, Washington D.C. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/27614/9781464810930.pdf?sequence=12&isAllowed=y Accessed 31 October 2017.
- 5. The World Bank. Poverty and equity data portal. http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/LAO Accessed 29 November 2017.
- 6. The World Bank October 2017. East Asia and Pacific Economic Update October 2017. http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap/publication/east-asia-pacific-economic-update Accessed 29 November 2017.
- 7. The World Bank. Poverty and equity data portal. http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/VNM Accessed 29 November 2017.
- 8. The World Bank October 2017. East Asia and Pacific Economic Update October 2017. http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap/publication/east-asia-pacific-economic-update Accessed 29 November 2017.
- 9. GNI per capita, PPP, current international $, World Bank 2018. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.CD?locations=VN-KH-LA-MM-TH Accessed 29 December 2018.
- 10. United Nations Development Programme 2018. Human Development Indices and Indicators 2018 Statistical Update. Accessed 28 December 2018. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2018_human_development_statistical_update.pdf
- 11. Ibid
- 12. World Bank https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN accessed 28 December 2018.
- 13. United Nations Development Programme 2018
- 14. UNICEF. “Country briefing guide: Lao PDR”, page 6. Accessed 9 April 2015. http://www.unicef.org/eapro/UNICEF_Lao_PDR_Country_Briefing_Guide.pdf
- 15. UNICEF. “Situation of the children.” Accessed 9 April 2015. http://www.unicef.org/laos/about_22341.html
- 16. World Bank. “Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births).” Accessed 10 March 2016. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.MMRT/countries/1W-KH-LA-MM?display=graph
- 17. United Nations Development Programme 2018. The gross enrollment ratio is the total enrollment in primary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the primary school-age population.
- 18. United Nations Development Programme 2018. Dropout rate 2007–2016, percentage of primary school cohort.
- 19. Ibid
- 20. United Nations Development Programme 2018.
- 21. Data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm accessed 29 December 2018.
22. World Bank 2018. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.VULN.FE.ZS?view=chart, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.VULN.MA.ZS29
Thailand had a large difference in labor force participation rates between males and females in 2017, however, with 68 percent for women and 83 percent for men 15–64 years. Myanmar had the biggest gap, of 55 percent for women and 84 percent for men. The figure for Laos was the almost the same for men and women at 81 percent for women and 82 percent for men.30World Bank 2018. Modelled ILO estimates. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.FE.ZS?locations=KH-LA-MM-TH-VN, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.MA.ZS?locations=KH-LA-MM-TH-VN Accessed 29 December 2018.31
The diversity of gender gaps in Lower Mekong states was also highlighted in the Global Gender Gap Index 2018 produced by the World Economic Forum.32World Economic Forum 2018. The Global Gender Gap Index 2018. World Economic Forum, Geneva. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-gender-gap-report-2018 Accessed 28 December 2018.
- 23. Ibid
- 24. Ibid
- 25. UNRISD. “2010. Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics.” Accessed 25 March 2016. http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/httpNetITFramePDF?ReadForm&parentunid=92B1D5057F43149CC125779600434441&parentdoctype=documentauxiliarypage&netitpath=80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpAuxPages)/92B1D5057F43149CC125779600434441/$file/PovRep%20(small).pdf
- 26. Dao Quang Vinh 2015. “Social protection in Vietnam: Successes and obstacles”. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/egms/docs/2016/Poverty-SDGs/Dao-ppt.pdf accessed 19 May 2017
- 27. World Bank/Aspire. http://datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/country/cambodia accessed 19 May 2017
- 28. United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Report 2016. http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries Accessed 19 May 2017. | <urn:uuid:93d7b10e-c19c-4568-9bf7-d59a0c45228a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://opendevelopmentmekong.net/topics/social-development/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371660550.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406200320-20200406230820-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.893694 | 3,530 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Minerals and vitamins
Rumen microorganisms and the host ruminant animal require macro and micro minerals, and vitamins for normal growth and development. Grazing cattle generally satisfy most of their requirements for minerals and vitamins from pasture. One notable exception in northern Australia is phosphorus (P) with around 70% of the area considered to be phosphorus-deficient to some extent. Other mineral deficiencies are generally isolated to specific areas of northern Australia.
Cost-effective supplementation programs address the primary limiting nutrient first. Animal performance will be limited by the availability of the most limiting nutrient, and supply of other nutrients will have little or no effect until this is corrected. When protein and energy are adequate, a deficiency of a mineral such as phosphorus will limit animal performance.
Diagnosing a deficiency can be difficult and often requires some assistance to determine the correct testing procedures and to interpret results. The information here is intended only as an overview and it is recommended that professional advice be sought in both the diagnosis and correction of deficiencies.
The minerals required in the diet of cattle can be divided into two groups:
- Major minerals (needed in grams per day or percentage dry matter intake), such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulphur.
- Trace minerals (needed in mg/day, or ppm), such as copper, cobalt, and selenium.
Phosphorus is the most significant mineral deficiency in northern Australia. The types of country where deficiency can occur are:
- sandy red and yellow earths
- sandy eucalyptus forest/tea tree country
- spinifex and antbed country
- northern black soil downs (Gulf of Carpentaria)
- other areas not yet identified through testing.
Phosphorus concentration in grass is higher during the summer pasture growing (wet) season but the effect of phosphorus deficiency on cattle performance is greatest, and the response to phosphorus supplementation most effective, during the wet season. The increased protein and energy in the diet during the wet season promotes animal growth and production. Phosphorus requirements for animal production are closely related to protein and energy requirements, a deficiency of phosphorus in the diet when protein and energy are adequate will limit animal performance, i.e. phosphorus is the ‘limiting nutrient’.
Phosphorus is such a significant mineral deficiency of northern Australia that a separate page focusing solely on phosphorus (see Phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle in northern Australia) is available on this site.
Calcium (Ca) and P are closely linked in animal metabolism and the symptoms of calcium deficiency are similar to symptoms of phosphorus deficiency. A deficiency in calcium will also cause poor bone growth. Cattle need 1.9–4g of calcium per kilogram of dry matter.
Calcium deficiency is rarely a problem in northern Australia. Pastures are usually much higher in calcium than phosphorus; and the calcium content of plants declines at a much lower rate than phosphorus as grasses mature. Calcium deficiency in Australia is most commonly associated with pastures containing oxalates (e.g. buffel grass) which make calcium less available to horses (‘big head’ disease in horses).
Because calcium and phosphorus are closely linked, high levels of calcium can inhibit the uptake of phosphorus. High levels of calcium in the diet also interfere with the mobilization of phosphorus from the bones of cattle on low phosphorus diets.
- Ground limestone should not be used to ‘bulk up’ a lick, or used as an intake limiter in loose mix phosphorus-based supplements. Too much calcium can interfere with the uptake of phosphorus.
- Stylo-based pastures have high calcium concentrations which can exacerbate the effects of a phosphorus deficiency. Stylos alone may supply 50% more calcium than an animal needs, without adding the calcium into the diet from supplements. Phosphorus supplementation is recommended for cattle grazing stylo pastures growing on low and marginal phosphorus soils.
- Molasses is relatively high in calcium and only phosphorus should be added to molasses-based production mixes.
- Calcium should be added to feedlot and grain mixes to balance the calcium-phosphorus ratio within the range of 1 calcium:1 phosphorus to 2 calcium:1 phosphorus.
Magnesium (Mg) is needed for a number of reasons, but mainly for bone formation. Magnesium requirements are related to calcium and phosphorus requirements. Cattle need 1.9g of magnesium per kilogram of dry matter.
The symptoms of magnesium deficiency include reduced feed intake, reduced body condition, and reduced milk production. When magnesium deficiency is severe, animals will develop hypomagnesia or grass tetany (i.e. irritability and convulsions followed by death, if not treated). This is predominantly a problem observed in southern Australia, often seen in old cows in early lactation, grazing green grass dominant pasture with high potassium levels.
Excess magnesium can potentially be a problem as it can induce a phosphorus deficiency and reduce dry matter intake. Water from some bores may be high in calcium and magnesium salts.
Sulphur (S) plays an important role in cattle nutrition. It is an important constituent of protein and is essential for microbial activity on protein, cellulose and starch in the rumen. Sulphur is a necessary component of amino acids that are building blocks of proteins. Therefore sulphur plays an important role in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Cattle require 1.5g of sulphur per kilogram of dry matter.
For grazing cattle the main source of sulphur is in grass, especially when it is green. As pasture matures and the protein content of the grass falls, the intake of sulphur also declines. Sulphur deficiency causes reduced appetite due to reduced rumen microflora and rumen function.
Basalt soils in North Queensland, plus some other major soil types, are known to be deficient or marginal in sulphur with good plant responses to sulphur application recorded. Liveweight responses in breeders and growing cattle grazing on basalt soils and supplemented with a combination of sodium (Na) and sulphur during the growing season have also been recorded in the Charters Towers (Queensland) area. Sulphur and sodium have been identified as the nutrients likely to be limiting animal production when protein and energy are adequate during the growing season on basalt-derived soils.
The recommended supplement on basalt country for wet season salt and sulphur feeding is salt and 12% sulphur by weight. Depending on the location cattle will consume 50–60g of the mix per day. Intakes may be higher than this in the first few weeks of feeding.
Adding sulphur to supplements
Sulphur is required by the rumen microbes to form microbial protein. The animal’s requirements for sulphur are usually met from pasture but when a source of nitrogen such as urea is added to the diet extra sulphur is usually required. This is usually done by adding Gram-Am® (24% sulphur 20% nitrogen fertiliser) or elemental sulphur to achieve the optimal nitrogen-sulphur ratio of urea-based supplements of 10 nitrogen:1 sulphur.
The optimum ratio of nitrogen to sulphur for licks is 10 nitrogen:1 sulphur. This can be achieved by adding Gram-Am or elemental sulphur at the following rates:
- Gram-Am: 1 part Gram-Am to 5 parts of urea by weight.
- Elemental sulphur: 1 part sulphur to 20 parts urea by weight.
If the lick contains a significant amount of protein meal further adjustments may be needed to balance the nitrogen-sulphur ratio at 10 nitrogen:1 sulphur.
Commercially available supplements such as blocks or dry licks usually have the correct nitrogen to sulphur ratio.
Molasses contains significant levels of sulphur so under no circumstances should ammonium sulphate be added to molasses-based mixes even when urea.
Some water, especially bore water, can contain high levels of sulphur.
Can cattle consume too much sulphur?
There have been cases where deaths have occurred when ammonium sulphate was added to molasses mixes, and ammonium sulphate and/or magnesium sulphate was added to grain mixes, in an attempt to reduce intake.
As ammonium sulphate is very bitter it is sometimes included at high levels in dry licks to help to control intake. Excess levels of sulphur have been shown to result in reduced feed intake and reduce rumen motility. Excess sulphur also decreases copper (Cu) retention, precipitating a copper deficiency where copper may be marginal. It is safer to use recommended ratios i.e. 10 nitrogen:1 sulphur or work on 1.5g of sulphur per kilogram of dry matter intake.
Sodium (Na) is an essential macro element. In mammals, it plays a vital role in maintaining the osmotic pressure of body fluids (including blood) and the correct fluid balance in tissues. Sodium is a plasma electrolyte (92% of alkalinity) and is necessary for amino acid and glucose transfer across the cell membrane. Sodium is also essential for the survival and growth of rumen bacteria in cattle and sheep.
Large quantities of sodium are found in the rumen liquor and these can be used by the animal to make up for any short-term (70 to 100 days) deficiencies in the diet. Sodium is an essential component in milk. The mammary glands (udder) can’t secrete milk unless there is sufficient sodium in the diet. One of the first effects of salt deficiency in lactating cattle (beef as well as dairy) is reduced milk output.
The signs of sub-clinical sodium deficiency are similar to those associated with phosphorus deficiency, such as poor growth rates and decreased intake, low branding rates, rough coat, weak-looking weaners and older cattle, and evidence of depraved appetite. This will include bone-chewing and eating soil. As the deficiency gets worse, affected cattle often will lick anything that has a salty taste. In more severe cases water intake and urine output rises, cattle can collapse and suddenly die.
Sodium deficiency results from low sodium intake from both plants and water. Surface waters are usually quite low in sodium, often being less than 20mg/L (20ppm). Similar levels can be found in shallow, pumped bores but these can easily increase up to 500ppm or more during dry/drought periods. Water analysis is essential. On some land types, bore water can be a significant source of sodium.
Plant sodium levels can be extremely variable, with pasture species classed as high, low or variable sodium accumulators. It is difficult to determine soil sodium status as levels can be variable and it can be difficult to get a repeatable reading from the same site over time.
Correcting a sodium efficiency is achieved through feeding dry licks containing high levels of salt. On basalt soils, feed salt and 12% sulphur by weight in the wet season.
Requirements for sodium
|Sodium||Percentage of dry diet||g/day|
|Growth – weaners||0.06%||2.4g|
|Lactation – breeders||0.15%||12g|
Potassium (K) has a number of functions, including, facilitating the uptake of glucose and neutral amino acids to cells and maintaining the acid-base balance in the body. Cattle require 5g of potassium per kilogram of dry matter.
Potassium deficiency is not usually a problem in grazing situations. A deficiency causes:
- growth retardation
- unsteady gait
- overall muscle weakness
Excess potassium interferes with magnesium absorption, so the nutrient balance is important. The high potassium level found in molasses can be balanced by adding 1% salt to molasses mixes.
Copper and selenium
Both copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) play a role in the growth and repair of tissues and in the conversion of carbohydrates into energy. Copper and selenium are essential trace elements for cattle. As the name implies, trace elements are only required in minute amounts (e.g. milligrams – one thousandth of a gram). Cattle require 7–10mg of copper per kilogram of dry matter and 0.1mg of selenium per kilogram of dry matter.
Clinical copper and selenium deficiencies are not common under grazing conditions, but can be common on some coastal country and on marine plains areas. Copper deficiency can develop in improved pasture situations where there are high nitrogen and selenium levels, and copper is in the form of insoluble copper sulphide which is unavailable to the animal. Excessive soil levels of molybdenum can also induce a secondary copper deficiency.
In young animals, deficiency signs may be no more than dull, rough coats and poor growth. Copper deficiency often produces a yellowing of the coat colour in red cattle, but so too can phosphorus deficiency. Copper deficiency has also been shown to be responsible for a greying of the hair tips. Diarrhoea may occur in both young and older cattle with severe copper deficiency. Severe copper deficiency will cause death, particularly in calves.
Severe selenium deficiency produces ‘white muscle’ disease which can result in death. Usually this is restricted to young cattle (under six months) but there are anecdotal reports of death in older cattle. Severe deficiency seems to be associated with reduced fertility in breeders, presumably due to embryonic death soon after conception.
Cattle can store some copper and selenium in the liver, so there may be a deficiency for part of the year, but animal status is adequate for as long as there are stores in the liver (a few months). This depends on level of deficiency, and it may be the reason why sometimes there is no response to supplementation, despite low blood levels.
Before starting on any broad trace element supplement program:
- carry out appropriate testing and seek professional advice
- examine the responses being claimed
- determine the benefits and costs in your situation.
Copper and selenium can be supplemented in several ways:
- Trace element mixtures (often incorporated into both home-made and manufactured mineral supplements). May be variable intakes.
- Injectable copper and selenium preparations. This method is time-consuming and not necessarily without complications, especially with copper. Retreatment is often required at 12 weeks.
- Intra-ruminal trace element boluses. Each animal is treated and the treatment will be active for an extended period – up to eight months or longer (six months for selenium).
There is evidence to suggest that unwarranted use of selenium can aggravate the very problems it is supposed to cure so inclusion of selenium into supplement formulations should generally be avoided.
Cobalt (Co) is another trace element which cattle need in minute amounts (0.10mg of cobalt per kilogram of dry matter). A deficiency can result in loss of appetite, weight loss and a pale coat.
Fortunately cases of cobalt deficiency in cattle in northern Australia are rare. Both cobalt and copper deficiency occur at Julatten (north of Mareeba) on a patch of grey sandy soils. Rumen bullets are used to correct the deficiency in this instance.
Vitamins are not usually a problem with grazing cattle in northern Australia as most vitamins are synthesized by rumen microorganisms. The exceptions are vitamins A and E which are readily available in high quality forage, but may become limiting during extended periods without green feed.
Vitamin A is stored in the liver but after prolonged dry periods, vitamin A stores become depleted. This seldom occurs where cattle are in forest country or have access to browse because the green leaf will supply an adequate amount of vitamin A.
The first sign of vitamin A deficiency is often picked up when cattle are loaded at night time. This is because vitamin A causes night blindness. Other signs are a rough coat, reduction in fed intake and joint oedema. Vitamin A deficiency in cows during early pregnancy can affect the development of their calf’s brain in utero resulting in calves dying soon after birth.
Vitamin D is synthesized by exposure to sunlight, just like in humans.
Cattle can get a vitamin deficiency that is induced by, or associated with, a deficiency in a mineral, e.g. a deficiency in cobalt induces a deficiency in vitamin B12. Low vitamin E levels may be associated with a selenium deficiency when pastures are dry.
- Seek professional advice in both the diagnosis and correction of deficiencies.
- Determine the benefits and costs in your situation.
- Both deficiencies and excess can cause problems.
- With the exception of a few recognized areas trace element and vitamin deficiencies in grazing cattle are uncommon in Australia.
Felicity Hamlyn-Hill, formerly Queensland Government. | <urn:uuid:a8667de7-f6b4-45e7-b283-537884329406> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://futurebeef.com.au/knowledge-centre/minerals-and-vitamins/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371611051.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405213008-20200406003508-00354.warc.gz | en | 0.920712 | 3,501 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Okra is a wonderful versatile vegetable once you know how to cook it properly. Exceedingly easy to grow with little maintenance except harvesting. Grows to about 6 feet in height and has beautiful showy flowers making it worth growing even if you don't want to eat it. The seed pods when ripe are also delightfully showy and stand out from across the garden just like the flowers. Makes a great temporary hedge or wind break. It grows extremely fast and flowers and fruits prolifically. Needs full sun and water to produce at its best. Grow in place does not like to be transplanted.
Description of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Tall upright annual plant with thick stiff upright stem. Height will depend on variety ours can reach 6-7 feet in height. Some are as small as 3' while others grow to 8-9'. Leaves are interesting and can appear very different at different stages of the plants growth. Very young plants have rounded leaves with serrated edges, they look more like small saucers. As they mature they become larger and many lobed sometimes as few as three lobes others as many as 5. Leaves still have a large surface area and slightly lighter veins often slightly yellow and serrated edges. As the plants become taller the leaves become more dramatically lobed with much less leaf area more like that of a Japanese maple. In all stages the leaves are covered with find spines or bristles that make them course to touch. In most cases the plants are unbranched, and once the plants reach 2 feet in height they begin to flower. Flowers are produces individually at a leaf node near the top of the stem. At this point the plant will continue to grow taller and produce at flower at each leaf node until late fall when temperatures fall below 62° F. Flowers are large pale yellow and immensely showy. Each flower can be up to 3" across consisting of five large petals arranged in a cone. The center is deep burgundy and holds a large upright stigma. Each flower only lasts one day then falls off to be replaced by a seed pod. These are initially green but turn red brown with white stripes as they mature.
An remarkably attractive plant that is worth growing even if you don't want to eat the pods.
Location and Care of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Okra needs lots of full sunshine and a good well drained soil. Since it can grow to 6' in height choose your location carefully so it does not overshadow other plants. If possible plant in a North-South direction so other rows will not be too shadowed by its height - rather than east- west direction where it will shade rows to the north of it.
For best results add good compost or organic material to the soil before planting. Run a soaker hose along where the line is going to be and water from the ground. Okra needs a good deal of water once it begins to crop so watering every day or every other day for at least 20 minutes is suggested. Fertilizing every week or so is also recommended as Okra grows extremely fast and is very prolific in flowering and fruiting.
Ensure that when planting Okra that you use crop rotation, do not plant okra in the same bed year after year, it will not produce a good crop. Also plants can be susceptible to root nematodes, however if crop is rotated and not grown in the same place for at least four years this can be mostly if not completely avoided. Using the space used last year for beans or peas will usually produce the best results.
Best zones and temperatures for Excellent Okra plants and Great Cropping.
Okra will grow well in zone 6 and warmer with ease in colder zones ensure that it is in the best warm location possible to get the most crop possible. This is after all a semi tropical plant, and although the amount of warmth it gets is important the number of hours of bright daylight are also important.
Overnight temperatures are also extremely important to Okra. If the temperature drops below 62°F at night even though the plants are flowering well they will not set pods. This is annoying in zones 6 and warmer where we may have a few days with lower nighttime temperatures but in colder zones it can make a lot of difference to crop yields. If you live in a colder zone and still want to grow okra using a poly house, greenhouse or high tunnel is the best recommendation for high crops. Under such conditions manual pollination may be necessary.
In warmer zones okra can be sown in early spring for a first crop with a second sowing in June for a later crop if desired.
Growing of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) from Seed.
In most cases direct sowing in the ground is the best method. Okra has a delicate taproot that does not take well to transplanting. Do not plant until soil has warmed up to at least 65°F or seed will not germinate well. Prepare bed well and remove all weed seeds. Add a good amount of compost or other organic material and dig in well. Open a line of soil and plant seeds about ¾ -1" deep. We like to use a hoe to open the row, plant the seeds and cover again. Sow seeds about 4" apart or in groups of two. Rows should be at least 3' apart unless growing in double rows with wider areas between. Then plants can be spaced at 1" apart with 4' each side of the double row. (see photos of our fields). Many sites suggest thinning plants to 18-24" apart. This will indeed give you larger stronger plants that many produce a few more pods. Our choice is to sow more thickly with a spacing of about 8" and to feed the plants more often. This produces a thick canopy of leaves that shade out weeds and reduce the need for weeding.
Lay a soaker hose next to the line of seeds and water daily until seeds have germinated. Okra germinates very rapidly and grows very fast especially if it has good watering and good soil.
In colder areas plants can be started in individual pots indoors about 2 weeks before last frost date. Harden off well and introduce to full sun gradually before planting out. Take added care when transplanting as okra have sensitive taproots that do not like being disturbed. Ensure that the plant is removed with the whole soil ball from the pot and transplanted whole, or use peat pots and plant directly. If the roots are disturbed plants will be stunted and not grow well.
How much okra to grow?
Since okra only produces one or at the most two pods per plant at a time you need to grow a fair amount of it just to get enough for one meal. While okra can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days it does not last well. Therefore you need to plant more okra than you think you will need. IF possible figure out how many pods you will need for a family meal and plant half as many plants again as pod number. Extra can always be frozen for later use.
Harvesting of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).
Pods. Once Okra starts to flower it forms pods remarkably quickly. In zone 6b once the flower has dropped the pod from that flower will be ready in 2 days. Plants produce pods at a very rapid rate and harvesting will need to be done every other day in the heat of the summer or pods will become too tough and inedible.
We recommend that you wear a long sleeved shirt and wear gloves when harvesting okra as the spines can be very irritating and annoying even after the harvest has been completed. Use snips to remove each pod do not try and twist the pod from the plant it will damage it and prevent further flower development. Although plants are considered as 'spineless' this means that there are not large spines on the pods, it does not mean that there are no small spines of the plants themselves.
In warmer zones harvesting begins as soon as the plants reach about 2 feet in height when they begin to flower. Harvesting continues until late fall just before frost (in zone 6b). It goes from bending over and getting backache to reaching up and thinking you might need a stepladder.
Flowers. Some people like to eat the flowers.
Pick these as they open during the mid day hours. Take care that there are no
bees in them before you pick them.
Leaves. Are very nutritious and can also be eaten. Pick young fresh leaves which have less spines than the older tougher leaves. Don't take more than a few per plant to allow it to continue growing.
How to check if an okra pod is harvestable.
Obviously small pods or 'minis' are easy. Some people like them when they are still in the tiny nub stage. For slightly larger pods gently grab the thin tip of the pod and try to bend it. If it is still pliable then the pod is good to eat. If the tip will not bend you are too late and its too tough and inedible. At this stage you can either cut the pod off the plant and discard it or leave it to form seeds. Leaving too many pods on one plant to produce seed will reduce flower production as the plant will put its energy into seeds rather than more pods so we don't recommend more than one or two pods left on the plant.
First, don't wash it! Washing it makes it slimy and its impossible to store. Take straight from the field and place in bags in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Okra can be stored this way for a few days only. It does not keep and goes moldy quickly.
If wanted for longer term use it can be chopped up and frozen. We prefer to open freeze on trays and then bag up for easy access. Don't try and blanch okra it just gets slimy freeze directly and use in a few months. If desired it can be frozen as whole pods. Okra can also be dried for longer storage and use, again don't blanch it first.
Edible Uses of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).
A lot of people don't like okra because has a lot of mucilage. Actually this is one of its good properties and its very good for the stomach and digestive system. Its just a case of finding the preferred way to cook it. Our best choice is to chop it up and stir fry it along with other vegetables. This way it does not get slimy and works as an excellent vegetable with almost any meat. Second choice is chopped up and deep fried. Battered and deep fried is heavenly.
Don't try to boil or steam it, you wont like the result. It is however an excellent choice to add to soups and stews as the mucilage helps to thicken the mix and how can anyone make gumbo without okra.
Okra is very popular in Indian cookery where the whole pods are used.
Okra is very nutritious being rich in pectin, iron and calcium as well as vitamin A.
Seed is also used ground up to make meal used in making bread or made into
'tofu' or 'tempeh'. The seeds can also be roasted, ground and used as a coffee
substitute. Many sources say this is the best substitute they have found but
it can induce sweating.
Leaves are unusually nutritious and can be cooked like spinach, added to soups etc or dried for adding to any dish. Washing well before cooking removes the tiny hairs and makes the leaves enjoyably palatable. Some say the roots are edible but I would disagree unless you like chewing cardboard.
Medical uses of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).
The mucilaginous properties of okra are extremely useful in treating digestive disorders. It helps calm the digestive system and encourage it to heal. In most cases eating okra on a daily basis can be exceptionally beneficial. (try stir fry for most palatable results). Ground okra can also be used in capsules or compressed into tablets. In some cases the pods are used in others the seeds. All these can are also used to treat catarrhal infections, ardor urinae, dysuria and gonorrhoea.
The roots are also used extensively as they have a strong demulcent action and some claim they are more effective than marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) and certainly easier to grow and harvest. Roots need to be fresh and fairly young. Okra mucilage has been used as a plasma replacement or blood volume expander. The root juice can be used to treat cuts, boils and wounds. The leaves can be used as a poultice for similar reasons.
Other uses of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
The severely fiberous stems have long been used for making fiber similar to jute and used in ropes and course fabrics. It can also be used in paper making. The mucilage can be used to glaze paper and is added to confectionary. Seed pods make delightfully attractive additions to dried flower displays.
Common okra, okra, okro, lady's fingers, ladies fingers, Gombo, commun, gombo, gumbo, Quiabeiro, Mbamia, | <urn:uuid:ced43978-31bc-46b6-b0f5-0fc3328b3312> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://floralencounters.com/Seeds/seed_detail.jsp?grow=Okra&productid=1047 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494064.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329074745-20200329104745-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.952469 | 2,780 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Do you have in mind a photo of the Milky Way, but don’t know when it occurs? Good news, you're at the right place!
On the other hand, if you prefer planning the Milky Way on a map, please, have a look at the following tutorial: How To Plan The Milky Way Using The 2D Map-Centric Planner.
Get this ebook for free now!
Get this ebook for free now!
Miky Way: The Definitive Photography Guide
You can also take a look at the following video. We show you how to plan the Milky Way using both: the Night Augmented Reality view and the 2D Map-Centric Planner.
Finally, make sure you don't miss the article “How To Shoot Truly Contagious Milky Way Pictures”. You'll learn how to turn your Milky Way ideas into real images, step by step; from inspiring sources and equipment to camera settings.
- Two crucial Milky Way facts you should know
- When does Milky Way hunting season start?
- Decide where you want the core of the Milky Way
- On the Planner, place the Observer's pin on the initial shooting spot
- Set the date to the next new moon happening between April and August
- Use the time bar to set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight
- Tap on the Night AR button, check the Milky Way and adjust your position
- Scouting photos
1Two crucial Milky Way facts you should know
Let’s say that during one of your scouting sessions you come across this isolated rock. It’s located in a powerful landscape with no light pollution (complete darkness). It has the perfect conditions for a stunning Milky Way shot.
The Milky Way moves in the sky following Earth’s rotation as the stars move, this means you will have different compositions at different times of the night. You can get the band of the Milky Way in vertical, diagonal or horizontal orientation.
But, before you start brainstorming like crazy, there are two CAPITAL facts about the core of the Milky Way you should keep in mind:
You’ll find the core in the southern skies
Knowing the direction where it is possible to find the core of the Milky Way is mandatory.
Don’t waste your time designing images that are not possible. These are the general rules depending on the Hemisphere you are:
- Northern Hemisphere: look towards the southern skies to see the galactic core. The core will start to be visible due southeast (Spring), due south (Summer), or southwest (Fall).
- Southern Hemisphere: also look towards the southern skies to see the galactic core. In this case, the core will start to be visible due southwest (Spring) or southeast (Fall and Winter).
In conclusion, don’t look for the core of the Milky Way in northern directions. When brainstorming, think about different compositions with the galactic center in the southeast, south or southwest.
Same location, same direction, same altitude
“For a given location and direction (azimuth), the galactic center will ALWAYS be at the same altitude in the sky.”
This means that if you go to the same location in two different dates, look towards the same direction and wait until the galactic center is in that direction, you'll see it at the same altitude in the sky.
No matter the date, for a given location, when the galactic center is in one direction, it always has the same altitude.
Thus, given a location, the galactic center always rises in the same direction. Also, it always sets in the same direction.
The practical application of this fact is clear: for example, once you know the azimuth in which the galactic center rises, just choose the shooting spot in a way that the azimuth of the galactic center is just where you want relative to the main subject of your photo (rock, tree, lighthouse, building, etc).
In other words, when you find a location you like, proceed as follows:
- Decide the position of the galactic center in the sky. Most times your initial shooting spot will not be right. You'll have to move.
- Use PhotoPills‘ Night AR to find out the azimuth in which the galactic center is at the desired altitude and orientation.
- Again, use the Night AR tool to choose the shooting spot that gives you the composition you want.
2When does Milky Way hunting season start?
In other words, when should you start looking for the core of the Milky Way? When will it be visible? Or even better, when is the best time of the year to shoot the Milky Way?
During part of the year, the core of the Milky Way is not visible because it is blocked by the sun. It's when the galactic center is only above the horizon during daylight hours.
When planning the Milky Way, you are only interested in looking into the period of the year the galactic center is visible during nighttime. Thus, knowing the starting and ending dates of the best period of the year to shoot the Milky Way is important to narrow the search and get results faster.
So, when is this?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the core is visible from March to October. But the best time for viewing it is from late April to late July, because the galactic center is visible for longer during the night. Don’t look for it from November to February.
In late February, the core becomes visible in the pre-dawn hours just before sunrise, and remains above the horizon during daylight hours. As months go by, the core becomes visible for longer and longer each night, being June and July the months with longer visibility. During this time of year, the core will be visible all night.
From July on, core visibility begins to decrease and best viewing time moves towards after dusk, until it becomes totally invisible again in winter.
In conclusion, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, late April is a good moment to start planning the Milky Way, being June and July the best months.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the core is visible from February to October, being in the middle of the winter, June and July, when the core is most visible. Again, don’t look for it from November to January.
People living in the southern hemisphere enjoy visibility longer because the peak occurs in winter, when days are shorter and nights are longer.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, mid-April is a good moment to start planning the Milky Way.
Most times, you’ll want to have complete darkness when shooting the Milky Way. Therefore, when planning, you need to take into account the phase of the moon. You need to have no moon!
As a result, you’ll plan Milky Way shots happening during new moon and the 4 days before and after it.
- Don’t forget that in the winter (Northern Hemisphere) and summer (Southern Hemisphere) you can still see the Milky Way, just not the core.
3Decide where you want the core of the Milky Way
Let’s go back to the example. Remember that you’re just in front of the rock. Now, place yourself in a spot leaving the southern sky behind the rock and start brainstorming. This is your initial choice as shooting spot.
Imagine, that during the creative process, you realize you love the position of the rock in relation to the sky. The top is pointing towards the stars in a diagonal orientation.
What if you could shoot the core of the Milky Way following the same diagonal?
You see the horizon behind the rock. Therefore, you need to find a shooting spot from where it's possible to see the galactic center rising near the rock, just on the left-hand side.
Let’s use PhotoPills’ Planner and Night AR tool to plan the shoot!
Let’s find when it happens!
4On the Planner, place the Observer's pin on the initial shooting spot
You have everything you need to start planning the shoot:
- Initial shooting spot.
- Desired position of the core of the Milky Way.
- Planning period: from April new moon to August New moon.
On the Planner, place the Observer’s pin (red pin) on the initial shooting spot. AS you are in situ, right on this spot, tap on the GPS button you find on the map.
You’ll see how the Observer’s pin is automatically placed right where you are. If necessary, drag and drop it to re-adjust its position.
Notice that I've drawn on the screenshot a small black X that shows the position of the rock on the map.
5Set the date to the next new moon happening between April and August
Imagine it’s February 12th 2014 and you are planning this shoot. You've learnt in Step 2 that the Milky Way hunting season starts in April. Then, you need to set the date of the Planner to April new moon.
The easiest way to do it, it’s by tapping on the Moon picture you see on the rise and set information panel you find just above the map.
The picture of the moon shows how you'd see the moon on the selected date and time if you were on the location of the Observer's pin.
Tap once on the picture, you’ll see that time jumps forward to the date of the next main moonphase. In this case, you’ve landed on February 15th 2014, Full Moon.
Keep tapping on the picture of the moon until you set the date to April new moon, which occurs on the 29th.
- Double tap on the picture of the moon to jump backwards in time to the main past moon phase (new, last quarter, full moon, first quarter).
6Use the time bar to set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight
You want complete darkness. Set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight, when night begins.
Check on the twilight information top panel when the evening astronomical twilight ends: 10:20pm.
Now, drag the time bar towards the left to go forward in time until the time is set to 10:20pm.
- You can set date and time numerically by tapping once on the centre of the time bar.
- To do it faster, tap on the right hand side of the time bar to jump to the next important event: golden hour begins, sunset, blue hour begins, civil twilight ends, nautical twilight ends, astronomical twilight ends, moonset, sunrise, moonrise…. Keep tapping on it until you set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight.
- On the other hand, tap on the left hand side of the time bar to jump backwards in time to the previous important event.
7Tap on the Night AR button, check the Milky Way and adjust your position
You’ve just set the initial shooting spot, date (April new moon) and time (the end of the evening astronomical twilight).
Let’s have a look at the Milky Way. Tap on the Night AR button you see at the bottom of the screen and wait a few seconds until the augmented reality is stable. Shaking the device helps! Make sure you are away from any electronic device or magnetic field because they may interfere with the sensors of the device.
Now, you can preview the position of the Milky Way for the selected Observer's pin location, date and time.
Notice that the galactic center is not aligned with the rock. Use the AR view to explore the sky until you find the galactic center, it's the brightest part.
You want to shoot the core aligned with the rock just above the horizon level. Thus, you need the galactic center to rise near the rock, just on the left-hand side.
Swipe your fingertip on the AR view, from right to left, to move time forward until the core of the Milky Way rises and check the time that’s written on the top left-hand side corner of the screen: 12:49am.
Change time continuously, keep swiping your fingertip on the screen and observe how the core moves in the sky. Do it until you see the core next to the rock. This happens at 6:48am.
The Milky Way is far to much vertical, you want it in a diagonal orientation. Furthermore, 6:48 am is daytime, and you are only interested in results happening at night (complete darkness). In conclusion: you need to change the shooting spot.
- Notice that the background color of the two AR screenshots is different. The first one is clear (no color), however the second one has a darker color.
- The darker shade indicates that the result doesn’t occur at night and, therefore, we are not interested in it.
- We implemented the color change to help you disregard the results that occur during twilights, golden hour and daytime hours.
Move time backwards until you get the Milky Way in a more diagonal orientation, similar to what you want. To do it, just swipe your fingertip on the AR view, from left to right. This happens at 3:41am.
Now, use the Night AR view to guide yourself and move around until you find a spot from where you see the galactic center near the rock, just on the left-hand side.
What you see now is pretty close to what you want. Shut the AR view, go back to the Planner and place the Observer's pin on the new shooting spot.
Again, make sure that the Milky Way is right where you want. If needed, change time to re-adjust the position of the Milky Way.
That's it! You've just planned it!
Now you know that you must be on the final shooting spot ready to press the shutter on April 30th 2014 at 3:41am.
Keep in mind that the AR view is showing you what you'd see if you were right on the location of the Observer's pin. If you change your position, you have to re-adjust the position of the Observer's pin to make sure you see the right representation of the Milky Way.
If the shooting time is too early in the morning for you, check the next new moon:
- Tap on the moon picture until you set the date to the next new moon: May 28th 2014.
- Set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight.
- Change the time until the core of the Milky Way is placed where you want.
The new shooting date and time: May 29th 2014 at 2:27am.
Keep repeating this process until you find a date and time that suits your schedule.
It’s also a good idea to check the 4 days before and after the new moon. If you do a single tap on the right-hand side of the Nigh AR screen, time will jump forward 24h. Do a single tap on the left-hand side of the screen to jump to the previous day.
Please, if you have questions, don't hesitate to use the comment section below.
Our goal is to help you bring your ideas to life!
- There is a way to plan Milky Way shots from home. Basically, you need to follow the same steps explained in this tutorial with a tiny variation. I'll show it to you in a future How-to step-by-step article, but these are the main steps you need to follow:
- Relax yourself on the couch.
- Imagine the scene and decide where you want the core of the Milky Way.
- On the Planner, place the Observer's pin on the initial shooting spot.
- Set the date to the next new moon happening between April and August.
- Use the time bar to set the time to the end of the evening astronomical twilight.
- Place the Obstacle's pin on your main subject (in this example, the rock).
- Jot down the Pin to Pin azimuth from the Pin to Pin geodetic information panel (top). If you do it for this example, you'll get an azimuth of 252.7º (azimuth of the main subject seen from the initial shooting spot).
- Tap on the Night AR button and check the Milky Way due the azimuth 252.7º.
- Follow step 7 explained in this article.
We are in love with this rock...and this location.
Credits: all the photos by Antoni Cladera.
Get this ebook for free now! | <urn:uuid:6a5dd945-bd76-4e42-a93f-98496b7785b8> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.photopills.com/articles/how-plan-milky-way-using-augmented-reality | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371606067.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405150416-20200405180916-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.913816 | 3,453 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Since before Wyoming paved its roads, travelers have enjoyed the route between the Black Hills and Yellowstone National Park for its spectacular scenery — and its history. Here are some stops that will allow the tourist to become a time traveler, too—from prehistoric eras through the colorful 1800s to the present.
A Brief History of Heart Mountain Relocation Center
During World War II, people of Japanese descent from Oregon, Washington and California were incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County, Wyo., as the result of an executive order of President Franklin Roosevelt. Residents were at the camp from Aug. 12, 1942 to Nov. 10, 1945, two months after the end of the war with Japan. When the camp was at its largest, it held more than 10,000 people, making it the third largest town in the state.
Japanese Americans Prior to World War II
Much of the immigration to the United States from Japan began in 1884 when thousands of Japanese arrived in Hawaii to work the sugar cane fields. In the wake of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, drastically restricting Chinese immigration, Japanese people began arriving on the mainland of the United States to work as laborers on railroads, farms and in mines. Many of the more prosperous immigrants started small businesses or became farmers. While most settled along the West Coast, roughly 13,000 people of Japanese descent lived in the Intermountain West prior to World War II.
Like many prior immigrant groups, the Japanese faced discrimination. Starting in the early 20th century, Japanese immigrants, as well as Chinese immigrants, were targeted by Alien Land Laws in western states including Wyoming. These laws prevented the acquisition of land by Asian immigrants. In 1924, the U.S. Congress passed the Asian Exclusion Act, which all but cut off new immigration from Asia. In response, Japanese Americans formed organizations such as the Japanese American Citizens’ League to help address their shared challenges. Despite the attempts of Japanese Americans to assimilate, nativist groups expressed ongoing skepticism regarding the place of Asians in American society.
Incarceration Follows Pearl Harbor
The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten facilities constructed to confine 120,000 Japanese Americans removed mainly from West Coast states. Following the initial roundup of individuals of German, Italian and Japanese descent deemed threats to national security after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Department of War recommended further detainment of all individuals of Japanese descent living in a swath of land that encompassed most of Washington and Oregon, all of California and southern Arizona.
To manage the movement and incarceration of such a large population, a new agency called the War Relocation Administration (WRA) was created. Ten sites for relocation centers were selected by April 1942. California, Arizona and Arkansas hosted two centers each, while Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming each contained one center.
The case for mass removal was built by military leaders and West Coast politicians. Describing a January 27 conference with California Governor Culbert Olson, General John De Witt stated that the residents of California “are bringing pressure on the government to move all the Japanese out. As a matter of fact, it’s not being instigated by people who are unthinking, but by the best people of California.”
In spite of public support, the relocation of Japanese Americans was not popular with many living near the potential confinement sites. In Wyoming, Gov. Nels Smith warned that the state “will not stand for being California’s dumping ground.” Smith said that the Japanese should be kept under armed guard “and be removed at the end of the emergency.” While some in Wyoming, like Powell Tribune editor Raymond Baird, welcomed the additional laborers the camp would bring to the region, many viewed the project instead as a necessary patriotic burden in support of national security.
Life at Heart Mountain
The first internees arrived at Heart Mountain on Aug. 12, 1942. The facility consisted of 450 barracks, each containing six apartments. The largest apartments were simply single rooms measuring 24 feet by 20 feet. Perhaps the most easily identifiable features of the barracks were the tarpaper exteriors. While each unit was eventually outfitted with a potbellied stove, none had bathrooms. Internees used shared latrines. None of the apartments had kitchens. The residents ate their meals in mess halls.
When the people first arrived, a barbed-wire fence to surround the camp was not yet complete. The internees protested the construction of this barrier and caused further work to be delayed. In November 1942, they submitted a petition containing 3,000 signatures to WRA Director Dillon Meyer.
The fence was completed by December, however, and further emphasized the sense of confinement among the internees. Shortly after the construction of the fence, 32 boys were arrested for sledding in the hills beyond the boundary. In response to the perceived overreaction on the part of the camp administration, Rikio Tomo, a Heart Mountain internee, placed an editorial in the Heart Mountain Sentinel asking for clarification about the internees’ citizenship status and constitutional freedoms.
To accommodate the young, schools were built at Heart Mountain, including a high school completed by the fall of 1943. These schools served students from elementary school through high school. Roughly 1500 students attended Heart Mountain High School, which included grades 8-12.
The internees provided most of the labor required to run the Heart Mountain camp, while the WRA administrators oversaw its general operations. Wages ranged from $12 per month for unskilled labor to $19 per month for skilled labor, including teachers for the schools and doctors in the camp hospitals. In addition, Heart Mountain internees also worked as manual laborers on farms and ranches in Wyoming and nearby states from Nebraska to Oregon.
The WRA administrators encouraged activities emphasizing American civics, such as scouting and adult English classes, as part of what they saw as an Americanization process. Committees composed initially of American-born internees provided much of the day-to-day governance of the camps. While these groups provided some measure of self-determination, they disrupted the generational hierarchy. American-born adults in their 20s and 30s were given a higher political status within the camps than their Japanese-born parents.
Within the camp at Heart Mountain, internees participated in a number of activities including theatrical and musical performances, Christmas celebrations, sporting events and festivals. Many events, particularly those with Japanese origins, required approval from the project director. One popular event was Obon Odori, a festival celebrated each summer in many Japanese American communities.
Reactions to the Relocation Center
Reactions to the presence of internees at Heart Mountain inspired a number of different responses. While L.L. Newton, editor of the Wyoming State Journal, expressed outrage over the disregard for the constitutional rights of American-born Japanese, others, like Wyoming’s Republican U.S. Sen. E.V. Robertson, felt the internees were living too luxuriously at the expense of taxpayers.
Interactions between internees and local residents, though rocky at times, were largely peaceful. While the camp was in existence, many internees frequented stores in nearby Cody and Powell, Wyo. while on temporary leave and supplied labor to area farms and ranches. Temporary work leave provided opportunities for internees to earn better wages than those offered within the camps. After the high school was built, local varsity sports teams entered through the barbed wire perimeter to play games against the Heart Mountain Eagles.
The biggest controversy stemmed from the suspicion that the WRA coddled internees, who were accused of hoarding resources while the American public was subject to rationing. In February 1943, Earl Best, a steward working at Heart Mountain, reported to the FBI that internees working in the camp mess halls were hoarding food. After the FBI failed to follow up on the lead and Best was dismissed from Heart Mountain, he told his story to the Denver Post. The newspaper published a series of scathing articles. The story, along with the help of Sen. E.V. Robertson, led to a congressional investigation by Rep. Martin Dies, a Democrat from Texas and chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
One of the more outlandish statements made to the press regarding the Dies investigation came from Rep. Joseph Starnes, Democrat of Alabama, who claimed Heart Mountain internees received “prime beef and five gallons of whiskey apiece.” To combat these allegations, the WRA invited reporters to visit Heart Mountain in August 1943. The journalists from Montana and Wyoming found little that resembled the luxurious conditions described by Robertson, Starnes or the Denver Post. While the Dies Commission failed to yield any substantive actions against the camp, its investigation reflected the continuing suspicions circulated on a regional and national level.
The Heart Mountain 63
The organization of draft resistance distinguished Heart Mountain from the other relocation centers. In 1943, General George Marshall approved the creation of Japanese-American combat unit. The plan, which was given the endorsement of President Roosevelt, was to create an all-Japanese regiment, consisting of soldiers from a previously existing Hawaiian unit and volunteers from the camps. The response from within the camps fell far short of expectations, partly because of a loyalty questionnaire distributed by the WRA. As a result of the low turnout, the War Department extended the draft to the camps.
The WRA form was used to determine eligibility for military service and permanent leave. Many of the questions were considered intrusive by internees. Others were not as straightforward as the WRA probably intended. Instead of serving as a neutral tool to determine someone’s suitability for service, the questionnaire further alienated many internees. For example, question 27 asked about a person’s willingness to serve in the military. For internees who felt service should be contingent upon the restoration of constitutional rights to all Japanese Americans, a simple yes or no answer was insufficient.
In each of the camps, the draft became a divisive issue. While some internees felt military service was an opportunity to exemplify patriotism, others felt that constitutional rights should be restored before agreeing to mandatory service.
At Heart Mountain, a group called the Fair Play Committee advocated for civil disobedience. These draft resisters refused to report for pre-draft physicals and were charged in a federal court. In all, 63 individuals were tried in Cheyenne for draft evasion—the largest mass trial in Wyoming history. In June 1944, after this group was found guilty, leaders of the Fair Play Committee were tried in Cheyenne for counseling others to evade the draft. They were found guilty as well in November 1944.
The 63 draft resisters were sent to either McNeil Island Penitentiary in Washington State or Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. All seven leaders of the Fair Play Committee were sent to Leavenworth. The 63 draft resisters were sentenced to three years, while the 7 leaders were sentenced to either 2 or 4 years depending upon their perceived involvement. In December 1945, the conviction of the Fair Play Committee was overturned based on a technicality. President Truman pardoned the 63 draft resisters in 1946.
But after the initial protest, draft resistance largely faded. The Army sent a tail gunner named Ben Kuroki on a tour of the camps to help the recruiting effort. Kuroki, a native of Nebraska, enlisted in the military shortly following Pearl Harbor. By the end of World War II, 385 Heart Mountain internees had been inducted into the military. During the war, 11 were killed and 52 wounded.
Redress and Remembrance for Internees
The lifting of the West Coast ban in January 1945 spurred evacuation of the relocation centers. By Nov. 10, 1945, the last internee left Heart Mountain. In the decades immediately following the war, the incarceration was seldom discussed in the public sphere. In 1969, a group of Japanese American activists that included former internees embarked upon the first annual pilgrimage to Manzanar Relocation Center in Southern California. This annual remembrance helped spark a dialogue within the Japanese American community. It moved the topic from a private arena shared among individuals and within families into a more public arena.
In 1980, the U.S. Congress formed the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. The subsequent investigation included the testimony of 750 witnesses and a Congressional report published in 1983 titled Personal Justice Denied. Finding the incarceration to be unwarranted, the report recommended an official apology be made as well as redress payments of $20,000 given to survivors of the camps in addition to the creation of an education fund to increase public awareness about the camps.
One particular event at the Heart Mountain camp had profound ramifications decades later. During World War II, a troop of Boy Scouts from Cody met with a troop from Heart Mountain and led to the introduction of Norman Mineta and Alan Simpson. Many years later, when Mineta was representing his California district in the U.S. House of Representatives and Simpson was representing Wyoming in the U.S. Senate, the two sponsored the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. In 1988, President Ronald Regan signed the legislation, enacting into law the recommendations in the earlier report.
Grants awarded from the public education fund include monies used for preservation of documents and artifacts from the Relocation Centers currently held in museums, libraries and archives. The Civil Liberties Act also funded restoration and construction of buildings dedicated to the memory of the Heart Mountain center, including the transfer of one of the barracks to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and the construction of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center on the site of the original camp, about halfway between Powell and Cody.
- Baldwin, Chad, “Another lesson from Heart Mountain,” Casper Star Tribune, Aug. 22, 2011, accessed May 21, 2013, http://trib.com/opinion/columns/another-lesson-from-heart-mountain/article_44ae19b9-8071-5659-a58d-9740112c980a.html.
- Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Public Law 100-383.
- Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Personal Justice Denied. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1982.
- Densho Organization, “Densho – Archive,”accessed May 23, 2013 at http://www.densho.org/archive/default.asp for its oral histories and digitized copies of the Heart Mountain Sentinel.
- Frank Abe collection of oral histories about draft resistance at Heart Mountain Relocation Center. Densho Organization Archive, accessed June 14, 2013 at http://archive.densho.org/archive/default.asp.
- Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. "History – Life in Camp." accessed June 14, 2013 at http://www.heartmountain.org/history.html.
- "Heart Mountain Digital Preservation Project." Hinckley Library, Northwest College, Powell, Wyo., accessed June 6, 2013 at http://www.northwestcollege.edu/library/special/hmdpp/.
- Ishigo, Estelle. Lone Heart Mountain. Los Angeles: Anderson, Ritchie, & Simon, 1972.
- Mackey, Mike, ed. A Matter of Conscience: Essays on the World War II Draft Resistance Movement. Powell, Wyo.: Western History Publications, 2002.
- ___________________. Remembering Heart Mountain: Essays of Japanese American Internment in Wyoming. Powell, Wyo.: Western History Publications, 1988.
- Manbo, Bill and Eric L. Muller. Colors of Confinement: Rare Kodachrome Photographs of Japanese American Incarceration in World War II. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 2012.
- Nelson, Douglas W. Heart Mountain: The History of an American Concentration Camp. Madison, Wis.: State Historical Society of Wisconsin for the Department of History, University of Wisconsin, 1976.
- Simpson, Alan. Shooting from the Lip: The Life of Senator Alan Simpson. Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma Press, pp. 19-21.
- Tomo, Rikio. “Block Officer Urges Efforts Toward Rehabilitation of Evacuees.” Heart Mountain Sentinel, December 5, 1942, accessed June 12, 2013, http://archive.densho.org/Core/ArchiveItem.aspx?i=denshopd-i97-00105.
- Walz, Eric. “Japanese Settlement in the Intermountain West, 1882-1946.” In Guilt By Association: Essays on Japanese Settlement, Internment, and Relocation in the Rocky Mountain West. Powell, Wyo.: Western History Publications, 2001, 1-24.
- All photos are from the George and Frank C. Hirahara Photograph Collection, 1943-1945, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, Wash. Used with permission and thanks. | <urn:uuid:f4ed8a5d-45ab-4b0b-913b-4ea8a17f0eaf> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/brief-history-heart-mountain-relocation-center | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371886991.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410043735-20200410074235-00433.warc.gz | en | 0.948339 | 3,543 | 3.546875 | 4 |
II. Distinctive Camp Meeting Song Appears Around 1800
About 1800, with the birth of the camp meeting in the great Kentucky revival, there developed a new and distinctive camp meeting type of song. The earlier church hymns had come from across the sea, but the frontier camp meeting "spiritual songs" sprang from frontier American hearts. This song was introduced when .the Methodists took over the camp meeting and spread it into Tennessee, Ohio, and the rest of the opening West, as well as the more conservative East. The staid old hymns, and even the folk hymns and religious ballads, were too sedate to express the tumultuous enthusiasm of the throngs who gathered under the open sky. Sometimes the revival hymns of Wesley and others were popularized by the insertion of refrains in which all could join. These were set to folk tunes with pulsating rhythm, emotional repetition, and ejaculatory refrains, whose crude doggerel often would be caught up by the throngs, and mighty choruses would roll through the forest clearings. Sometimes a "singing ecstasy" would seize the worshipers. At other times it was a chant o£ mourning, or again of thunderous jubilation. Spontaneous song broke forth in rough and irregular couplets, combined out of Scriptural phrases and everyday speech, with many hallelujahs and refrains interspersed.1
This indigenous type of song, at first trans mitted orally, came to be printed in the simple camp meeting songbooks of the time.2 And later, in the back country, there were "shape note" songbooks (classed as "spiritual songs" in contradistinction to "psalms and hymns"). But most of these preserved in books represent the second stage in camp meeting hymnody with the spirit retained but with much of the crudity "simmered away." This type of individualistic appeal to sinners, backsliders, and mourners sometimes revealed the terms of salvation, and sometimes narrated personal experience. These contagious songs became, it is said, "the prayer of the penitent, and the hallelujah of the redeemed." 3 The Englishman, Hugh Bourne, leader of the revivalist Primitive Methodist secession which adopted the camp meeting from Lorenzo Dow, published and circulated his General Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Camp Meetings (1809).4
The churches that rose on the well-worn trails of those valiant Methodist circuit riders were imbued with their hardy spirit and energetic singing. And the new songs of Watts and the revivalists, used not only to stir emotion but to instruct and edify, overrode denominational lines and language barriers as well, and were shared by Dutch, German Reformed, and Lutheran alike. The Dunkers and Mennonites also used them, to which their own compositions were added to accompany their foot-washing rites.6 Nottingham says:
"The whole character of frontier hymnody was a direct outgrowth of the revival meeting. It is redo lent of the very flavor of pioneer life its emotionalism, its fighting spirit, its ever-present sense of the reality of hell fixe, and its fervid sectarianism. Not only is revival hymnody a veritable mine of material for those who would understand the social history of the frontier, but the type of singing there evolved became characteristic of religious singing for years afterwards. Gone were the stately hymns of the eastern seaboard, hymns that had been brought from Europe, and in their place were substituted rough and ready rhymes set to rousing popular tunes."6
To all this must be added the Negro spiritual the music of an oppressed people, with its constant overtone of death and heaven, and the hope of more joy in the world to come than in this world. They adapted the camp meeting message and song to their own needs, and their response in song formed an "overflowing stream of swinging cadences and crooning melodies," with meaningful words such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "All Over God's Heaven," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," and "It's Me, Standing in the Need of Prayer." These expressions of deep feeling, blended with match less melodies in pathetic strains, were also an integral part of the revival music.7
IV. Revival Songs -Wane as Revival Passes
But when the Great Revival became quiescent, between 1830 and 1857, its distinctive type of songs of the heart waned. Yet the Millerites, in the forties, adopted and adapted many of these Baptist and Methodist melodies for their own use.
Contemporary with the camp meeting era, but at the opposite extreme of the revolt against Calvinism, was the emergence of the "literary hymn." 8 Among the pioneer writers of this type were the Unitarian literati, such as Oliver Wendell Holmes ("Lord of All Being"), Samuel Longfellow ("Beneath the Shadow of the Cross"), James Russell Lowell, and others. There were also, of course, John Greenleaf Whittier (Quaker), with his "We May Not Climb the Heavenly Steeps to Bring the Lord Christ Down" (1806); Ray Palmer (Congregationalist), with his moving "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" (1830); Phoebe Gary (Universalist), "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" (1852); Harriet Beecher Stowe (Congregationalist), "Still, Still With Thee" (1855); and many others of progressively high literary quality and devotional tone. But as the Great Revival waned, and the camp meeting, and as the urban type of church spread westward, and as the doctrine and experience of Watts' and Wesley's hymns faded out, the trend was toward the formal, stately, and objective, and toward the reserved and ritualistic, as exemplified by the fact that in the 1840's the Congregationalists had little or no congregational singing.9 As Jackson points out, by the second half of the century the old-time individualistic, emotional, and anti-institutional religion of the early frontier camp meetings was outmoded, and the old- time folk songs were pushed aside in favor of a more urbanized type of hymnody.10
But the Great Revival's "songs of the heart" did not die out completely. The old revival hymns and camp meeting spirituals survived in the rural "singing schools" of the upland areas of the early camp meetings, and were taken over into the Negro spirituals.11 And some of the best of the folk-type songs found their way into church hymnals. And later, says Ben- son, for that class, both inside and outside the church, not reached by the more elevated literary and musical tone of church hymnody, there developed the later "gospel song" that is quite familiar today the descendant, in part, of the camp meeting songs of the early decades of the nineteenth century, but in more refined form. They were evangelical in spirit and evangelistic in objective focusing on winning souls through conversion, and were used primarily in revivals, as well as being taken over by the Sunday schools.
V. Overtone of Prophecy Heard in Songs of the Day
We shall have occasion to refer to this chapter, by way of comparison, when we come to the Millerite movement of the thirties and forties. But before that day prophecy already occupied a place in the religious songs of the early decades of the nineteenth century, when men were preaching and writing much on prophecy. Long before, Watts had written a hymn on "The Ruin of Antichrist," another on "Babylon Fallen," and one on "The Last Judgment." 12 And now that the Great Revival was on in America, the witness of Bible prophecy, the hope of the second advent, the imminence of the judgment, the millennium soon to be established, and the signs of the latter times all found similar expression in song. This is evident from the fact that the Millerites "found a great body of end-of-time songs" 13 from those who had preceded them, and used them in their call to preparation for the transcendent events impending.
Take, for example, Hugh Bourne's A Col lection of Hymns for Camp Meetings, Revivals, Etc. (1810). After defending "worship in the open air" as stamped with dignity by Christ and the apostles, and declaring the death of Christ for us had "sealed the vision and the prophecy," and with sectional topics like "Jubilee," "Redemption," "Judgment," "Millennium," and so forth, we come to hymn No. 25 on "Scriptures Fulfilling." The first and last stanzas make impressive reading:
"See how the Scriptures are fulfilling,
Poor sinners are returning home;
The time the prophets were foretelling,
With signs and wonders now is come.
The gospel trumpets loud are roaring
From sea to sea, from land to land;
God's Holy Spirit is down-pouring,
And Christians joining heart and hand.
"Now God is calling every nation,
The bond and free, the rich and poor:
These are the days of visitation;
Sweet gospel grace will soon be o'er.
The Lord will come in clouds and thunder,
The light'ning beaming from his eye;
He then will cut his foe asunder,
And hurl them where the damned lie."
In Bourne's Large Hymn Book, for the Use of Primitive Methodists (bound with the other, and likewise dated 1810), No. 59, under "Judgment," we find:
"He comes! He comes! the Judge severe!
The seventh trumpet speaks Him near.
The light'nings flash, his thunders roll;
How welcome to the faithful soul!"
Again, under "Zion's Light," No. 44, we read:
"Arise, O Zion, rise and shine;
Behold thy light is come!
Thy glorious conq 'ring King is near,
To take His exiles home.
His trumpets sounding through the sky,
To set poor captives free;
The day of wonder now is come,
The year of jubilee."
Or, under "Millennial," No. 48, are the words:
"How blessed are our eyes,
That hear the joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for
And sought but never found."
But apart from these larger prophetic themes on the approaching end and second advent were the specific warning signs of the times. The catastrophic Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755, is listed as the basis for these lines:
"Alas! on earth how oft we spy
Wonders descending on the sky!
"And the dire frighten'd trembling earth
Abandons all her joy and mirth.
What terrors seize on us below
When nature speaks her overthrow!
"Can I with mortal tongue declare
What horror seized the earth and air,
When shocks from a supreme
Hand Did shake the distant wicked land?" 14
And more impressive still is the depiction of the Dark Day of May 19, 1780, and its meaning, as used by Randall's Freewill Baptists:
"Let us adore and bow down before
The sovereign Lord of might,
Who turns away the shining day
Into the shades of night.
"Nineteenth of May, a gloomy day.
When darkness veil' d the sky;
The sun's decline may be a sign
Some great event is nigh.
"And now let all who hear this call
And saw the day so dark,
Make haste away without delay,
And get into the ark." 15
Thus the clearly sustained overtone of the "last things" and the approaching return of Christ is already heard running through many of these early nineteenth-century songs, and they will swell like a rising crescendo in the thirties and forties we shall soon be studying.
(End of Series)
1 Jackson, George B., White and Negro Spirituals, chap. 6; Loud, Grover C., Evangelized America., p. 119.
2 Camp meeting songbooks include Hymns on Selected. Pas sages of Scripture . . . Usually Sung at Camp Meetings (1811), John Harrod's Social and Camp Meeting Songs for the Pious (1817), the Camp Meeting Chorister, and Songs of Zion for the Use of Christians (1818). (Benson, Louis F. the English Hymn, pp. 291-296.)
3 Ibid., p. 110; Benson, op. cit., pp. 292, 293.
4 Jackson, op. cit., chap. 7; six spiritual songs" appear in Lorenzo Dows The Dealings of God, Man, and the Devil, pp. 691-703.
5 Loud, op. cit., p. 120; Jackson, op. cit., pp. 82, 83.
6 Elizabeth K. Nottingham, Methodism and the Frontier Indiana Proving Ground, p. 26.
7 Marks, Harvey B., "the Rise and Growth of English Hymnody, pp. 246-248; Benson, op. cit., p. 204; Jackson, op. cit., part 11.
8 A great hymn may or may not happen to be great literature. It is something more it belongs to the things of the spirit, to the sphere of religious experience and communion with God. (Benson, op. cit., p. 2.) Its test is to move and mold men.9
Ibid., p. 470.
10 Jackson, op. cit., chaps. 12, 13.
11 Benson, op. cit., pp. 482, ff.
12 Nos. 29, 59, and 45 in Book I of his Hymns and Spiritual Songs.
13 Jackson, op. cit., p. 107.
14 From "Miss Harvey," in 1806 (Baptist) quoted in Jack son, op. cit., pp. 51, 52. There are nine other stanzas warning to be ready.
15 Ibid., p. 52. | <urn:uuid:31911000-269b-42cd-a7e3-c8a36615e54d> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1952/08/camp-meetings-and-revival-music | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506870.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402080824-20200402110824-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.955142 | 3,007 | 3.09375 | 3 |
In the beginning, God cursed the ground. It’s been an uphill battle for humanity ever since. Indeed, we have discovered that only by the sweat of our brow may we eat bread. In addition to food, the earth produces weeds and pests that compete with our bounty. The battle to protect our precious food from opposing and destructive forces is constant.
As humanity is prone to do, we came up with some brilliant technological hacks that would, we presumed, conquer the curses of nature. Some even took up weapons of chemical warfare to exterminate the weeds and the insects.
But we quickly discovered: when you fight against nature, nature always fights back stronger. The chemical weapons that poisoned the pests with neurotoxins also poisoned our water, our soil, our food, our bees, our butterflies, our brains, and our bodies. The workers we rely on to cultivate our food have been put in harm’s way. Our children have faced increased risk for autism, ADHD, behavioral problems, and depression.
Sometimes motivated by desperation and other times by greed, modern civilization has relied on harmful shortcuts and abusive agricultural practices that time and again transformed some of Earth’s most beautiful gardens and fertile plains into dusty deserts or fields of black rot.
In the 1930s, the American Midwest turned into a bowl of dust due to harsh agricultural practices. When a drought struck that lasted eight straight years, millions of tons of prairie topsoil were blown into clouds that plagued the land with the shadow of doomsday. In the aftermath, we came to understand that soil is a precious resource we must nurture and conserve. To abuse the soil is to bring our own destruction.
In 1845, The Great Hunger struck when spores in the wind carried a pathogen called late blight across the potato fields of Ireland, turning the sole source of nutrition for the impoverished Irish people into inedible slime. The culprit was monocropping, the practice of planting the same crop, year after year, on the same plot of land. It can be very efficient—until disease or disaster strikes the breed and destroys the entire food supply. In Ireland, one of every eight people died of starvation or hunger-related disease over the course of three years.
The lessons of history have not been learned, and monocropping continues in America to this day. Miles and miles of American farmland are dominated by monocultures of corn and soybeans. This lack of biodiversity threatens our food security, leaving us vulnerable to natural disasters and disease.
Balance: Nature’s Genius
Monocultures violate the most basic law of nature: Balance. A balanced ecosystem is nature’s genius. Predators keep pests in check. A variety of plants help maintain nutritious soil, as some plants give to the earth what others take away. Leveraging diverse hedgerows in agricultural landscapes helps retain water, prevent soil erosion, and restore habitat for beneficial species, including pollinators like butterflies and bees.
In order to produce food in the unbalanced monocultures that dominate modern industrial agriculture, many fight against nature by applying thousands of pounds of harmful chemicals to kill the weeds and insects and artificially insert nutrients in the ground.
These chemicals not only contaminate our food, but also seep into our water systems. Synthetic fertilizer, required by conventional agricultural, washes into aquifers, rivers, and ponds, causing algal blooms that suck up all the oxygen and literally kill our precious freshwater and marine ecosystems, a process that has created a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico the size of New Jersey. In August of 2014, crisis struck the city of Toledo, Ohio, when the water that 400,000 people relied on was declared unsafe to drink, contaminated by agricultural runoff that created a toxic bloom. It was an ominous warning to us all. Our water, more precious than gold, must be protected.
In 1996, the Monsanto corporation created a new kind of life when they genetically modified corn to be resistant to glyphosate, the main ingredient in their best-selling herbicide Round-Up. The problem of weeds, it seemed, had been solved eternally. Farmers could simply soak their fields in Round-Up and every living plant that Round-Up touched would die except the genetically modified corn, the seed of which has been declared the intellectual property of Monsanto.
It seemed a genius idea, until it wasn’t. In modern America we now consume in our food copious amounts of glyphosate, which harms vital gut bacteria and has been listed as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Perhaps this would all be a price worth paying if it meant we had solved the problem of crop-choking weeds forever.
Nature Strikes Back
As usual, industrial shortcuts were unable to outsmart nature. The weeds fought back and developed immunity to glyphosate. Now farmers must contend with a new problem: superweeds that are bigger, stronger, and harder to kill. While Monsanto’s clever business plan made them rich, our food became contaminated, and the weed problem has ultimately become far worse for farmers.
Incomprehensively, the response from industrial agriculture is to escalate their nuclear arms race against nature. The next product in the pipeline is an herbicide called dicamba, similar to Agent Orange, which was a devastating chemical used for herbicidal warfare during the Vietnam War. In lab tests, weeds have already shown resistance to dicamba after only three generations.
As always, industry’s fight against nature is a fight they are destined to lose.
A New Hope
However, there is hope for humanity: the path of organic and sustainable farming. We must end our abuse of the land and harness the laws of balanced and sustainable ecosystems to work with, not against, the power of nature.
One of our heroes, Cascadian Farm founder Gene Kahn, put it beautifully:
Our own professional journey working in the food industry has uncovered a series of personal epiphanies that have led us to trust, respect, embrace, and advocate for organic and other responsible methods for raising the food we eat.
Organic is most often identified with the avoidance of chemical or artificial pesticides and herbicides, and that’s certainly an important aspect of organic farming. But it is far from the whole story of this rich practice.
Healthy soil, with its rich abundance of nutrients and moisture-retaining properties, is one of the greatest tools of an organic farmer. Creating and then using compost, planting cover crops, relying on beneficial insects, and rotating crop cycles are just a few of the methods used by organic farmers to maintain superior soil health. With healthier soil, organic crops contain more nutrients, are more resistant to conditions of flood or drought, and protect the surrounding ecosystem from erosion.
Organic farmers pay particular attention to what is around, and not just in, their organic fields: hedge rows, forests, and plentiful populations of pollinators. These seemingly inefficient distractions to the money-making fields of crops actually provide inestimable value in the productivity and longevity of those same fields. Short-sighted conventional farmers that convert every last square inch of land into farm fields lose many of these benefits as they eliminate many of the sources of rich, agricultural aids that nature has to offer.
For instance, many people never know the enormous benefit of insects in the circle of farm life. Aphids, one of the most hated, destructive, and invasive insect enemies of crops, are often reduced or eliminated by organic farmers who rely on their friend the ladybug. More people are also beginning to recognize the prolific contribution that bees and butteflies make to our agricultural system as pollinators that enable delicious varieties of food to even exist. Without pollination from bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators, some of our favorite foods like peaches, pumpkins, blueberries, almonds, and apples would fail to pro-create. Pollinators are the nearly invisible workforce that make an organic farmer’s crops survive and then thrive.
Artificially altering the genetic code of a plant in a laboratory is modern science’s recent experiment (for the last 20 years) with our food supply to manipulate the properties of a crop. GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) now dominate much of the cultivation of crops like sugar beets, soybeans, and corn. Organic farming shuns this risky and manipulative practice that has a wide swath of unintended, negative consequences. Instead, organic agriculture relies on natural breeding and cross-pollinating plant varieties to use nature’s method for the evolution of species (thank you, Gregor Mendel).
A number of exemplary farming methods inspired by organic are blooming across the country. From Joel Salatin’s famous Polyface Farms in Virginia to a variety of biodynamic operations in California, responsible and thoughtfully designed farms are producing some of the greatest foods ever tasted. And more farmers are abandoning conventional farming practices to join the movement that satisfies both their conscience and their taste buds.
Our Organic Promise
We are parents seeking responsible food choices for ourselves and our children. In an era when America is losing faith in Big Food, we stand committed to making the highest quality foods that we happily feed our own family. We seek superior ingredients and methods in everything we do. We embrace the virtues of organic farming, raw and local honey, and whole grains. We mistrust and avoid GMOs, artificial ingredients, preservatives, and cheap fillers.
At Father Time Bread, our decision to source organic and earth-friendly ingredients to the greatest extent possible is motivated by Love. We love our planet and believe that pure water, clean air, natural seeds, and fertile soil should be the inheritance of all humanity. We love our friends and neighbors and believe they deserve to eat foods that have been cultivated without contamination from potentially harmful pesticides and herbicides. We love food and believe that it should be delicious, wholesome, and life-sustaining.
For us, baking is a labor of love. Our goal is not simply to satisfy hunger. With every bite, we want our customers to taste and remember the care and compassion that went into their loaf. Our ultimate hope is that as they partake, an empty place in their heart will be filled with the knowledge that they are special, and they are loved. | <urn:uuid:58205485-1db7-4423-953d-c85ff7d467b7> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://fathertimebread.com/blogs/father-time-blog/organic-manifesto | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371618784.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406035448-20200406065948-00235.warc.gz | en | 0.944996 | 2,104 | 2.9375 | 3 |
- Student Conduct
- General Information for Families
- Health and Safety Information
- School Programs and Services
- Student Behavior Expectations
- Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
- Dress Code
- Things Not to Bring to School
- Telephones at School
At Renton Park, we follow the Renton Park Way:
Students are expected to follow directions given by any Renton Park staff member – on the playground, in the classroom, the lunchroom, the hallway, or the bus line.
Students are asked to follow The Renton Park Way when at school or on school sponsored trips or at school events. Expectations for classroom behavior and for behavior in common areas such as lunchroom, playground, hallways, and restrooms are taught to students and posted for their reference.
Specific examples of behavior expectations
· Go down the slide on your bottom only, feet first.
· Walk in the building and use the handrails on the stairs.
· Keep your hands, feet, and other body parts to yourselves.
· Respect the school’s equipment by treating it with care – library books, walls, desks, etc.
· Respect personal property at all times.
· Use appropriate, respectful language.
· Respect others’ personal space and belongings.
· Use supplies wisely without waste – toilet paper, pencils, erasers, etc.
Be a Problem Solver
· Organized games are open to all. Make sure all who want to play may do so.
· Use Second Step Strategies to try to solve disagreements, and seek an adult if you need help.
Our school is committed to providing a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, volunteers and patrons – one that is free from harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB).
“Harassment, intimidation and bullying” means any intentional written message or image, including those that are electronically transmitted, a verbal or physical act including, but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or mental, sensory, or physical disability – or any other distinguishing characteristic when the intentional written, verbal or physical act:
1. Physically harms a person or damages their property
2. Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education.
3. Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment or
4. Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Harassment, intimidation and bullying are NOT tolerated at school. For additional informational & forms, please visit our school office.
Our dress code promotes modest, appropriate, safe, and respectful dress.
Shirts must be long enough to cover top of pants – no bare skin showing, underclothing should not be visible (e.g. bra straps or underwear bands). Pants should not be sagging below the waistline. No halter-tops, spaghetti straps, or tank tops with the strap narrower than 1½”. Bottom of shorts or skirts must reach below fingertips.
Students may be outside even if it rains. Umbrellas may only be used going to or from school – not on the playground. Please be sure your child has warm outer clothing during cooler weather. Shoes must be worn at all times, and tennis shoes are recommended for P.E.
Clothing and accessories associated with gang dress are not acceptable on campus.
Hats are not to be worn in the building. Clothing associated with violent themes, tobacco, drugs or alcohol and any with foul language or sexual innuendo are not appropriate on campus.
If a student's attire causes a disruption to the educational program, they will have to call for a change of clothing or be sent home.
General Items Not Allowed at School
Students are not to bring toys, electronic devices, video game devices, MP3 Players, CD players, I-Pods, etc. to school. Items of these types may become stolen, lost, and can be a distraction in the school’s operation. Permanent markers, white out or correction type markers, trading cards, and stickers also can become a problem. Valuable jewelry, cameras, radios, and playthings are not to be brought to school. Because of the danger of loss, students are not to bring more money to school than is needed during the school day.
If expensive items are brought to school, the Renton School District and Renton Park Elementary are not liable or responsible for them.
Please do not bring your dog or pet to the school or playground even if it is on a leash. In general animals are not to be brought to school.
Items such as guns, knives, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, matches and fireworks are illegal on school grounds and persons in possession are subject to suspension and related legal action.
Gum and Candy
Gum is not allowed at school. Candy is only permitted as part of a student’s lunch and must be kept in his/her individual lunch container. Candy can only be eaten in the lunchroom during the lunch period or as determined by the classroom teacher.
Cell phones & smart watches are permitted but must be kept turned off and in the student’s backpack during the school day. The Renton School District and Renton Park Elementary are not liable or responsible for student cell phones or smart watches.
School telephones are used for daily business purposes. Student use will be limited to emergencies only. All arrangements for after-school activities should be made before coming to school.
The goal of discipline is to teach students proper behavior. When discipline becomes necessary, it is administered in a firm, consistent manner that is respectful of the individual. Our focus is on helping the child accept ownership of his or her actions and to learn to resolve problems positively.
Progressive methods we may use to help change inappropriate student behaviors may include:
- Clarification of rules(s)
- Reminder or verbal warning
- Time-out in class or in another classroom
- Loss of recess or equipment use
- Phone call or note home
- Parent conference or other form of parent support
- Suspension (repeated or serious misbehavior)
Serious misbehavior may result in an immediate suspension. This would include actions such as: Fighting or causing bodily injury, stealing, extremely disruptive classroom behavior, vandalism, sexual harassment or bullying, use or possession of weapons, and use or possession of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
We reserve the right to refer to the appropriate non-school agency any act or conduct of pupils, which may constitute a crime under federal, state, county or local law.
- Field Trips
- Visiting Classrooms
- Student Directory Information
- School Safety Patrol
The purpose of homework is to practice learned skills from class, help prepare for future lessons, extend opportunities to transfer concepts to new situations, and to integrate skills and concepts to produce original responses.
Some ways parents can help with homework:
- Establish as much routine as possible and hold your child to it. For example - some students are successful working on homework from 4:00 to 4:30 PM everyday while others do better directly after dinner each night.
- Limit time spent watching TV/video games.
- Have supplies that your child might need available and a quiet place to work. Be interested and involved but let your child take responsibility for their work.
- Communicate with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or questions about your child’s homework.
Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences are very important and serve two purposes. They are a way of mutually sharing information about a child's development and a way of reporting student progress to the student’s family. A formal reporting conference is held in November in conjunction with the fall report card. Additional conferences may be requested by parents, teachers or the principal to discuss academic progress and/or social-emotional concerns.
Parent and family volunteers provide important assistance to us at school. Contact your child’s teacher or the office to let us know that you would like to volunteer.
For safety reasons, volunteers (including field trip chaperones) are required to fill out a Washington State Patrol Clearance Form which must be processed for clearance of ALL volunteers. The clearance is valid for two years and is required by law. This service is provided at no charge and forms are available in the office. Allow for 2-3 weeks for processing.
Federal law and school district regulations allow schools to release directory-type information (student name, address, phone, date/place of birth, dates of enrollment, awards received, and previous schools attended) to such agencies as school news or PTA unless parents notify the school of their wishes to the contrary. Information other than Directory Information is considered confidential.
Our school’s student safety patrol is made up of 5th grade students and supervised by a staff member. Students are on patrol at 8:15-8:30 AM and 3:10-3:20 PM. They supervise students crossing at the designated crosswalks close to our school campus. Students are expected to follow the crossing directions of the Safety Patrol.
- School Nurse
- Student Health Concerns
- Common Communicable Diseases
- Hearing and Vision
- Emergency Forms
A registered nurse is available at Renton Park two days per week. Our school nurse is responsible for health screening, individual health care plans for students with health conditions, managing immunization, status of students, communicating with health care providers & working with the special education team. The nurse assesses health problems that arise at school, supervises health room procedures, consults & instructs on health-related issues. In the case of a medical emergency, staff will call 911.
Please keep us informed if your child has any health concerns we should be aware of, such as bee stings, specific allergies, etc. Each fall parents are requested to fill out forms alerting us to any health concerns of their children. You may contact the school nurse with any questions (425) 204-2952.
Please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease (e.g. chicken pox, ringworm, measles, impetigo, etc.). Confidentiality will be respected, and we appreciate the opportunity to be able to control any further spread in the classroom and school.
Other Health Concerns
Head lice are an occasional annoyance for children in schools. Please check your child’s head every few weeks for signs of lice, particularly around the ears and at the nape of the neck. It is easier to tackle the issues when lice are found early. To prevent lice, instruct your children not to share combs, brushes, or clothing. Please notify the school if your student has head lice. Once a student has received treatment for head lice they will be checked by trained school staff before returning to class.
Before sending your student to school, be sure your child is feeling well enough to participate in the full school program, including recess and physical education (unless we have a physician’s note stating otherwise).
In general, your child should stay home from school when these symptoms are present: vomiting, diarrhea, elevated temperature, ear ache, sore throat (especially associated with fever), head lice, inflamed or draining eyes, sores or rash (not obviously associated with an allergic reaction).
If your child’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher OR they are vomiting, they may not remain at school. Parents are asked to pick up their child if a health problem occurs. A student with an oral temperature of 100 degrees or over should remain at home until free of fever for 24 hours.
When returning after an illness they should be free of a fever (without use of fever reducing medication) for at least 24 hours before returning.
Washington State law requires that all students, kindergarten through grade twelve, must be fully immunized before they can attend school. For a complete list of vaccine requirements and recommended immunization schedules, please visit the Washington State Department of Health.
The law states that parents must complete and sign a Certificate of Immunization Status giving the month, day and year of each dose of vaccine. When a student lacks full immunization we require evidence of initiation of the immunization schedule or a properly completed Certificate of Exemption.
Medication includes both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs.
- Medications are allowed at school only when they are in the original container in which they were purchased.
- All medication, even Tylenol, aspirin and cough syrup, must be registered with the school nurse and kept in the clinic.
- The law requires schools to have a written request from the parent/guardian and instructions from a physician or dentist for any medication to be taken at school. This includes over-the-counter drugs.
Please make sure that the school has an up-to-date Emergency Form on file at all times. It is especially important that the school has the following information on file and current.
- EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER
- CURRENT CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
In the event that your child becomes ill or injured at school we will need to be able to contact you or an alternate person of your choice. Please request a new emergency contact form from office staff should your emergency telephone number change during the school year.
Emergencies (windstorm, earthquake, power loss, etc.) may arise making it difficult to dismiss your child following normal routines. No child will be released without contact with you or your emergency designee. It is helpful to include names and numbers of additional adults to whom your child could be released to (neighbors, family members) in your emergency plan.
- Discovery Program-Highly Capable Program
- English Language Learner Program- ELL
- General Music
- Learning Assistance Program - LAP
- Physical Education
- Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy
- Resource Room Program
- School Psychologist
- Special Education Services
The counselor provides services to classrooms, small groups and individuals as needed and works to create a positive school climate. Students may refer themselves or staff and parents may make referrals to the counselor for assistance with particular concerns such as friendship issues, family changes, grief, and/or managing emotions, such as anger. Our full-time counselor works with parents and staff to help students be more successful in & out of the school environment. Our counselor is also available to help families connect with community resources to support clothing, food mental health & homelessness.
Children who excel academically and/or who display strong creativity may qualify for the Discovery Program. If you feel your child should be referred for highly capable services, please discuss this with your child’s teacher or the principal. Referral forms are available in the office, or by calling the Discovery Program Office at 425-204-2401.
Our ELL Program serves students whose primary language is a language other than English. The students may receive support through small group instruction in English communication skills, reading, and writing in order to develop and apply English language skills to academic content. ELL students are identified through ELL testing and through parent surveys.
Our Learning Assistance Program, or LAP, is an intensive intervention program for Kindergarten – 4th grade for students who are performing below-standard in reading. Students served in LAP work in small groups with a reading teacher or classified staff member to develop foundational reading skills and improve reading comprehension.
The school library supports classroom instruction and provides books for students' recreational reading. Each class visits the library once a week for instruction in using resources and to check out books. Students are responsible for returning books in good condition and in a timely manner. No charges are made for overdue books, but fines are assessed for damaged and lost books. Fines may be paid through the Online Payment Portal.
Physical Education Programs are offered to all students. The curriculum includes individual fitness skills, team sports skills, and the awareness of physical fitness benefits and goal setting. When your student is scheduled for P.E. please be sure they wear clothing and shoes which allow for full and safe participation in physical activities.
Specially designed instruction is provided for eligible students in one or more basic skills areas. Students remain in their regular classes most of the school day and are pulled out for areas of needed assistance. Instruction takes place in small groups or individually and is designed to meet the needs of the student.
Evaluation Team meetings are used to review our support for students having academic and/or behavior challenges in the general education classroom. This team is composed of the building administration, school psychologist, special education teachers, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist, nurse, counselor, and classroom teachers. Teachers and parents can request students who are having academic and/or behavior challenges to be considered by the Evaluation Team. It is the team's responsibility to determine if further testing needs to occur and to aid the classroom teacher and parents in developing the appropriate program for that child. | <urn:uuid:a00c6c85-c9a3-4fab-a0c2-c34570bfcf50> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://rentonpark.rentonschools.us/for-families/handbook | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496669.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330054217-20200330084217-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.946092 | 3,528 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Lausanne Global Analysis
January 2014 - Volume 3 / Issue 1
Read Executive Summary
Mission among Indigenous Groups in Brazil
Lessons, challenges, and opportunities
This article analyzes trends and challenges in mission among the indigenous groups in Brazil. Understanding their reality is crucial for any reflection or action. The picture of an exotic painted hunter in the Amazon forest – often used as a symbol of their identity – does not express the web of connections and differentiations of groups, cultural patterns, languages, and tendencies in their world. There are lessons here for the global church and missionary movement, especially the need for better understanding and unity to meet today’s challenges.
There are 228 recognized indigenous groups in Brazil. However, the picture is quite complex:
- 37 are in danger of extinction.
- 41 are considered ‘emergent’ groups (those that are reclaiming their previously denied ethnic identification).
- 111 are experiencing different levels of urbanization.
The growth of the total population has been significant: from 294,000 in 1990 to almost 900,000 in 2010. The impact of the so-called emergent groups recently recognized as indigenous is responsible for more than 70% of the growth.
Of the overall indigenous population, 52% live in traditional villages and 48% in urbanized or urbanizing areas:
- Nearly 60% live in the general Amazonian region comprising the states of Amazonas, Acre, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, and the western sector of Maranhão.
- Based on demographic trends, it is estimated that by 2015 the number living in small or large towns will be higher than those living in traditional villages.
Some 46 of these ethnic groups comprise only up to 100 people; 97 groups contain from 101 to 500 people; 24 from 501 to 1,000 people; 49 from 1,001 to 5,000 people; 11 from 5,001 to 10,000; and only 9 groups have populations greater than 10,000 people.
According to the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), there are 611 indigenous reservations already recognized, or in process of recognition, and they cover 13% of the total land in Brazil and 21% of the land in the greater Amazonian region.
An ethnic survey analysis uses a variety of filters to paint a more comprehensive picture. One of these filters is the existence of groups that are still isolated – ethnic groups that live in remote areas with little or no contact with other indigenous or non-indigenous people. There are 27 groups listed in this category, but a truer estimate would be as many as 52.
There are also various ethnic groups treated as a bloc, which in fact comprise different groups with distinct sociocultural and linguistic identities:
- The Yanomami people, frequently listed as a single indigenous group, includes at least 4 groups with different languages and cultural patterns.
- The same occurs with the so-called Maku, a pejorative generic term used to refer to at least 5 different ethnic groups in the Upper Black River.
Finally, there are 41 emergent groups, which through intermarriage with non-indigenous people (and other factors of dispersion), had lost their ethnic self-identification for a period of time. For various reasons these groups have once again claimed recognition as indigenous communities. These are the most ‘acculturated’ groups.
Adding together known ethnic groups (228), isolated communities (27), partially isolated groups (10), possibly extinct groups (9), emergent groups (41), and groups yet to be studied (25), suggests there may be a total of 340 indigenous groups in Brazil.
Some 37 of these ethnic groups are in danger of extinction due to the size of their population (fewer than 35 people), unfavorable socio-environmental conditions, limited access to health care, conflicts, and dispersion.
There are 181 indigenous languages in Brazil. According to Moore (2006):
- 13% of living Brazilian indigenous languages have been completely described;
- 38% have an advanced description;
- 29% have an incipient description;
- 19% have little or no descriptive material; and
- the remaining 1% is undefined.
The German researcher Michael Krauss (1992) estimated that 27% of South American languages are no longer learned by children – and there is no reason to think this has changed in the last 20 years. It is estimated that, during the period of Portuguese colonization, some 1,273 indigenous languages were spoken in what is now Brazil. That means the country has lost 85% of its linguistic diversity over the last 500 years.
Today 132 indigenous groups speak Portuguese; 57 of these groups speak only Portuguese; and 45 are bilingual or trilingual with Portuguese. The vitality of traditional languages, however, remains strong among the indigenous groups far from urban contexts.
Missionary work and the indigenous church
There is a local evangelical church among 150 ethnic groups, which is a great encouragement for the missionary movement. However, 99 of these churches have no indigenous leadership.
There is an evangelical missionary presence in 182 indigenous communities representing more than 30 evangelical missionary agencies and nearly 100 different denominations.
In 165 ethnic groups there are social programs and projects coordinated by evangelical missionaries. The total of 257 social programs emphasize various areas of:
- education (linguistic analysis, literacy, local publications, and translation);
- health care (basic health care, first aid, and medical clinics);
- subsistence (farming, fair market); and
- social inclusion (cultural appreciation, human rights, and citizenship).
Something new is happening in the indigenous church in Brazil. The Lord is raising up key indigenous leaders to bring people together with the desire to seek the Lord for renewal. Many meetings attract 1,000 or more indigenous Christians in a growing movement throughout Brazil and even some neighboring countries.
The indigenous church in Brazil is growing fast and in totally new areas and groups. However, there are a limited number of mature indigenous leaders and only a few initiatives with a focus on leadership training.
There are currently programs of linguistic analysis and literacy as a result of evangelical initiatives in 54 different languages, of which 31 also have a Bible translation program. At present, 58 languages have a complete Bible, New Testament, and/or biblical portions in their mother tongue, serving a total of 66 ethnic groups.
Ten languages clearly need a Bible translation, 28 need a special translation project probably based on orality, while 31 remain undefined – yet to be evaluated. These 31 languages are spoken by 59 ethnic groups.
The languages requiring translation projects and those requiring a special project based on orality show very little potential for understanding of the gospel in any other language, through any other means of communication or via any neighboring groups.
There are 121 ethnic groups that are still under-evangelized or non-evangelized. More than 40% of current missionary activity urgently demands more personnel to assure its continuation, and 95% of the 121 unreached groups have no missionary activity:
- As a result it is estimated that at least 357 new missionary units (singles or couples) are needed to reinforce existing work and begin new projects.
- When specialized activities, as well as the administrative, logistic, and pastoral work that precede and follow such initiatives are taken into account, at least 500 new missionary units will be required to face the present challenge of sharing the gospel, planting churches, and engaging with the social needs among the less or non-evangelized groups.
With an intentional and positive investment in the existing indigenous church, a good number of these 500 missionaries may come from them. However, they need to be trained cross-culturally, as most of them may experience the same barriers as non-Indians to living and communicating with other groups.
The 99 ethnic groups with an evangelical church but no indigenous leadership highlight this challenge. One obvious conclusion is that it is necessary to invest heavily and intentionally in the training of evangelical indigenous leaders to strengthen the existing church, reach the unreached, and avoid future syncretism.
Translation and Scripture use
The challenge in this area comes from the 10 languages in need of a classic Bible translation, the 28 needing a special project based on orality and the 54 ongoing translation projects. It is imperative for the church to support those already in hand and not only invest in new initiatives.
There is also a challenge to use the Scripture, as well as to have it:
- There are 17 ethnic groups with access to portions of the Bible in their mother tongue, but with no believers among them.
- Another 25 groups have good access to Scripture and a local church among them, but no indigenous leadership.
There is a need for better integration between Bible translation, church planting, and leadership training.
It is time to partner with the indigenous church in Brazil, working together to reach the unreached, translate the Bible into all languages, and see leaders being trained. AMTB1 (Association of Cross Cultural Missionary Agencies of Brazil) and CONPLEI2 (National Council of Evangelical Indigenous Pastors and Leaders) are working hard in this direction in unity. To partner with those organizations in projects in collaboration with the indigenous church in Brazil would be a strategic step.
There are lessons here for the global church and missionary movement, especially the need for better understanding and unity to meet today’s challenges.
There is an urgent need to continue to research key regions and movements around the world to produce enough understanding of today’s reality. To reach the unreached we need to know more than ‘how many’, ‘who’, and ‘where’. Understanding their identity and sociocultural context, and the indigenous church’s situation, is vital to guide in a wise way any missionary initiative.
There is an urgent need to promote better spiritual and strategic unity among players in the global missionary movement, especially between:
- those who research and have specific data and information, and those in the field developing the projects;
- those involved in Bible translation and those sharing the gospel, planting churches, and encouraging people to use Scripture; and
- those mobilizing the church to be involved in the missionary challenge and leaders of initiatives in the field who have a more practical understanding of the real needs.
Without understanding we will bring solutions to problems that are not appropriate. Without unity we will not be strong enough to face the challenges.
Ibge, 2005. Tendências demográficas: uma análise dos indígenas com base nos resultados da amostra dos censos demográficos 1991 e 2000. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE.
Funasa, 2009. Sistema de Informação da Atenção à Saúde Indígena – Siasi – Demografia dos Povos Indígenas. Quantitativos de pessoas. Consulta online: www.funasa.gov.br.
Krauss, M. The world’s languages in crisis. Language, n. 68, 1992.
Lewis, Paul, editor. Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 16th edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: www.ethnologue.com.
Lidorio, Ronaldo (Org). Indígenas do Brasil – Relatório AMTB 2010. Consulta online: www.indigena.org.br.
Moore, D. Brazil: Language Situation. In: BROWN, K. (org. geral). Encyclopedia of language and linguistics. Oxford: Elsevier, 2006.
Pagliaro, Heloísa (org.), Demografia dos Povos Indígenas no Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Editora Fiocruz e Associação Brasileira de Estudos Populacionais, 2005.
Ricardo, C. A. & Ricardo, Fany. Povos indígenas no Brasil 2000/2006. São Paulo: Instituto Socioambiental, 2006.
Silva, Cácio. Tradução da Bíblia para línguas indígenas do Brasil: Realizações, desafios e possibilidades. Revista Povos, ano 1, n.2. Rio de Janeiro: Betesda, 2006.
Souza, Isaac Costa de & Lidorio, Ronaldo (Org). A questão indígena: Uma luta desigual. Viçosa: Ultimato, 2008.
Ronaldo Lidorio is a Brazilian theologian and anthropologist serving as a cross-cultural missionary in the Amazon, following eight years as a church planter and Bible translator in Ghana. A Presbyterian pastor as well as author of 14 books, he is Director for Missiology and Church Planting for WEC International.
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Peperomia or Radiator plant is one of the best air purifying woody perennial plant that mostly thrives in loose, humid soils. They can grow easily in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world at office and residences.These plants have great decorative value and serve best in the USDA Zones 10-12. Though the plant is grown as ornamental foliage the entire plant is edible and cooked raw. The plant is used as both food item and as a medicinal herb that has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to solve many health issues.
- 1 Peperomia Plant Varieties
- 2 How to Grow Peperomia from Seeds?
- 3 Peperomia Plant Propagation Methods
- 4 How do you Care for Peperomia Plants?
- 5 What is peperomia plant?
- 6 What are the Companions for peperomias?
- 7 What are the Health Benefits of Radiator plant?
- 8 How often you water peperomia plant?
- 9 How to prune Peperomia plants?
- 10 Why Peperomia plant leaves turn yellow?
- 11 Is peperomia safe for cats and dogs?
Peperomia Plant Varieties
There are more than 1000 species cultivated worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical regions. But most of the species are found in South, Central America and in Africa. Some varieties include peperomia prostrata, rainbow peperomia, jelly peperomia, peperomia Japonica, Columbian peperomia and Isabella peperomia are slow growing houseplants and may take years to grow outdoors. All these varieties are based on its growing conditions and plant structure.
|1||Beetle peperomia||Small dark green leaves with creeping stems|
|2||Belly button peperomia||Little dark green leaves close to stems|
|3||Bibi peperomia||Small lance-shaped dark green leaves|
|4||Peperomia perciliata||Heart-shaped leaves with red stems|
|5||Variegate teardrop peperomia||Glossy green leaves with golden edges|
|6||Red edge peperomia||Green leaves with red-purple edges|
|7||Peperomia rubella||Small dark green leaves with reddish-purple stems|
How to Grow Peperomia from Seeds?
Gardeners often grow peperomia plants for their attractive flowers, ornamental foliage and you just need proper care to grow them in right growing conditions. Here is the step by step procedure to grow peperomia plants from seeds.
- Before planting select a desired peperomia plant variety you wish to grow them in pots.
- Choose a pot or container of size 6-8 inches both wide and deep. Fill the pot with well-drain fertile soil and also maintain the soil pH between 6.0 – 6.5. If necessary add organic mulches to improve the soil fertility and to maintain soil moisture levels.
- Water the plant regularly and also allow it to dry for some time after watering. The thick leaves of radiator plants can withstand water for longer periods without moisture. Do not overwater the plant as it may result in the root to rot.
- Place the pot in a window location where it grows well in bright indirect sunlight. These houseplants can even grow under fluorescent lights. To maintain the room temperature between 60-80F.
- When you provide sufficient water and sunlight the seedlings may germinate within 15-30 days. You can start fertilizing the plant when matures.
- These plants may reach up to 12 inches height and 6 inches for dwarf varieties when you start growing in your home. Flowers are very small and the most interesting leaves produce fragrances.
- Pests like caterpillars, mealy bugs, mites, scales, fungus gnats and thrips greatly damage the radiator plant. These plants easily attract insects and to repel them use natural insecticides to deter pests surrounding your favorite plants.
- Diseases are also a common problem for plants and may die if they are infected with bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Pythium is the most common disease found in peperomia. Prune the dead or diseased leaves, stems of radiator plant if necessary.
- Sometimes nutrient deficiency can be the reason for the plants to be affected by these dreadful diseases. To overcome this problem use fertilizers that not only acts as disease resistant but also provides sufficient nutrients to the plants.
- Fertilize peperomia houseplants once in every month in spring and summer season. Use organic fertilizers such as N-P-K (3-1-2) fertilizer, compost, organic manure, eggshells, Epsom salt and baking soda to improve the plant growth.
Peperomia Plant Propagation Methods
Propagating peperomia is easy by taking stem or leaf cuttings. Both these methods are quite simple to implement than growing from seeds. It takes less time to mature the plant when compared to the other growing methods. The propagation method of radiator plants from leaf and stem cuttings are listed below…
Most peperomias propagate from leaf cuttings only. The best time to propagate radiator plants from leaf cuttings is spring season. In this method cut the leaf along with the stem. Place all the separate leaf cuttings in a single pot and cover them with damp soil. Now cover the pot with a plastic bag and make few holes to allow air into it.
Place the pot at room temperature and remove the plastic bag after few days to prevent rotting & to allow fresh air. New plants will emerge from the base of the leaf. You can also re-pot the plants into individual pots when they are big and root well in soil.
Growing peperomias from tip cuttings is an another way to boost the plant growth. Cut the growing tip of radiator plant using a sharp knife or scissors. Now remove the bottom leaves attached to the parent peperomia plant and place it in a well-drain moist soil. Water the tip cuttings regularly in small amounts. After few days the roots develops and matures completely. You can transplant it to the outdoor garden for fast and better growth. Planting outdoors helps peperomias to receive sunlight and nutrients from the soil.
How do you Care for Peperomia Plants?
- Fertilize the plant during the fall season for better results.
- Test the nature and ph of the soil before planting them in pots.
- No need to feed the plant with fertilizers in fall and winter season.
- Water the plant once in a week to maintain the soil moist but not soggy.
- Do not overwater the radiator plant as it can result in root rot disease.
- Place the pot near a window location to receive sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours a day.
- Follow the instructions & warning labels on seed covers and fertilizers before applying them to the soil.
- Make sure the pot or container has enough holes at the bottom for air circulation and proper drainage.
What is peperomia plant?
Peperomia plant is a shallow root herb that grows to a height of 20-45 cms. These are characterized by succulent stems, heart-shaped leaves and the seeds are attached to the fruiting spikes. Leaves in red, gray or pale green color at its borders. Flowers do not smell at all and grow about 2 inches vertically above the foliage.
What are the Companions for peperomias?
Companion planting helps to improve the plant growth by promoting flower blooming, fast growing and harvesting time. Christmas cactus, peace lily, dracaena are the good companions for peperomias. Insect repellent plants cannot grow well with peperomias as they could inhibit the plant growth.
What are the Health Benefits of Radiator plant?
Peperomia in traditional medicine to treat a headache, acne, joint pains. Mainly the roots help to treat fever and aerial parts for dressing wounds. Avoid heavy dosage of peperomias as it may result in several other health-related problems.
How often you water peperomia plant?
Apart from regular watering, if your peperomia plants are wilting then the plant is not getting enough oxygen to the roots. During this stage water peperomias sparingly i.e. twice a week and allow the fertile soil to dry between the successive watering. Make sure you do not over water the plant as it may result in root rot disease.
How to prune Peperomia plants?
Start pruning peperomia plants when it reaches to a height of 15 inches using knife or scissors. Prune only the damaged leaves, foliage and stems for every 2 months throughout the year. It is done to control the size and growth. Heavy pruning is not required as it permanently damages the plant growth.
Why Peperomia plant leaves turn yellow?
If your peperomia plant leaves are looking dull then it caused by the too much of sunlight or insufficient amount of nutrients supplied to the plants. Discoloration of leaves (yellow) and flowers is due to overwatering of peperomia plants. To overcome this problem allow the soil to dry out for some time and also avoid getting water on the leaves which can cause the plant to root rot disease.
For more information refer: Why are my plants turning yellow?
Is peperomia safe for cats and dogs?
The plant has striking leaves that acts as ideal houseplants and is safe for both cats and dogs. They like to grow in moderate light conditions and add beauty to your home, especially for pet-lovers home. These are not for animal or human consumption directly.
It’s fun to grow and enjoy peperomias starting from seeds or cuttings in your home that keeps the surrounding atmosphere hygiene. If you have amazing ideas about growing peperomias, please share your experience with us in the comment section. | <urn:uuid:5a6b03f7-64bb-4cb1-a006-77f4c5cbc4ca> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://homegardeners.in/peperomia-plant/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496227.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329201741-20200329231741-00033.warc.gz | en | 0.915882 | 2,145 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Hypothyroidism is the result of not making enough thyroid hormone. The average age of diagnosis for this condition is 60, and its prevalence increases with advancing age. However, it is increasingly more common for women at midlife.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the area of your neck just below the Adam’s apple. It’s part of the endocrine system, and it secretes the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate the body’s metabolic rate.
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Statistics show that one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime. And, women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
Thyroid function is very complex and exerts a profound effect on the function of nearly every organ in the body. Therefore, smooth functioning of the overall body chemistry depends on the health of your thyroid gland.
14 Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
While many women with hypothyroidism are completely asymptomatic, others may have a wide variety of symptoms, including mood and sleep disturbances, depression and irritability, low energy level, and even mental confusion.
Here are 14 more symptoms of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism:
- Weight gain
- Intolerance to cold or heat
- Hair loss or dry hair
- Decreased heart rate
- Problems with attention and concentration
- Shortness of breath
- Heavy menstrual periods, especially early in the disorder
- Scanty or absent menstrual flow, especially later in the disorder
- Tingling in the fingers
- Muscle cramps
- Impaired hearing
- Dry skin and puffiness in the face, hands, and feet
To make matters more complicated, many symptoms of hypothyroidism are the same as those commonly associated with the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause. Therefore, it is entirely possible to have many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism yet have completely normal thyroid function.
How to Tell If You Have Hypothyroidism
If you have a family history of hypothyroidism, have any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism described above, have bulges or a protrusion in your neck below your Adam’s apple when you swallow, or suspect you have hypothyroidism, see a physician who understands thyroid problems.
If your doctor recommends testing you for hypothyroidism, be sure to ask for a full panel of tests, including free T4, free T3, T3 uptake, and T4 uptake. Many doctors still test TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). However, more recently experts are realizing that TSH is an inaccurate marker of the body’s overall thyroid status.
Here are the conventional lab values for thyroid hormone markers you may be tested for:
- TSH: “Normal” range 0.3-1.5 mU/L
- TSH: High–Normal 3.0–5.0 mU/L (Many doctors still think of this high-normal range as healthy. But, if you don’t feel well, then it’s too high for you.)
- TSH: Borderline Increased 5 – 10 mU/L (I believe that borderline is anything over 1.5 mU/L.)
- TSH: High >10 mU/L
- TSH following Thyroid-Releasing Hormone (TRH) stimulation: 9 – 30 mU/L
- Triiodothyronine (T3): 80 – 180 ng/dL
- Free T3: 230 – 619 pg/dL
- Thyroxine (T4): 4 – 12 mg/dL
- Free Thyroxine (Free T4): 0.7 – 1.9 ng/dL
- Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (anti-TPO): < 2 IU/mL
Remember, these levels are the standards used by conventional doctors, but many experts now realize that the numbers don’t always paint a clear picture. Most cases of hypothyroidism at midlife are subclinical. In other words, although you may have symptoms, thyroid function tests are often in the normal range.
4 Causes of Hypothyroidism at Midlife
There are a number of theories as to why hypothyroidism is becoming more prevalent at midlife. Most medical practitioners believe the following to be common causes of hypothyroidism at midlife:
- Estrogen dominance. The late clinician John R Lee, M.D., believed estrogen dominance to be behind many cases of midlife hypothyroidism. According to Dr. Lee, when estrogen is not properly counterbalanced with progesterone, it can block the action of thyroid hormone, so your thyroid may produce enough hormone, but it is rendered ineffective and the symptoms of hypothyroidism appear. In this case, laboratory tests may show normal thyroid hormone levels because the thyroid gland itself is not malfunctioning.
This problem is compounded if you take supplemental estrogen, which then leads to an even greater imbalance. And taking supplemental thyroid hormone will fail to correct the underlying problem. In order for this complex, entangled state of affairs to be resolved, you may need to take progesterone and thyroid hormone. I recommend taking natural progesterone instead of synthetic progestins, which can make hypothyroidism symptoms worse. Be sure to repeat your thyroid function tests within a month or two of starting natural progesterone. Also note that when you take natural progesterone, you can often cut your estrogen dose in half and get the same benefits.
- Medications. Prescription drugs may also cause symptoms of hypothyroidism. For example, if you take steroids, barbiturates, cholesterol-lowering drugs, antiepileptic drugs, or beta blockers, you may experience the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
- Autoimmune disease. Autoimmune hypothyroidism is when your body makes antibodies against thyroid tissue. If you have antithyroid antibodies, your thyroid function will likely decrease gradually. As your body makes antibodies against your thyroid, your pituitary gland compensates by producing more TSH, which tells your thyroid to pump out more hormone. In the early stages of this process, T4 and T3 levels are normal, but TSH is elevated. If the illness progresses, thyroid hormone levels fall and TSH rises dramatically. Symptoms become more severe, then progress from subclinical to clinical hypothyroidism.
However, Medical Medium Anthony William, who receives messages from Spirit, says that autoimmune thyroid problems are due to a pathogen and that the body creates antibodies to attack the invader, not your thyroid. He stresses that our bodies never “attack” themselves, a notion that I find very reassuring. You can learn more by reading his book, Thyroid Healing: The Truth behind Hashimoto’s, Graves’, Insomnia, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Nodules & Epstein-Barr.
- Iodine deficiency. Hypothyroidism has also been linked to iodine deficiency. Iodine is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. Too little iodine can result in goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland. While iodine deficiency is considered rare in developed countries, I have found it to be common in women, especially if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet or limit your salt intake. So, if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, but your labs are normal, you may want to supplement with iodine and/or a high-quality seaweed. The Health Medium Ray Veilleux, who is based in Maine, generally recommends 2-7 drops of 2% Lugol’s solution daily. Lugol’s solution is made up of molecular iodine and potassium iodide. You can easily order it online. And this intervention alone can make a huge difference.
Treatment Options for Hypothyroidism
There are a number of thyroid replacement medications you can take that may help you feel better and have more energy. My colleague Kelly Brogan, MD, a holistic psychiatrist and functional medicine doctor, recommends Thyroid Natural Glandular by Allergy Research Group, which is available online without a prescription. She reports that in her practice, as long as women are following a healthy diet, this supplement is enough to balance the thyroid. There is also ArmourTM Thyroid. It is made from dried (desiccated) pork thyroid glands and contains the correct ratio of T3 to T4, the two hormones that you’re trying to replace. It is prepared according to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards, which ensures the potency and consistency of the product. You need a prescription for this.
Remember, as with any medication, there is no one-size-fits-all, and many people do better on the standard synthetic T4 replacement alone or with a little synthetic T3 added in. Synthroid (thyroxine) is the most commonly prescribed thyroid replacement hormone. It is T4 only. If you’re on Synthroid and don’t feel up to par, ask your doctor to add some T3.
Healthcare practitioners often disagree about whether to treat subclinical hypothyroidism. If you have a high–normal TSH of 3.0 or 4.0 and feel symptomatic, then I suggest you seek treatment with a trial combination of T4 and T3. Make sure you are on the lowest dose possible for your situation and follow a sound program for maintaining bone health. And, be aware that medication may not alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and inattentiveness. In fact, it may result in side effects, including palpitations and irritability.
According to Medical Medium Anthony William, thyroid medications do not heal the thyroid and can actually be hard on the liver and adrenal glands, which causes weight gain for some people. Anthony recommends weaning off thyroid medications slowly, and with your doctor’s support, while making healthy diet and lifestyle changes.
The Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Depression
It is not uncommon for women with hypothyroidism to suffer from depression. One explanation is that T3, the most biologically active form of thyroid hormone, is a bona fide neurotransmitter that regulates the action of serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is important for quelling anxiety.
T3 is found in large quantities in the limbic system of the brain, the area that is important for emotions such as joy, panic, anger, and fear. If you don’t have enough T3, or if its action is blocked, an entire cascade of neurotransmitter abnormalities may ensue and can lead to mood and energy changes, including depression.
Hypothyroidism and depression are related on another level as well. The main building block for the neurotransmitter serotonin and for thyroid hormone (both T3 and T4) is the amino acid tyrosine, the same amino acid needed for the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which stabilizes mood and anxiety. This means it is quite possible that low thyroid function can deplete your body of serotonin and other mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters.
It also means that chronic depression and sadness may deplete your body of tyrosine stores and T3. In other words, depression itself can result in hypothyroidism. If you are taking supplemental thyroid hormone, and it works to alleviate your hypothyroidism but you still feel depressed, this often means that hypothyroidism is the symptom resulting from depression.
It is hard to say which comes first—the depression or the low thyroid. I suspect they occur simultaneously. While one does not cause the other, per se, it appears that similar emotional or behavioral patterns—such as learned helplessness or not believing you can have your say—may predispose you to both low thyroid and depression. And often depression and hypothyroidism need to be treated at the same time in order for thyroid function and mood to return to normal.
But it can be a vicious cycle. Psychiatrists say that over time people who are treated for depression or anxiety with medications can eventually develop thyroid problems. I suspect this is because antidepressants deplete neurotransmitter levels. Check out Dr. Kelly Brogan’s book, A Mind of Your Own, for a complete program that addresses this issue.
Speak Up: Mind-Body Support for Thyroid Health
Scientists are beginning to realize that thyroid disease is really a mind-body disease—its symptoms occur simultaneously in the mind in the form of depression and lack of concentration, as well as in the body. And, it’s no coincidence that so many more women than men have thyroid problems.
Thyroid disease is related to expressing your feelings, something that for thousands of years until relatively recently, society has deterred women from doing. So, in the name of preserving harmony, or because these women learned to live as relatively helpless members of their families or social groups, they stifled their self-expression.
Therefore, for many women, thyroid dysfunction develops because of an energy blockage in the throat region—the result of a lifetime of “swallowing” the words one is aching to say. Or, if they did have their say, they may have discovered that it didn’t make any difference because their closest relationships saw them as insignificant.
In order to have your say—and maintain your thyroid energy—you must take a fearless inventory of every relationship in which you feel you don’t have a say. Ask yourself why you don’t. Are you a silent partner in a relationship? Does your partner make all the major decisions? Is it worth it? Did your mother have her say? In what ways are you like her?
Depending on your answers, I would urge you to skillfully and empathetically begin to say what is on your mind regarding the decisions that affect your life. Make sure that when you say what’s on your mind, you do so at the right time and remain detached from the effects. In other words, try not to force your will on others. For example, it’s okay to tell your best friend that you are worried about the character of her new boyfriend, but be aware that she may not necessarily be ready to hear your remarks.
As you begin to have your say, which becomes increasingly common during midlife and perimenopause, don’t expect everyone to be happy about your newfound voice. If you used to be silent and submissive, some individuals may not be thrilled about sharing the decision-making in your relationship. Be patient. All the natural energy that surrounds this rite of passage favors it. | <urn:uuid:894fb0e4-f350-43cf-9e7c-3b0968448f50> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.drnorthrup.com/thyroid-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497301.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330181842-20200330211842-00114.warc.gz | en | 0.938298 | 3,087 | 3 | 3 |
‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’, as the name suggests is a kind of depression that is triggered by seasonal change! Although the underlying reasons for such depression may be many but the most important one is the decreased exposure to light, during winters.
Warm sunlight is a bliss in winters!
Sunlight provides the energy that is crucial for sustenance of life on earth, be it plants or animals. It encompasses within itself an almost uncountable bundle of benefits. Let’s explore one of them…
Can NO or little sunlight make you feel gloomy? Of course yes… We might have experienced that, at some or the other point in our life. But if the bad mood persists leading to complete disorientation, and lack of interest in daily tastks, lethargy, mood swings, intolerance and emotional imbalance, etc its not just a gloom but a disorder! It has been given the name as seaonal affective disorder, since it is a kind of depression it needs to be treated.
A seemingly hefty term ‘Circadian rhythm’ is the key to understanding why mood and behavioural changes set in, with little or no exposure to light. In the most simple terms we can say that Circadian rhythm is a timed flow of events or it is a cycle often called as the ‘biological clock’ that regulates, primarily the sleeping and feeding patterns in humans as well as animals. All this is caused by optimal brain wave patterns, hormone regulations and cellular activities.
There are numerous studies that make it evident that this rhythm or a person’s biological clock is crucial for good health and optimal body function.
Moving back to our area of discussion and that is ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’…..Let’s see how does it set in?, what are the symptoms? and to what extent can light be of help?
1. Medications, in singles and in combinations, have been known to treat severe depression cases. However, for temporary types of depression (like the seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD), research has proven that light therapy is an effective first-line treatment, whatever is the severity of the illness. More than 60% of the treated patients respond to light therapy treatment, using a light box that approximates the natural outdoors lights, minus the unsafe UV or ultraviolet rays.
2. The treatment has been found to be ideal to patients who tend to get depressed in the shorter days of autumn and winter. Also, the treatment tends to work better than antidepressant drugs and placebos. More brightness seems to have greater results.
3. Finally, the therapy proves more effective when administered early in the morning rather than late in the day, and is done for fifteen (15) to thirty (30) minutes a day for seven to ten days.
Light therapy is established as the best available treatment for SAD. (NCBI)
How can SAD be identified?
Symptoms for this disorder are vividly seen during autumn or winter. They usually improve, or even disappear during spring and summer. It seems as if your emotions are reflecting the seasons of the world. Symptoms include:
- Feeling lethargic in the afternoons, or generally throughout the day
- Sleepy dring the daytime
- Loss of interest in many activities
- General lack of energy
- feeling to withdraw from the society
- Getting easily irritated by seemingly trivial matters
The reasons behind this disorder are not known, but it is speculated that the change in environmental ambience (i.e. less light due to winter), changes in hormonal balances and the temperature are to be blamed. This disorder comes about during winter or autumn. In rare cases, SAD affects individuals even during summers.
This is why light therapy for SAD is commonly administered to patients. The light therapy lamp actually gives off light that mimics light that’s coming from the sun.
How is the therapy administered?
A light therapy session typically involves a light box or light panel that emits a “full spectrum” of light, which appears white and is as bright as natural light during the summer.
SAD lights are usually placed around 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 inches) away from the patient and are kept on for 30 minutes to one hour. During this time, the patient is instructed to keep his eyes open in front of the light without staring directly at it. After a few sessions, patients may feel uplifted. Regular sessions are prescribed to keep the winter blues at bay.
Light therapy as an alternative to other medications !
Traditionally, treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has standard medical options that include psychotherapy, anti-depressant medication and light therapy. Let’s find out to what extent can ‘Light therapy’ be of help? and what drawbacks do other treatments bring along?
Antidepressants, are not ideal for everyone because of known side effects like insomnia, nausea, and decrease in libido, among others. In people who are susceptible, they sometimes cause some manic episodes. Taking these medications need the approval of a health professional.
Psychotherapy for seasonal depression takes the form of short-term cognitive behavioral therapy. This is where patients are taught to change their negative thoughts and to get involved in enjoyable activities again. This also helps in some cases.
It is Light therapy that touches the root of the problem!
After 20 research studies at University of North Carolina, medical experts noted that treatment using lights is an effective treatment not only for SAD but other types of depression as well. In the studies, participants (from 18 to 65 years old) diagnosed with mood disorders were subjected to different levels of lights for SAD and a combination of bright lights and anti-depressants for non-SAD patients. The results for this form of treatment are ìas strong and striking as those using medication treatments for depression. According to study leader Dr. Robert Golden, they have found that medications using light therapy is an effective treatment not only for SAD but for other types of depression as well.
Will it completely eradicate the problem?
No says mayo clinic. It can be used if you want to avoid anti depressants, or lower their dose. No therapy, not even psychotherapy deals with it completely , not even drugs since this is a recurring form of depression that is, and will be triggered with seasonal change!
Feeding mothers can go in for this, since it may help them leave medications. Nothing in this case is a complete solution, since it light is crucial to human existamce end secretion of cretain hormones and brain activity depends upon being exposed to certain times of day light. So, whenever due to seasonal change this is not available, it might trigger mood swings and caus emotional disturbances. This cannot be compltely got ridden off, since light is a very crucial and natural requirement.
The best part is that you have a very close to natural remedy for treating this problem. No pills, no chemicals, and you can just safely pave your way thorogh the winter and welcome summer with a smiling face!
What to look for, in a Light therapy lamp?
Choosing the right lamp or device holds great importance in your healing. Keep these factors in mind while choosing one.
- Make sure your light box is 10,000 lux. Don’t use a normal lamp because you are trying to mimic the full spectrum of light found in sunlight. Use light boxes made for Bright Light Therapy or “phototherapy.” This means the light box should emit 10,000 lux, which is 20 times the strength of typical indoor lighting. If you have a lamp with fewer lux units, then you may need to use it for longer periods of time to achieve the same benefit.
- Your light box should provide the full spectrum of bright white light but block ultraviolet rays.
- Go in for a medically proven SAD light. Remember that a dawn stimulator is not a medically proven SAD light.
How should an SAD lamp be used? (Proper guidelines)
- To be used after waking up (within an hour)
- Can be from 15 to 30 mins for one therapy session.
- should be kept at least on feet away from the face. Adjust the distance according to your liking, but it shouldn’t be farther than two feet.
- Keep it ta the right angle. (that comforts you)
- Be consistent
- If you have past or current eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts or eye damage from diabetes, get advice from your eye doctor before starting light therapy.
We recommend for you the best SAD lamps, that are available in the market. Choose one for yourself and be happy as well as productive, all along winters!
1. Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp
To deal with all your light associated psychological problems, Aura Day Light therapy lamp is one of the best. It is a clinical strength lamp that has been specifically manufactured to treat the outcomes of circadian rhythm imbalance.
A very portable and user friendly device, that will alleviate your mood and not pose any sort of safety concerns.
- Uses patented technology.
- Completely UV free.
- Light output ranges from a minimum of 3,500 to 10,000 lux . It provides a range of intensities to adjust it according to your needs.
- Ergonomically designed.
- It easily rests on a table or floor or wherever you may like . Can be mounted on a wall also.
- It can bend at an agle of 70 to 80 degrees to provide the best angle for light.
- Claims to provide 8,000 hours of light which is enough to aid you for two seasons at least.
- Has an inbuilt timer. It allows you to set time for spans of ten minutes upto a stretch of 60 minutes.
- Auti shut off, when the treatment is complete.
- Size: 8.5X10.5 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- In compliance with USA volatage requirements
- ETL safety tested and FCC certified. (proven safe)
A high quality equipment that is very popular amng customers. Positive reviews outweigh any sort of complaints that might be very rare and individual specific.
Bottomline: A trustworthy and high quality and effective product . Price is also affordable.
2. Verilux Happy Light (10,000 lux) Liberty Light Therapy Lamp
This lamp has features and durabilty with no replacement costs that will make you never regret your purchase. Verilux has many different models. We will review Verilux Liberty for you. It has been develpoed to therapeutically help you cope with seasonal depression and sadness. Along with uplifting your mood, it will boost your energy and will keep you motivated to carry out your daily tasks.
- Patented Verilux bulbs have been used
- Anti glare to mitigate any dangers fro eye sensitivity (optix lenses used)
- Comes with intercahngeable and replacable lenses (two are provided)
- Easy to use since no tools are required to change the lenses.
- It has two intensity settings along with interchangeable lenses, it be used acoording teh user’s preferences. Can be converted into a highly customised product.
- The 10,0000 lux intensity light resembles natural illumination.
- Portable. Uses very less space. Can be mounted on the wall too.
- 13 x 6.25 x 2.12 inches in dimensions.
- Can be easily tilted and it can be set at the angle taht suits you
- No timer installed in it.
- Claims to provide 10,000 hours of light which is more than other brands.
There are lots of positive customer reviews about the product. The only complaint that has been found, is about people finding the 10,000 lux light a little too intense. This can easily be managed by using the light according to your sensitivity. Use it on genltle modes at first and then accustom yourself upto the recommended intensity for SAD.
Bottomline: A very popular device, which has a wide array of features that no other device is providing. The price is also satisfactory. If you do not need the timer facility, and you can manage the equipment with vigilance, it can be a great choice.
3. Carex Health Brands Day Light Sky
Yet another device that makes its place in one of the best SAD lamps category, Carex has been made to help you cope with winter blues, jet lags, odd work shifts and more. It combines aesthetics as well as sturdiness in its design. It is a well suited equipment that will be an add on to your affice nad home decor despite being of therapeutic use.
- Corrects misalignment of the body clock.
- Manufactured by a well known health equipments manufacturer. A therapeutic grade device.
- Claims to illuminate a wide area with its powerful 10000 lux of illumination.
- Provides maximim comfort by using anti-glare lights.
- Proves that it it 99.3 % UV free. Accurate data provided.
- Product Dimensions: 26.9 x 13.7 x 10.5 inches.
- Runs on USA voltage standards (110v)
- An alternative mode provides 6500 Lux but this will mean you need to spend longer under the lamp to get the recommended amount of light.
- Backed by return policy.
This lamp has been manufactured by an approximately 32 year old health equipments manufacturer. It is very high on customer satisfaction and reliability.
Bottomline: It is better with respect to aesthetics and sturdiness. A value for money device and very affordable for the quality that it provides. | <urn:uuid:5f5fe903-5e95-4c91-8ce9-705ebbbd5ea7> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.skinnyandsassy.com/mitigate-seasonal-depression-with-the-best-sad-lamps/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506673.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402045741-20200402075741-00034.warc.gz | en | 0.944499 | 2,845 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Coconut oil, or copra oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It has various applications. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidification, lasting up to six months at 24 °C (75 °F) without spoiling.
Due to its high levels of saturated fat, the World Health Organization, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Food and Drug Administration, American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association, British National Health Service, British Nutrition Foundation, and Dietitians of Canada advise that coconut oil consumption should be limited or avoided.
Coconut oil can be extracted through dry or wet processing.
Dry processing requires that the meat be extracted from the shell and dried using fire, sunlight, or kilns to create copra. The copra is pressed or dissolved with solvents, producing the coconut oil and a high-protein, high-fiber mash. The mash is of poor quality for human consumption and is instead fed to ruminants; there is no process to extract protein from the mash.
The all-wet process uses raw coconut rather than dried copra, and the protein in the coconut creates an emulsion of oil and water. The more problematic step is breaking up the emulsion to recover the oil. This used to be done by prolonged boiling, but this produces a discolored oil and is not economical. Modern techniques use centrifuges and pre-treatments including cold, heat, acids, salts, enzymes, electrolysis, shock waves, steam distillation, or some combination thereof. Despite numerous variations and technologies, wet processing is less viable than dry processing due to a 10–15% lower yield, even taking into account the losses due to spoilage and pests with dry processing. Wet processes also require investment of equipment and energy, incurring high capital and operating costs.
Proper harvesting of the coconut (the age of a coconut can be 2 to 20 months when picked) makes a significant difference in the efficacy of the oil-making process. Copra made from immature nuts is more difficult to work with and produces an inferior product with lower yields.
Conventional coconut oil processors use hexane as a solvent to extract up to 10% more oil than produced with just rotary mills and expellers. They then refine the oil to remove certain free fatty acids to reduce susceptibility to rancidification. Other processes to increase shelf life include using copra with a moisture content below 6%, keeping the moisture content of the oil below 0.2%, heating the oil to 130–150 °C (266–302 °F) and adding salt or citric acid.
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) can be produced from fresh coconut milk, meat, or residue. Producing it from the fresh meat involves either wet-milling or drying the residue, and using a screw press to extract the oil. VCO can also be extracted from fresh meat by grating and drying it to a moisture content of 10–12%, then using a manual press to extract the oil. Producing it from coconut milk involves grating the coconut and mixing it with water, then squeezing out the oil. The milk can also be fermented for 36–48 hours, the oil removed, and the cream heated to remove any remaining oil. A third option involves using a centrifuge to separate the oil from the other liquids. Coconut oil can also be extracted from the dry residue left over from the production of coconut milk.
A thousand mature coconuts weighing approximately 1,440 kilograms (3,170 lb)[clarification needed] yield around 170 kilograms (370 lb) of copra from which around 70 litres (15 imp gal) of coconut oil can be extracted.
Refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) oil is usually made from copra, dried coconut kernel, which is pressed in a heated hydraulic press to extract the oil. This yields practically all the oil present, amounting to more than 60% of the dry weight of the coconut. This crude coconut oil is not suitable for consumption because it contains contaminants and must be refined with further heating and filtering.
Unlike virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil has no coconut taste or aroma. RBD oil is used for home cooking, commercial food processing, and cosmetic, industrial, and pharmaceutical purposes.
RBD coconut oil can be processed further into partially or fully hydrogenated oil to increase its melting point. Since virgin and RBD coconut oils melt at 24 °C (76 °F), foods containing coconut oil tend to melt in warm climates. A higher melting point is desirable in these warm climates, so the oil is hydrogenated. The melting point of hydrogenated coconut oil is 36–40 °C (97–104 °F).
In the process of hydrogenation, unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids) are combined with hydrogen in a catalytic process to make them more saturated. Coconut oil contains only 6% monounsaturated and 2% polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the partial hydrogenation process, some of these are transformed into trans fatty acids.
Fractionated coconut oil provides fractions of the whole oil so that its different fatty acids can be separated for specific uses. Lauric acid, a 12-carbon chain fatty acid, is often removed because of its high value for industrial and medical purposes. The fractionation of coconut oil can also be used to isolate caprylic acid and capric acid, which are medium-chain triglycerides, as these are used for medical applications, special diets and cosmetics, sometimes also being used as a carrier oil for fragrances.
Coconut oil makes up around 2.5% of world vegetable oil production.
The World Health Organization's Codex Alimentarius guidelines on food, food production, and food safety, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization, includes standards for commercial partners who produce coconut oil for human consumption.
The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), whose 18 members produce about 90 per cent of the coconut sold commercially, has published its standards for virgin coconut oil (VCO), defining virgin coconut oil as obtained from fresh, mature coconut kernels through means that do not "lead to alteration of the oil."
The approximate concentration of fatty acids in coconut oil (midpoint of range in source):
The following table provides information about the composition of coconut oil and how it compares with other vegetable oils.
|Monounsaturated fatty acids||Polyunsaturated fatty acids||Smoke point|
|Total mono||Oleic acid
|Total poly||linolenic acid
|Avocado||11.6||70.6||13.5||1||12.5||249 °C (480 °F)|
|Canola||7.4||63.3||61.8||28.1||9.1||18.6||238 °C (460 °F)|
|Coconut||82.5||6.3||6||1.7||175 °C (347 °F)|
232 °C (450 °F)
|Cottonseed||25.9||17.8||19||51.9||1||54||216 °C (420 °F)|
107 °C (225 °F)
166 °C (330 °F)
|Olive||13.8||73.0||71.3||10.5||0.7||9.8||193 °C (380 °F)|
|Palm||49.3||37.0||40||9.3||0.2||9.1||235 °C (455 °F)|
|Peanut||20.3||48.1||46.5||31.5||31.4||232 °C (450 °F)|
|Safflower||7.5||75.2||75.2||12.8||0||12.8||212 °C (414 °F)|
|Soybean||15.6||22.8||22.6||57.7||7||51||238 °C (460 °F)|
|Sunflower (< 60% linoleic)||10.1||45.4||45.3||40.1||0.2||39.8||
227 °C (440 °F)
|Sunflower (> 70% oleic)||9.9||83.7||82.6||3.8||0.2||3.6||
227 °C (440 °F)
|Values as percent (%) by weight of total fat.|
Many health organizations advise against the consumption of coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat, including the United States Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, British National Health Service, British Nutrition Foundation, and Dietitians of Canada.
Coconut oil contains a large proportion of lauric acid, a saturated fat that raises total blood cholesterol levels by increasing both the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Although this may create a more favorable total blood cholesterol profile, this does not exclude the possibility that persistent consumption of coconut oil may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease through other mechanisms, particularly via the marked increase of blood cholesterol induced by lauric acid. Because the majority of saturated fat in coconut oil is lauric acid, coconut oil may be preferred over partially hydrogenated vegetable oil when solid fats are used in the diet.
|Nutritional value per 100 g|
|Energy||3,730 kJ (890 kcal)|
|Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Coconut oil is 99% fat, composed mainly of saturated fats (82% of total; table). In a 100 gram reference amount, coconut oil supplies 890 Calories. Half of the saturated fat content of coconut oil is lauric acid, while other significant saturated fats are myristoleic acid and palmitoleic acid. Monounsaturated fats comprise 6% of total fats, and polyunsaturated fats comprise 2% (table). Coconut oil contains phytosterols, but there are no micronutrients having significant content (table).
Despite its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is commonly used in baked goods, pastries, and sautés, having a "haunting, nutty", flavor with a touch of sweetness. Used by movie theatre chains to pop popcorn, coconut oil adds considerable saturated fat and calories to the snackfood while enhancing flavor, possibly a factor increasing further consumption of high-calorie snackfoods, energy balance, and weight gain.
Other culinary uses include replacing solid fats produced through hydrogenation in baked and confectionery goods. Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers and snack foods. In frying, the smoke point of coconut oil is 177 °C (351 °F).
Coconut oil has been used for hair grooming.
Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for biodiesel to use as a diesel engine fuel. In this manner, it can be applied to power generators and transport using diesel engines. Since straight coconut oil has a high gelling temperature (22–25 °C), a high viscosity, and a minimum combustion chamber temperature of 500 °C (932 °F) (to avoid polymerization of the fuel), coconut oil typically is transesterified to make biodiesel. Use of B100 (100% biodiesel) is possible only in temperate climates, as the gel point is approximately 10 °C (50 °F). The oil must meet the Weihenstephan standard[better source needed] to use pure vegetable oil as a fuel. Moderate to severe damage from carbonisation and clogging would occur in an unmodified engine.
The Philippines, Vanuatu, Samoa, and several other tropical island countries use coconut oil as an alternative fuel source to run automobiles, trucks, and buses, and to power generators.[better source needed] Biodiesel fuel derived from coconut oil is currently used as a fuel for transport in the Philippines. Further research into the potential of coconut oil as a fuel for electricity generation is being carried out in the islands of the Pacific, although to date it appears that it is not useful as a fuel source due to the cost of labour and supply constraints.
Coconut oil has been tested for use as an engine lubricant and as a transformer oil. Coconut oil (and derivatives, such as coconut fatty acid) are used as raw materials in the manufacture of surfactants such as cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamide MEA, and cocamide DEA.
Acids derived from coconut oil can be used as herbicides. Before the advent of electrical lighting, coconut oil was the primary oil used for illumination in India and was exported as cochin oil.
Coconut oil is an important base ingredient for the manufacture of soap. Soap made with coconut oil tends to be hard, though it retains more water than soap made with other oils and therefore increases manufacturer yields. It is more soluble in hard water and salt water than other soaps allowing it to lather more easily. A basic coconut oil soap is clear when melted and a bright white when hardened. | <urn:uuid:25d0392e-2b74-4cc7-9cb8-cbdd2023b96b> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://theinfolist.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=Coconut_oil | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371803248.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407152449-20200407182949-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.908911 | 2,822 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Association for Sustainable Development Alternatives: Protecting Biodiversity & Livelihoods
This article is part of our Editorial Series called “GFAR impakters”. This is done in partnership with GFAR – The Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation – For more follow on Twitter: #GFARImpakters or view here.
The wildlife sanctuary in the Dhera Block of Arsi Mountains National Park in the Oromia region, Ethiopia, hosts a variety of acacia-dominant vegetation cover and is the habitat for over 25 wild mammals dominated by greater kudu, lesser kudu, spotted hyena and warthogs. The park is also home to more than 189 bird species including helmeted guinea fowl, little bee eater, black wood hoopoe, grey wood pecker, grey headed sparrow and more. Beyond its multiple ecological benefits in the current context of climate change, the park has high tourism potential.
Regardless of these golden opportunities, both the biodiversity and wildlife in the park encounter multiple challenges, from environmental degradation aggravated by climate change, to population pressure, poverty and a lack of alternative energy sources for the local communities. This creates a severe strain and pressure on the vegetation cover of the park and a loss of habitat for wildlife.
In the photo: Biodiversity at the wildlife sanctuary, Arsi Mountains National Park Photo credit: ASDA
The Association for Sustainable Development Alternatives (ASDA) became operational in 2006 to address these issues. It also aims to assist vulnerable communities in and around the wildlife sanctuary and to build community resilience through the promotion of integrated rural development. The partnership has resulted in increased production, enhanced coordination and interagency collaboration for synergy development, public-private partnership and climate change adaptation practices.
To promote community-based rehabilitation, the conservation of biodiversity, tourism development and environmentally friendly alternative livelihoods, ASDA has been implementing diverse response measures in the following major intervention components.
Although Dodota, Oromia, suffers from food insecurity, massive deforestation and attendant land degradation, it also has good agricultural potential particularly in areas where irrigated agriculture is possible. Accordingly, ASDA promoted vegetable production, agroforestry, small ruminant rearing (of sheep and goats) and poultry keeping to provide alternative livelihoods rather than fuel wood and charcoal selling.
In the photo: Women in agroforestry Photo Credit: ASDA
Leadership Development and Community Mobilization for Natural Resource Managemen
ASDA has organised a series of community based biodiversity and wildlife conservation sensitization workshops and stakeholders’ consultation forums and training. A woreda-level (district) advisory committee and kebele-level (ward) technical working groups were established. Furthermore, we established community user groups who protect the park and benefit from its resources through a cut and carry system rather than unrestricted open overgrazing
Experience sharing visits to Semien Mountains and Bale National Parks were organized to draw lessons on good practices in community based biodiversity conservation and ecotourism development.
In addition to this:
- One community dialogue centre has been renovated and furnished to promote continued community-wide discussions on park protection, NRM, livelihood diversification, gender and other development issues;
- 10 school environmental clubs with memberships of over 1200 were established to work on park and environmental issues. Training and natural resources management were given to the schoolchildren, allowing them to be agents of park protection;
- Gullies and deforested areas were promoted to reduce land degradation and soil erosion in and around the park and to allow the rehabilitation and conservation of degraded areas;
- A park protection and ecotourism cooperative was established with a membership of 103, of which 27 are women.
Poverty Reduction through Alternative Livelihoods Diversification
To reduce dependency on the park and to motivate local communities to be engaged in the park protection initiative, some alternative livelihood measures were promoted. This included the establishment of seedling and improved stoves production and marketing Women Groups as IGAs.
Promotion of Tourism Potential of the Par
Access roads, 15 km trial systems, and 5 fords were constructed to facilitate comfortable trekking and driving in the park. Camp sites and toilets were also constructed.
In addition, to promote the park‘s tourism potential, we developed and distributed promotional materials including flyers, brochures, booklets, posters, billboards and documentary DVDs. We also organized World Tourism Day celebration events and regional multi stakeholder consultation forums.
ASDA’s initiative at Dodota was identified as a potential good practice intervention that brought together integrated food and livelihood security, women’s and youth economic empowerment, environment and biodiversity conservation and tourism development by a national civil society Umbrella organization. CCRDA assessed the project and ASDA stood top performing.
What impact has this had?
The agriculture based livelihood diversification activities involving vegetable, fruits and improved poultry production have been adopted by more than 65 percent of the target communities as an integral part of their farm activities. These have had a significant impact on their overall production and productivity, as well as on HH food and nutrition security.
The alternative livelihood activities have played an important role in motivating and mobilizing communities to stand in favour of park protection. The thematically arranged training activities have well equipped and resulted in significant changes in the knowledge, skills, attitude levels and overall performances of target farmers, DAs and experts on vegetable fruit and poultry production, agroforestry and related areas.
The organization and establishment of women into IGA self-help groups along with capacity building training packages in entrepreneurship, business, leadership and technical areas has also provided a significant contribution in reducing the multiple problems poor women encounter and the overall park protection and promotion initiative. The two Women Groups involved in improved stoves production and marketing have produced over 3000 fuel efficient stoves. Today, almost every HH in the project area has at least one improved stove. The initiative has significantly reduced deforestation rates and the burden on women in search of fuel wood. Moreover, ease of cooking is highly improved with no smoke, which has become the root of serious eye complications in the area. Women Groups engaged in seedling production could produce over 50,000 seedlings and supply to the project and individuals. About 110 women who were engaged on sheep fattening and production own more than 15 goats and sheep against the initial four sheep purchased and given. Some of the beneficiaries reinvested into horse trailed passenger carts, small consumer shops and grain marketing. Many have replaced their grass roofed houses with iron sheet houses and are sending their children to school.
Illegal tree cutting, illegal cut and carry and grazing and wildlife car accidents are almost at zero now because of the availability of water in the park.
In the photo: Arsi Traditional Food exhibition on World Tourism Day Photo Credit: ASDA
The World Tourism Day celebrations and other promotional initiatives, training and exposure visits have significantly enhanced the management, leadership and institutional capacity, and have established an excellent public image and recognition of the Park as a competent tourist attraction centre by zonal, regional and federal authorities.
Other achievements of ASDA
We have focused on community-based biodiversity and wildlife conservation and tourism development in the context of climate change, new thinking for the area given that agriculture is an unreliable source of income due to erratic rainfall and long dry spells. The alternative livelihood diversification and women-managed improved stoves promotion initiatives of the organization have significantly reduced community pressures on the park and have motivated target farmers to actively engage in the park protection initiative.
Institutionalizing park resource management and benefit sharing through the development of by-laws have encouraged the local people to be part of the park protection and tourism development initiative. The introduction and promotion of Enset (false banana) production as an agroforestry and climate change adaptation package has proved successful as the crop has high drought tolerance capacity. Linking the park with Sodere resort and other big hotels in Adama has great potential to promote conference tourism.
The achievements of ASDA in and around Dhera park are highly promoted to the wider public through different media and are easily adaptable to different contexts where such parks are available. The key strategy is bringing the local people at the center of the biodiversity conservation initiative. The alternative livelihood initiatives are already adopted by most farming HHs in the area and linkage is already created with Melkassa research center for technical support. ASDA is also planning to scale up its best practices in community based biodivesity and wild life conservation to the rest of the three blocks of Arsi Mountains National Park that connect 14 districts given the availability of funds.
A lot has been done to ensure the continuity of ASDA’s initiatives once the project phases out. The community participation and involvement right from the design stage resulted in building sense of ownership and responsibility. Kebele level park protection working groups, community based park protection and ecotourism cooperatives will keep promoting the park protection inintiative.
The local institutions including women improved stoves, seedling production and fattening initiatives proved to be viable and will keep enabling their members to generate income and the community to have continued access to improved stoves and seedlings after the project phases out. Training and leadership development and other capacity building elements were in-built in the project implementation process to enhance the capacity of the local communities. Community dialogues and exposure visits have enhanced cross fertilization of best practices.
In the photo: Improved stone production Photo Credit: ASDA
District line offices, especially the Agriculture & OFWE (Oromia Forestry and Wildlife Enterprise) Offices, complement project staff in offering technical support and training to farmers and DAs. They assist project staff in ensuring coordination and synergy with local government plans and are involved in project monitoring and evaluation. Woreda experts, kebele authorities and village park committees are involved in identifying and targeting beneficiaries on the basis of commonly agreed criteria and propose households to be targeted under each intermediate result areas. They are furthermore involved in community mobilization for project activities and the enforcement of Park Management bylaws, although not yet finalized and proclaimed.
In the implementation of program activities, care is given to incorporate gender issue into all the project activities. This emphasis was reinforced through the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data. At the community level, the project promotes equitable participation of men and women in all aspects of project planning, implementation and monitoring. The inclusion of women in all project activities was encouraged.
Participatory natural resource management engaging resource users and promoting equitable benefit sharing proved successful. Some of the other conclusions we came to were:
- Alternative livelihoods diversification reduced huge pressure that affect the environment
- Capacity development and inter-agency collaboration generated synergy
- Ethiopia is a land of biodiversity with huge and diverse tourist attraction to develop the smokeless industry and diversified jobs. Hence, multi-agency collaboration (government, UN agencies, bilateral and multi lateral organizations, hotels, tour operators and media, etc.) are of paramount importance to identify destinations, develop management plans, marketing strategies and capacity development in the field in order to tap the tourism potential including conference tourism
- Natural resource management and biodiversity conservation cannot be achieved by annual small grant. It requires multi – year funding and landscape approach to promote integrated development for impact. Hence allocation of resources for at least 3-5 years is required
- Arsi Mountains National Park is the birth place of world class Ethiopian athletes such as Haile Gebreselassie, Derartu Tule, Tirunesh and the Dibaba family, Kenenisa, Gezahegn Abera. This might create additional attraction to tourists besides its proximity to Addis. They can also be used as ambassadors of tourism in Ethiopia
- Further strengthening research/academia-extension service and farmers linkage would enhance technology generation, dissemination and adoption | <urn:uuid:9d51b1dd-d8f1-4e51-a21e-b30d43b38c45> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://impakter.com/association-sustainable-development-alternatives/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506477.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401223807-20200402013807-00154.warc.gz | en | 0.943659 | 2,420 | 2.78125 | 3 |
By Dr Janey
The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), has in recent years become a subject of much debate. While the scientists who raise the alarm of the potential health hazards of BPA and the growing numbers of self-educated, health-conscious members of the public express their concerns; the industries that utilise BPA, continue to utter their reassurances.
If you are reading this because you are interested in preventing or treating cancer, you may want to sit up and take note of some of the facts of this debate!
So just what is BPA and where do we find it?
Put simply, BPA is everywhere – in our homes and in many of the food and drinks we buy in our supermarkets! It is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastics that can generally be recognised as the hard, transparent and shatter-resistant plastics as used in water bottles, sports bottles, babies’ bottles etc. Apart from plastics, it is also used as a component of epoxy resins as found in the lining of most of our canned foods and canned drinks.
And it doesn’t end there! Dentists use it as a component of many dental fillings and sealants. Many of us handle thermal paper in the form of purchase receipts and event tickets on a regular basis – these have large quantities of free BPA. And then there’s our water pipes that may be repaired, especially in older buildings, with epoxy linings that contain, guess what…..BPA!
BPA was initially introduced as a chemical back in the 1930′s. However, it is only in more recent years with the exponential increases in the use of plastics and cans for holding our food and drinks, that the use of BPA has become increasingly more relevant.
As Tim Osswald, an expert in polymer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains; during the manufacturing process not all BPA is locked into chemical bonds and thus the remaining BPA can work itself free and enter into the food or water contained within the bottle or can. This becomes exacerbated as the plastic ages, but importantly also when the structure is heated as would be the case when holding hot drinks, being heated in the microwave, left lying in the sun etc. In addition to that, the high heats used by autoclaves to sterilise all canned foods during the manufacturing process also induces leaching of BPA into the contents within them.
In fact, because of the omnipresence of BPA in our water bottles and tinned cans, as well as the other sources of BPA as mentioned above, a trial conducted by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 2004 in the US, revealed that 93% of over 2500 people tested, showed levels of unmetabolised BPA in their urine. BPA has also been detected in the blood as well as in human breast milk.
So just how relevant is it that most of us have BPA in our bodies?
The plastic industries and chemical associations would argue, not much! A predictable response of course, but let’s look a little closer…
The industries that stand in defence of BPA state that the trials that point to the risks that this chemical carries, are not reliably repeated, and therefore cannot be considered to carry much weight. However, Patricia Hunt Ph D, a prominent researcher in molecular biosciences states otherwise. When she worked together with a team of 36 other researchers led by Frederick vom Saal in analysing hundreds of studies on BPA, it was found that 90% of these studies confirmed the health risk of BPA. Notably, the only studies that failed to demonstrate a health risk with BPA were those that were funded by the plastics industry!
The American Chemical Association (supporter of dozens of companies involved in the production of plastics) states that the toxicology of BPA is “well understood” and that it “exhibits toxic effects only at very high levels of exposure”. These ‘toxic effects’ have been set at 50 micrograms per kg of body weight per day by the FDA.
However, Patricia Hunt reminds us that treating BPA as a toxin can lead to false conclusions. By following the rules of toxicology, if a chemical is bad then a higher dose must be worse. However BPA is a hormone disruptor and mimics the action of oestrogen, rather than being a straight forward toxin. At low levels such a chemical can wreak the most harm, while at high levels it can ‘overwhelm’ and serve to shut down the body’s response. In fact, during Hunt’s trials on rodents which originally brought the issue of BPA to the world’s attention, a level of 20 micrograms per kg body weight of BPA per day (ie less than half of the FDA’s ‘safe’ levels) was sufficient to cause significant adverse effects. In addition to this, it would appear that in reality, exposure to BPA is longstanding and the effects likely to be cumulative, while trials only demonstrated a relatively short term exposure to this chemical.
These above trials worked with concentrations of BPA in the range of parts per million. However, as noted in ‘Scientific American’, more recent trials dealing with concentrations of BPA as low as 1 part per trillion triggered a physiological response. This suggests that any exposure to BPA could have consequences!
So just what are these consequences?
- Breast cancer: As per the article entitled, ‘The Crucial Role of Oestrogen on breast cancer’ (also available on this site), our risks of breast cancer increase proportionately with our life-time exposure to oestrogen. BPA is a synthetic oestrogen and therefore, as mentioned above, acts by mimicking the effects of oestrogen.
Therefore women who consume food or drinks from polycarbonate plastics and tinned cans are increasing their exposure to oestrogen, and with that their risk of breast cancer. This occurs not only through life, but is likely to begin as early as the foetal stage in the womb of the mother if the mother consumes these products. Due to this oestrogenic effect, BPA has also been shown to induce early-onset puberty in girls, thus increasing the length of exposure to oestrogen during those girls’ lifetimes.
- Prostate cancerdue to increased exposure to this oestrogenic chemical with exposure beginning as early as in the womb
- Various reproductive problems including reduced sperm counts, miscarriages, male sexual dysfunction (when working with BPA in the work place) and others
- diabetes due to insulin resistance
- Behavioural changes: Children and infants appear to be particularly susceptible to BPA and there are concerns about its affect on foetal and infant brain development as well as behavioural disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)
- obesity by promoting adipogenesis (the tendency to form fat cells)
- thyroid abnormalities by attaching to thyroid receptor cells and in doing so becoming a thyroid disruptor
Note: BPA has been demonstrated, in rodents at least, to have detrimental effects not just in the individual consuming it, but in 3 subsequent generations.
So how do we go about avoiding exposure to BPA?
- Avoid drinking from plastics that show the recycling symbol with the number 7 (or the letters PC – polycarbonate) that can usually be found on the bottom of the bottle. As mentioned earlier, these tend to be the hard, transparent plastics. Use glass bottles or stainless steel water holders instead.
- If you do have to use these plastics, take all precautions to avoid them becoming heated which will promote leaching of BPA into the contents. This includes avoiding the use of microwaves to heat the contents, avoiding washing these plastics in the dishwasher, manually washing them with hot water and not leaving them to get hot in the sun.
- Avoid washing these plastics with chemical detergents which can be abrasive, thus accelerate leakage of BPA.
- Avoid consuming food or liquids from tinned cans eg soft drinks, canned vegetables and fruit etc
- Choose natural and non-refined foods instead!
- Choose holistic dentists and question your dentist on the constituents of dental sealants and implants used (note: BPA is not the only toxic chemical used in dentist’s chairs)
- Many baby’s bottles and pacifiers (called dummies in some countries) are made from polycarbonate plastic. Use glass bottles instead and avoid pacifiers where possible.
- Free BPA can also be present in large amounts in carbonless copy paper and thermal paper such as is used in receipts, event tickets, airline tickets and some labels. The handling of these tickets can leave residues on the hands which may lead to inadvertent ingestion of BPA. Therefore take care when handling such items and wash hands thoroughly thereafter.
Risk to the environment: Apart from the numerous adverse health effects on humans, BPA has also been shown to have detrimental effects on aquatic organisms through direct contamination as well as through degradation of plastic litter that reaches our oceans and inland waters. Fish appear to be the most vulnerable, but molluscs, crustaceans and amphibians are also affected both with regards to reproduction as well as in growth.
Governing health bodies around the world have been slow to act on the regulation of BPA use with a couple of exceptions: In Japan BPA was replaced with natural resin to line tin cans in 1997 after scientists demonstrated that BPA was leaching out of babies’ bottles. Subsequent studies in Japan have shown that levels of BPA in the urine have dropped dramatically. In addition, Canada’s federal health system, ‘Health Canada’, has instituted proposals to reduce BPA levels in the lining of infant formulas and to investigate industry alternatives.
If your health and those of your friends and family matters to you, don’t wait for health authorities and governments to tell you that BPA is a risk to your health……you may wait a long time!
Act now, and act by choosing alternatives to tin cans and plastics when it comes to your food and drinks…… your health and those of your loved ones will be better for it! | <urn:uuid:a5b38ff4-ab79-4f7b-8d6e-988edf65b30f> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://blogdrjaney.com/2016/03/11/plastics-tin-cans-andcancer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371830894.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409055849-20200409090349-00354.warc.gz | en | 0.959802 | 2,121 | 3.15625 | 3 |
In idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) there is raised pressure within the skull (raised intracranial pressure), which puts pressure on the brain. Idiopathic means that the cause of this raised pressure is unknown. The main symptoms are headache and loss of sight (visual loss). It mostly affects women of childbearing age who are overweight or obese. Treatment is aimed at preventing permanent visual loss and includes treatment with medicines. Brain surgery (neurosurgery) may also be used. For many people, a combination of medical and surgical treatment can help to control their symptoms well.
Some anatomy around the brain
The meninges form the protective lining that surrounds the brain within the skull, and the spinal cord within the backbone (vertebral column). There are three layers of meninges:
- The outermost layer that lies next to the skull or the vertebral column is called the dura mater.
- The middle layer is called the arachnoid mater.
- The inner layer that is closest to the brain or the spinal cord is called the pia mater.
There are also three spaces between the layers of meninges:
- The epidural space - the space between the vertebral column and the dura mater. (This is only a potential space in the head between the skull and the dura mater.)
- The subdural space - the space between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater.
- The subarachnoid space - the space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater.
Understanding cerebrospinal fluid
The brain and the spinal cord are bathed in a clear, watery fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid helps to cushion the brain from contact with the skull when the head is moved vigorously. CSF is made by a network of blood vessels inside the ventricles of the brain. The ventricles are essentially four cavities within the brain. The CSF circulates through the brain ventricles into the subarachnoid space. Eventually, CSF is absorbed into the bloodstream through some one-way valves called the arachnoid villi.
What is idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and what causes it?
In IIH there is raised pressure within the skull (raised intracranial pressure). Idiopathic means that the cause of this raised pressure is unknown. Various theories exist as to what may be the cause. Essentially, for some reason, there is too much CSF. The subarachnoid space that contains the CSF cannot expand and, because of this, the pressure around the brain rises.
This raised pressure leads to the symptoms of IIH. It can cause headaches and also swelling of the first part of the optic nerve - the optic disc - at the back of the eye (this is known as papilloedema). If papilloedema is not recognised and treated, it can lead to a condition called optic atrophy where there is deterioration and loss of function (degeneration) of the optic nerve. Severe sight impairment (blindness) can occur as a result of this.
IIH is also known as benign intracranial hypertension. However, this name is not being used as much now. This is because the condition isn't harmless (benign). It can cause some quite disabling symptoms and can lead to loss of vision if it is not treated. Another old name is 'pseudotumour cerebri', as it can lead to some signs and symptoms of a brain tumour, without a brain tumour actually being present.
Who gets idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)?
IIH is rare. It affects 1 or 2 people in every 100,000. It mostly affects women of childbearing age who are overweight or obese. However, men and children can sometimes be affected as well as people who are not overweight.
More than 9 out of 10 people with IIH are obese women in the reproductive age range. However, in someone who is not overweight, there are some 'risk factors' that are thought to be associated with the development of IIH. There are many such rare 'associations' but some of these include:
- Taking (or after stopping) certain medicines such as steroids, some antibiotics and oral contraceptive pills.
- Other diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis and kidney disease.
What are the symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)?
There may be many different symptoms associated with this condition (see Further help & information and references, below). However, the following three are typical: headache, tinnitus and changes in vision. The most prominent symptom is headache. This can be severe and is a long-term (chronic) headache. It can vary in its location and may come and go. Some people can feel sick or be sick (vomit) with the headache. You may also notice tinnitus in one or both of your ears. This is typically a pulsating, rhythmic sound that you can hear in your ear.
You may also notice some temporary sight (visual) disturbance or temporary loss of vision. For example, you may have dimming or loss of your vision in one or both of your eyes, lasting for a few seconds. This can sometimes come on after bending over. You may have some double vision when looking from side to side, or pain behind the eyes on eye movement. You may also notice a progressive permanent loss of vision in one or both of your eyes.
How is idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) diagnosed?
If you visit your doctor, complaining of headaches and/or sight (visual) symptoms, your doctor will usually discuss your symptoms with you. They may examine your eyes with a hand-held instrument for looking in the back of the eye (an ophthalmoscope). This may show swelling at the back of the eye (papilloedema). However, not everyone with IIH has papilloedema.
Papilloedema is a sign of raised pressure within the skull (raised intracranial pressure). Therefore, the main thing when diagnosing IIH is to rule out other causes of raised pressure within the skull. These may include problems such as water on the brain (hydrocephalus) or a brain tumour. Your doctor will usually refer you to a specialist for investigations to rule out other causes. Investigations can include, for example, MRI or CT scanning of your brain.
Your may also have a more detailed eye examination. This will allow an eye specialist to examine the back of your eyes fully. You may have visual field testing to see if there are any signs of loss of vision in parts of one or both of your eyes. (Your visual field is the area in front of your eye in any part of which an object can be seen without moving your eye.) You may have your colour vision tested, as this can also be affected in IIH.
You may also have tests on your CSF by doing a lumbar puncture. This will show raised CSF pressure if you have IIH. A lumbar puncture - sometimes called a spinal tap - is a procedure where a sample of CSF is taken for testing. A needle is pushed through the skin and tissues between two vertebrae and into the subarachnoid space around the spinal cord which is filled with CSF. See separate leaflet called Lumbar Puncture for more details.
What are the aims of treatment?
If you are diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), it is important that your vision be closely monitored to look for any changes or early signs of loss of vision. This can be done by regularly measuring your 'visual acuity' (the size of letters that can be read on a wall chart), along with checking your visual fields. Any signs of deterioration in your vision can mean that your treatment needs to be adjusted. Essentially, treatment for IIH aims to prevent any deterioration in vision. However, treatment also aims to reduce other symptoms such as headaches.
What treatments are available?
If you do not have any loss of vision, the usual treatment for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is with a group of medicines called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Commonly a medicine called acetazolamide is used. These medicines help to lower the pressure within the skull, probably by reducing the production of CSF. Furosemide is another medicine used. Various painkillers may also be used to help relieve headaches. A short course of steroid tablets is also sometimes used.
Treatment with medicines can work well for many people. However, if your symptoms do not improve with medical treatment or you have new loss of vision, surgery may be considered.
Surgery aims to reduce the pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure). There are two main procedures that are done. The first is to put in place a tube (called a shunt) to drain away the excess CSF. This is probably the most common surgical procedure that is used. The shunt is run from either of the following:
- The subarachnoid space in the lower part of the spine into the tummy (abdomen) - called a lumbar-peritoneal shunt.
- The ventricles in the brain into the abdomen (called a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt).
However, there can be problems with a shunt. It can become infected, it can drain away too much CSF, or sometimes it can become blocked. Therefore, someone who has had a shunt inserted needs regular check-ups to make sure that it is working normally.
The second type of surgical treatment is around the eye. A procedure called optic nerve sheath fenestration can be carried out. Small cuts are made in the protective sheath around the optic nerve. This allows CSF to escape and the pressure on the optic nerve is reduced. This procedure can be very good at helping sight (visual) symptoms associated with IIH. However, it may have little effect on other symptoms, including headache. This is because it tends to have little effect on reducing overall pressure within the skull.
Losing weight if you are overweight may help to improve symptoms in some people. For example, research suggests that a 6% decrease in body weight can help to resolve swelling at the back of the eye (papilloedema). However, many people find that weight loss does not help much.
What is the outlook (prognosis)?
It is essential to detect idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) early and to start treatment early to prevent permanent loss of vision occurring.
In some people, IIH can get better by itself but recurrence (relapse) of symptoms is common. For many other people, a combination of medical and surgical treatment can help to control their symptoms well. However, some people can still have troublesome symptoms despite treatment.
Further reading and references
Acheson JF; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and visual function. Br Med Bull. 200679-80:233-44. Epub 2007 Jan 22.
Ball AK, Clarke CE; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Lancet Neurol. 2006 May5(5):433-42.
Lueck C, McIlwaine G; Interventions for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20(3):CD003434. | <urn:uuid:54a8d0a0-6de2-4669-8a6b-ba7c6a56360a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://patient.info/brain-nerves/idiopathic-intracranial-hypertension-leaflet | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371805747.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407183818-20200407214318-00515.warc.gz | en | 0.946562 | 2,437 | 3.640625 | 4 |
This article is based on a question I received from a reader. While it might normally be put in the Q/A category, I think this topic opens up an interesting learning opportunity in general. This article is not only about how to study vocabulary.
Vocabulary just happens to be the subject. The more important take away from this article is the methodology used to reach the recommended strategies.
When you’re considering how to study vocabulary, or absolutely anything, the first thing you need to look into is the real goals you’re trying to reach.
Studying doesn’t always mean the same thing in different classes. In math class, studying may come down to getting good at following a certain procedure (and knowing what to do when it goes different than usual.) In history class, studying may be learning the story behind a certain historical event. When you’re looking to study vocabulary, the goal is typically to recognize the meaning of words when you see them.
There are a few major factors to consider when studying vocabulary. If you’re just studying a list of words that you already have then this is a relatively mundane memorization task. If you’re like a good percentage of students reading this, you want to study vocabulary that will be randomly selected (like on the SATs.) In this situation, you can’t know exactly which words you need to memorize. That adds an important complicating factor.
Lets face it, it’s impossible to study any notable percentage of the English language (or virtually any language for that matter.) There are just too many potential words. Even if you memorized a whole dictionary you’d end up short of all the words in English. It’s an impossible feat. That brings you to what should be your first concern when studying anything.
What Do You Really Need To Know
Memorizing a list of words is okay but when it comes to vocabulary, it’s often a much better use of your time to spend it less on memorizing individual words and more on memorizing “root” words.
By root, I’m not necessarily only referring to the traditional use of the word. By the root of the word, I’m referring to the basic sounds that tend to mean similar things.
If I were to make up a word like “Audioligraphy,” you could pretty quickly guess that the word has something to do with audio, or sounds, or music. If I gave you a multiple choice test asking what it’s meaning was, it’s unlikely you’d mix the word up for something related to something else. Many words work like that.
If you can learn the roots of words, you’re much more likely to be able to guess the actual meaning of the word. For a multiple choice test, that’s usually enough to give you a solid guess at the answer. Since the roots of words can be involved in multiple words, each one that you memorize is nearly the equivalent to learning multiple actual words.
If you’re learning a common second language, this often fits well with verb endings. Each verb ending may be a different word but most of what you need to know is in the root of the word. Once you master the root of the word, you can just cut and paste the root ending to figure of the meaning of the word. If you haven’t spent much time working in foreign languages then that might not make sense to you.
It’s pointless to waste your time trying to study every individual potential word when you can focus your energy on learning the catch all roots to different words. That’s why contestants in spelling competitions spend so much time focusing on what language a particular word was derived from. Instead of having to know how every single word is spelled, they focus on making as educated a guess as possible knowing that different original languages tend to have words spelled in distinctive ways.
There are tricks like this when you’re going to study just about everything. Things and concepts aren’t created arbitrarily. They’re conceptualized by people in certain categories. If you can figure out what those categories are, it becomes much easier to create an efficient study plan.
One Bite At A Time
I’m sure you’ve heard this idea before.
When you have a big task, the way you approach it can make a big difference in your ability to complete it. For example, if you need to memorize 1,000 words for class, you can think about it in a number of different ways.
You can think “I need to memorize 1,000 words.” If you’re like most students, that sounds like a pretty intimidating task. After thinking that, it’s likely you’ll start stressing out about how difficult it will be. Instead of thinking that way, you might try to find a less intimidating chunking system.
Instead of thinking of the 1,000 individual words, you might think “I need to memorize 20 lists of 50 words.” For most people, that’s a more attainable goal. Sure… it’s the same objectively but you can imagine spending a few session to memorize 50 words.
Completing a single list isn’t quite as intimidating. Of course, you could make it 10 lists of 100 or 100 lists of 10 words. How you choose to chunk that really comes down to you picking the chunk that’s least intimidating to you.
That’s not the only way to chunk things down though. That’s how to study vocabulary. What if that list of words could be categorized by part of speech. So… nouns would be their own category, verbs would be their own category, and so on. This might only split the list into a few categories but the categories end up being much less arbitrary.
That makes studying the list of words easier. Your brain will unintentionally link extra information into the memorization process. Those extra links can make the difference between remembering it and fumbling around trying to remember it.
Making It A Reality
Once you’re able to define the most important information to remember and you break that into manageable chunks, it’s time to make sure that you can complete the steps to mastering it. The only way you can be sure you’ll learn what you need to know is if you make a plan to actually achieve it. Too many students never plan out their studying. They intend to study but they get caught up in a routine of putting it off until later.
The just keep putting it off until it never gets done (or it barely gets done last minute.) Your plan needs to include some kind of a schedule.
When you need to study something, you should always have a super basic study schedule. A study schedule isn’t about discipline. It’s about not needing discipline. It’s more about a habit. Forcing yourself to study is tough but once you get on a study schedule your studying becomes a habit.
Once you have a habit, it starts to become hard to not follow through with that habit. A study schedule lets that habit develop.
Sure, promising to study sometime in the future is good in theory but the problem is, you never know when you’re falling behind. If you promise to study every single night (even if it’s just for a few minutes a night,) then on the night after you make that commitment, you’ll know whether you’re failing to achieve your goal or not.
If you’re like most students who don’t have a plan, you get to say, “well… I was too busy. I’ll do it tomorrow night,” and pretend that you’re still committed.
When you miss an explicitly planned session, you know it.
If you’re wondering how to study vocabulary, or absolutely anything, you don’t need a super complicated strategy from any site. Sure… I highly recommend the 15 minute study strategy (15MSS) described on this blog but you don’t need to overthink any of this information. That doesn’t include homework time. To learn more about how to speed up homework you should read 9 Strategies To Make Homework A Breeze (Cliche Free). There is no way any writer could create your ideal strategy for studying. Your classes are too personal for anyone to be able to design a study strategy specifically for. Instead of relying on someone else to tweak your strategy into perfection, try following these steps to make your session ideal for your own requirements.
- Define the most efficient information that you can focus your studying on.
- Break that information down into manageable chunks.
- Create a plan that you can follow through with or fail (either way you’re better off than if you didn’t have a plan to begin with. If you failed to follow through with a plan then you can at least learn something.)
Do you want to know how to study in less than 15 minutes a night? That’s what this blog is all about. Be sure to read the archives, follow along, and check out the ebooks in the sidebar for all the details.
Unlock Your True Potential
Have you ever felt like you could be more?
I’m going to go out on a limb and say “You’re right.”
I know this because you’re here. Because you’re reading this. (I’ve seen the analytics. Most people that show up on this site don’t have it in them to read this. Honestly, this stuff isn’t always easy to understand. They’d much rather get back to their memes that require zero IQ.)
You’re capable of great things.
Hi. I’m Aaron. I graduated college early taking a double course load while working 30 hour weeks. – And I didn’t do it because I’m particularly smart. – I barely survived some years in high school.
I learned strategies that took my academic game up to the next level.
And those are the strategies I’d like to teach you… | <urn:uuid:82755df1-fccf-4d2d-b8bf-404ce666f4b9> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.smartstudentsecrets.com/how-to-study-vocabulary-or-anything/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371611051.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405213008-20200406003508-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.941557 | 2,156 | 3.140625 | 3 |
One of the concepts that you will hear over and over in the literacy world is the notion that “print represents speech,” and that the only research-based approach to teaching reading and spelling is to start with the systematic study of phonemes — the segments in spoken language that are distinctive for meaning (often referred to as “sounds”) — and the way that we represent those phonemes with graphemes (often referred to as “symbols”). You will sometimes run into some debate over whether instruction for students should use a “sound to symbol” or “symbol to sound” approach, but it is taken for granted — assumed — that the relationship between those “sounds” and the “symbols” that represent them is the primary and central relationship between spoken and written words.
This assumption that print primarily represents speech is often stated as though it is a fact and may be followed by statements like this: “To read, we decode written words to spoken words, and to write, we encode those sounds of words into written form.” Any attempt to question this assumption is usually shut down quickly in many literacy communities as being “anti-reading science.” But in truth this is a theory, not a fact, and it’s demonstrably false, based on clear evidence in our writing system itself.
Every time you encounter a word that needs to be defined as an exception — a red word, a rule-breaker, a tricky word — you are being presented with evidence that falsifies the common assumption that spelling primarily represents the pronunciation of words.
There clearly IS a relationship between the spelling of a word and its pronunciation, but the evidence in the writing system overwhelming shows that the primary function of our writing system is not to represent pronunciation, but to combine units of meaning in consistent ways so that we can silently read and comprehend text. This sounds like it might be “whole-languageish” but it most definitely is not.
Let’s take a look at some evidence in the writing system that should help you evaluate the assumptions built into most literacy instruction. I’m not going to give you a counter opinion about this; I’m going to show you some examples of the spoken and written form of words, and let you decide for yourself whether it’s accurate to claim that “words are spelled based on the sounds we make when speaking.”
This next bit is dense going, and I’ve tried to make it simple as I can, but if IPA symbols are new to you, think about your own pronunciation of these words, and that should help the IPA symbols make sense.
So let’s look at these two words: <sculptor, sculpture>
There is clearly a relationship between these words; <sculpture> is a noun, often used to describe an object that was created by carving or shaping a substance; and the word <sculptor> refers to the creator of that object.
We can build a matrix which shows some of the words in the family related to <sculpt>. These words all have an orthographic denotation of “carve.”
Word sums show us the surface spelling of the words <sculpture & sculptor> on the left and the underlying elements we use to build them on the right.
sculpture ➞ sculpt + ure
sculptor ➞ sculpt + or
Now let’s analyze what happens to the pronunciation of the <t> in the base element <sculpt> in these two words.
First of all, think about the fact that the pronunciation of words can vary dramatically based on what part of the world you live in. If written language is speech written down, why don’t people spell words differently if they pronounce them differently?
In fact, we don’t do that, and to compare a word’s pronunciation to its spelling, we have to decide whose pronunciation we’re going to be working with. I’m going to base this on my own pronunciation, but think also about your own.
So we’ll start with a representations of my pronunciation of “sculptor” using IPA. These IPA symbols were designed to have a one-to-one relationship with particular articulations in spoken language. Here’s a representation of the phones in “sculptor” spoken with my American pronunciation:
Most of those symbols in [ˈskʌlptɚ] should make sense to you even if you are not familiar with IPA, but you do need to know that [ʌ] indicates the pronunciation of the <u> in <sculptor> or in the word <cup> or <sun>. And the final phone in my pronunciation of “sculptor” is represented by this symbol: [ɚ]. This represents the rhotacized schwa. Since I’m American, this phone represents the speech segment I articulate at the end of the word <sculptor>. Someone with a British accent would pronounce that differently. The rhotacized schwa appears in unstressed syllables when the schwa is followed in the orthography by an <r>. I produce the same pronunciation at the end of the words “mother, dollar, faster.”
You can pronounce those IPA symbols, [ˈskʌlptɚ], from left to right to approximate a neutral American pronunciation of the word <sculptor>.
So now let’s look at the relationship between the phones in the spoken word [ˈskʌlptɚ] and the graphemes in the written form <sculptor>. Clearly there is a relationship.
If we take the word “sculptor” we can see the correlations:
[ ˈs k ʌ l p t ɚ ] – (phones – representations of the pronunciation)
<s c u l p t or> – (graphemes)
Notice that there is a one-to-one relationship between the phones and the graphemes. So far, this seems to support the premise that written language is “speech written down.”
But now let’s look at <sculpture>.
We can represent the pronunciation of <sculpture> in IPA like this:
What has changed in the pronunciation between <sculptor> and <sculpture>?
You can see the IPA representation of those two words here, together:
[ˈs k ʌ l p t ɚ]
[ˈs k ʌ l p tʃ ɚ]
Notice that when comparing “sculptor” to “sculpture” the pronunciation changes from [ t ] to [ tʃ ].
[ tʃ ] is the pronunciation at the beginning of the word “chip.” It consists of two phones, [t] followed by [ ʃ ].
The change in the pronunciation of that <t> is similar to the change we feel at the beginning of the words “tip” and “chip.” You might pronounce “sculpture” slightly differently. Some people might feel that the second to last phoneme in “sculpture” is pronounced more like [ ʃ ] (as a the beginning of “ship”) than [ tʃ ]. That’s fine. That doesn’t change this observation.
So we’ve seen a change in the pronunciation of the <t> but notice that the spelling of the base <sculpt> does not change in these two words:
<s c u l p t or>
<s c u l p t ur e>
That same grapheme <t> is present in both words. It doesn’t change in the spelling of these words even though we pronounce that grapheme differently in the two words.
What changes in the spelling is the replacement of suffix <or> with <ure>. The spelling of that part of the word changes, even though my pronunciation at the end of both words is virtually the same.
(The <e> at the end of <sculpture> is not representing a pronunciation. It’s a marker letter.)
So when pronunciation of the <t> changes from [t] to [ tʃ ] or [ ʃ ], the spelling does not change.
When the suffix <or> is replaced with <ure> the pronunciation does not change.
Does this provide evidence that these words are primarily “encoded” sounds? Does it show us that written words are “speech written down?” It seems to show just the opposite. Aspects of spelling remain constant while pronunciation is shifting, and aspects of spelling change while pronunciation does not change.
So what is is going on, and what is driving the changes and stability of the spelling of these words?
Let’s take a look at the morphological structure of these words:
<sculptor ➞ sculpt + or>
<sculpture ➞ sculpt + ure>
You can immediately see that one part of the spelling of these two words is stable in both; the base element <sculpt>. This base element “carries the meaning” of both of these words. A sculptor and a sculpture both have a relationship in meaning to the free base <sculpt>.
And what changes in the spelling is the suffix. In <sculptor> there is a suffix <or>. This is called the agent suffix and when added to a word it shifts the sense to “someone or something that does something.” We see the same agent suffix in words such as <actor, navigator, inventor>. This suffix has a grammatical force. Words ending in the agent <or> suffix are nouns.
The word <sculpture> has a suffix <ure>. This suffix also indicates a noun, but with a different sense. This suffix is also found in nouns such as <nature, lecture, nurture, pleasure, seizure>.
If the premise that spelling is essentially speech written down were true, then we would be seeing different spelling when the pronunciation changes. We don’t see that.
If the premise that spelling is essentially speech written down were true, then we would be seeing the same pronunciation of the <t> in all of these words, when we change only a suffix. We don’t see that.
Those who argue that spelling is speech written down make that claim by laying out evidence using only simple words where there is no change in a pronunciation as we add a suffix, words such as <playing/player, stretching/stretched>.
But then they run into <say & says> and they declare that <says> is an irregular spelling. The spelling of <says> is clearly very regular:
play + s ➞ plays
lay + s ➞ lays
say + s ➞ says
The pronunciation of <says> doesn’t fit this hypothesis that spelling represents pronunciation directly, but rather than go back and re-evaluate that hypothesis, words such as <says> are simply declared to be irregular. That is not science, as Pete Bowers has been saying for more than a decade.
So I’ve just shown you evidence from one pair of words, where we see spelling remaining constant in order to represent a unit of meaning consistently in every word derived from the same base. There is more evidence for this feature of the English writing system everywhere you look. This same pattern is in words like <capture/captor, lecture/lector>. But we see changes in pronunciation without accompanying changes in spelling in so many other word families. We’ve just talked about say/says> and here are more examples with <cave/cavity/excavate, heal/health>. You’ll see this everywhere in English spelling, once you start to look.
The spelling of words makes perfect sense, but the purpose of spelling is NOT primarily to represent pronunciation. The relationship between written and spoken language can only be understood in the context of morphology and etymology. | <urn:uuid:37bb122a-ae01-4975-9eab-a6bc15e9ecd3> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://learningaboutspelling.com/2017/02/24/are-words-based-on-the-sounds-we-make-when-speaking/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371858664.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409122719-20200409153219-00234.warc.gz | en | 0.955499 | 2,583 | 3.5625 | 4 |
“Phoebe just doesn’t want to listen.” “I feel like I can read the same story over and over to Trevor, and he still can’t answer one question about it.” “Jill rarely finishes her work in class.” “I’ll ask Sam to draw a picture of his favorite game for me, but 2 minutes later he is scribbling all over another piece of paper.” “I’ve told Sarah to pick her toys up 5 times now, but she keeps stopping anytime she hears a car go by.”
Hi everyone, speech-language pathologist/momma here. If you hear these comments from your child’s teacher or hear yourself making them, your child may have a short attention span. Before I go on, let me be clear: some children are just very active and may need movement in order to listen. Some children, however, suffer from a short attention span and find it difficult to stay on task for a period of time.
How Long Should My Child’s Attention Span Be?
The chart below came from http://www.parentingpress.com/media/is-this-a-phase_excerpt2.html
|Typical Attention Span by Age|
|Age||Activity||How Can We Help?|
|2 to 7 mo.||A baby may watch someone, copy expressions, and trade sounds for as long as 2-3 minutes at 2 months. By 7 months, this typically continues for at least 5 minutes.||Take turns leading and following. Be warm, interested, and interesting to look at. Let babies rest when they turn away.|
|18 mo.||Alone, a toddler may spend 30 seconds on a single activity or a minute or two on several activities before seeking the caregiver’s attention.||Keep adult expectations realistic.|
|2 yr.||Alone, a 2-year-old may spend 30-60 seconds on a single activity; with an adult’s active encouragement, 2-3 minutes||By playing with toddlers or talking about their activities, adults can increase children’s attention spans. Point out characteristics of whatever they are playing with: “Do you see the black dot on it?” “Will it fit in the cup?” “Can you push it over here?”|
|2½ yr.||Alone, the toddler may spend about 2 minutes on a single activity. The usual preference: for almost constant attention from an adult.
With or near a small group of children, a toddler may play peacefully for 10 minutes.
|3 yr.||A preschooler working alone may spend 3-8 minutes on an interesting activity and may finish it if it’s easy.||Look for ways to keep preschoolers interested in the activities they start. Encourage and follow their interests. Avoid distracting them or taking over the activities.|
|3½ yr.||Working alone, a preschooler can stay busy for 15 minutes if there are a variety of interesting choices.|
|4 yr.||By 4, a child engrossed in an activity may ignore distractions such as the call to dinner.
Alone, the 4-year-old may spend 7-8 minutes on a single activity, or as much as 15 minutes if the activity is new and especially interesting (an eye exam, for example).
With a small group, a 4-year-old may spend 5-10 minutes playing without interruption.
|Four-year-olds understand it is harderto pay attention to uninteresting tasks, or when distracted by noise or their own thoughts. They are more likely to stay interested when they’re comfortable with the task or project and feel successful. They may need help to meet their standards. Adults can also keep children interested in projects with impromptu games and humor.|
|4½ yr.||Working alone, the pre-kindergartener may spend 2-3 minutes on a task chosen by an adult such as getting dressed or picking up toys.|
|5 yr.||By 5, most children can ignore minor distractions. Alone, they will focus on a single interesting activity for 10 or 15 minutes and on an assigned task for 4-6 minutes if it’s easy and interesting. A small group of children can work or play together without interruption for 10-25 minutes.||Recognize that personal interest remains the most important motivation for 5-year-olds. It will double the length of their attention span.|
|6 yr.||Working alone on a single activity, a 6-year-old may stay interested for as much as 30 minutes.||Continue to build on children’s interests and stay alert to difficult tasks, so that you can help.|
|Compiled from multiple sources by Helen F. Neville|
Before I continue, I want to clarify that I am not suggesting your child has ADD or ADHD; nor am I qualified to diagnose as such. I am, however, qualified to provide language therapy with a goal of improving attention span.
First, Find Your Child’s Starting Point
What is your child’s attention span as of now? Why? So later down the road you can compare their starting point data to new data to determine if their attention span is improving. Give your child a task to do. Something such as lining their toys up in a row, or finding how many red things they can find in the house, for example. Video record your child or use a good old fashioned pen and paper and record how many times you have to redirect (“redirect” is where you bring your child’s attention back to the task they are supposed to be performing) your child back to the task at hand. Do NOT give them a task you know they dislike, such as cleaning their room; they will then be trying to become distracted on purpose and do NOT record their attention span while watching t.v., IPAD, video games, etc. If your child is in school, ask their teacher to make an observation and do a count of how many redirections your child required.
Make an Attention Span Goal
Use your child’s starting point and create an attention span goal. Over time, this goal will change as your child’s attention span improves. Here are some example goals:
“When it is quiet, Phoebe will require no more than 4 redirections in a 5 minute period at home while doing ________.”
As Phoebe’s attention span improves over time, a new goal may be…
“With music playing (the kind with words), Phoebe will require no more than 4 redirections in a 5 minute period at home while doing ____________” or “When it is quiet, Phoebe will require no more than 2 redirections in a 5 minute period at home while doing _____________.”
Activities and Techniques to Improve Attention Span
Start out with minimal distractions. Turn off the t.v. and minimize background noise as much as possible, at least in the beginning. As your child’s attention span begins to improve, slowly incorporate background noise in; ’cause in real life, it’s noisy.
Be consistent. I say this in every post I write, because it’s so important! It does take time for your child to understand they need to do “y” when you do “x.” Stay steady – it may take time, but you and your child will fall into a pattern.
Use a timer. Tell your child that for the next “3 minutes,” you want them to pick up all their toys without stopping. I personally like to use a free Timer app on my phone during therapy sessions when working with children with attention span or transitioning issues.
Redirect. If your child stops doing what you asked them to do or they completely change the subject mid-conversation, redirect them by HOLDING UP YOUR HAND or TAPPING THEM ON THE SHOULDER, as means of getting their attention, and say, “We were talking about what movie to watch” or “You were picking up your toys.”
Task cards. Make some pictures of common activities or tasks you ask your child to do. You can either Google some pictures, draw some, or take actual pictures. If your child can read, make blank squares and just write on them. Take the appropriate task card and set it in front of your child or make a Velcro wrist band and put the card on the wrist band until the task is complete. This technique does require extra work initially, but it saves you from having to redirect your child so many times, as well as gives your child more independence.
Sticker between the eyes. Place a sticker between your eyes and challenge your child to see how long they can look at the sticker without looking away. They may look down at the floor a few times though because they’re doubled over laughing. I know this is unconventional, but it works – especially for those who are in the beginning stages of improving their attention span.
Find patterns and matches. The following website has simple to more complex activities that require children to use their attention span to complete the tasks: https://mother-top.com/how-to-develop-attention-in-children-activities-games-and-worksheets/
Play matching memory games. Lay matching cards face down. Take turns flipping two cards over at a time. Make sure to flip the card directly over onto the table or floor so your child can more easily remember where each card is. Start simple with 4 pairs of matches and then work your way up to more pairs.
Find only one color. Lay an assortment of blocks or toys in front of your child. Instruct them to “only pick up the red ones.”
Mazes. Have your child do puzzle mazes – these really require concentration! You can print some free mazes off at https://krazydad.com/mazes/index.php?sv=EZ. These range from easy to hard.
Clap for the word. Pick a book and find a word that occurs frequently throughout the book. Tell your child that you want them to clap every time they hear the word while you are reading. Modify this activity and do it while you are driving down the road. Don’t read, of course, haha. Say sentences, however, and have them clap every time you say “the word.”
Check progress. Remember to check your child’s progress so you can compare their starting point data to present data in order to determine if progress is being made.
Ask for more. If your child is showing improvement in their attention span, begin slowly asking more of them. For example, if they can perform an activity for up to 3 minutes without redirections, set the timer for 4 minutes. If they have been doing it before with no background noise on, turn on some music or talk out loud while they are performing the activity.
Make a schedule. Make a schedule for what your child is going to do for the next little while.
Increase distractions over time. In the real world, there’s cars honking, sirens, dogs barking, other people talking and moving, just a lot of background noise. If you live in a quiet neighborhood, make your own noise using radios, televisions, phones, etc.
Any task or activity is a new opportunity for your child to improve their attention span abilities. Remember to be very direct as to what it is you want them to do. Start simple, and over time, increase in difficulty as your child’s attention span improves.
My Disclaimer Statement: If you have any concerns about your child’s attention, please have them evaluated by a specialist. If you have any concerns about your child’s speech or language skills and have not yet done so, please have them evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. I am a speech-language pathologist, but this post is not a substitution for a formal evaluation or treatment. Your child and we (speech-language pathologists) really need you to continue seeking out ways to help your child improve at home – this makes your child’s progress and prognosis so much better when you do!!!
I hope everyone finds something in here that is helpful. If you do not see something that relates to your child, please leave a comment below or email me at firstname.lastname@example.org and I will do my best to create a post, no names mentioned of course, that will hopefully help your child.
What Does It Mean if My Child Has A Language Delay or Disorder?
How To Improve Your Child’s Speech at Home Using A Structured Approach
How to Improve Your Child’s Speech at Home Using Everyday Activities
Everyday Activities to do at Home to Help Your Child Start Talking
Is Your Child Having Difficulty Communicating? It May Be Due to a Limited Vocabulary Bank.
How to Expand Your Child’s Vocabulary to Improve Their Communication
How to Teach Your Nonverbal Child to Communicate Without Using Words
Part 1 of The Basic Language Concepts Your Child Needs and How to Teach Them at Home
Part 2 of the Basic Language Concepts Your Child Needs and How to Teach Them at Home | <urn:uuid:fe6c2622-f912-4b40-bddb-c25d2b4d1358> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://reachthroughspeech.com/2018/10/28/how-to-improve-your-childs-attention-span/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505730.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401100029-20200401130029-00395.warc.gz | en | 0.941504 | 2,814 | 2.9375 | 3 |
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Craniosynostosis (kray-nee-o-sin-os-TOE-sis) is a birth defect in which one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of your baby's skull (cranial sutures) close prematurely (fuse), before your baby's brain is fully formed. Brain growth continues, giving the head a misshapen appearance.
Normally, during infancy the sutures remain flexible, giving your baby's brain time to grow. In the front of the skull, the sutures meet in the large soft spot (fontanel) on top of the head. The anterior fontanel is the soft spot you feel just behind your baby's forehead. The next largest is at the back (posterior). Each side of the skull has a tiny fontanel.
Craniosynostosis usually involves premature fusion of a single cranial suture, but can involve more than one of the sutures in your baby's skull (multiple suture craniosynostosis). In rare cases, craniosynostosis is caused by certain genetic syndromes (syndromic craniosynostosis).
Treating craniosynostosis involves surgery to correct the shape of the head and allow for normal brain growth. Early diagnosis and treatment allow your baby's brain adequate space to grow and develop.
Although neurological damage can occur in severe cases, most children have normal cognitive development and achieve good cosmetic results after surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment are key.
The signs of craniosynostosis are usually noticeable at birth, but they'll become more apparent during the first few months of your baby's life. Signs and severity depend on how many sutures are fused and when in brain development the fusion occurs. These can include:
A misshapen skull, with the shape depending on which of the sutures are affected
An abnormal feeling or disappearing fontanel on your baby's skull
Development of a raised, hard ridge along affected sutures
Slow or no growth of the head as your baby grows
Types of craniosynostosis
There are several types of craniosynostosis. Most involve the fusion of a single cranial suture. Some complex forms of craniosynostosis involve the fusion of multiple sutures. Most cases of multiple suture craniosynostosis are linked to genetic syndromes and are called syndromic craniosynostosis.
The term given to each type of craniosynostosis depends on what sutures are affected. Types of craniosynostosis include:
Sagittal (scaphocephaly). Premature fusion of the sagittal suture that runs from the front to the back at the top of the skull forces the head to grow long and narrow. Sagittal craniosynostosis results in a head shape called scaphocephaly and is the most common type of craniosynostosis.
Coronal. Premature fusion of one of the coronal sutures (unicoronal) that run from each ear to the top of the skull may cause the forehead to flatten on the affected side and bulge on the unaffected side. It also leads to turning of the nose and a raised eye socket on the affected side. When both coronal sutures fuse prematurely (bicoronal), the head has a short and wide appearance, often with the forehead tilted forward.
Metopic. The metopic suture runs from the top of the bridge of the nose up through the midline of the forehead to the anterior fontanel and the sagittal suture. Premature fusion gives the forehead a triangular appearance and widens the back part of the head. This is also called trigonocephaly.
Lambdoid. Lambdoid synostosis is a rare type of craniosynostosis that involves the lambdoid suture, which runs along the back of the head. It may cause one side of your baby's head to appear flat, one ear to be higher than the other ear and tilting of the top of the head to one side.
Other reasons for a misshapen head
A misshapen head doesn't always indicate craniosynostosis. For example, if the back of your baby's head appears flattened, it could be the result of spending too much time on one side of his or her head. This can be treated with regular position changes, or if significant, with helmet therapy (cranial orthosis) to help reshape the head to a more normal appearance.
When to see a doctor
Your doctor will routinely monitor your child's head growth at well-child visits. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby's head growth or shape.
Often the cause of craniosynostosis is not known, but sometimes it's related to genetic disorders.
Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is the most common type of craniosynostosis, and its cause is unknown, although it's thought to be a combination of genes and environmental factors.
Syndromic craniosynostosis is caused by certain genetic syndromes, such as Apert syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome or Crouzon syndrome, which can affect your baby's skull development. These syndromes usually also include other physical features and health problems.
If untreated, craniosynostosis may cause, for example:
Permanent head and facial deformity
Poor self-esteem and social isolation
The risk of increased pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure) from simple craniosynostosis is small, as long as the suture and head shape are fixed surgically. But babies with an underlying syndrome may develop increased intracranial pressure if their skulls don't expand enough to make room for their growing brains.
If untreated, increased intracranial pressure can cause:
No energy or interest (lethargy)
Eye movement disorders
Death, in rare instances
Craniosynostosis requires evaluation by specialists, such as a pediatric neurosurgeon or a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Diagnosis of craniosynostosis may include:
Physical exam. Your doctor will feel your baby's head for abnormalities such as suture ridges, and look for facial deformities.
Imaging studies. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your baby's skull can show whether any sutures have fused. Cranial ultrasound imaging may be used. Fused sutures are identifiable by their absence, because they're invisible once fused, or by the ridging of the suture line. A laser scan and photographs also may be used to make precise measurements of the skull shape.
Genetic testing. If your doctor suspects an underlying genetic syndrome, genetic testing may help identify the syndrome.
Mild cases of craniosynostosis may not need treatment. Your doctor may recommend a specially molded helmet to help reshape your baby's head if the cranial sutures are open and the head shape is abnormal. In this situation, the molded helmet can assist your baby's brain growth and correct the shape of the skull.
However, for most babies, surgery is the primary treatment. The type and timing of surgery depends on the type of craniosynostosis and whether there's an underlying genetic syndrome. Sometimes more than one surgery is required.
The purpose of surgery is to correct the abnormal head shape, reduce or prevent pressure on the brain, create room for the brain to grow normally, and improve your baby's appearance. This involves a process of planning and surgery.
Imaging studies can help surgeons develop a surgical procedure plan. Virtual surgical planning for treatment of craniosynostosis uses high-definition 3D CT scans and MRIs of your baby's skull to construct a computer-simulated, individualized surgical plan. Based on that virtual surgical plan, customized templates are constructed to guide the procedure.
A team that includes a specialist in surgery of the head and face (craniofacial surgeon) and a specialist in brain surgery (neurosurgeon) generally performs the procedure. Surgery can be done by endoscopic or open surgery. Both types of procedures generally produce very good cosmetic results with low risk of complications.
Endoscopic surgery. This minimally invasive surgery may be considered for babies up to age 6 months. Using a lighted tube and camera (endoscope) inserted through small scalp incisions, the surgeon removes the affected suture to enable your baby's brain to grow normally. Compared with an open procedure, endoscopic surgery has a smaller incision, typically involves only a one-night hospital stay and usually does not require a blood transfusion.
Open surgery. Generally, for babies older than 6 months, open surgery is done. The surgeon makes an incision in the scalp and cranial bones, then reshapes the affected portion of the skull. The skull position is held in place with plates and screws that are absorbable. Open surgery typically involves a three- or four-day hospital stay, and blood transfusion is usually necessary. It's generally a one-time procedure, but in complex cases, multiple open surgeries are often required to correct the baby's head shape.
After endoscopic surgery, office visits at certain intervals are required to fit a series of helmets to help shape your baby's skull. The surgeon will determine the length of helmet therapy based on how quickly the shape responds to treatment. If open surgery is done, no helmet is needed afterward.
Coping and support
When you learn that your baby has craniosynostosis, you may experience a range of emotions, including anger, fear, worry, sorrow and guilt. You may not know what to expect, and you may worry about your ability to care for your baby. The best antidote for fear and worry is information and support.
Consider these steps to prepare yourself and to care for your baby:
Find a team of trusted professionals. You'll need to make important decisions about your baby's care. Medical centers with craniofacial specialty teams can offer you information about the disorder, coordinate your baby's care among specialists, help you evaluate options and provide treatment.
Seek out other families. Talking to people who are dealing with similar challenges can provide you with information and emotional support. Ask your doctor about support groups in your community. If a group isn't for you, maybe your doctor can put you in touch with a family who has dealt with craniosynostosis. Or you may be able to find group or individual support online.
Expect a bright future. Most children have normal cognitive development and achieve good cosmetic results after surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment are key. When needed, early intervention services offer help with developmental delays or intellectual disabilities.
Preparing for an appointment
In some cases, your baby's pediatrician may suspect craniosynostosis at a routine well-baby visit. In other cases, you may make an appointment because you have concerns about your baby's head growth. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. If possible, bring a family member or friend with you. A trusted companion can help you remember information and provide emotional support.
What you can do
Before the appointment, make a list of:
Any signs you've noticed, such as raised ridges, a change in the shape of your baby's face or head, or the absence of soft spots on your baby's head
Questions to ask your doctor
Questions to ask might include:
What's the most likely cause of my baby's symptoms?
Are there other possible causes?
What kinds of tests does my baby need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
Are there alternatives to the treatment you're recommending?
What are the risks involved with surgery?
Who will perform the surgery if it's needed?
What happens if we choose not to have the surgery right now?
Will the abnormal shape of the skull affect the functioning of my baby's brain?
What is the likelihood of future children having the same condition?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have?
What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions during the appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:
When did you first notice the changes in your baby's head?
How much time does your baby spend on his or her back?
In what position does your baby sleep?
Has your baby had any seizures?
Is your baby's development on schedule?
Were there any complications during your pregnancy?
Do you have a family history of craniosynostosis or genetic conditions such as Apert syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome or Crouzon syndrome?
Your doctor will ask additional questions based on your responses. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your time with the doctor. | <urn:uuid:6ea47a6a-9773-4afd-af37-f958e73e1a7a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/craniosynostosis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505359.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401003422-20200401033422-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.930487 | 2,828 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The University of New Haven in the United States offers a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management. This two-year program is taught entirely online and follows the regulations and requirements established by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency. Students take the following courses: Principles of Emergency Management; Principles and Practices of Hazard Mitigation; Catastrophe Readiness and Response; Holistic Disaster Recovery: Creating a More Sustainable Future; Disaster Response Operations and Management; Social Dimensions of Disaster; Emergency Incident Management; Food Plain Management; and Political and Policy Basis of Emergency Management. In addition, they complete a research project and culminating thesis.
The University of Colorado Denver in Denver, Colorado, United States, offers a Master of Public Affairs degree program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Students spend one year completing the course requirements for the degree on a full-time basis. Mandatory classes include: Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service; Organizational Management and Behavior; Research and Analytical Methods; Economics and Public Finance; The Policy Process and Democracy; Leadership and Professional Ethics; Principles of Emergency Management; Law of All Hazards Management; Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment; and Public Policies for Homeland Security & Disasters.
The Auckland University of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand, offers a master’s degree program in Emergency Management. Lasting for 18 months, the program requires full-time study to complete. Students complete five core modules: Leading in Emergency Situations, Business Continuity and Crisis Management, Building Resilient Communities, Psychosocial Aspects of Emergencies and Emergency Risk Communication. In addition, students take one final special topics course, choosing one that interests them from a rotating list of options.
Charles Darwin University in Darwin, Australia, offers a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. The program is unique in that its focus is on the Asia-Pacific region. Required classes for the degree include; Indigenous Knowledges and Epistemologies; Emergency and Disaster Management in Context; Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management; Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management; Cultural, Social and Psychological Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management; Research Methodologies in Global Learning; and Epidemiology. Students also complete a reflective case study project. The coursework can typically be finished within two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.
The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, United States, offers a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management and Disaster Science. During the one-year program, students will have the opportunity to participate in faculty-supervised research and experiential learning at the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency’s regional office. Study abroad opportunities are also available. Coursework covers a broad range of topics, including: Community disaster preparedness; Donations management; Evacuation and return-entry processes; Long-term community recovery; Post-disaster home buyout programs; and Resilience planning.
Charles Strut University in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, offers a master’s degree program in Emergency Management. The program is conducted entirely online and is geared toward emergency management professionals who wish to further their education. As such, the program is provided in two formats: an 18-month full-time format and a flexible part-time program that typically requires three years to complete. All students complete three classes: Risk Management in the Emergency Management Context, Contemporary Practice in Emergency Management and Literature Review. In addition, students engage in a research project based on their workplaces.
Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, offers a master’s degree program in Emergency Management. Conducted entirely online, the program is ideal for emergency management professionals who wish to advance in their careers. The program requires one year of full-time study to complete. To fulfill the degree requirements, students must take the following classes: Emergency management; Techniques and Methods in Evaluation Research; Natural Hazards; Coping with Disasters; Emergency Management in Practice; Professional Inquiry in Emergency Management; and Natural Hazards and Resilient Communities.
Massachusetts Maritime University in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Emergency Management. The program is ideal for anyone who is currently working or wishes to work in emergency management in the private or public sectors. Provided only in a full-time format, the program involves a 17-month time commitment and concludes with a capstone research project. All students take the following classes: Principles of Emergency Management; Emergency Operations; Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery; Organizational Behavior; Hazards Risk Management; Strategic Planning & Budgeting; Legal Issues in Emergency Management; National Security in Emergency Management; and Transportation Security Management.
Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Emergency Management. To receive the degree, students complete the following classes: Foundations of Emergency Management, Disaster Recovery, Research Methods in Emergency Management and Hazard Mitigation. The degree also requires nine hours of an approved emergency management elective. Most students complete all requirements within two years. A shorter Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management program is also available for those who do not wish to pursue the degree path.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania in Millersville, Pennsylvania, United States, offers a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management. All of the coursework for the program can be completed online, making the program a good fit for working professionals. The program includes three core courses: Principles and Practices of Emergency Management, Technical and Professional Writing for Emergency Management and Social Dimensions of Disaster. Students also select approved elective courses geared toward their specific interests. Most students can finish all of the degree requirements within two years with full-time study.
York University in Toronto, Canada, offers a master’s degree program in Disaster and Emergency Management. Taught entirely online, the program is only one of two of its kind offered in Canada and the only fully off-campus emergency management master’s program in Ontario. Students have the option to complete the program on a full-time basis over one year and four months or on a part-time basis over two years and nine months. Classes included in the degree requirements are: Advanced Disaster & Emergency Management; Disasters – Concepts and Causes; Social and Behavioural Dimensions of Disasters; Natural Disasters; Terrorism Studies; Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-Medical Personnel; and Disasters and Ethics.
Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Disaster and Emergency Management. Classes are taught both by academics and emergency management professionals with all courses being conducted in an online format. Students choose an area of focus from one of five options: Maritime safety and security, Cyber security, Criminal justice, Public health, or Fire administration. All students take classes in all-hazards prevention, response, mitigation, and recovery. In addition, students are required to either complete a community internship or conduct research and compose a master’s thesis. The program lasts for two years and involves full-time study.
Purdue University Global in Augusta, Maine, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The program is provided in an online-only format and intended for working adults who either wish to change careers or advance into leadership positions in emergency management. All students complete the program on a flexible, part-time basis. With 25 hours of study time per week, students can finish all of the degree requirements in two years. Topics covered in the coursework include: Economics and resource availability; Regulation and law; Politics of security; Dynamics of emergency management; Security and policy making; Homeland defense; and Interagency cooperation.
Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, United States, offers a Master of Science Degree program in Emergency Management with an Environmental track. This program is intended for individuals who currently work in emergency management. Classes are offered evenings and weekends. Students who take three courses each semester can complete the program in two years. All students in the track take the following classes: Computer Applications; Mathematics for Managers; Courses in the Major; Introduction to Emergency Management; Health Management in Times of Disaster; Organizational Planning and Response; Business Continuity Planning; Emergency Management Law; Research in Emergency and Disaster Management; Management Theory/ Organizational Behavior; Leadership and Innovation in Complex Systems; Management Information Systems; and Statistical Methods.
Royal Roads University in Victoria, Canada, offers a Master of Arts degree in Disaster and Emergency Management. A holistic, multi-disciplinary program, the course of study draws from environmental science, social sciences, economics and political science. The majority of the classes for the two-year full-time program are offered online with students only taking a handful of courses on campus. Among the degree requirements are the following courses: Foundations in Disaster and Emergency Management; Facilitation, Coordination and Decision Making in Multi-Stakeholder Environments; Human Dimensions of Disasters; Hazard and Disaster Risk Management; Disaster Response and Sustainable Recovery; Disaster and Emergency Management Planning: From Policy to Practice; and Advanced Professional Practice: Planning for Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty.
The University of Wolverhampton in Wellington, England, United Kingdom, offers a postgraduate certificate in Emergency Planning Resilience and Response. Developed specifically for professionals already working in emergency management, the course of study is highly flexible and can be completed on a part-time basis. Most students finish all of the coursework in one year. All students take the following classes: Emergency Management: Foundations and Frameworks; Disasters: Causation, Consequence Management & Learning; and Communicating in Disasters. Exercises and training simulations are included to help students apply concepts learned in the classroom to real life situations.
Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, United States offers a postgraduate certificate in Public Health Emergency Preparedness. This on-campus program includes nine credits of coursework and can be completed in less than a year by most students. Students receive education on the following topics: Components of emergency management and public health response, Emergency management organizational frameworks, Public policy’s role in public health, and Anti-terrorism’s impact on public health.
The Faculty of Science at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree program in Crisis and Disaster Management. Students have the option to take courses full time over a one-year period or part-time over a two-year period. Every student takes three core courses: Disasters: Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk, Emergency Management and Planning, and Disaster Management Techniques and Study Visits. Students also choose between one of two electives: Crisis Management and Governance and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Recovery. In addition, students are required to complete a research project and participate in a work placement internship.
Lander University in Greenwood, Arizona, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Emergency Management. This program is intended for emergency management professionals with a part-time schedule that includes two classes per term over six semesters. This allows students to finish the program in two years. Among the courses offered as a part of the program are: Foundations in Emergency Management; Preparedness and Mitigation; Response and Recovery; Business and Economic Continuity; Emergency Mental Health; Continuity of Government; Technology for Emergency Management; Communications Strategies for Emergency Management; Leadership for Emergency Management; Emergency Management Law; Hurricane and Weather; Nuclear Incident Management; and Special Topics in Emergency Management.
George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia, United States, offers a postgraduate certificate in Emergency Management and Public Health. The program is meant for working professionals, and students take classes just one evening per week per class. Most students finish all of the coursework in one year. Classes include: Crisis and Emergency Management; Medical and Public Health Emergency Management; Principles and Practices of Epidemiology; Biostatistical Applications for Public Health.
The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, United States, offers a Master of Emergency Management and Crisis degree program. Lasting for one full year, the program is campus based and includes three classes: Hazard Analysis and Disaster Planning; Foundations of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; and Research Methods in Public Administration. Students also complete and defend a master’s thesis on a topic of interest.
Coventry University in Coventry, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management and Resilience. With this program, students have the option to study full time for two years or part time over a two to five year period. Some of the required courses for the degree program include: Risk, Incidents & Leadership; Emergency Planning & Preparedness; Integrated Emergency Management; Training & Exercise Design and Delivery; Researching Perspectives & Practice; Business Continuity & Crisis Management; and Community Preparedness, Recovery & Resilience.
The City University of New York in New York City, New York, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Emergency Management. Most students in the program are emergency management professionals who take classes on a part-time basis. Students have the flexibility to create their own course of study. Among the available classes are: Geographic Information Systems for Public Safety and Emergency Management; Technology in Emergency Management; Business Continuity Planning; Seminar in Emergency Management and Response; Safety and Security in the Built Environment; Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention; Introduction to Protection Management Systems; Security of Information and Technology; Theory and Design of Fire Protection Systems; Analysis of Building and Fire Codes; Terrorism and Politics; Terrorism and Apocalyptic Violence; Organizational Performance Assessment; Public Sector Inspection and Oversight; Private Security: Function and Role in Homeland Defense; Risk, Threat, and Critical Infrastructure; Safety and Security in the Built Environment; and Theory and Design of Security Systems.
Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Alabama, United States, offers a Master of Science degree program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. This multi-disciplinary program requires two years of full-time study and the completion of a master’s thesis. All students take the following classes: Foundation of Leadership; Principles of Hazard and Emergency Management; Fundamentals of Homeland Security; Research Design and Methods; Ethical, Legal, and Political Considerations in Emergency Management and Homeland Security; and Technology for Comprehensive Emergency Management.
American Public University in Charles Town, West Virginia, United States, offers a postgraduate certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management. The program is offered online and designed to fit into the schedules of working professionals with students completing the coursework in just one year. To receive the certificate, students must pass the following classes: Emergency Management and Public Law; Emergency and Disaster Theory; Emergency and Disaster Planning and Management; Interagency Disaster Management; Economics of Disaster; and Case Analysis: Crisis and Disaster.
University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, Maryland, United States, offers a Master of Science degree in Management: Emergency Management. The classes required for the degree are offered all online, and the program is intended to be completed on a part-time basis at a pace that is ideal for each student. Requirements for the degree include the following courses: Organizational Theory; Intercultural Communication and Leadership; Financial Decision Making for Managers; Statistics for Managerial Decision Making; Strategic Management Capstone; Comprehensive Crisis and Emergency Management; Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment; Information Technology in Emergency Management; Concepts in Homeland Security; Resilience Planning and Preparedness for Disaster Response and Recovery; and Crisis Communication for Emergency Managers.
Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, United States, offers a Master of Science degree in Science Safety, Security, and Emergency Management. Students in the program can choose to follow the multi-disciplinary track or to specialize in one of the following areas: Homeland Security, School Safety, Occupational Safety, Fire & Emergency Services, or Emergency Management. The program lasts for two years and is offered in a full-time on-campus format. | <urn:uuid:af87eb02-06ed-45ba-9a39-a4f3e513c04f> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://globalpeacecareers.com/magazine/top-emergency-mangagement-masters-around-the-world/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496227.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329201741-20200329231741-00035.warc.gz | en | 0.909139 | 3,286 | 2.53125 | 3 |
- Speech delays and language disorders associated with HIE
- When should a child get speech-language therapy?
- What causes speech delays and language disorders?
- Therapy for speech delays and language disorders
- What happens during speech language therapy?
- Additional benefits of speech-language therapy
- Why is speech-language therapy important?
- About HIE Help Center
Brain injury due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is rarely confined to a single area of the brain. Because oxygen deprivation affects the connections in the brain on a global level, it is often possible that children with HIE will have multiple interrelated delays in development.
Children with HIE can sometimes have delays in developing speech and language. These delays can sometimes be mitigated, while in other more severe circumstances, children may remain non-verbal and require the use of alternative or augmentative communication (AAC) technologies to potentially assist them in communicating their thoughts, needs, and desires. Developing a method for communicating helps these children interact with others, develop relationships, learn, work, and socialize.
Speech and language are clearly highly interrelated, but they are not interchangeable (1). Speech refers to the physical act of expressing words and sounds, and encompasses the act of the muscles in the lips, tongue, vocal tract, and jaw that make recognizable sounds. Language, on the other hand, refers to communicating in a systematic and meaningful way.
Because language is related to intelligence, disorders in language acquisition and expression are generally considered more serious than speech disorders. There are two broad categories of language disorders (1):
- Expressive language disorder: The ability to communicate meaning to others
- Receptive language disorder: The ability to understand someone else’s message
Language disorders can be expressive, receptive, or mixed receptive-expressive. The signs and symptoms of these disorders can vary depending on the type of disorder a child has.
Signs of expressive language disorders
Some common signs of expressive language disorders include (2):
- Difficulty constructing grammatically correct or complex sentences
- Difficulty using standard grammar conventions
- Difficulty finding words
- Overuse of placeholder words like ‘um’ or ‘uh’
- Smaller vocabulary than is age-appropriate
- Repetition of certain phrases
- Echoing of questions in responses
Signs of receptive language disorders
Some common signs of receptive language disorders include (3):
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Lack of interest or minimal interaction when hearing stories
- Interrupting others in conversation
- Difficulty following spoken direction
- Difficulty answering questions, or answers different questions than the ones asked
- Difficulty organizing thoughts
Speech delays and language disorders associated with HIE
There are several conditions that are common in certain children with HIE. Speech and language conditions can be improved via intensive speech-language pathology treatment, and can include:
- Aphasia: Aphasia is a language disorder that results from brain damage in a specific part or parts of the brain (4). It can manifest in difficulty writing, reading, understanding, or talking.
- Dyspraxia: Dyspraxia is a developmental coordination disorder that affects fine and/or gross motor coordination (5). Some individuals with dyspraxia experience difficulties with coordinating the muscle movements required for spoken language.
- Dysprosody: Dysprosody is a disorder that does not affect the language or the words themselves, but the timing, cadence, rhythm, or intensity of the words (6).
- Dysarthria: Dysarthria is an abnormal facial muscle tone condition that results from brain damage (7). It affects muscles in the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat used for speech.
- Fluency Disorders: A speech disorder that relates to rate, smoothness, continuity, or effort in speech (8). The most common fluency disorder is stuttering.
- Dysphagia: Dysphagia is a condition that involves difficulty swallowing (9). It can manifest in many different ways, but involves general pain and hoarseness when speaking.
- Resonance Disorders: Resonance disorders involve abnormalities in the vocal tract that affect the sound of speech (10).
When should a child get speech-language therapy?
If a child is not acquiring speech or language at the usual rate, it is recommended that parents work with the child’s pediatrician to have the child evaluated as soon as possible (during infancy or very early childhood). Sometimes, children may require some extra assistance or therapy to help them acquire language, or may need extra intervention in the case of concurrent developmental issues.
It is critical to make these diagnoses early, so the child may be enrolled in an Early Intervention (Zero to Three, Head Start, Early On) program to mitigate some of the difficulties that may be associated with poor communication. These can include future academic struggles, emotional or behavioral problems associated with poor social interaction, and difficulties in occupational or psychological development. These programs are most effective when a child is very young, as beginning these programs at an older age will mean that the child must also take the extra step of unlearning old frameworks and developing new ones.
It is also worth noting that sometimes speech and/or language delays can result from hearing-related deficits. Hearing problems may make it appear that a child has a language or speech issue when they only require a hearing aid or medical intervention to get their speech and/or language development on track. To learn more about hearing issues associated with HIE, click here.
What causes speech delays and language disorders?
Delays in speech and/or language can be due to several root causes. In some children, HIE-related speech/language disorders are due to damage to the part of the brain responsible for processing language, which can require a different approach from speech/language disorders arising from damage to parts of the brain that control the muscles of the throat, mouth, and jaw (a common feature of cerebral palsy stemming from HIE).
A licensed speech-language therapist will be able to determine the best way to assist a child with a speech/language disorder, working with the child’s caregiver team of physicians, physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers to help the child overcome cognitive or developmental difficulties that can make communication difficult.
Therapy for speech delays and language disorders
Usually, when a child is evaluated and found to have a speech or language disorder, they can be referred to a speech and language pathologist. A speech-language pathologist is an American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA)-certified professional (with a minimum of a Master’s degree in speech and language pathology) that helps individuals with difficulty communicating adapt and compensate to maximize their communication abilities. These professionals have training in pathology, audiology, anatomy and physiology, linguistics and phonetics, human development, and American Sign Language (ASL), among other courses, which allows them to effectively assist children with specialized developmental needs.
Parents seeking a speech-language pathologist for their children can request assistance at a variety of locations, as speech-language pathologists are often available at clinics, community health centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public schools, nursing homes and state health departments.
In some circumstances, children receive one-on-one services with additional exercises that they practice at home with parents outside of therapy sessions. In other instances, speech-language pathology services are provided in a small group setting. Sometimes, these services can be provided in a home setting without having to travel.
What happens during speech language therapy?
First and foremost, it is important to remember that each child is different, so the exercises that a speech-language pathologist recommends may differ substantially from child to child. For children who are verbal, speech-language therapy can help them (11):
- Pronounce words more clearly
- Listen to and understand conversation
- Use words properly
- Understand grammar
- Have a bigger vocabulary
- Comprehend conversation
- Speak in complex sentences
- Speak conversationally
- Exercise memory and recall
- Understand the differences and similarities between written text and spoken words
A speech-language pathologist will not only help the child physically form words needed for communication but will also develop a training regimen designed to help the child’s brain interpret and understand words, sounds, numbers and gestures.
Some children with HIE may be non-verbal. When working with children who are nonverbal, speech-language pathologists can do the following (12):
- Create and encourage alternative communication strategies, such as gestures, sign language, writing, and others
- Improve social skills through role playing, social stories, and other tools
- Focus teaching on the language, through comprehension, sequencing, and other tools
- Aid in communication through reading
Additional benefits of speech-language therapy
Speech-language therapy revolves around the use of the muscles involved in the functioning of the throat, mouth, and jaw. While communication is the primary goal of speech-language therapy, it often has the added benefit of helping children drink, eat, breathe and chew more effectively as well. The therapy can be catered to a child’s specific needs. Often, children with HIE who have cerebral palsy will have a degree of impairment in eating and drinking (dysphagia); speech-language pathologists can assist these children in improving complex muscle coordination. This decreases the risk that a child will aspirate their food (which can lead to choking and/or pneumonia), have abnormal breathing, increased coughing, dehydration, or malnutrition.
Why is speech-language therapy important?
Communication is the underpinning of social interaction, which makes early intervention critical. Developing a communication system helps to ensure that the child will have frameworks in place for inclusion and socialization, allowing them to more fully engage with their surroundings, participate in activities in school or at home, learn new skills, and develop new hobbies or interests.
This therapy also increases the likelihood that other interventions will be effective. Because other types of therapies are dependent on the child’s ability to comprehend and follow instruction, speech-language therapy is a crucial part of a child’s multidisciplinary therapy regimen. Speech-language therapy supports learning, education, literacy, and community integration.
There are no risks to speech-language therapy. Delaying speech-language pathology can increase the risk of isolation or depression, and can mean that other areas of development (social, educational, psychological, etc.) may also slow without continued communication-related support.
Additional speech and language-related resources
- University of Michigan: Speech and Language Delay and Disorder Quick Reference
- What Does Normal Speech Acquisition Look Like?
- Speech Therapy: How it Works, What to Expect
- How Long Does it Take For Speech Therapy to Work?
- Encyclopedia of Children’s Health: Language Delays
- A Parent’s Guide to Speech and Language Disorders
About the HIE Help Center and ABC Law Centers
The HIE Help Center is run by ABC Law Centers, a medical malpractice firm exclusively handling cases involving HIE and other birth injuries. Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience with this type of law, and have been advocating for children with HIE and related disabilities since the firm’s inception in 1997.
We are passionate about helping families obtain the compensation necessary to cover their extensive medical bills, loss of wages (if one or both parents have to miss work in order to care for their child), assistive technology, and other necessities.
If you suspect your child’s HIE may have been caused by medical negligence, please contact us today to learn more about pursuing a case. We provide free legal consultations, during which we will inform you of your legal options and answer any questions you have. Moreover, you would pay nothing throughout the entire legal process unless we obtain a favorable settlement.
You are also welcome to reach out to us with inquiries that are not related to malpractice. We cannot provide individualized medical advice, but we’re happy to track down informational resources for you.
- Koslo, E. (n.d.). What’s the Difference Between a Speech Impairment and a Language Disorder? Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/communication-disorders/difference-between-speech-impairment-and-language-disorder
- Developmental Expressive Language Disorder (DELD). (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/health/expressive-language-disorder-developmental#symptoms
- Rosen, P. (n.d.). Receptive Language Issues: What You’re Seeing. Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/communication-disorders/receptive-language-issues-what-youre-seeing
- Aphasia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Aphasia/
- Speech and Language. (2013, October 07). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/about-dyspraxia/speech-language/
- (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from http://www.speechdisorder.co.uk/dysprosody.html
- Dysarthria. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/dysarthria/
- Childhood Fluency Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/childhood-fluency-disorders/
- Dysphagia. (2018, February 03). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysphagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372028
- Resonance Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Resonance-Disorders/
- Who Are Speech-Language Pathologists, and What Do They Do? (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/public/Who-Are-Speech-Language-Pathologists/
- 5 Reasons Why Speech & Language Therapy is Crucial for a Non-Verbal Child – Friendship Circle – Special Needs Blog. (2015, May 14). Retrieved June 28, 2019, from https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2015/05/14/5-reasons-why-speech-language-therapy-is-crucial-for-a-non-verbal-child/ | <urn:uuid:621e5f5a-86b3-482d-bd1c-38270251c8f0> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://hiehelpcenter.org/medical/associated-conditions/speech-delays-language-disorders/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371700247.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407085717-20200407120217-00194.warc.gz | en | 0.923983 | 3,135 | 3.75 | 4 |
Questioner: The reading has this quote that,
‘Solitude is in the mind of a man, that it is an attitude of the mind.
A man attached to things of life cannot get solitude wherever he may be.
A detached man is always in solitude.”
So it doesn’t depend on the location, the place where he is at, but how he is in the mind. I would want to understand more of this, what does this solitude mean?
Speaker: What does solitary mean?
Listener 1: Alone.
Speaker: Alone, One. The mind is usually divided among a thousand things. Have you experienced it?
Listener 1: Yes.
Speaker: What are the things among which the mind is usually divided?
Listener 1: In the middle of search and conflict always, what to choose, what not to choose, between here to go or there to go…
Listener 1: One object or the other.
Speaker: Even if there are not many objects that are simultaneously parallely attracting the mind, even if there is just one object, can we say that the mind is in solitude?
Listener 2: No, there will be lots of thought about this or some other things even while looking at that particular object.
Speaker: Let’s say there is just one object and one concentrated thought, even then would you say that the mind is in solitude?
Listener 1: It has that object.
Speaker: Yes. So there is one object. Would you say that mind is in solitude?
Listener 1: No.
Listener 3: Because mind is dependent on that object.
Speaker: So, dependent on one. Would you say that the mind is not dependent on one? Solitude is a certain aloneness, oneness, which is usually not available to the mind because mind is divided among a thousand objects. We are trying to explore whether a concentrated mind that is looking only at one object could be called in solitude?
What happens when due to the force of desire or due to the practice of concentration, the mind becomes filled up with only one object. Could it be called as an instance of solitude?
You are stuck here because the nature of duality and the nature of all objects is not fully clear. Any object and all objects are in duality, what does that mean? It means that they are limited and have a boundary, outside of that boundary, there is no object. So even when you are thinking of one object, you require it to have a boundary outside which it would not be there. So along with the object comes, even if there is just one object, along with the object comes?
Listener 2: The outside.
Listener 1: The mind itself.
Listener 3: Subject.
Listener 4: Limitations, boundary.
Speaker: Yes, the boundary is there.
Listener 2: Duality.
Speaker: The absence of the object, which is not the object. So there can never really be one object, please understand this. You can never say ‘you are concentrating on something’ if you are concentrating on this tree, is it possible to not be aware of the sky behind the tree? The tree by definition is its outline, its boundary, its limits. The tree and the not-tree have to exist together for the tree to be there. Are you getting it?
So, usually the mind would have many objects and even if it has just one object, it would have the dual opposite of that object necessarily present. Just as when you are concentrating on hope, fear is lurking in the background. So, it is clear that if solitude is the quality of the mind devoted to the one, that one cannot be an object, because objects can never be one. Objects by definition will have to be a minimum of…?
Listeners: (All together) Two.
You can never say I am seeing one object, that is a misuse of language. You can never say that you are seeing one thing, even if you are concentrating hard on one thing, you are surely seeing at least?
Listener 1: Two things.
Speaker: So, solitude is not possible. Solitude is not possible with respect to?
Listener 1: Object.
Speaker: Objects. How is solitude to come then? For solitude, surely the mind will have to go beyond itself. Why beyond itself? Because all duality is…?
Listener 3: In the mind.
Mind going beyond its dualistic contents, into its non-dual Source, that is Solitude.
Because only That can be one. In the world of mind, you will never find oneness, at best you can find?
Listener 1: Two.
Speaker: Do you get what is solitude? So, if you are talking of going to a particular place for solitude, it is impossible to be at a place, feel good about that place and forget everything else, because this feeling good is surely in comparison to how bad you feel when you are at your regular place. So solitude is not possible even if you go to the most tranquil of places, most isolated of places. You will go to an isolated place and you will say “How isolated!”. Pay attention to this, you say “How isolated!”, why do you say ‘How isolated!’? Why this excitement?
Listener 1: It’s in comparison to the populated.
Speaker: Because it is isolated in comparison to the crowded environment from where you are coming. So is the place offering solitude to you? Is the tranquility of the place giving you peace? Or is the tranquility significant only because you still remember the chaos of your usual life? What makes the hills special? Because here you do not have that noise which usually fills up your daily life. But, til the moment, the hills are special, it is guaranty that you remember that noise, otherwise the hills could not have been?
Listener 4: Special.
Speaker: Special. Place cannot give you solitude because a place itself exists in duality. Place itself exists in duality. Concentration cannot give you solitude we have already talked about it. External silence, that too cannot give you solitude because what you refer to as silence is just the interval between two periods of speech, again dualistic. Be careful when you use these words – Silence, Solitude.
So the mind by definition will be working on and working with the world, and the world is dualistic, nothing exists without its opposite. Whatever you are working on, whatever you remember, you will have to simultaneously remember it’s opposite. So the mind will remain occupied with all these things, but even as the mind remains occupied there, it is permeated by a realization that there is something more fundamental, something more important; more important not in a comparative sense, please do not misunderstand, when I say more important, I do not mean that if the other things are important to the extent of ten units, then the non-dual is important to the extent of thousand units.
When I say more important, I mean dimensionally different, something more fundamental. When, as the mind remains occupied in all this, it is still absorbed in the one Source, that is solitude. The mind will again, and again, want to place its primary concern in dualistic stuff. Why? Because the mind itself is dualistic stuff. So when the mind places the primary importance in dualistic stuff, what exactly is the mind giving importance to? – To itself.
So the mind likes giving importance to something within the world. By giving importance to something within the world, the mind is actually giving importance to itself. This is not really mind’s nature, this is kind of an acquired habit. It can be de-acquired, it can be given up. Every time the mind becomes too occupied with the world, there is a need to remind it of the futility of seeking Peace and the Ultimate in the world. This constant reminding is called practice or abhyas. The habit came because of repetition, and in the world of the mind, everything is repetition.
The habit came because of repetition and the habit has to be taken care of by repetition. It is what is called constant remembrance.
Constance remembrance, spiritual practice, and abhyas (practice), these are one and the same thing.
So we have talked about solitude, and we have talked about remaining in solitude, alright?
Is that clear?
Listener 1: So the mind is in solitude, but it has acquired noise? Is that something that I can?
Speaker: You see, it is not a statement that would benefit the mind. If the mind is busy with solitude, is busy with noise rather, if the mind is busy with noise, then, for the mind noise is everything. It is like having a lot of money in your pocket, but being busy with a soiled five rupee note, thinking that, that is all you have, and that is the most important. So the fact might be, that solitude is the nature of mind, but if the mind is busy with other things, then this fact doesn’t help the mind.
If you are busy with a five rupee note, forgetting what is there in your pocket, then all the money in your pocket doesn’t help you, it is useless. So it is useless for you to say that “Solitude is the nature of mind” It has to become a living practice of the mind, not just a concept. Yes, conceptually you may know that mind must be immersed in its non-dual source. How has this changed your life? Has this made you more centered, more peaceful, more loving? It has to become your daily breathe, and as you are in your house or in the market or in a train.
If you really remember this ‘constant remembrance’, if you really remember this, only then it helps you, just as the money helps you only when you remember that you have money. The mind must remember. The word ‘remember’ is beautiful you know.
What does ‘remember’ mean?
Remember means: bringing two parts together to make them one, bringing two things together — ‘Re–member’. So just by remembering, the mind becomes one with the Source, nothing else has to be done, just by remembering.
You remember, and you are Home.
That’s why so much emphasis is placed upon abhyas (practice).
Listener 2: Sir, even though, it is like, when you go away from that environment, away, then again the full of that comes into mind, but being at that place, it is impossible to get away.
Speaker: Were those places and people always so important to you?
Listener 2: Sir, no.
Speaker: What gave them this importance? Did they suddenly overnight become important? How did they acquire this importance?
Listener 2: My dependency.
Speaker: Gradually, by repetition, you kept spending more and more time with them. You kept allowing them more and more space in your life, and today it has reached a situation that they are beginning to command your life. But it all happened bit by bit, not in one go. It happened bit by bit and it can be demolished bit by bit. Just as you trained yourself to remember them, similarly you will have to train yourself to remember something beyond them.
Of course, using the mind, you cannot really remember the non-dual Truth, because the mind can only remember duality. Since the mind can only remember duality, so try to remember something which is dualistic, but points towards non-duality.
The words of scriptures are one such thing, they are words but they point towards something else. Satsang or right company or sitting with a Teacher is another such thing. He is a physical form, he is a person, but he is also pointing towards something that is beyond personality.
Are you getting it?
The more time you spend with the scriptures or with the Teacher, the easier it will be for you to demolish the influence, that the world has built-up upon you.
Did you get what we just said?
The mind can only look at duality — the eyes see figures, the ears hear sounds, and you can only touch material.
So, find out something or somebody who is like a bridge between the dualistic world and the non-dual Source.
That will help you remember.
Listener 3: Sir, you said spending time, what do you mean by spending time? I am with the teacher and reading scriptures since a long time like I am with you for four years, so what do you mean by spending time? Quantitatively spending time?
Speaker: Yes, spend time just as you spend time there. How did the world become important for you? How did you spend time with it? You remember all those things that you are addicted to now? How did you spent time with them? What was the mind doing when it was with those things or people? What was the mind doing?
Listener 3: Giving more and more importance and value.
Speaker: Today you are obsessed with things. You might complain that those things are becoming too much upon, but you kept on giving them time and in those moments you are concentrating hard upon them. Were you not? In those moments, they were your world. So you know what is meant by spending time. Those things or thoughts or people could not have become important for you had you not made them so important, had you not been so one-pointedly with them? So you know what it means to have the mind filled with an object. You know that, right? Now go it through again, Right?
Listener 4: Sir in the last reading that we had done it was written that all consciousness is of conflict but we have read that when the work comes from our deeper consciousness then it should be considered right.
Speaker: Where have you read that?
Listener 4: Blog.
Speaker: The blog will never say that anything coming from consciousness is right. Do not attribute miscellaneous things. The depth of consciousness is the dissolution of consciousness. I have been saying time and again that all consciousness is dualistic. You are conscious of something and who is this ‘you’ that is conscious? It is called by the name ego.
~ Excerpts from a ‘Shabd-Yoga’ session.
Edited for clarity.
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Your child is afraid to do homework. He or she is not motivated to work on it.
You might be pulling your hair off wondering how to encourage them to do their homework just once a week.
Due to your strict discipline, your child might follow what you told them to do regardless. The child might do so reluctantly knowing that parents have the authority to control them.
Your child crams everything all the practise one month before the exams, only to worry and regret why he or she did not do so earlier.
What if there is another way to motivate your child?
What if your child can motivate themselves without us nagging at them constantly?
Sometimes, I use scientific facts to motivate my students to do their homework.
How our brain functions when we do homework?
Pardon me while I bore you with some brain numbers (I promise to keep this as short as possible).
What is our brain cell?
Each of us has a brain. A brain has over 100 billion brain cells called neurons.
Each neuron controls a certain set of functions including learning and daily motoring skills such as eating and walking.
End of brain numbers (As promised, short and simple facts).
There are too many aspects to talk about here.
For your child, I will be focussing on learning.
What is the Science of Learning?
Each neuron contains the function to store the memory and process that information.
When your child is learning, the neurons in certain parts of the brain “zap” to life. There are many tiny electrical signals travelling between neurons as shown below:
Okay. I added the sound for dramatic effect.
When your child learns something new, new electrical signals are created and other groups of neurons become active.
Once the correct neurons are connected, the child learns and understand a new concept.
What happens to the neurons when a child learns science knowledge?
One way to understand concepts is to expose your child to various scenarios.
How does the brain process the information?
During the process of learning, neurons in your child’s brain are constantly sending electrical signals to other neurons.
Many times (due to the huge number of neurons), the electrical signals will land into wrong groups of neurons.
The brain is constantly trying to establish an electrical pathway to connect the correct neurons.
This is where you will see your child struggle to learn a new concept. It takes time to achieve mastery of that.
After some practice, the electrical signals are finally sent to the correct neurons. A new electrical connection is achieved between neurons.
Your child has finally understood the scientific knowledge and its application.
See picture below for illustration:
Different students have different speeds to process that scientific concept.
Some can achieve mastery of concepts much faster than the others.
Eventually, the students will understand the concepts.
That’s the importance of doing homework.
What happens when your child does not recap the concepts after some time?
This is important.
The brain needs time to form linkages between the correct neurons. Once the electrical pathways are connected, there is a need to reinforce that pathway.
When the child did not apply that concept for some time, the newly acquired knowledge will be forgotten easily.
I am sure you have encountered this before in your life. You have a streak of brilliance. An “Aha!” moment that you want to do right now.
Suddenly, you are distracted by some other stuff and you momentarily stop thinking about that. When you try to recap that “Aha” moment, you forgot what that is.
I encountered this too and I have spent a great deal of time and energy to try and recall what is that eureka moment. It can be pretty frustrating sometimes.
To counter this problem, I repeated that to-do list in my head a few times or I quickly take out my phone to type it out so I can refer to it sometime later.
Without practice, the newly created electrical pathway is not passed to other neurons. Over time, the electrical path becomes obsolete and the brain will automatically remove that pathway. That is why your child forgets science concepts.
Your child’s brain will allocate the electrical signals to the activities your child deems important such as “I want to know what happens to the main character in this drama” or “how can i complete this game puzzle?”
Hence, with the newly acquired science knowledge, it is great to reinforce that linkage through some homework and not let your child’s memory slip away.
Or if your child has doubts, clarify them as soon as possible before they forget about it. The neurons will not remember the electrical signals forever. Neurons will change when those electrical pathways are not reinforced.
*An illustration of what happens without practice.
To create that electrical path again, the child has to relearn the concepts. That will waste a lot of time.
Think of a muddy path when no one uses it. Eventually, the grass will cover up that path. The child will have a hard time using that path again as it is covered in a thick layer of grass.
*A muddy path
Unlike a child who is consistent, he or she will reinforce that electrical signals in the neurons and connect to other aspects of the science concepts. A student who falls back has to find and reconnect the neurons again.
What happens through consistent revision and practise?
As the child practice with existing concepts, it sends a strong confirmation to the brain that this is the correct understanding of concepts.
Your child’s brain will reinforce that concept by sending stronger and faster electrical signal to the neurons. This makes it harder to forget that concept.
“Teacher Andy, you have repeated this concept a few times already.” That is where I know my students have understood the concepts and is etched deep in their memory. I don’t believe they will forget it easily. I will stop repeating them after that.
Very soon, the brain processes the information with such speed that your child can quickly derive the answer.
*Electrical signal is stronger and faster
This is where it gets really interesting.
When the child is reminded of the concepts a few times, the electrical spark becomes stronger and the neuron muscles grow thicker over time. The neurons will create new pathways to connect to other neurons.
Eventually, the child will find a shortcut to link the concepts together. See the picture below:
Instead of linking 5 neurons, the neurons will discover a new pathway and only requires 4 neurons to process the information.
That’s where you can see your the child has mastered the concepts. He or she can explain them clearly with ease.
That’s why when a child practises, neurons will send electrical signals to many other neurons till a path is created. Eventually, the path becomes so strong and defined that it is so much faster to process that scientific information.
Months passed, the child who has consistent practice will look like this:
Okay, that is another dramatic effect.
It does not stop there!
Remember about the scientific fact where the brain has over 100 billion neurons? That is virtually unlimited connections out there!
Imagine what practise do to other parts of the brain.
The child’s brain will connect the dots by themselves.
The new path will generate new aspects of learning and understanding.
A healthy dose of homework instils some degree of discipline to your child. I feel discipline and not succumb to distraction are very important life skills.
The new path will then enabled your child to apply concepts learnt to many other aspects of his or her life.
The picture above can be the neurons of all of us (including your child)!
It takes consistency and targeted practice to achieve mastery of concepts.
Please don’t tell your child to do tons of worksheets at one time. A healthy dose of training is good.
Imagine a person lifting a 100kg weight without any preparation or training beforehand, that will very likely sprain the muscles. The person will have to stop exercising for a very long time. We do not want that to happen.
Some kids can work faster while others work slower. That’s okay, so long as they are one step closer towards mastering science concepts. The point is don’t wait until exams are coming and the kid starts cramming them together. Learning becomes very painful.
Do it consistently and at a comfortable pace.
That way, the brain neurons will gradually develop and become stronger.
Most importantly, your child enjoys learning science.
Want your child to reduce the pain of forgetting science concepts?
Want your child to quickly clarify any lingering doubts about new concepts taught in school and not wait till exams are coming?
Want your child to do TARGETED practice and not waste time doing so many assessment books?
I am sure you want those.
Check out these online courses:
PSLE Science Premium Course. Click on the link below:
Primary 5 Science Premium Course. Click on the link below:
Primary 4 Science Premium Course. Click on the link below:
*Complete and comprehensive course based on the latest MOE Syllabus. The only Science online course your child needs.
* Unlimited homework help for your child to seek clarifications.
To end this post, I would like to take a quote from a person who uses scientific facts to overcome his fear of the dark:
” When I was a little kid, I was really scared of the dark. But then I came to understand, dark just means the absence of photons (particles that made up light) … Then I thought, well it’s really silly to be afraid of a lack of photons. Then I wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore after that.”
Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX, Tesla and Solar City.
Thanks for reading.
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Why You Should Aim to Avoid Inflammatory Foods
BY DR. DALE BREDESEN
Cognitive decline is largely a matter of three fundamental threats to our brain: inflammation; a shortage of brain-boosting nutrients, hormones, and other cognition-supporting molecules; and toxic exposure. What we call Alzheimer’s disease is a protective response to these three brain threats. Two of the threats, inflammation and a shortage of cognition-supporting molecules, are intimately linked to metabolism. Metabolism, in turn, is a function of our diet, our level of activity, our genes, and our exposure to and handling of stress. Since diet, activity, and stress also affect cardiovascular health and other aspects of our well-being, brain health is closely related to general health. No wonder so many of the conditions that increase our risk for Alzheimer’s disease—from pre-diabetes and obesity to vitamin D deficiency and a sedentary lifestyle—are the result of what and how much we eat and exercise.
The good news is that, although there are dozens and dozens of factors that can cause inflammation, shortage of brain-supporting molecules, and susceptibility to toxic compounds, and thereby contribute to cognitive decline, they are all identifiable and all addressable—the sooner, the better. Here are the basics for addressing each neurothreat:
1) Prevent and reduce inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s response to attack, whether by infectious agents such as Borrelia (Lyme disease) or non-infectious stresses such as sugar-damaged proteins or trans fats.
We are constantly exposed to potential invaders, from viruses and bacteria to fungi and parasites. When we fight these pathogens, one of the ways we do so is by activating the immune system. When the immune system floods the zone, so to speak, with white blood cells that engulf and devour pathogens, that’s part of the inflammatory process. But while we need to mount an inflammatory response to fight acute threats (that redness around a cut is inflammation, and your white blood cells are fending off possible infection), if the threat is chronic and the inflammatory response is continuously activated it’s a problem.
Part of the way the body responds to invading pathogens is by producing amyloid, the very substance that forms the brain plaques that characterize Alzheimer’s disease [i],[ii]. Furthermore, when you look inside the brain of someone who died with Alzheimer’s disease, you find pathogens: bacteria from the mouth, molds from the nose, viruses such as Herpes from the lips, Borrelia (the Lyme disease organism) from a tick bite. More and more scientific evidence is pointing to the conclusion that after a brain is invaded by pathogens, it produces amyloid, a potent pathogen fighter but one that eventually goes overboard, killing the very synapses and brain cells the amyloid was called up to protect.
Therefore, to prevent and reverse cognitive decline, it is crucial to address potential infections, optimize your immune system’s ability to destroy pathogens, and reduce the chronic inflammation that results from fighting these organisms for years.
Inflammation can also arise without infection. It is triggered when we eat trans-fats, for example, the artificial fats that were once ubiquitous in baked goods and fast foods (but are now being phased out), or sugar. The body also mounts an inflammatory response when damage to the intestines, often from consuming gluten or dairy or grains, causes “leaky gut.” (See the box below for a list of foods with high gluten contents—all of which are to be avoided as much as possible.) In this condition, the gastrointestinal tract develops microscopic holes, allowing fragments of food or bacteria into our bloodstream. That, too, triggers inflammation: the immune system recognizes these fragments of food, thinks they’re foreign invaders, and attacks.
FOODS CONTAINING GLUTEN (from the website of Dr. David Perlmutter)
- Wheat germ
- Graham flour
- Kamut Matzo
FOODS THAT OFTEN CONTAIN GLUTEN:
- malt/malt flavoring
- commercial bullion and broths
- cold cuts
- French fries (often dusted with flour before freezing)
- processed cheese (e.g., Velveeta)
- malt vinegar
- soy sauce and teriyaki sauces
- salad dressings
- imitation crab meat, bacon, etc
- egg substitute
- non-dairy creamer
- fried vegetables/tempura
- canned baked beans
- commercially prepared chocolate milk
- breaded foods
- fruit fillings and puddings
- hot dogs
- ice cream
- root beer
- energy bars
- trail mix
- instant hot drinks
- flavored coffees and teas blue cheeses
- wine coolers
- meatballs, meatloaf communion wafers
- veggie burgers
- roasted nuts
- oats (unless certified gluten-free)
- oat bran (unless certified gluten-free)
Chronic inflammation can arise when we are continuously exposed to dangerous microbes (such as when mouth bacteria keep leaking into the bloodstream, typically from damaged gums) or when we regularly ingest inflammation-triggering foods such as sugar. That’s why my ReCODE program aims to roll back chronic inflammation by eliminating both ongoing infections and inflammation-inducing foods.
When the inflammation is caused by sugar toxicity, it is typically accompanied by insulin resistance, something that most Americans, as well as over a billion people around the world, suffer from. We humans evolved to handle only small amounts of sugars (about 15 grams per day, less than half the amount in a 12-ounce soft drink). Sugar is like fire, a source of energy but very dangerous. If you have a fireplace in your home, the amount of wood and the size of fire needed to heat it depends on the size of the house: less wood/smaller fire if your house is small, more/bigger if your house is large. Now imagine that you shrink your house by 90 percent, which is essentially what happens when we move less, as is true of sedentary-living Americans: we need less energy. That makes your fireplace effectively ten times as large. If you kept pouring on the wood and stoking the fire your house would quickly become unbearably hot, the fire might escape from the fireplace, and you would do everything possible to keep your house from burning down. This is the stress most of us are now experiencing: our bodies recognize sugar as poisonous, and therefore rapidly activate multiple mechanisms to reduce its concentration in our blood and tissues. For one thing, we store the extra energy as fat, which produces brain-damaging factors called adipokines.
But that still leaves our bloodstream awash in sugar—specifically, glucose. The glucose molecules attach to many proteins, inhibiting their functioning just as egregiously as if an octopus attached itself to a pole vaulter. Our cells respond to the flood of glucose by increasing production of insulin, which reduces the glucose by, among other strategies, pushing it into cells. But your body, faced with chronically high insulin levels, simply turns down the response—you become resistant to the effects of insulin.
And insulin is intimately related to Alzheimer’s disease, by several mechanisms. For example, after insulin molecules do their job and lower the glucose, the body must degrade the insulin in order to prevent dropping the blood glucose too low. It does this via an enzyme called insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Guess what else IDE degrades? Amyloid, the protein fragment in the sticky, synapse-destroying plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. But the enzyme can’t do both at once. If IDE is breaking down insulin it can’t break down amyloid, any more than a firefighter can battle a blaze at the north end of town if he/she is raining water down on a conflagration at the south end. By diverting IDE from destroying amyloid, chronically high levels of insulin increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Therefore, a critical part of ReCODE is reducing insulin resistance, restoring insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose levels, thereby restoring optimal metabolism.
2) Optimize hormones, trophic factors, and nutrients
When we eliminate inflammation by reducing chronic infections and insulin resistance, we remove threats that allow amyloid to accumulate. That thwarts brain damage. It’s also crucial to give the brain a boost. The more you can strengthen your synapses, the harder it will be for any amyloid plaques that develop to destroy them.
That became crystal clear from a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in late 2016. Scientists analyzed the brains of people who died in their 90s and who had retained excellent memory until then. Some of the brains were riddled with amyloid plaques. Somehow, apparently, the brains of these nonagenarians were immune to the synapse- and memory-destroying effect of amyloid. How can that be? Follow-up studies continue, but there are two leading hypotheses. One is that if people are well-educated and intellectually engaged throughout life, they may have enough redundant synapses to withstand the loss of some to amyloid plaques. Alternatively, it may be that some biochemical mechanism either fights amyloid, perhaps detoxifying it so it no longer destroys synapses, or strengthens synapses enough to withstand the amyloid assault.
I am all in favor of doing everything you can to increase your cognitive reserve. But I am also in favor of harnessing those biochemical mechanisms to make synapses as resistant as possible to the ravages of amyloid. To function at its best, your brain needs neuron- and synapse-supporting factors, including certain hormones, trophic factors, and nutrients. ReCODE offers ways to boost them. Among the synapse-strengthening compounds are brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can be increased through exercise; hormones such as estradiol and testosterone, which can be optimized through prescriptions or via dietary supplements; and nutrients such as vitamin D and folate. Interestingly, when the brain runs low on synapse- and neuron-boosting compounds such as BDNF, it responds by producing—you guessed it—amyloid. You can begin to see the list of contributors to amyloid production and cognitive decline—in other words, to Alzheimer’s disease—growing, from the many processes inducing inflammation to insulin resistance to hormonal loss to reduced vitamin D to reduced BDNF (and related neurotrophic factors) to loss of other critical supporting nutrients and factors. We need to measure and address them all if we are to maximize our chances of reversing cognitive decline.
3) Eliminate toxins
If a snake bites you and injects you with venom, you want an anti-venom that will bind to the venom and inactivate it. Amyloid, it turns out, plays that role when the brain is infiltrated by toxic metals such as copper and mercury, or by biotoxins such as the mycotoxins produced by molds: by binding up these toxins, amyloid keeps them from damaging neurons. Again, since it is crucial to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques, ReCODE offers an effective way to reduce toxic induction of amyloid, starting with the identification of the toxic exposure, removal of the source, and then detoxification that includes, among other things, detoxifying foods such as cruciferous vegetables, pure-water hydration, sauna-based removal of a specific class of toxins, and increasing critical molecules such as glutathione. That way, the brain has no reason to churn out amyloid.
After doing all you can to eliminate the three neurothreats of inflammation, shortage of synaptic support, and toxic exposure, it is crucial to restore lost synapses and protect new and remaining ones. Again, research from multiple groups has identified compounds that enhance synapse formation, as I explain in detail below.
You may have noticed that the program I’ve just summarized is completely different than a prescription for a drug. Complex chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease have many contributors, which is why their optimal treatment involves addressing all of the contributors—a personalized program, not simply a pill. ReCODE is not only more comprehensive than taking a pill. It is also more effective. It is not a silver bullet targeted to a single abnormality; it is silver buckshot targeted to the multiple contributors to cognitive decline.
Excerpted from THE END OF ALZHEIMER’S by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2017, Dale E. Bredesen
[i] amyloid is antimicrobial Kumar, D. K. et al. Amyloid-beta peptide protects against microbial infection in mouse and worm models of Alzheimer’s disease. Science translational medicine 8, 340ra372, doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf1059 (2016).
[ii] amyloid is antimicrobial Kumar, D. K., Eimer, W. A., Tanzi, R. E. & Moir, R. D. Alzheimer’s disease: the potential therapeutic role of the natural antibiotic amyloid-beta peptide. Neurodegenerative disease management 6, 345-348, doi:10.2217/nmt-2016-0035 (2016).
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In this article, the first of the “Weird Wood” seriesintro, we show how to build a picture frame using four strips of moulding that aren’t all the same width. Although Figure 1 uses a different width for each piece of moulding, we used three different sizes in our test frames (only because I couldn’t find four different sizes in the same moulding family).
First The Math
Warning: This discussion includes a little trigonometry. Do Not Panic! It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Definition of “Tangent” (skip ahead To Next paragraph if you still remember this):
There are three sides to any right triangle (a triangle with a 90° corner), which I will call the height and the width, which both touch the right (90°) angle and the hypotenuse, which is opposite the right angle and is the triangle’s longest side. You can use the ratio of the lengths of any two of those sides to find the size of the other two angles. Each possible ratio has a name, but we are only interested in one of them today. Probably the most common ratio and the one we will be using is called the tangent. The tangent is defined as the ratio between the height (the length of the side opposite the angle you are interested in) and the width (the length of the shorter of the two sides that create that corner that you are interested in). If you want to know the angle of corner α in the above drawing (Figure 2), for instance, you would calculate its tangent by dividing the height (3 inches in this case) by the width (1¼ inches), which is 2.4 this time. Then you would use your calculator (or phone app – I use RealCalc Plus by Quartic Software (even though it cost $3.50)) to find the angle corresponding to that tangent. On your calculator, the tangent is abbreviated “tan”. If you enter 45 (degrees are assumed) and hit the “tan” button, you will get 1 because for a 45° angle the height is the same as the width, so their ratio is 1. To go the other way (to find the angle), like we are trying to do, we need the inverse of the tangent. Look for the “tan-1” button (it could be the same button, in which case you may need to hit a (yellow) shift or second-function key, and then hit the “tan” button). In this case, once we have the tangent of 2.4, we hit the inverse tangent button(s) to get 67.380135…. (the calculator is obligated to give you 8 or more digits – that doesn’t mean they mean anything. In Figure 2, I rounded that answer to 67.4 degrees and even that third digit should be suspicious.)
All you have to do is take the ratio between the widths of your two
- Which angle – the tangent gives you the angle that was touching the side whose length was used for the denominator (the width, which would be the second number in the division). The simplest way (but certainly not the only way) to get the other non-90° angle is to just subtract the first from 90° (since the two angles are complementary). Also remember that if the tangent was greater than one, the angle will be larger than 45°; if it was supposed to be a smaller angle (less than 45°), then you may have divided the two lengths in the ratio backward. Don’t worry, you just found the complementary angle and all you have to do to get the right answer is subtract what you got from 90.
- It is up to you to keep track of whether that angle you are cutting should be to the left or the right. Making a drawing of your frame design might help. To be useful, the drawing doesn’t even need to be that good. This should also tell you if you calculated the complement (the other angle in that corner (for the other piece of moulding)).
- Your saw may be measuring angle backward. My miter saw calls a cut perpendicular across the board 0°, not 90°. If that’s the case, just subtract the angle you calculated from 90.
As an exercise, go ahead and check the rest of my calculations in Figure 1. 😁
Make The Cuts
There is more than one way to make these cuts and more than one set of tools to help you. Which set of tools you should use will depend on such factors as how much of this work you intend to do, your skill set, what your budget is, and what tools you already have on hand.
You would only need one of these (if any), not both.
(The Amazon.com descriptions are only used here as a reference. Although frequently competitive, Amazon isn’t always the only or the best place to buy something.)
Our workshop includes all of the tools listed in www.BeeHappyGraphics.com/about.html#BruceEquip, along with a number of other regular hand & power woodworking tools that Nancy has accumulated over the last several decades. For this project, I used our compound miter saw, but not without complications.
After cutting the 3″ piece, I ran into problems trying to cut the complementary angle (67.4°) on the 1¼” piece, as shown in Image B.
I am not claiming that mine was the best path to reach our goal. In fact, I would love to see your ideas in the comment section about how to improve my techniques.
How I Did It
- Working with one corner at a time, I cut both pieces of moulding square just a tad longer than their overall/outside measurement according to your diagram (you will see why in Step 4). If you don’t already have one, this is also when you would put a perfectly square cut on the alignment block you’ll see in Figure 5 to the left of the moulding. I grabbed a 2″ by 4″, but the wider the better.
- I set the saw for the smaller of the two complementary angles, rechecking my diagram to confirm whether it should be to the left or right. In the setup shown below, the 3″ moulding would be clamped to the right of the blade.
- I made the cut.
- Without adjusting the angle of the saw, I set up the second cut. I positioned my (newly cut) alignment block to the left (opposite the side we placed the moulding for the cut (in Step 2)) so that I could also place the 2″ moulding to the left of the blade and perpendicular (at a right (90°) angle) to the miter saw fence. After clamping down the alignment block, I added a support block to the right of the moulding to keep it in place. I could still move the moulding in or out to position the cut. You can see why I needed to precut this piece of moulding.
- I made the cut.
- Always check your work. If, when you put the two pieces of moulding together, the miter edge on one piece is longer than the other, that is the angle that should have been larger. The angle on the other piece of moulding should have been smaller (by the same amount).
Figure 7 shows the second setup from the right side. If you look close, you might notice that I didn’t cut enough to make a sharp corner and needed to recut.
- Moving to the next corner, I precut at least one more piece of moulding and repeated Steps 2 through 6.
- I repeated Step 7 two more times. The second time (when working on the last corner), I used the first two pieces of moulding I just finished cutting to mark the next cut by matching the inside edges, as shown in Figure 8.
As with my normal (45° miter) frames, I would next need to make sure the inner lengths on opposite pieces of
Some of the tools we normally use next to finish putting the frame together, namely our Logan Precision Sander and Logan Pro Joiner, are worthless for this application. After gluing (and clamping the pieces together until dry) we had to pound the V-nails in by hand (interestingly, the simpler Logan Studio Joiner can be adapted).
The Back Side
For completeness, the left figure below shows what the backside of the lower left corner would look like. The gray section represents the rabbet, the equal-width (¼”) cut-out that holds the glass, mats, image, and backing of the picture inside the frame. Some of you might be surprised to see that there is a triangular notch in this rabbet in the corner along the miter cut. This notch has no effect on the functionality of the rabbet. To solve this “problem”, however, you could make a compound cut 45° in from the inner edge to the edge of the rabbet and 79.7° in from the outer edge to the same point, as shown in the right figure below (as an exercise, you can check my math on these angles also). But there is really no need to make these cuts. If the gray were to represent an equal-width feature on the front of the moulding, it might be worthwhile to take the extra trouble. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.
Congratulations, you now have a fancy new picture frame. Of course, you still need to find a picture, cut mat(s) and backing, mount picture to same, cut glass, assemble the pieces without showing any annoying little specks, and apply a dust cover and hanging hardware, but all of that is beyond the scope of this article. Good luck!
As mentioned, this article is just the beginning of a series about “Weird Wood” that I announced months ago. Up next, we will look at handling moulding that is not of uniform width. You won’t find this moulding in any store; it is only an exercise to prepare you for our final project. But if it stimulates your creativity, that’s not always a bad thing. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading! Your comments are welcome and appreciated. | <urn:uuid:fc82f28e-26db-48a1-806a-41621a75f87c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.beehappygraphics.com/blog/tag/weird-wood/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506870.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402080824-20200402110824-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.946397 | 2,182 | 3.171875 | 3 |
by Michael Johnson
July 1, 2016
In the original version of the Sistine Madonna,[i] Raphael painted curtains onto the top corners of the canvas. Angels crowded the blue background, and the Madonna trundled her baby. The curtains are rendered as though they are physically present, drawn back to reveal the painting. The curtains’ sleight is daring and significant as it amplifies the dimensionality of the painting by making its pictorial space seem at once recessed and flat. Historian Hans Belting calls this master trope of Renaissance painting a “picture curtain” because the picture, like a window, is framed by the curtain which conforms to the “pane” of the picture. The painter thereby critiques the illusion of space while simultaneously adhering to it. Discussion of the picture curtain’s relationship to the cult of images concludes Belting’s book, Likeness and Presence. “The curtain,” he writes, “is drawn aside from an image that is in reality the idea of an image … and what was a curtain at that time, if not the curtain before a cult image, which can conceal or reveal it as a ritual apparition.”[ii] The practitioners of the cult of images, to which Belting refers implicitly in this quotation, believed that the curtain had a mystical property, which in order to reveal the truth of images, we only need to pull back.
If one were able to completely pull back the curtain in the Sistine Madonna without removing the illusion of space, one would experience an effect similar to that of cinema.[iii] The interior movement of the image makes the “window pane” of the picture seem clearer in the movies, despite having less of a material presence than painting. Presumably, this is because the audience is removed from the technology that projects the movie: the projector. In the Sistine Madonna by contrast, the “picture curtain” is presented directly to the audience, thereby foregrounding the material that reveals the image through the ritual function of the curtain. By projecting the image from behind the audience, rather than emphasizing the mysterious facility of the curtain, cinema conceals the susceptibility of the image to being covered up, thus minimizing the effect of the physical curtain, and consigning it to mere decoration. As well, the curtain is symbolic here, echoing the history of theatrical space. The “ritual apparition,” which is revealed or concealed before a “cult image” but is no longer articulated by the magical ritual of the curtain, is not ritualistic in the movies because the presence of the equipment needed to project the movie is removed from the foreground of the viewing experience.[iv] The projection process can be repeated until the power goes out, but the movie will not change unless damaged or altered.
When we go to the movies, everything outside this experience may seem to pause, as though the static condition of the movies has caused the suspension of everyday life. When we leave the theater, we may be startled to find that time has passed, that the world is not exactly as we left it. To our surprise, the sun has set, and it seems as though a war is being waged by the birds in the trees, but it affects us little if at all: everything is shot through with the feeling of the movie itself. We are not displeased. The moving image “window pane” has developed contours to fit the “panes” of everyday life. We are left with the impression of an immersive, cinematic experience, even where there is no cinema. Life on the outside seems to proceed frame-by-frame in sultry vignettes. Our peripheries seem to glow. The sensation is warm and effusive, if a little boring. The movie, if it is good, provides the audience with an enduring image: an image to contemplate and desire long after the movie ends.
Pastoral poetry, as Jane O. Newman, professor of Comparative Literature at UC Irvine, writes, “is self-canceling in the sense that it reduces creativity to a moment of poetic stasis,” having more than words in common with cinema.[v] In her book Pastoral Conventions, Newman describes The Order of Flowers, a collective of seventeenth century wartime poets in Nuremberg, Germany who “banded together in an academy-like endeavor, took shepherd names, chose flower emblems, and wrote massive collective texts at a time when the incredibly destructive Thirty Years War was raging across Europe. (ix)” Newman’s quasi-sociological study argues that, as distinct from Renaissance pastoral poets, the Order of the Flowers wrote in a pastoral vernacular in order to limit their references to the present condition of war in Europe.[vi] Pastoral is often characterized as a complementary genre, typically featuring shepherd’s enjoying a period of scheduled leisure, or otium, while a secondary narrative threatens to encroach upon their peace. In addition to writing poems in this genre, the poets of the Order of the Flowers adopted the otium of shepherd life. They wrote pastoral poetry in character while the war raged on in Europe. The Renaissance texts are not impressive on the surface; indeed, pastoral poetry can often be humorously boring. It was the imagination of the texts that had the biggest impact on the lives of the Order of the Flowers, both in the act of writing, and in its aftereffects. The act of writing in character allowed their texts to be and do the work of history.[vii] It engendered the lived experience of an alternative history, despite the war. Like movie-goers exiting the theater, these “shepherds” entered into a world in which possibility precedes necessity, come what may. The war was elsewhere in mind.
For me, the question became how could I analyze these highly stylized texts and the pastoral phenomenon of the order as ‘history’ without referring explicitly to the political, social and military context in and out of which they developed and which they must, on some level, represent. (x)
Newman’s “answer” is to present the pastoral genre as an institution capable of improving life. In an etiological account of pastoral poetics, Newman references Theocritus’s Idyll 7 to suggest that pastoral poets proceed by “imitating the bees.” (195) The passage to which she refers is an allusion to Comatas, a goatherd who was a slave and a wonderful singer. After Comatas has been locked away in a wooden chest[viii] by his master for stealing a sheep, a swarm of bees funnel into the chest, feeding him honey to keep him alive, so that he might continue to sing. By the same token, The Order of Flowers continue to “sing” as long as the “honey” is flowing, and by singing, the poets will cause the “honey” to flow. The “honey” of the Order of the Flowers was their ability to create turbulence in the linear progress of history, and provide historians with a clear account of the way in which texts can “be and do” the work of history. The “imitation of the bees” is a mimetic act through which the telos of imitation and survival was capable of improving the quality of life for The Order of Flowers, proverbially “locked away” in wartime. Although they were not an anonymous group, the archive of pastoral poetry gave the order a secret way out of the reactionary environment of war. They produced texts that performed the role of history, changing it as they wrote.
When texts claim to function in this way,” writes Newman, “–as both productive of history and creative body–they may be interpreted as textual institutions, as texts that do instituting and institutionalizing work. The texts of the Nuremberg Order of Flowers … exemplify this institutional identity. (xi)
The text as institution has the propensity to engender history from without. In Newman’s understanding, the origins or “first causes” of an institution begin to erode the moment when the original imperatives of the institution are idealized in textual form. The moment we idealize something, it’s origins become obscure to us, and pastoral is always an “ideal.” Pastoral poetry is a form that originates with the Idylls, a book of poems whose namesake shares its root with the word “ideal.”[ix] The origins of pastoral poetry, which is “among the most institutionalized of texts,” idealizes the events leading up to the creation of the text simply by virtue of being pastoral. (193) The genre promotes an idealistic, laissez-faire world-view. This characteristic of the pastoral erodes the origins of the writing as the genre comes into being. Pastoral poetry thereby seem to emerge without a past just as in the movies, the picture seems to emerge without a source, even though we know the source is behind (or above) us. Through this seeming sourcelessness, the poets of Nuremberg were able to reimagine the first causes of the war-torn historical moment by creating their own textual history. Through a progressively mimetic dialogue with the imagined origins of pastoral poetry, symbolized by the bees in Idyll 7, the Nurembergian update to traditional Renaissance imitatio thereby “transforms the people and events that they [the Nuremberg poets] capture in textual form into better versions of themselves ‘on the outside.’” (191)
“That the Nuremberg pastorals may have also contributed to the creation of a new class of learned bourgeois poets … by articulating a self-legitimizing ideology … comes as no surprise, since as textual institutions they were capable of doing the work of providing the origins of both literary histories and literal events.” (18)
By formalizing a sequence of “self-legitimizing” ideological goals through which the origin of their textual practice was made to appear present on the surface of their writing, speech, and actions, the Order of Flowers combined the idealism of pastoral textuality with the reality of pastoral sociology. If the erosion of the “first causes” in the institution of pastoral “self-legitimizing” occurs simultaneously with the creation of a pastoral society, then the practice of writing pastoral poetry is like going to the movies, and the other way around. The window of the genre effuses the features of an idyllic present, while the historical past idles harmlessly nearby. The past seems to develop the contours of an ideal present. Their origins are obscured because they’re idealized and preserved through a progressively mimetic dialogue with the past. In Belting’s terms, the “idea” of the artist is preserved through the image of the Madonna in Raphael’s Dream.[x] Whether or not Raphael or the Order of the Flowers would recognize themselves at the local cinema, I would argue that we see them whenever we leave.
[i] Raphael, oil on canvas, ca. 1513.
[ii] Belting, Hans. Likeness and Presence: A History of the Image before the Era of Art. 484. Art as the Mis-en-scene of the Image at the Time of the Counter-Reformation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994.
[iii] Thanks to Jane Tylus for reminding me that the clarity of cinematic experience is often the subject of an opposing critique, by directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, who use film to point to the very aspects of life that film does not allow us to see. I hope to address this in a later essay.
[iv] Walter Benjamin, noticing this, famously writes that film penetrates so deeply into our reality that it “frees the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual,” and creates “an equipment-free aspect of reality.” Illuminations – Benjamin, Walter, and Hannah Arendt. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” In Illuminations. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1968.
[v] All citations will refer to this source unless noted otherwise. Pastoral Conventions – Newman, Jane O. “Some Versions of Pastoral.” In Pastoral Conventions: Poetry, Language, and Thought in Seventeenth-century Nuremberg. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990.
[vi] Newman associates the limitation of reference to an element of Georgic poetry: “The production of … protection and the pastoral leisure of the Eclogues … depends, ultimately, on a kind of self-protective ‘georgic’ labor. (189)”
[vii] I have borrowed this formulation from Newman, page 12.
[viii] Idylls, Theocritus: “The Harvest-Festival,” lines 78-89.
[ix] The root word is eidos, which means “the thing that strikes the eye.” The ordinary use is such that the eidos is the visible surface of a thing that allows one to see what the true nature of the thing is.
[x] Franz and Johannes Riepenhausen, oil on canvas, 1821. | <urn:uuid:7a924824-3874-4048-8fdc-d39e47d72db1> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://degreecritical.com/2016/07/01/pastoral-conventions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496330.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329232328-20200330022328-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.951847 | 2,824 | 3.125 | 3 |
The decision during the Italian Campaign to withdraw the Canadian Corps from the battle south of Rome and from the pursuit of the German forces retreating to Florence allowed for a lengthy rest and training period in the Volturno Valley. According to the historical officer attached to 1st Cdn. Division, leave arrangements in June and July 1944 were “extensive and generous” with rest areas in Bari, Salerno and Amalfi.
Of course it was not all rest and relaxation. The lessons of combat in the Liri Valley were studied with special attention given to better methods of controlling artillery fire, and improving tank-infantry co-operation. The 21st British Tank Brigade was made available to work with 1st Div. because 1st Cdn. Armoured Bde. was with 13th British Corps, leading the advance to Florence.
Criticism of the Canadian effort in the Liri Valley focused on higher command. General Oliver Leese and other senior British officers were lavish in their praise of Canadian combat units and regarded 1st Cdn. Div. and 1st Cdn. Armd. Bde. among the best and most experienced troops in Italy. While it was politically impossible to break up the Cdn. Corps or place it under a British officer, Leese was determined to retain control of 1st Cdn. Armd. Bde.
The 1st Cdn. Armd. Bde. was formed in 1941 in response to British requests for a larger Canadian commitment of armoured units. Winston Churchill had already told his cabinet colleagues that the Allies “cannot hope to compete (against the Germans) in numbers of men and must therefore rely upon an exceptional proportion of armoured vehicles.”
Churchill wanted 10 armoured divisions by the end of 1941. As part of this, Canada was asked to send both an armoured division and an independent infantry-support tank brigade to the United Kingdom. And this was to be done as soon as possible. The Ontario Regiment (11th CAR), the Three Rivers Regt. (12th CAR), and the Calgary Regt. (14th CAR) arrived in England in July 1941 to form what was then called 1st Cdn. Army Tank Bde.
The Calgary Regt. was selected to provide the tank component of the August 1942 Dieppe Raid and its fine performance validated the intensive training each regiment had undergone. The brigade, commanded by Brigadier Robert Wyman, participated in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, though only the Three Rivers Regt. fought continuously in support of 1st Cdn. Div.
All three regiments had extensive battle experience by the spring of 1944 and were highly regarded throughout 8th Army. The Three Rivers Regt., today the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, earned particular praise for its role in supporting 78th British Div. at Termoli on the Adriatic coast. All three regiments fought with skill and effectiveness in support of 8th Indian and 1st Canadian divisions at the Moro River and at Ortona.
In late February 1944, Wyman left Italy to take command of 2nd Cdn. Armd. Bde. in preparation for the Normandy invasion. Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Murphy, the senior staff officer of 5th Armd. Div., was promoted to replace Wyman and he commanded the brigade for the balance of the war. Michael Boire, a Royal Military College of Canada historian and amoured corps officer who is the acknowledged expert on the brigade, notes that Murphy’s job was “to dish out his nine tank squadrons to British and Indian units,” rather than plan manoeuvres. He and his staff, “largely scientists and university people,” were required to anticipate future moves and keep “a close eye on the battle to make sure replenishment and repair of each regiment’s tanks was as rapid as possible.” Boire describes the brigade headquarters as a “finishing school for regimental officers lucky enough to be selected for a great learning experience.” Murphy’s liaison officers, “a constantly changing group of lieutenants and captains, were responsible for everything from finding harbour areas and accommodations to collecting new maps and delivering and explaining orders up and down the chain of command.”
Brigade headquarters also encouraged the armoured regiments to share their experiences. Captain R.I. Currelly, the historical officer attached to the brigade, interviewed commanding officers and squadron commanders and produced a summary of “lessons learned in the Gustav and Hitler operations.” Among the key points was the need for infantry to precede tanks while operating in close country. The tanks would be used to blast houses or machine-gun enemy positions or likely enemy positions. This required the closest possible infantry-tank co-operation. The use of the light Honey tanks to bring supplies forward had worked well, but the threat of enemy shelling meant that during resupply, smaller units had to be well spread out. Most crew casualties occurred when men were outside their tanks, when much greater caution was required.
Infantry-tank co-operation was only part of the story. When artillery observers were forward with the tank squadrons, quick fire could be used to destroy the enemy. The Three Rivers Regt. suggested that “our own field artillery could lift practically on top of advancing armour. This could develop a ‘steamroller’ effect which would be invaluable in overcoming a tough pocket of resistance.” Infantry would then exploit any initial success.
The “best armoured brigade in Italy” began to play its part in the long pursuit on June 11, 1944, when it was ordered north to support 4th British Infantry Div.’s advance to Arezzo, roughly 30 miles south of Florence. Before the move could begin, the Calgary Regt. lost the services of its exceptional commander, Lt.-Col. C.H. Neroutsos, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order.
The brigade’s war diary provides a glimpse into the mindset of those who served. Neroutsos, a Canadian of Greek ancestry, had joined the Three Rivers Regt. and by 1943 was second-in-command. Promoted to lead the Calgaries, he soon earned the affection and respect of the westerners. During the previous battles in the Liri Valley, Neroutsos had continued in action despite having “to wear a steel brace on his leg.” The brace allowed him to walk well enough to command his regiment. Major (later Lt.-Col.) C.A. Richardson took over the Calgaries in time to begin training in tank-infantry co-operation with 4th British Div. Each Canadian regiment was assigned to work with one of the three infantry brigades.
Before examining the battles of late June 1944 it would be best to establish the strategic and operational context of that time. Gen. Harold Alexander, the overall commander of Allied armies in Italy, was deeply involved in the debate over Operation Anvil, the invasion of the south of France which was timed for mid-August. He opposed Anvil, but in the end had to transfer 6th United States Corps and the most experienced French divisions to 7th U.S. Army just as the pursuit north of Rome was getting underway.
Alexander’s preoccupation with the British effort to cancel Anvil may help explain his failure to co-ordinate the advance of 5th and 8th armies which operated in separate corridors throughout the pursuit. Because 5th U.S. Army, which was advancing in more favourable terrain along the west coast, was always some miles ahead, the possibility of trapping the German 10th Army—by enveloping it from the west—seemed obvious. The Germans, under pressure from Hitler to stop the Allies as far south as possible, were desperately afraid of this. But as the British official history notes, Alexander settled for a “partridge drive” that allowed the enemy to withdraw to a series of delaying positions.
Both German armies were ordered to try to stop the Allied advance at the Albert Line which ran from Ancona on the Adriatic coast to the Tyrrhenian coast, opposite the island of Elba. As part of 13th Corps, the Canadian armoured regiments were committed to the section of the Albert Line to the west of Lake Trasimene. Known to the British as the Trasimene Line, it consisted of a series of hastily prepared positions that might be better described as a defensive zone five miles wide and 15 miles deep. As one historian wrote, “the great difficulty about the Trasimene Line is that nobody knew where it was supposed to be, not even the Germans!”
In the summer of 1944, the rolling country between the lake and the mountains, known as the Chiana Valley, was covered with olive groves, vineyards and small fields of grain. Much of the valley had been a malaria-ridden swamp until drained in the 15th century. The scattered villages and sturdy farmhouses were transformed into fortress-like positions while the small stream beds and drainage ditches became—with the assistance of engineers and explosives—anti-tank barriers. Apart from Highway 71, which borders the lake, the unpaved roads were little better than dirt tracks that three days of rain and tank traffic turned into stretches of churned mud. On a recent visit we were able to gain an overview of the battlefield from the ancient Etruscan town of Chiusi and from the shores of Lake Trasimene. It was evident that only the closest co-operation between armour, artillery and infantry could unlock such defences.
The 10th German Army ordered three of its best divisions, the Hermann Göring Panzer Div., 1st Para Div. and 334th Inf. Div. to defend the sector. However, no one beyond Berlin believed it could be held unless resources could be found to stop the advance of 5th Army along the coastal plain.
General Sidney Kirkman, commanding 13th Corps, decided to wait and organize a co-ordinated attack on the Trasimene Line with 6th South African Armd. Div., 4th Inf. Div. and the veteran 78th Div. Kirkman had been told that 78th Div., originally formed for Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa), was to be withdrawn to Egypt at the end of June because it was understrength, exhausted from long months of combat and destined for garrison duties in Palestine. He decided to reinforce its lead brigade with Canadian armour, sending the Ontario Regt. to work with old friends in the 38th Irish Bde.
Classically educated British and German officers recalled the story of Hannibal’s destruction of an entire Roman army on the shores of Lake Trasimene in 217 BC. The example of one of the most famous envelopments in military history may have inspired Major-General Charles Keightley to propose using the lake to stage an amphibious attack by landing a battalion 10 miles behind German lines. The unit that would supposedly carry out this too-clever manoeuvre was the London Irish Rifles. Its commanding officer pointed out that the available transport—DUKWs (amphibious vehicles)—had a “noise like a traction engine” and a top speed of 10 miles an hour, offering the enemy several hours notice to arrange a reception committee. Such a venture, he suggested, would “likely end Charles Keightley’s career as well as mine.”
The actual battle for Route 71 began at the villages of Sanfatucchio and Pucciarelli where the Irish infantry and Ontario tanks “worked in tandem; the 75-mm guns would blast a house at close range and then the riflemen would storm the building.” Beyond Sanfatucchio, the Germans had created a more formidable defensive position using a solidly built church and advantageous high ground. The church, which is now abandoned, and its graveyard sit on ground that overlooks all approaches. It is not difficult to understand why Sanfatucchio is a battle honour well remembered by veterans of the Ontario Regt. Once again the tanks and carefully observed artillery fire assisted the infantry forward. By evening on June 20, the enemy, less scores of prisoners and many casualties, had withdrawn north, pursued by the reserve battalion, the Royal Irish Fusiliers which was working with the Canadian armour. This force faced a series of disjointed counter-attacks, but in the process destroyed a number of enemy tanks which were badly employed in ones or twos without support.
While the Irish and Canadians secured Pescia and Ranciano, the Three Rivers Regt., supporting 4th British Div. began a seven-day battle which “from beginning to end was essentially a failure.” On this section of the front the enemy was able to withdraw intact, inflicting more casualties than they suffered. According to the Canadians, the 28th Inf. Bde. was “totally green” and unable to work effectively with armour. This contributed to the loss of 94 men and 26 tanks, one of the heaviest weekly casualty tolls to an armoured regiment in the Italian Campaign.
The 28th Bde. had spent most of the war on garrison duty at Gibraltar. It was brought to Italy as a replacement brigade due to a shortage of reinforcements and it suffered heavy casualties in its first battle at the Gustav Line. The decision to commit an inexperienced, and understrength brigade to such a battle suggests just how serious manpower problems were in 8th Army.
The Canadians were given a brief period of rest in July. Many spent Dominion Day 1944 bathing in the warm waters of Lake Trasimene. On July 5, Kirkman, whose 13th Corps was pressing north to the Arezzo Line, ordered the Canadians back into action to protect the mountainous left flank of 6th British Armd. Div.’s advance. Kirkman, who claimed that his corps “had learned all it knows about armoured fighting from 1st Cdn. Armd. Bde.,” needed the Canadians to support his 4th Div.
The narrowing valley, now divided by the A-1 auto route to Rome, was held by small detachments of the 10th German Army which was in the process of drawing back to Florence. Hitler could claim his delaying tactics had worked, allowing time for the development of field fortifications at the Gothic Line. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring and his generals in Italy were much less confident. The Germans had lost more than 100,000 men from all causes since early May, an average daily loss of 1,260 men—a very high price for a fighting withdrawal.
The Arezzo Line, which the Canadians were now attacking, was the last serious blocking position south of Florence. The Germans held it until July 15 when 13th Corps, reinforced by the 2nd New Zealand Div., stormed Mount Lignano, the high ground controlling the roads to Arezzo. The Canadians were then assigned to 8th Indian Div. for the pursuit along the Arno River through Chianti wine country.
When the full story of 1st Cdn. Armd. Bde. is written, it will no doubt quote the words of Leese who described the brigade as “the hardest hitting and finest armoured formation that I have ever had the pleasure to command.” Generals offer such words of praise far too freely, but in this case Leese was speaking the plain truth.
- Banner photo: A tank rumbles through San Pancrazio, Italy, July 1944. Credit: Alex Stirton, Library and Archives Canada.
- Originally published in Legion Magazine on September 27, 2008. | <urn:uuid:f1842397-ef37-4c72-a6d3-1677c638b956> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://terrycopp.com/2017/05/19/hard-hitting-armour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521876.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404103932-20200404133932-00513.warc.gz | en | 0.979981 | 3,231 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Table of Contents
Trivia question for you herp fanciers…when is a serpentine spine a bad thing? When it’s in a lizard suffering from metabolic bone disease (MBD). A waving spine in a ball python is pretty normal, but not in a bearded dragon. While not exactly a catchall term, MBD is a condition caused by more than one deficiency or illness. In other words, MBD itself comes in various forms. For instance, the most common form diagnosed in captive reptiles and amphibians is nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP), caused by too little available calcium.
The Importance of Calcium
It is so important for vertebrate bodies to have the correct calcium that nature has developed an organ whose sole purpose is to regulate the amount of calcium circulating in the blood stream. The ideal range is very tight, with either too much or too little creating an enormous number of illnesses. Enter the parathyroids. These are the little quartermasters of the calcium allocated to bones, and therefore, they determine how strong and dense the bones are. Weirdly, although the parathyroid glands are located next to (and sometimes inside) the thyroid glands, they have no related function to those iodine regulating bodies.
Putting that aside, let’s return to the subject of calcium. This mineral is a vital biochemical messenger used in many metabolic pathways and not just bone structure and formation. Chronic calcium deficiency can result in:
- impaired nerve impulse transmission
- weakened muscle contractions (especially in the heart)
- brain disregulation
- decreased blood coagulation
For instance, in most vertebrates, if calcium levels drop extremely low, cardiac failure may occur (unfortunately, in neglected animals, I have seen this occur). So calcium in the right balance with other critical minerals is therefore vital to the health and longevity of a large number of lizards and chelonians (tortoises and turtles), and of course other pets as well. Why exactly is this the case?
Physiology of Insufficient Calcium Intake
Insufficient levels of dietary calcium cause the parathyroid glands to produce excess parathyroid hormone, which triggers decalcification of bones. And although this seems counter-intuitive in terms of fitness and survival, (because, after all, bones are pretty darned important), the brain is even more important.
The brain also needs to be supplied with calcium in just the right amount, all the time. So really, the parathyroid is making the choice between brain impairment and bone density. Tough job! So when there is too little blood calcium available, parathyroid glands ‘choose’ the brain over the bones. The result is a reptile or amphibian with all of their wits about them, but suffering from NSHP.
Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
NSHP can occur in all kinds of reptiles and amphibians but is most commonly seen in lizards, turtles and tortoises. A disproportionately high percentage of veterinary cases are seen among juveniles of these species due to their higher need for calcium for bone growth, and in pregnant female animals due to their increased demand for calcium during gestation. The reptiles and amphibians that suffer from NSHP the most often are herbivores and insect-eating species:
- bearded dragons
- water dragons
- leopard geckos
Symptoms of Insufficient Calcium Intake
When these creatures do not have enough absorbable calcium in their diet, spines and limbs deform, and shells and jaws loose rigidity, which is why in some circles the disease is called rubber jaw.
Other symptoms can include:
- Swollen hind legs (look muscular and are suddenly too hard to the touch).
- Broken bones.
- Misshaped shells in turtles and tortoises (often it appears as if the shell is either too small for the animal, or is curved).
- Spinal deviations (kinking, curving, developing lumps).
- Problems lifting the body and/or tail off the ground when walking.
- Jerky movements of the limbs and head (tremors and seizures) especially during handling.
- Swollen or rubbery jaw and droopy lips that expose the gums.
- In chameleons, a tongue that hangs from the mouth.
- difficulty with egg-laying
- prolapses (organs protruding from the anus).
If you observe any of these symptoms, you may instinctually want to offer calcium right away, hoping to cure these sufferable problems. However, that won't be enough for the animal at this point.
Don't forget the Phosphorus
NHSP and other forms of MBD can develop as a result of an improper ratio of calcium to phosphorous in the reptile’s diet. So although phosphorus is also important, it is the ratio that determines a reptile’s (or even a human’s) health. Although animal bones may seem solid and unchanging, the process of bone formation is very dynamic.
Calcium and phosphorus are continually being added to bones and then reabsorbed back into the body. For instance, when the level of blood phosphorous becomes too high relative to calcium, it favors the formation of calcium phosphate in the gut, which is difficult for the animal’s body to handle, since in this form it becomes an insoluble salt, thereby sequestering the ingested calcium and making it unavailable to the animal’s metabolic needs. So even a pet with plenty of calcium in the diet can still experience a deficiency if too much dietary phosphorus is present as well.
The Normal Calcium : Phosphorus Range
A normal range for the calcium to phosphorous ratio necessary for health is 1.5:1 to 2:1, with 2:1 being best. If the ratio drops much below this, hyperphosphataemia can result, and it is this which stimulates the parathyroid glands to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH).
In addition, there needs to be an adequate amount of Vitamin D3 to help the body absorb and use the calcium. Imbalances that may lead to metabolic bone disease can occur as a result of:
- Overabundance of certain substances in the diet that negatively affect calcium absorption (oxalates, fats)
- Inadequate amounts of protein in the diet
- Insufficient exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB,) resulting in inadequate D3
- Diseases of other organs that affect the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus and/or vitamin D3 (kidneys, small intestine, parathyroid gland, liver) and cause MBD as a secondary complication
- Poor environmental conditions, such as overly cool temperatures, which impair digestion and calcium absorption
Ultraviolet Light to create Vitamin D3
Metabolic bone disease is frequently seen in reptiles that require ultraviolet light (sunlight) for the production of vitamin D3. These include diurnal lizards, especially iguanas, and turtles. It is rare in snakes, who do not require ultraviolet light for the synthesis of vitamin D3, and also because they generally eat whole mammalian prey, which provides the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus.
The herbivorous and insectivorous diurnal lizards and chelonians should be exposed to 12 hours of UVB light each day. Natural sunlight is best, but UVB rays cannot penetrate plastic or glass effectively, so mesh screening is required for light penetration and for ventilation. Certainly do NOT expose any reptile to direct sunlight through a poorly ventilated glass enclosure, as overheating can quickly develop due to the greenhouse effect.
If safe exposure to sunlight is not an option, fluorescent lighting will work. Use only full spectrum-with UVB bulbs designed for herps that have the UVB in the range of 290-320 nanometers.
Reversing Mild MBD with Lighting
If you think your beloved pet is suffering from MBD, find the closest vet near you. In very mild cases of MBD, alterations of lighting regime and dietary supplementation may be sufficient to reverse the deterioration. In more severe cases, oral or injectable calcium supplements such as calcium glubionate (NeoCalglucon), calcium lactate (Calphosan) or calcium gluconate are indicated.
In addition, after the serum calcium level is normal, calcitonin may be prescribed for a while. Calcitonin is a hormone that assists in the regulation of calcium by opposing PTH, in other words it acts to increase bone calcium content and decrease the blood calcium level when it rises above normal while at the same time lowering blood phosphorus levels when necessary.
Softshell Syndrome in Turtles
Chelonians are affected by the NSHP form of MBD just as often as diurnal lizards. ‘Softshell syndrome’ is a major killer of young turtles, especially aquatics. If the shell yields to the touch, it means that the bony structure which holds the keratin shields (outer shell) rigidly in place is already badly compromised. This should not be confused with causes of discoloration of the outer laminae, which indicates an infection of some sort and not MBD.
However, since both MBD and shell infections (often called shell rot) are commonly caused by husbandry errors, the two diseases often appear together in the same animal. It takes a long time in very poor conditions for the most serious symptoms of advanced MBD to appear, but once it does and the shell is noticeably soft, treatment can be difficult.
Prevention can be as simple as providing a cuttlebone. They are sold in most grocery stores in the pet aisle. They are used by bird owners, but turtle owners also find them indispensable. Many experienced keepers scrape off the brittle backing and float a piece of the cuttlebone in the water. Hopefully, the turtle will eat it periodically. If not, food must be dusted with the correct supplement. However, these measures are not sufficient when the disease is so advanced that the shell already feels soft. Injected calcium and veterinary care will be required.
This is definitely a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Severe cases of MBD may leave disfigurations to the pet’s bones and/or shells for the rest of their lives, long after the animal has made an apparently full recovery (which can take many weeks). A deep understanding of this illness, and the means of prevention, will save hours of labor and vet bills and ensure that your pet lives a long life free of disfigurement. | <urn:uuid:cc6b5904-6ab4-49c5-8c0d-1d28fe2449c3> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.thecritterdepot.com/blogs/news/how-to-prevent-metabolic-bone-disease-the-critter-depot | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370511408.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410173109-20200410203609-00434.warc.gz | en | 0.924968 | 2,199 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Control car (rail)
A control car is an unpowered railway or tramway car with a driver's cab, from which a not running at the Zugspitze train can be controlled. Control cars have all the necessary vehicle equipment of train control. Control car found at turning trains use, so that the locomotive terminal stations no longer needs to be implemented (from a pull end to the other ). The use of control car makes for a rationalization of the railway, as no infrastructure for converting a claim is made and additional staff in the form of a shunter is saved: The engineer simply enters the cab. Is the controlling car itself a locomotive, one speaks of a multiple unit.
Control cars are named after the type designation system for passenger cars in Germany by the generic letter " f" ( cab ). In Switzerland, the letter " t" in use as indicator.
In addition to classic passenger trains where a change of locomotive for direction changes had to be carried out, there were already people without trains locomotives, the trainsets. The drive and the cabs could be installed in the cars, so space and weight were reduced. The pioneer of the locomotive-hauled trains with Wendezugbeförderung was already 1936, the Lübeck- Büchener Railroad, was fitted in the back of the train, the last double-decker cars with a driver's cab. The two-piece double-decker trains were equipped with a direct shuttle train, the steam control the locomotive was moved here by an electric motor. Experiments with control cars and for reversible working steam locomotives were converted by the former Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR ) performed after 1936 had also shown that the performance of a pushed train of the one drawn is virtually indistinguishable. The widespread distribution of control car began with the traction change from steam to electric traction traction, since the remote control of electric locomotives practical and uncomplicated could proceed. Initially only used in mass transit, allow modern control systems and improvements to the running properties today also a long-distance haulage.
The German Federal Railroad ordered when ordering the n- wagon also a large number of control car. This first control type cars BDnf738 differed from the standard car only by the installation of two windows, a luggage compartment and a Behelfsführerstands on the front side of the car. These cars were like ordinary cars are also placed between two other cars and had transitions for passengers. Since the Behelfsführerstand ready put up little space and comfort, these control cars were only partially suitable for a consistent use before turning trains; from Lokomotivpersonal they received the nickname Rabbit Hutch. For procurements pure control cars were soon elected without transition possibility that were equipped with a regular cab; the old control cars were either rebuilt or scrapped. There are two different variants of this control car, the Wittenberg control cars and the Karlsruhe control car, named after the location of the authorities responsible for the remodeling repair shop. Both control cars are also still used today in consisting of n- car trains.
The system introduced by the Federal Railroad in the 1970s S-Bahn operation opened new opportunities for push-pull trains. In the S - Bahn Rhein -Ruhr testweise railcar class 420 were first used. For a series order, however, they decided on the use of locomotive-hauled trains, which should operate as a fixed unit in push-pull operation in conjunction with control car. Result was the x - carriage, which were first used in connection with locomotives of the series 111, after the turn with locomotives of the series 143. The associated control car is called Bxf796. The first three prototypes of this control car were completed in 1978 and 1979, from 1981 to 1990 followed by 102 control car for the S- Bahn Rhein - Ruhr S-Bahn Nürnberg. The control car of the x - car was the first car equipped with time- multiplex type push-pull train. The signals for controlling the locomotive are unlike previous control car transferred digitally instead of analog. In addition, for the first time the DB unit cab was used.
Around the turn of the millennium fundamental alterations found in addition to the ongoing modernization of Halberstadt center entrance cars, which also control car came with " Wittenberg head," instead, from which emerged the mode car. In the bottom frame and bogies Bmh car new car bodies were placed in aluminum construction, which also approved for 45 140 km / h control car emerged. These received a new, dynamic head shape, a continuous band of windows and modern toilets. The phasing out of the car, however, has already begun.
Also multiple units sometimes have control car. The two -car diesel multiple units of the 628 series with only a powered bogie; one half of the drive train is designed as a control cars and notwithstanding designated 928. Particularly interesting are the multiple units of class 646, which have two control cars, between which is a short drive car is located. The control car at the ends of the train are also referred to by the German course deviation with 946.
The German Reichsbahn used in regular operation initially only control car at railcar units. The first series- control cars were after long trials and the mode with individual pieces of the tags from E5- center entry control car for the S -Bahn Leipzig. The following are the five-part double-decker articulated trains DGBgqe the design in 1970, the four-part double-deck units DBvqe the design in 1971 and finally in 1974 the double-decker single-car DBmqe. These were delivered until 1990 and thereby changed several times in detail. As a consequence, existing four-part double-deck units of series in 1952 and 1961 fitted with cabs. Used was a 34-pin push-pull train with different driving switch tables for diesel and electric locomotives. Comes standard with push-pull train locomotives of the series 211, 242, 243, 110 and 118 as well as conversions from these were fitted. By 1990, however, the routes had to be individually approved for push-pull operation. After the reunification of three generations were developed on the basis of the Görlitz double-deck driving trailer whose control cars differ from each other mainly in the head shape. Double-deck control cars are found mainly in urban areas on regional express lines; while all control cars are equipped with low entries and feature a large-scale bicycle compartment. On the upper deck seating arrangement of the intermediate car deviates, some seats are arranged for reasons of space orthogonal to the direction of travel. The cars of delivery 1992 ( DABgbuzf 760) were delivered with conventional 34-pin and additional time multiplexer push-pull train, all the following only with time multiplexer.
- Bombardier double-deck driving trailer
Control car, 2nd generation
Control car, 3rd generation
Control cars 4th generation
Only since 1995, in Germany there are also long-distance trains with control car that can be up to 14 cars long and 200 km / h. The IC / IR control car caused by conversions of regular passenger cars of the 1970s, by they had been equipped with a driving cab and the necessary control equipment. On the basis of this concept in 1999, the control car of the Metropolitan Express Train have been completed and approved. This seven-part Hochgeschwindigkeitswagenzuggarnituren allowed up to 220 km / h fast.
Also, some features of the InterCity Express have control car: Since the first generation of the ICE could not be split and could not be operated efficiently enough in off-peak periods, therefore, increasing the length of the successor ICE 2 was reduced and a power head replaced by a control car.
In Austria control cars were common only as components of multi-piece train set up in the early 1990s. With the conversion of busy regional connections to pull trains, the necessary control car emerged: first for the " City Shuttle" double-decker cars, then even those that matched the widespread ( storey ) Bmpz cars. In addition to the newly built electric locomotives of the series in 1014, 1016/1116/1216 and 2016, which were wendezugfähig already in the delivery state, the ranks were in 1042 and 1044 subsequently adapted for push-pull operation and redrawn in 1142 or 1144. In long-distance trains come in a few German IC / IR control cars are used, which have received authorization for independent tax for the route network of ÖBB in 2007. Remote control car traffic ÖBB come from December 2008 in the form of Railjet trains first runs regularly publicly used in Austria.
Classic Country the control car is Switzerland. In connection with the early electrification came very soon at the thought trains to be controlled by a designated first as Zugführungswagen railway carriage, in order to eliminate the terminal stations, the time-consuming maneuvers such as changing the locomotive to the other end of the train. Unlike the rest of the German language area such traits are referred to as commuter trains in Switzerland. The controller is referred to as multiple-unit control.
Control cars were so prevalent in the mid 60s in the suburbs of Budapest, Hungary, that a nearly pure push-pull operation was possible. When steam locomotives operating with (mainly the number 424) was used an indirect control, where the locomotives were occupied in pusher service with personnel who have been asked by the from command car with signaling lamps and warning bells for acceleration or deceleration. The externally visible difference between this command car to the standard used in the electric car was push-pull operation of the circulating red stripe below the windows. With the setting of steam operation the command cars were also equipped with a full push-pull train. The trains usually with locomotives of the series V43, sometimes with locomotives of the series V42 (Ward -Leonard ).
Made the cars were suitable for car series Bhv in a very simple design with two square front discs on the vertical bulkhead and also an attached three headlights. Behind the cab there is a heavy load compartment and a small seat compartment. From the central entry space the cars are the other Bhv cars the same. From the late 90s, the cars were gradually modernized and renovated, so today hardly any control car can be seen in its original state. The rebuilt cars have received their basic layout, but they were equipped with new, modern interior design, sliding doors, insulated windows and elegant facade. However, the absence of air conditioning was a mistake.
The length of pushed trains was originally restricted for the sake of cornering dynamics on 10 cars, with a maximum speed 120 km / h, after 1980 140 km / h, could not be exceeded. First, this fact has hardly represents a limitation because control cars were primarily used before local trains that reached low speeds and rarely consisted of more than 6 cars. Meanwhile speeds of 160 km / h for running in double-deck construction and thus windempfindlichere control cars are safe. A special position is occupied by the ICE 2, the advance may be up to 250 km / h thanks to a special permit from the Federal Railway Authority on the new lines with control car. Here one also had significant problems with side wind, which normally does not cause problems on slower pull trains or is controlled at least by increasing the axle load, at high speeds, however, can lead to dangerous vibrations of the car body. For this reason the route between Hanover and Berlin had to, for example, with wind warning systems that automatically in gusty cross-wind to brake down the ICE 2 at 200 km / h wind protection walls and windbreak walls are equipped.
Only when the wagon train on a " Wire Train Bus" has an access to the diagnostic features of modern locomotives is possible from the control car from. This facilitates the control of locomotives, especially in the case of failure.
Control cars in freight transport
In rail freight transport are in some cases control cars in use. Due to the necessary continuous control line this only applies to special applications. For example, the Sprinter Cargo for the construction of the Zurich diameter line was converted into a control cars for the cargo shuttle. This cab control car has a diesel engine, which is used only in the construction area and thus ensures the locomotion without catenary.
Control car at the tram
Comparatively rare are driving car in trams. One of the few exceptions was the tram Idar -Oberstein, which began in 1956 push-pull trains from 1928 to its closure. Today is the Tramway Alexandria in Egypt which. | <urn:uuid:7d38ed98-340c-4d1d-8bce-1125076ba991> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://memim.com/control-car-rail.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371606067.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405150416-20200405180916-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.971481 | 2,668 | 2.96875 | 3 |
James M. Arlandson
I have often heard confusing and confused uses of "turn the other cheek." The saying seems so imbalanced and out of touch with reality, as it circulates around the world, out of context and isolated. Someone gets punched, and he is told to turn the other cheek. I also hear pacifists say this to the government when it is about to respond to an attack. "Jesus said to turn the other cheek. So how can we commit an act of violence in response?"
Its that last application Im concerned about. At first glance, the clause seems to teach universal pacifism. But where exactly does the high standard come from in the Gospels? What happens if we examine the verse in context? To whom should it apply? To the kingdom of Caesar (the State) or to the followers of Christ in the kingdom of God?
Lets find out what the famous saying means through three possible interpretations and see if the saying itself and any of the interpretations are relevant to the State.
One interpretation says that the clause is rhetorical. It is a hyperbole or an obvious and intentional exaggeration, not to be taken literally. For example, Matt. 7:3-5 shows Jesus use of this time-honored and effective rhetorical device, in which he says to pull a "plank" out of our eye before we judge. Obviously, we cannot literally have a plank in our eye. So the rhetorical interpretation of "turn the other cheek" is plausible. It protects the clause from being distorted and misapplied beyond recognition when it is interpreted too literally and too far.
Thus, it is a little known and little appreciated fact that Jesus replied to his critics as they insulted him. He was not literally slapped until his arrest and trial, and at that time he was submitting to Gods plan to die for the sins of the world. However, before then, during his three-year ministry, he did not stand there meek and mild and silent, looking down at the ground wishing for the verbal assaults to finish. Rather, he confronted the insults and the insulters (see almost the entire chapters of Matt. 12, Luke 20, and John 8 for examples), or he walked away. So we should not drive "turn the other cheek" into absurd directions of absolute passivity.
However, lets take the clause as if it should be put into practice, not only as a rhetorical device. Many scholars believe that taking it as written explains it more clearly, as it was originally intended. Thus, at least two other main interpretations of the verse are possible: the historical (legal) and the eschatological (the end times), which can overlap. Our focus is on them for the rest of the article.
Here is the verse quoted in the famous Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 5:38-39 says:
38 You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." 39 But I tell you, "Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right check, turn to him the other also." (Matt. 5:38-39)
So it appears in the context of the law of retaliation between neighbors or in a small dispute, not a national crisis. There are four parts to the historical (legal) interpretation.
First, Jesus ministered in Israel four decades before the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. And at that time the law of retaliation appears in a legal context, in a courtroom, not in a dispute that was settled by private vendettas. The Mishnah, an early source of commentary on the Torah, was finalized in its written form at the end of the second century or beginning of the third century AD, but the traditions were transmitted orally long before that. Though caution should be observed in using the Mishnah for New Testament studies due to the chronological gap (first to third centuries), the Rabbinic rulings may hint at the ethos or general character of the first century, especially when relative unanimity among the Rabbis prevailed. Jesus could not fail to know this ethos.
The following passage from the Mishnah, seen in the context of bodily injuries, says that all disputes of this kind must be heard in a court:
Assessment [of injury] in money or moneys worth must be made before a court of law . . . . (Baba Kamma 1.3)
At this time in Judaism, bodily injuries could be compensated for with money. Also, Matt. 5:40 confirms a legal context: "if someone wants to sue you." Finally, Matt. 5:25 exhorts Jesus disciples to be reconciled with an adversary who is taking them to court, again a legal context.
Second, the word "strike" can mean to hit with the palm of the hand, the assailant doing this deliberately, not in a brawl (A. B. Bruce, The Expositors Greek Testament, vol. 1, p. 112). Also, if a hand strikes the right cheek, and the assailant is right-handed, then this means that it is the back of the hand that makes contact, further indicating formality and deepening the insult (D. A. Carson, The Expositors Bible Commentary: Matthew, vol. 8, p. 156; Mishnah Baba Kamma 8:6). In addition, the Greek word for "strike" is found in Matt. 26:67, Mark 14:65, John 18:22 and 19:3, all of which speak of a legal context, after the trial of Jesus. This indicates formality and a ritual. So the offended party who follows Jesus should not retaliate when formally opposed or insulted.
Third, the command not to resist "evil" or an "evil or bad one" (person) should be clarified. Evil is an abstraction until it is embodied in people. So in my opinion it is best to see the meaning of the word as an "evil person" in its historical context. The Judaism of Jesus time is first concerned with social guidelines, not abstract theology. Matt. 5:25-26 says to settle a dispute peacefully on the way to court, when an opponent has something against the follower of Jesus. But in Matt. 5:38-39, the follower has a grievance against a neighbor. Either way, Jesus is merely saying that it is better either to pursue peace (vv. 25-26) or to let the offense go (vv. 38-39), rather than drag the offender into court and rather than let the opponent drag the Christian into court. Instead of the disciples of Christ taking an adversarial position, he counsels them to see the "evil person" as a future friend and brother outside of a court of law, while they love their enemy and pray for him (vv. 43-48). This is sound advice to his followers who are called to lead in a new and higher way, rather than demand their rights in a court of law.
Fourth, the verse must be interpreted in its literary context, or the verses surrounding the target verse. One commentator paraphrases Christs central idea according to the entire context of the key verse in this way: "Though the judge must give redress when demanded, you are not bound to ask it, and if you take My advice you will not" (Bruce, p. 112). In other words, Christ does not deny that anyone has the legal freedom to sue for an offense, because he understood and respected the Torah, which allows for it. For example, 1 Cor. 6:1-8 discusses setting up Christian courts of arbitration. So the Scriptures do not forbid entirely settling disputes in a court of law. Jesus main point is the following in a legal context: his disciples should not retaliate, but obey Lev. 19:18 and Matt. 5:42-45, which exhort them not to bear a grudge or seek revenge, but to love their neighbor. He shows us a higher way: forgiveness and reconciliation.
It should be pointed out before leaving this section that some interpreters see Matt. 5:38-39 as legal and also eschatological (Carson, p. 156). Both interpretations may be true at the same time. But it is to this last one that we now turn.
"Eschatology" means "the study of the last or end times." In the context of Jesus ministry, this means that he is ushering in a new way of living for his followers. He is about to send the Spirit so his followers can walk in his new call of the kingdom of God.
This is the context of Luke 6:29, the parallel passage of Matt. 5:39. Luke 6:29 (bold font) reads:
27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31)
Now the clause appears in a context other than a legal one. (Anyone who has taught for any length of time knows that familiar and favorite ideas are given in different forums and to different audiences.) And this context talks about kingdom believers as individuals or as a community (e.g. a church) loving enemies, blessing and praying for them, and doing good to them. These high commands can be done only after the coming of the Spirit in a New Age and within the kingdom of God.
A commentator on this passage writes that "turn the other cheek" means the "ritual slap on the cheek given a Christian heretic in the synagogue" (E. E. Ellis, quoted in Walter W. Wessel, The Expositors Bible Commentary: Luke, p. 893). This analysis fits perfectly with Jesus prediction that some of his early followers, in sharing their faith in their own Jewish setting, may be flogged, which is worse than a slap on the face (Matt. 10:17). Christians will also suffer persecution in the larger gentile world (v. 18). So Jesus counsel to them is that wherever and whenever they are persecuted, they must not take revenge, such as sending out an assassination hit squad to kill the accuser or the judge in revenge for unjust persecution (assassinations were not uncommon in the ancient world). Instead, the disciples are to walk out of the village, town, or city, shaking the dust off their feet and going elsewhere (v. 23; Luke 10:10).
I have a friend (call him Joe) who in his early twenties worked at a summer job with a bully. He did not literally slap Joe (which may have been done formally in the ancient world, but not today, in the same way). Rather, the bully mocked Joes faith and made his employment unpleasant. However, Joe would only look the bully in the eye, say his name, and then tell him, "Jesus loves you!" (or words like that). Joe did not take him to court on harassment charges. At the end of the summer the bully converted to Christ. He was overpowered by the kingdom message of the love of God. Years later, the ex-bully was a guest speaker at a Christian retreat that Joe led and I attended. It seems Joe followed the example of Jesus in replying to a critic (see Rhetorical interpretation, above). I have heard of similar stories.
I would not apply Joes solution to every situation that the reader may know about. For example, a readers life may be threatened, which is different from a formal "slap" on the cheek, so he should report the danger to the appropriate authorities. Also, domestic violence should not be tolerated because a divine covenant is being broken between the couple who had become one flesh, so the battered does not have to turn the other cheek. The domestic violence may escalate and threaten the life of the battered who should seek help. Neither example has anything to do with a rhetorical device, a legal context in settling a dispute between neighbors, or an outside enemy insulting the kingdom believer. The original contexts of "turn the other cheek" must be maintained, instead of applying carelessly the clause everywhere and anywhere.
However, Joes kingdom action in his own context is what an eschatological interpretation embodies. He turned the other cheek or did not retaliate and then turned an enemy into a friend. The commands of the kingdom of God may be difficult, but the new community can do them only through Christ. It is the kindness of God expressed by his followers during insults that may win people to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Jesus Christ is the ultimate example during his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The kings sacrifice and kingdom action have been calling enemies for two thousand years, all over the globe, turning them into friends of God before the great judgment (the heavenly legal context) is called into session on the last day.
The key to understanding this series on pacifism and the sword in the New Testament is found in the first article. There Jesus separated the kingdom of God from the kingdom of Caesar. The early church followed his wisdom. The results of this study support that two-kingdom theology.
Thus, in addition to the rhetorical interpretation, we have two other main ones, the historical (legal) and the eschatological. But whichever one an individual Christian or believing community chooses (or a combination of the three), none of the interpretations directly apply to the State. "Turn the other cheek," appearing in the context of the Sermon on the Mount and then the Sermon on the Plain, is addressed to the new kingdom community who heeds the call to a new way of life. The kingdom of Caesar has to deal with life-and-death danger, not a rhetorical device, a formal slap on the face between neighbors in a legal context, or a personal, eschatological context of insults. To be accurate and faithful to the verse, it says nothing about a national attack or criminal activity, which the kingdom of Caesar has to deal with.
Therefore, certain extra-pious church leaders must be careful not to wrench out of context a verse meant for kingdom Christians and apply it to the State as if the State is part of that kingdom. The two kingdoms of God and of Caesar must not be fused together.
Further, the two passages in Matthew and Luke should not be misinterpreted to ignore the helpless. It is one thing to let go of an offense if it happens personally to you as an individual Christian. But it is quite another to walk away if the insult happens to someone else. In that case, no one who can offer help should ignore the plight of the weak and persecuted. Therefore, it is unwise to force "turn the other cheek" on to the military and police officers that have to protect the weak and persecuted. As organizations, they do not live under the same demands as eschatological believers do, though there may be some who work in the two honorable, God-ordained institutions (Rom. 13:1-7).
As noted in Part Four, the New Testament permits the State to respond to crime or an attack, even with a sword. True, a government may negotiate when attacked, for it does not have to go to war or respond in kind every time. But no government official should feel bound by "turning the other cheek."
In contrast to the State, the Church as an institution is "pacifist" only in its own actions and internal policies, because it follows the dictates of the kingdom of God, his active rule and dynamic reign. And Jesus the resurrected king waged only spiritual warfare, and the Apostles followed this path in early church history. Therefore, the Churchas the Churchshould never convene a council or general assembly to raise a militia to fight battles or coerce dissidents and heretics to conform. But the Church violates its own Scriptures if it transfers this kingdom policy (only pacifism within itself) to the State.
Therefore, if the State does not respond, even with the sword, to a national attack or criminal activity, then such passivity and inaction becomes immoral and negligenteven vile. This violates the full teaching of the New Testament. The general population must be protected immediately, even if the State has to swing the sword (Rom. 13:1-7).
The complete series of articles:
Jesus, Pacifism, and the Sword|
Pacifism and the Sword in the Gospels
Soldiers, Officers, and God
Church and Stateand the Sword
Should the State turn the other Cheek?
Questions and Answers on Pacifism and the Sword
AddendumFight or Flight?
The New International Version has been used throughout this article, but other translations may be read here.
Articles by James Arlandson
Answering Islam Home Page | <urn:uuid:a92a03a0-2e22-4159-aef6-51f90e188fc2> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://answering-islam.net/Authors/Arlandson/pacifism5.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370524604.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404165658-20200404195658-00393.warc.gz | en | 0.953501 | 3,515 | 2.953125 | 3 |
In this short series, Skip Heitzig examines the story of Christmas, considering the importance of Jesus' earthly parents--Joseph and Mary.
Table of Contents
||The Magnificent Mother of Messiah
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is central to the story of Christmas. Unfortunately, people are greatly divided about her importance and her role. Some magnify her too much, making her more important than even Jesus. Others ignore her and fail to give her the esteem she deserves. Today, we briefly consider Mary and five notable attributes that formed her personality.
Recap Notes: December 18, 2016
Speaker: Skip Heitzig
Teaching: "The Magnificent Mother of Messiah"
Text: Luke 1
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is central to the story of Christmas. Unfortunately, people are greatly divided about her importance and her role. Some magnify her too much, making her more important than even Jesus. Others ignore her and fail to give her the esteem she deserves. In this teaching, Pastor Skip considered Mary and five notable attributes that formed her personality.
- She Was Real (vv. 26-37)
- She Was Humble (v. 38)
- She Was Worshipful (vv. 46-19)
- She Was Scriptural (vv. 46-55)
- She Was Needful (v. 46)
She Was Real
- Jesus and Mary had a strong bond---one that may not have included Joseph (most scholars think he died early on in Jesus' life). Mary was the only person who was at both Jesus' birth and death.
- Many people get Mary wrong, elevating her to co-redemptrix (co-redeemer) with Christ, among other nonbiblical teachings.
- Though some people question Mary's historical precedence, Luke clearly conveyed Mary's life's coordinates; she was a real, historical person.
- In the text, we learn that an angel came to Mary stating a place (Nazareth), a person (Mary, a Jew), and a purpose (bringing forth a Son, Jesus).
- The Hebrew name for Mary---Miriam---means wished-for child or bitter. Mary's genealogy is found in Luke 3. She was from the tribe of Judah and was between twelve and fourteen years old when she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- Probe: Discuss what you were like when you were twelve to fourteen years old. Would you have been able to handle something as mind-boggling as a miracle from God? What does Mary's age tell you about her spiritual maturity?
She Was Humble
- Mary's last words to the angel were words of submission (see v. 38).
- Though Mary was special, she was also spiritual, exuding humility.
- Maidservant means slave maid. In antiquity, servants were free people and were compensated; slaves had no rights or legal privileges and had to obey their master.
- In effect, Mary was saying that the Lord came to a nobody in a no-place town; her privilege came in the person she bore.
- Probe: Why is humility a hallmark of honor for the Christian? Discuss the role of humility in the Christian's life (see Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; James 4:10).
She Was Worshipful
- Mary's prayer is known as the Magnificat in Latin.
- The words she used (magnifies, rejoiced, holy, etc.) are words of praise and proclamation.
- When life bumps up against you, what comes out? In Mary's case, it was praise and worship.
- If prayer is a window to the heart, Mary's heart was filled with hues of worship and wonder.
- Probe: Worship is an expression of reverence and adoration. Discuss how we are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (see John 4:24), showing reverence (deep respect) and giving adoration (love and honor).
She Was Scriptural
- Over fifteen allusions connect Mary's prayer to the Scriptures, especially to parts of Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2.
- This tells us that Mary had access to Scripture and memorized it.
- Notice some of the allusions:
- "Magnifies" (v. 46): Psalm 34:2-3
- "Savior" (v. 47): Isaiah 45:21
- "Blessed" (v. 48): Genesis 30
- "Done great things" (v. 49): Psalm 126:3
- "Holy is His name" (v. 49): 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 111:9
- In addition to Scripture, she knew theology: "To Abraham and to his seed forever" (v. 55).
- Probe: Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). What comes out of your mouth when you're bumped? Is it Scripture or smut? One way to internalize Scripture is to memorize it. Share a verse you've memorized.
She Was Needful
- Mary was not immaculate and does not dispense grace. Rather, she was a sinner in need of a Savior---and she knew it.
- The greatest thing God did for Mary was save her; she is blessed among women as the receiver of the Savior.
- If you want to honor Mary, worship the Savior she bore.
- Mary included all Christians in her prayer with the phrase "from generation to generation" (v. 50). The same mercy God showed Mary is available to everyone.
- Probe: Discuss the key words Savior (someone who saves; see v. 47) and mercy (compassion and forgiveness; see v. 50). How is God's mercy connected to His salvation (see 1 John 4:19)?
Connect Up: Mary opened her prayer with the phrase "My soul magnifies the Lord" (v. 46). The word for magnify
. It means to make or declare someone or something as great; to enlarge or increase
. How do we enlarge our view of God through worship?
Connect In: How is Mary a model for us as believers? (Hint: think of her praise, her knowledge of theology and Scripture, etc.)
Connect Out: Pastor Skip reminded us that there are many false views of Mary. How can you reach out to individuals who have nonbiblical ideas about Mary and witness to them in truth and love?
- She Was Real (vv. 26-37)
- She Was Humble (v. 38)
- She Was Worshipful (vv. 46-49)
- She Was Scriptural (vv. 46-55)
- She Was Needful (v. 47)
Throughout Scripture, we see that the Lord often used dreams to communicate His truth to people. In this special Christmas teaching, Pastor Skip looked at the forgotten man of Christmas—Joseph, Mary's husband and Jesus' stepfather. As we study Matthew 1:18-25, we learn that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of Joseph's dream.
Recap Notes: December 24, 2016
Speaker: Skip Heitzig
Teaching: "Christmas Dream"
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Everyone dreams every night. We may not remember the dreams, but we have them. Some last just a few seconds; others can last up to thirty minutes. Psychologists tell us that dreams are our way to subconsciously deal with emotions and experiences.1 Throughout Scripture, the Lord used dreams to communicate His truth to people like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Daniel. In this special Christmas teaching, Pastor Skip looked at Joseph, Mary's husband and Jesus' stepfather. The first Christmas was not what Joseph—or Mary, for that matter—expected. Mary was unwed and expecting a child; Joseph was about to privately divorce her before the Lord intervened with a dream that ushered in the promised Messiah. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of Joseph's dream. Pastor Skip's path through the text is as follows:
- Confusion (vv. 18-19)
- Clarity (vv. 20-23)
- Compliance (vv. 24-25)
- Joseph is the forgotten man of Christmas. We know him best because of his marriage to Mary.
- Jewish marriages had two stages: betrothal (kiddushin, lasting one year) and a wedding ceremony (chuppah). The parents arranged marriages without consulting the bride or groom, drawing up a contract and sealing it with a dowry.
- There was to be no physical intimacy between engaged couples.
- We don't know how Joseph got the news about Mary's pregnancy, but when he did, confusion arose. He had three options:
- He could expose her publically as being unfaithful (which in Old Testament times could lead to stoning).
- He could file for a private divorce (a handwritten certificate in the presence of two witnesses).
- He could marry her.
- Because he was a man of integrity and cared about Mary and her reputation, Joseph chose option two: a private divorce.
- But the Lord spoke to Joseph through an angel in a dream—a divine sleep that led to clarity.
- Probe: Take a moment to share a dream—good or bad—that you've experienced. Were you able to learn anything from the dream? Why do you think the Lord used dreams throughout the Bible?
- In Joseph's dream, the angel of the Lord accomplished five things through a personal pep-talk:
- Recollection: He called Joseph "son of David" (v. 20), reminding him that he was part of a royal lineage, the lineage from which a Savior would come who would one day rule the entire world.
- Exhortation: He told Joseph to stop being afraid. Joseph afraid of was probably afraid of the consequences of divorcing Mary and what people would think if he married her.
- Explanation: He told Joseph "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (v. 20)
- Instruction: He told Joseph that he would name the baby, and the baby would one day save the world.
- Clarification: He reminded Joseph that the prophets predicted all this long ago. God essentially told Joseph, "This is My plan."
- Probe: Clarity means the quality of being clear, coherent,and intelligible. Share a time from your life when God brought clarity to something—maybe a problem or a person. How did He accomplish this?
- After the dream, Joseph awoke and immediately obeyed—he married Mary.
- Joseph was honored to be part of God's plan for His people.
- But with the dream over, the reality began: the unwarranted comments about their relationship, the trip to Bethlehem for a census, living as fugitives in Egypt for two years, and then moving back to Nazareth.
- The hardest part was the best part: the baby Jesus became the Man who suffered and died on the cross to save mankind.
- With obedience came the ability to overcome; Joseph recognized that God—through Jesus—would crush Satan's head (see Genesis 3), bringing redemption and reconciliation to all who receive Him.
Connect Up: Christmas is about one thing: the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to die so we might live. There was life in Mary's womb that led to the tomb and death, but in the tomb was the Son of God, whose death led to life. Why do you think God connects both death and life in our relationship to Him (see Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35; Luke 14:27)? How is this truth reflected in baptism?
- Probe: Why is compliance (submission or obedience) important in our relationship with God? Discuss a time when you weren't compliant. What happened? Now discuss a time when you were compliant with God's Word. How did He honor your obedience?
Connect In: Sometimes our relationships with others in the body of Christ can be confusing. How are we in the church to work through problems and predicaments with one another to bring clarity and compliance? Read Matthew 18 and Acts 6:1-7. As both references show, God's people must be compliant, spiritual people, seeking His clarity and submitting to His Word.
Connect Out: There's lots of confusion in the world regarding marriage (non-married people living together, etc.). What can you learn from Joseph and Mary's commitment to one another through marriage? How can you lovingly share with others what a biblical marriage looks like, particularly to unbelievers or people struggling with their faith?
Breus, Michael J., "Why Do We Dream?," February 13, 2015, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201502/why-do-we-dream, accessed 12/24/2016.
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People have been trying to figure out what adventure travel is almost since Hannibal crossed the Alps on elephants.
The truth is that adventure travel is largely self-defined. Wherever your comfort zone lies, anything that gets you out of that comfort zone and exploring the world beyond qualifies as adventure travel.
So a dogsled trip across the Arctic? Sure. But also an easy stroll around Jordan Pond at Acadia National Park.
Bungee-jumping into a West Virginia gorge? Of course. But also walking around the Roman ruins.
The Adventure Travel Trade Association defines adventure travel as anything involving “a physical activity, a cultural exchange, or activities in nature,” but it’s okay if you don’t agree with that. An adventure to you is fine by us.
However, there are a few types of adventure travel that most people agree on. Here’s what they are – along with recommendations for doing them safely.
Hiking and backpacking
Hiking takes two basic forms – day hiking, where your hike takes part of a day, and backpacking, where your hike may take multiple days and involve camping.
No matter how long your trek, safe hiking requires you to:
- Know where you’re going. This means taking paper maps and knowing how to read them, and knowing how to use a compass. This also means knowing if your route takes you through country that has frequent animal attacks or is experiencing political unrest or crimes against hikers.
- Take along a GPS device other than your phone. Handheld GPS devices like these can do a better job than a phone at showing your exact location and where to go from where you are.
- Stick to the trail. While you can get lost following trails, the fact is that you’re still on a trail, and with judicious use of maps and a compass you should be able to find your way back. Even if you feel incredibly lost, do not venture off the trail.
- Bring along plenty of water. High-altitude hikes in cooler weather can dehydrate you almost as fast as a walk through the desert. Bring twice as much water as you think you’ll need.
- Pack food. Hiking can burn a surprising amount of calories. Take along lots of high-quality fuel – nuts, dried fruits, and protein sources. They don’t call it “trail mix” for nothing.
Camping has come a long way since the days of roughing it in a canvas pup tent. Now you can “glamp” it up in everything from a vintage Airstream to something straight out of Arabian Nights. However, many of the safety rules are unchanged.
- Make sure your equipment works. Pitch your tent in your backyard. Check for leaks and torn screens.
- Know where you’re going. See our recommendations on hiking.
- Keep all food secure and out of the reach of animals. This does not mean keeping all the chocolate bars with you in your sleeping bag. This means securing food in animal-proof containers and suspending them from trees or storing them inside a locked car.
- Promptly dispose of all trash. This isn’t just good for the environment. Trash attracts animals.
- Tell people where you’re going and when you’ll be back. This is highly recommended for all types of adventure travel, not just camping.
There are lots of ways to climb a mountain, from a barehanded scale up a sheer rock face to a leisurely stroll on a trail. Regardless how you climb, these safety tips will help make it go smoothly.
- Check and double-check your equipment before starting your climb. Replace frayed ropes or balky carabineers.
- Wear the right shoes. There’s a reason why they’re called “hiking boots.” If you’re doing anything more than a casual walk, don’t scrimp. Get boots with sturdy soles and tough uppers – waterproof, if you can. Tennis shoes won’t cut it.
- Know the conditions at the top and bottom. The smooth path in the sunshine may turn into a stiff climb through snow. Know what you’re getting yourself into.
- Dress appropriately. Dress for the summit and the base. Pack layers.
- Hydrate and fuel up. Carry snacks and lots of hydration.
- Set a time limit. You may think it will take less time to get down than to get up, but you may be surprised. Divide in two the time allotted for your climb; go as far as you can by halftime, then descend. Descending a mountain in the dark is neither safe nor fun.
Whether mountain biking or road biking, touring or single-tracking, these safety tips will help make your bike trip safer.
- Plan your route. Use paper maps to determine your route, or use routes and trails recommended by a peer-to-peer site like Bikemap. Read route and trail reviews, looking for comments on narrow shoulders, congested roads, rock-strewn trails, or washouts.
- Check your equipment. Make sure your chain is properly tensioned, your derailleurs and shifters work properly, your tires are inflated, and most importantly, check your brakes.
- Wear a helmet. If you can, get a MIPS helmet, for extra head protection. Use a taillight, too. On a bike it’s “see and be seen.”
- Understand the rules of the road where you’re biking. Just because there are more bikes in Europe doesn’t mean that bikes always have the right-of-way. Read up on local traffic laws and customs if you’re biking overseas.
- Decide on a meetup time and place. It’s easy to get separated when you’re biking. Settle on a time and place to meet before you leave.
- Carry a bike-repair kit. At a minimum you should have a spare tube, mini-pump, tire irons and a set of bike wrenches.
- Know what “black diamond” means for the trails you’re riding. A tough trail in Durango will probably be tougher than a super-tough trail in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Know what you’re getting yourself into before you dive down the chute.
- If you do an “out-and-back” or circle route, don’t overextend. Don’t do a 50-mile loop if you haven’t biked 10 miles at a stretch. The temptation is to push yourself; resist the temptation.
- Hydrate and fuel up. Once again, carry snacks and lots of hydration.
Ziplining and Bungee-Jumping
Many people think of these activities as the epitome of adventure travel. Here’s how to do them safely.
- Know the reputation of the outfitter. Read impartial reviews, checking for safety ratings.
- Wear appropriate safety gear. You’ll need a good, sturdy harness and a good-fitting helmet at a minimum.
- Understand that most travel insurance plans will not cover these types of activities. Read the exclusions in your travel insurance policy. If you’re not covered and you don’t feel safe, don’t go.
Boating and Rafting
Punting on the Thames or tubing down a lazy river may not fit your definition of adventure travel, but these safety tips will come in handy for the rest of your waterborne activities.
- Investigate your outfitter. Read reviews, focusing especially on the condition of their equipment.
- Check your equipment. Look for leaks, gauges that don’t work, loose oarlocks, frayed ropes, sputtering motors, faulty radios, and broken seats. Insist on a boat, canoe or raft that meets your standards.
- Wear life jackets at all times.
- If you can’t swim, reconsider. Sometimes wearing a life jacket isn’t enough. It’s important to know how to swim in cases of emergency – even if it’s to save others. If you can’t swim, ask yourself if you want to put others in the position of having to save you.
- Know where you’re going. Plot your route carefully, and stick to it. Sometimes attractive-looking channels can turn into swampy dead-ends that are hard to navigate out of.
- Check the weather. If you’re canoeing across a large lake, windstorms can throw you off course and make paddling impossible. Also, high water can turn a leisurely raft trip into a life-or-death situation. Know the weather and water conditions you’re heading into – and expect the unexpected.
- Determine ways of contacting people before you leave. Tell people where you’re going, when you expect to be there, and how you’ll contact them to let them know you’re safe. Know if your cell phone is going to work on the water. Work out an emergency plan, just in case.
Snorkeling and Diving
Almost everyone who’s ever visited the Caribbean has wanted to strap on a mask and snorkel and look for brightly colored marine life. Here’s how to do it right.
- Check your guide and outfitters' reviews. Focus on safety ratings and the quality of their equipment.
- Test your equipment. Look for worn hoses, loose connections, and tired seals.
- Understand your dive site. Know where there might be dangerous currents or depths that are a little too difficult for your equipment or skill level.
- Practice the “buddy system.” Always dive with a companion.
- Watch for dangerous marine life. Know what the dangerous creatures are in your area, what they look like, and how to steer clear. Surface anytime you feel unsafe.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Whether cross-country skiing or down hilling it, catching some big air or making a big sitzmark, these tips will help you have a safe and fun ski vacation.
- Check your equipment, especially if you’re renting. Make sure bindings are tight, boots fit properly, and you can easily get into and out of your skis or snowboard.
- Get the weather report for your hill. Snow squalls sound harmless, but they can be anything but. Know what you’re in for heading to the slopes and once you’re on them – and if navigating ski-hill traffic in a blizzard bothers you, take the train.
- Understand the general difficulty of the hill. Black-diamond conditions may differ from the East to the Midwest to the West. Don’t get overly ambitious. Start with easy trails and work your way into the tougher stuff.
- Be aware of altitude. If you’ve never skied at altitude you may be in for a shock. You may find it hard to catch your breath, and you may tire more easily. Don’t overdo it the first day.
- Arrange a time and place to meet up, even if you’re going to keep skiing. Having a time and place to check in is always helpful, if to do nothing else but swap stories. On the other hand, if some people are ready to veg in front of a fire, it’s good to know.
With all these activities, check your travel insurance policy before you leave – not only to see if the activity itself is covered, but to make sure your equipment is covered as well.
AdrenalineCare™ from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has extra coverage for adventure gear like skis and diving equipment.
Enjoy your adventures!
QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Check out our online guide, "What Is Travel Insurance All About?" We’ve provided in-depth answers to all your travel insurance questions, starting with the basics.CHECK OUT THE GUIDE! | <urn:uuid:ff77542a-f9f3-45c5-bb94-dbefcd727a26> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.bhtp.com/blog/what-is-adventure-travel | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370493684.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329015008-20200329045008-00395.warc.gz | en | 0.91949 | 2,544 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Remember when there were only two choices when it came to litter? Do I want it to clump the pee so I can easily scoop everything out, or do I want everything to disintegrate so I have to pick every peed-on piece of litter out with tweezers? Those were the options.
Well, as the world continues to grow and learn, so do we. Well, most of us.
Did you know that there are so many different types of litter now? No, not brands; types! It used to be clay. Clay was where it was at. But now there are a variety of litter materials you can choose from including not only clay, but also corn, wheat, walnut shell, grass, paper, crystal, and pine. I’m going to touch on each type and also let you know my thoughts on them. I realize you didn’t come here for a Cosmo-type article telling you what’s better in the world of kitty litter but alas, here we are.
Did you know that before 1950, litter was made from sand and ashes?! No wonder cats migrate toward kids’ sandboxes. Also, every type of litter claims to be “low to no tracking” but let’s be real, every single litter tracks so that is not touched on in my ratings.
Here are the contenders:
So, in theory, clumping cat litter works the best and is the cheapest. However, clumping clay litter has a major flaw, which caused me to switch completely from clay litter.
The ingredient that makes the litter clump is called sodium bentonite (a specific type of clay), and it is actually incredibly harmful to the environment. Sodium bentonite is collected via strip mining. According to frontpagemeews.com (who cited Stanford University’s Eco Advice), 75% of clay litters use bentonite and most of the mining is done in Wyoming.
Strip mining, also known as surface mining, is exactly what it sounds like. Katherine Manchester wrote in an article for Groundswell.org, “Conventional clay “clumping” litter, it turns out, is an offender for a whole host of reasons. Over two million tons of clay are mined in the United States every year, just to be turned into cat litter. The clay—or sodium bentonite, more specifically—is obtained via strip mining, requiring massive amounts of soil and rock to be moved in order to access the mineral seam underneath. The result is a giant hole in the ground that needs to be filled and then returned to something resembling a natural state.”
Not only does it mess with the earth’s core, it displaces wildlife and can contaminate the water supply. Additionally, it can be harmful if ingested by your furbaby which may happen while they are licking their widdle baby paws.
Verdict: F-. Two thumbs down.
Pine seems to be a big hit among my clients and the internet. Pine litter comes in two forms: pellet and clumping (which has a texture more like corn). Both products are made of recycled materials. The sawdust is collected and pressed into pellets. When peed on, the pellets disintegrate back into sawdust.
The pine is incredibly absorbent and helps hide pee smells. The problem with pellets is that many cats don’t like how it feels. Can you blame them? Pine pellets also don’t clump, so you’d scoop the poop like normal and then just let the pee break down the pellets into sawdust.
The clumping pine litter has the consistency of normal litter and clumps together when peed on. It’s a little more expensive than the pellets, but if you’re wanting to switch to pine and are worried about the pellets, the refined, clumping pine may be the way to go.
Verdict for pellets: A for smell control and environmental friendliness, D for texture.
Verdict for clumping: A (based on research, not personal use).
Everyone seems to know about World’s Best Cat Litter which, according to their website, is a “natural, whole-kernel corn solution that’s pet, people, and planet-friendly.” They boast that “World’s Best Cat Litter™ uses a patented process to compress naturally absorbent corn into concentrated granules that TRAP ODOR DEEP INSIDE and FORM TIGHT CLUMPS ON CONTACT — so you can do more with less litter.” They’re yelling at us, so it must be true!
I have many clients who use this litter (particularly, this brand) and love it. I have a weird aversion to it for some reason, but I cannot put my finger on why. It doesn’t clump as tightly as I would like (it often falls apart while being scooped), but it does trap pee smells so that’s a plus. It gets points for being biodegradable and natural (no added chemicals, dyes, or perfumes).
They say that it’s flushable (which some of my clients do). However, you should refrain from flushing cat poop down the toilet because research shows that cat poop contains Toxoplasma gondii—a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis.
From National Geographic: “Any warm-blooded animal can get toxo, but only cats can spread it. Cats are also the only animals known to harbor the infectious form of the parasite. Infected cats introduce the aptly named “kitty litter parasite” into the environment through their feces. A toxo-ridden cat can poop out billions of parasitic eggs, or oocysts, over the course of its life.”
Toxoplasmosis has been taking a toll on the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, with eleven deaths linked to this disease so far. There are only 1,300 of these seals left in the world, so the loss of any individual is devastating.
Wheat litter is very similar in almost every way to corn litter. It looks alike, clumps the same… pretty much everything about it is comparable. It’s a little cheaper than corn (though by mere pennies). In my experience, it is very dusty. I have a client that uses this and not only does it track like crazy, but when cleaning the box, it creates a dust cloud when the litter is moved around.
Additionally, the clumps often fall apart much like the corn litter. It does get points for being biodegradable and natural (no added chemicals, dyes, or perfumes).
I know you’re probably thinking, what the heck? Does she mean blades of grass outside? No. It is litter made 100% from grass and somehow made into teeny, tiny little granules. Grass is pretty new to the scene but like its counterparts corn, wheat, and walnut shell, it is biodegradable and natural. I just recently switched to grass litter, particularly Frisco’s Grass Litter, and I love it. Like corn and wheat, it’s also a smidge pricey, but I got it on sale with Chewy, making it cheaper for that particular purchase.
As someone who has an allergy to grass, I didn’t completely think this through. I have to admit, however, I have no sinus issues with it. The first pour kind of smells like the outdoors, which is nice, but then it doesn’t smell like anything.
The granules are smaller than clay and probably on par with wheat and corn. It says that it’s lightweight, which concerned me a little because my little freak uses the litter box like a circus performer. He puts all four paws on one corner and balances to pee or poop into the box. He never has his paws touching the litter while he does his business. So anything that doesn’t have legit weight to it will cause Max and his litter box to go bum over teakettle. While hilarious, it’s a complete mess to clean up. I’m happy to say that this isn’t as heavy as clay litter but does have enough weight to it.
Grass litter clumps really well and somehow has great odor control. It’s also dust-free. Max had no issue switching over to this litter and it does everything it says it does. I highly recommend grass litter.
Verdict: A (would have been an A+ except it’s pricey)
I tried walnut shell before I tried grass and I have to tell you, it is weird. It’s kind of awesome that they were able to create a litter out of walnut shells and also that it’s a dark brown color, just to mix things up. This is what sold me on it in the first place.
Chewy boasts, “Made from a proprietary blend of the fibrous materials found in the walnut shell, this litter neutralizes litter box odors better than clay, pine, and wheat. It produces harder clumps for easier scooping and is so absorbent, one bag is equal to three bags of the leading clay litter.” So, better odor control and you use less litter? AWESOME! The price was a plus as well. It’s cheaper than corn, wheat, and grass straight out of the gate.
All sounds too good to be true, right? Right. What are the issues? Well, for one, the litter is the same color as poop. So, if you do a quick glance into the litter box, you may not think anything is there. Additionally, this stuff is dusty as all heck. I had brown dust on my white walls and trash can. It had a weird smell (possibly… of walnuts?!) that I couldn’t get over. I did love how tightly it clumped the pee and the price, but I didn’t want to have to wipe down my walls and trash can over and over.
I’ve never personally used paper litter because of the aforementioned acrobatics. Paper litter is made out of recycled newspapers and magazines.
One particular brand, Purina’s Yesterday’s News, says, “A significant portion of the content of our paper cat litter comes from post-consumer waste derived from newspapers. When newspapers aren't recycled, they are either dumped into landfills or incinerated. We encourage everyone to recycle their discarded newspapers, and buy products from companies that use recycled materials. Concerned about the inks? Don’t be. Today, most publishers print using harmless organic inks and/or soy-based inks. The process used to make Yesterday's News neutralizes these inks so there will be no residue left on your cat's paws or fur.”
It is supposedly three times more absorbent than clay litter with “effective” odor control (what does that even mean?!) and is 99.7% dust-free. It comes in both pellet form and clumping form. Someone at the rescue I volunteer for mentioned she used paper litter and that it “wasn’t so great.” While I haven’t personally used paper litter, I can’t imagine that it would be amazing.
Verdict: D (based on research, not personal use)
Silica gel crystals
I have a few clients that use crystal litter. I never understood it personally because it doesn’t clump (that’s a big thing for me).
According to Chewy , “Silica gel crystal cat litter is made from sodium silicate sand that is processed with oxygen and water. The result is a bead with tiny pores that allows it to absorb around 40 times its weight in liquid. These beads are similar to the desiccant “do not eat” packets you find in medications, shoes and other products that need to stay dry. But in silica crystal litters, they are specifically formulated to be safe for cats and do not contain crystalline silicate, which can be harmful to cats.”
While I understand the wonderful capability that is the 40x absorbency rate, I’m not into having the pee just living in the litter. Like, get that pee out! Would you like to walk on pee litter? It doesn’t sit quite right with me, but each to their own.
A lot of the crystal litter companies say you don’t need to scoop for a month, but a month of mixed in pee is controversial for me. Pretty Litter is a brand that uses silica gel crystals. While I think it’s cool that you can, in theory, monitor your cat’s health via this litter, I really just always feel gross mixing their pee right back into the litter.
Verdict: D (the pee mixing is too much for me)
Considering the options
As you can see, there are plenty of natural litter options on the market. Like finding a good doctor, partner, or therapist, it may take a few tries to find the right litter for you, Fluffy, and Rat Tail. It’s worth it, though. We can all do our part to help the environment even if it’s tiny paw steps.
- Don’t flush cat poop. It could kill marine life.
- Don’t use clay litter. It’s killing the earth.
- Be earth-friendly. It’s the only place you, Fluffy, Rat Tail, and I can call home.
- Try the different types to see what works best for you.
Meowtel is all about cats, clearly—we even care about litter choices. If you are a cat lover and would like to turn cat sitting into a job, take a look at our sitter intro page. If you are looking for someone to care for your precious kitty or kitties while you are out of town, run a sitter search and find one of our vetted, insured sitters. | <urn:uuid:7e311369-de6a-494d-908c-602474cc279e> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://meowtel.com/blog/post/which-litter-is-the-best | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521876.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404103932-20200404133932-00515.warc.gz | en | 0.955565 | 2,957 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The United States of America, a country that makes up about 5% of the world’s population and yet the country has 21% of the world’s prisoners. One in almost every 37 adults in the United States is under some sort of correction supervision, whether it be parole or prison and that’s about 2.7% of the population. The number of people incarcerated in the country has increased between 500,000 and 2.2 million from 1980 to 2015. In 2014 African-American’s made up 34% of the 6.8 million correctional populations although African-American’s make up less than 2% of the population, 1.3% to be exact. The usual charge African-American’s face is drug possession and abuse but statistics by the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – formed in 1908) shows that people who are not of color consume drugs at the same rate if not more than an African-American yet African-American’s are six times more likely to be incarcerated because of drug charges than the average white man or woman. In a 2015 national survey on the drug use and health of Americans, about 17 million white people reported having used an illicit drug within the last month prior to the survey being taken, but only 4 million African-American’s reported taking illicit drugs within the same time span. With that being said, if there are that many people incarcerated in the United States, they lose their right to vote. Voting is such an important of American politics millions of people losing that right, being more likely to be incarcerated because of the color of their skin, their right to vote is stripped of them the moment the jury decides their guilty even if they are not. Is it right that any and all Americans, regardless of age or felony are stripped of their constitutional right to vote? Why does a country that says it stands for liberty, equality, democracy and freedom have such a high amount of people in prison? What has been the effect of mass incarceration on the country and has it done any good for the country’s crime rate?
Two states, Vermont and Maine, give felons the right to vote while incarcerated but having a drug charge disqualifies an individual from voting. The term is called felony disfranchisement because certain charges being more serious to other’s some who have committed a serious crime or have more than one criminal offence the right to vote is revoked. A right that shouldn’t be taken away from every person with a criminal record especially since the poorer the individual the more likely they are to commit crimes in order to survive and create a livable habitat for themselves whether it be by buying necessities like food and clothing or it be by paying the rent, heat, and lighting In their homes. The right to vote should not be revoked when it comes to people from the poor neighborhoods, people who don’t have the funds to even hire an adequate lawyer whether it be from the public or private sector, therefore they accept plea deals without even having the chance to go to trial whether they be guilty of any crime they’re being accused or innocent. The right to vote should not be taken away from the poorer individuals for one very important reason that is usually overlooked and that is the fact that most politicians do not care about the poor. There are a few politicians who truly care about the less fortunate, most politicians care about making the rich richer and that’s mostly because rich businessmen and women endorse the politicians with policies that are both good for their company and reputation. Money makes money. For example in both the US Senate and US House of Representatives, make at least $174,000 a year and with the campaign, especially large-scale campaigns costing a lot more than one-hundred and seventy-four thousand. Hilary Clinton spent four million eighty-eight thousand on each of the fifty states worker unions alone and spent 1.4-billion dollars on her campaign as a whole from the party and joint fundraising committees to her 600 million dollar campaign. Meanwhile the current president only spent one million five hundred eighty-six thousand on workers unions in each state but the about worker unions is that each union could have from fifty to thousands of people so that amount of money won’t go far helping the bigger unions and since unions usually consist of blue collar workers rather than white collar workers, the people a part of those unions don’t make as much as the white collar workers (doctors, lawyers, anyone who holds a position at a major company, etc.) and since white collar workers are usually not majorly effected by policy changes because they hold the most power when it comes to endorsements which have the power to sway voters. Since blue-collar workers are more likely to be caught by the cops if they commit a crime especially because Hispanic and African-Americans are more likely to be arrested even if they have no truly committed a crime, therefore they lose their right to vote. With that being said, people of color are already a large minority in the states, being arrested and treated like criminals even if they’re innocent is another reason why their right to vote should not be taken away because when they leave prison, after years of being treated like they weren’t even human, like they were nothing but a number by a system that might have failed them, they deserve to have at least the right to feel like they are a part of their country. Of course, killer, rapists, predators, etc. are an exception to this, but drug dealers, illegal gun owners, people with minor crimes right to vote should not be revoked.
An important question we have to ask ourselves as citizens of the world is why does the United States of America’s population make up 5% yet the largest amount of people in their prisons. The jail occupancy percentage is 7.6% above a hundred, that’s 107.6% jail occupancy. China has the second largest amount of incarcerated people in the world with 1.5 million people in prisons but with their population exceeding 1.3 billion, it makes sense that they would have such a large amount of people incarcerated. With the population of the United States being 325.6 million, why are so many people incarcerated? Well, one answer is Nixon’s war on drugs that he started during his term (1969-1974) and that ‘War on Drugs’ mainly targeted people of color, resulting in them being harassed and hurt even more by law enforcement. The thing about Nixon’s war on drugs was adopted by Portugal and since they legalized most drugs with scientific evidence that they do not harm the brain (Marijuana, weed, etc) most other drugs completely disappeared. Fake drugs are being sold to tourists and there is no drug problem in Portugal, but with the United States demonizing all drugs including the ones with actual medical benefits (birth control, medical marijuana which calms down people with severe anxiety and other mental disorder) the people imprisoned for using illegal drugs who cause no actual damage to the human brain are losing so many opportunities, months even years of they live, they’re losing so much of their lives because the legal system is operating under laws that were written decades ago. That is one of the reasons, another reason is that poorer teenagers, juvenile delinquents, committing petty crimes to make some cash and help their family. Another reason is the growth of families in more disadvantaged parts of the states which makes it more likely that people from poorer backgrounds will end up in situations that are unfavourable to them and their future’s and might end up incarcerated.
An argument presented often is ‘The more criminals incarcerated for their crimes, the safer the streets.’ Yes, theoretically that would be right, but that’s not the case at all. There are 2.2 million people incarcerated in the United States, that’s 10 times the amount of people in prison fifty years ago. There are an additional 700 thousand people in jails and detention facilities. The nation’s spending on prisons has increased by 400% and as a budget for prisons has increased there’s less money for education, healthcare, economic development, state and local police, and the list could go on. A study conducted by the NYU School of Law confirms that since the year 2000 the effect mass incarceration has had on crime rate is essentially zero. Prison has turned into a business, just like everything else, people being incarcerated can be and has been capitalized on. The Corrections Corporation of America and to quote the co-founder of CCA Tom Beasley ‘You just sell prisons like you were selling cars, or real estate, or hamburgers,’ and of course prisons, come with prisoners. In 2015 the CCA made 1.7 billion dollars. Another argument that could be made is that private prisons are saving taxpayer money, which is a lie. Private prisons cost as much money as public prisons and of course, private prisons found a way to keep a prisoner in prison for the longest amount of time possible. Private prisons give out twice as many infractions as government or public prisons, those infractions can result in prisoners sentence’s to be extended because it leads the government to believe that the prisoner is not yet ready to be a functioning member of society and that makes CCA even more money. Private prisons sneak occupancy clauses in their contracts which requires states to keep prisons full. In 2011 a private prison in Arizona didn’t reach their 97.9% occupancy rate and the state had to pay a three-million-dollar fine. Another argument that can be made is, at least the prisoners are getting an education well again, that is a lie, nothing but a myth. In 1847 prisons had an education program that included Reading, Writing, History, Geography, Physiology, Mathematics, and even Physical Education but due to the government systematically eliminating any chance at educating themselves while in prison. In 1994 American politicians hated the idea of prisoners getting anything, the idea of being tough on crime was like a trend all politicians followed and since then the country has gone from having 350 allege degree programs for prisoners all around the country to just 12. Studies show that education is the fastest, cheapest way to reduce recidivism and with the best prison education program having a ten thousand people wait list, which means that 40% of people are back behind bars In just 3 years.
In conclusions, with prisoner rate’s like the ones we’ve seen in the United States, the right to vote should not be taken away from most prisoner’s. The ones who have committed violent crimes, the state has a full right to take away their right to vote but the ones who have committed non-violent crimes, those are the people who still deserve to be apart of America’s voice today. More money should be spent on education and less should be spent on trying to keep prisoners in prison and when they leave the system should help them stay out of prison instead of doing what it can to bring them back. Private prisons to be eradicated if the United States wants to grow as an economy and as a country. The United States should educate rather than treat anyone who isn’t rich, white and male as criminals or lesser than. | <urn:uuid:c6bb9e17-88f5-4c43-9f30-b6e370f55563> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://visceralbrooklyn.com/the-advancement-of-colored-people-formed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521574.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404073139-20200404103139-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.973122 | 2,308 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Why is it Necessary to use Vertical Sections with Cycloids
The interaction of the probe with the tissue characteristic being estimated must be isotropic; no orientation in three dimensions can be favored. This is especially important to consider when estimating length of strings or surface of regions, or when estimating surface or volume of particles. If the strings, surface, or particles are themselves isotropic in three dimensions then no orientation will be favored. There have been reports that endeavor to show that, for instance, the cortical ribbon (Oster, et al., 1993) and various types of neurons in the brain (Schmitz, et al., 1999) are isotropic, and sometimes isotropy is assumed (“In the case of the pulmonary parenchyma it seems acceptable to assume tissue isotropy”, Mühlfeld and Ochs, 2013, Quantitative paramaters of acute lung injury, last paragraph, last sentence and “The air-blood barrier can be assume to be randomly oriented within a cube of lung tissue as it is used for histological preparation”, Weibel and Knight, 1964, p. 370) but object isotropy is rare in many biological systems, and can be hard to prove. Therefore, to ensure isotropy of interaction, some combination of the probe and the tissue preparation must be used to eliminate the chance that any particular orientation of interaction is favored. Technically, the most efficient solution is to choose a probe that is symmetrical in three dimensions and therefore isotropic in three dimensions. This is not available when estimating the surface or volume of particles, but it is possible for length of strings and surface of regions. For length use the spaceballs probe, it is a sphere, and it doesn’t matter how a sphere is oriented when it encounters a string; no particular orientation will result in more or less intersections. For surface use the isotropic fakir probe, it is a triplet of three line segments, all mutually orthogonal to each other; when it encounters a surface, it’s orientation won’t matter since the triplet is symmetrical in three dimensions. Both Spaceballs and Isotropic Fakir do not require the use of isotropic or vertical sections, preferentially oriented sections may be used. Both probes, however, do require the use of thick sections so there is room to fit the sphere or triplet.
If you can’t obtain thick sections to estimate string-length or region-surface, or if you are estimating the surface or volume of particles, it is impossible to make the probe isotropic. That means the tissue preparation must be used to ensure isotropy. Isotropic tissue sections can be used. These will be random in three dimensions ensuring isotropy of interaction between the probe and tissue, but they have the disadvantage of usually causing anatomical disorientation; you won’t be able to ‘read’ your tissue as you can when using preferential sectioning. A compromise is to use vertical sections. A vertical direction is picked and the tissue, for instance the tissue block, is randomly rotated around the vertical axis. But the tissue in these vertical sections is not probed with straight line segments or planes. A specially designed line segment or plane is used called a cycloid.
Why does a cycloid have to be used when sampling on vertical sections to ensure isotropy? To think about that, lets imagine a test for isotropy. If rays are emanating from a point in two dimensions, we could assure that no particular direction in 2-D space is favored by picking a random angle from one to 360 degrees over and over again. In other words if the point is in the middle of a circle and an infinite amount of rays emanate from the point according to a random angle selection each time, no part of the circle will be more or less likely to be intersected by a ray. The system is isotropic in two dimensions. The problem comes when considering three dimensions. If a point is in the center of a sphere, and probing-rays emanate from that point, we can say the system is isotropic if no part of the spheres surface is more or less likely than any other part to intersect a ray. With a vertical section, the tissue has been randomly rotated in 2-D about the vertical axis, before the sectioning. But once that section is on the microscope, the second angle, the angle that determines how the probing line segments will be arranged on the section, can’t be picked randomly from between one and 360 degrees. Instead the angle must be sine-weighted and to achieve this a cycloid line segment is used.
Consider again the sphere system that can test for isotropy. Any direction of a ray that comes from a point in the center can be designated by two angles (Baddeley, et al., 1985, Fig. 2). We can select a random angle in two dimensions about the equator, but if we pick the second angle randomly there will actually be more intersections of the rays at the poles of the sphere than at the equator of the sphere (West, M.J., 2012, Chapter 4, Isotropy, Isectors, and Vertical Sections, fig. 4.3 D). This is because ‘the area associated with 1o of longitude and latitude is considerably smaller at the poles of the globe than at the equator’. (West, M.J., 2012, Chapter 4, Isotropy, Isectors, and Vertical Sections, section 4.6.2, second paragraph, second sentence). Here is an illustration showing the situation if the second angle is picked by simply making equally spaced angles:
At the pole (at the top) the curvature is more pronounced than at the equator, so the same size angle coming from the center will actually carve out less area at the pole than at the equator. This is the same problem that the Mercator projection map of the world has; when a globe is flattened out the area at the poles is exaggerated, making for example Greenland look larger than it really is in comparison to other land areas. If we draw lines from the intersections of the rays with the surface to the vertical axis:
we can see that the spacing along the vertical axis is not even. Instead of equal angles at the source of the rays, the vertical axis should first be divided into equally spaced sections:
and then lines are drawn from the intersections back to the center:
The resulting angles are based on the sine of the angle between the vertical axis and the particular ray. Notice that the intersections are spread out at the poles when compared to the equator to make up for the fact that a given increment in the angle will cover less area at the poles than at the equator. The sine of an angle between 0 and 90 degrees varies from 0 to 1, but not in a linear way, it varies in a sine-weighted way. Instead of generating the sine-weighted angles implicitly, it is easier to correct the situation by using a probe that is sine-weighted, the cycloid. “A cycloid can be thought of as a string of infinitesimally small line segments with sine-weighted orientations relative to a specified axis” (West, M.J., 2012, Chapter 4, Isotropy, Isectors, and Vertical Sections, section 4.6.3, second paragraph, third sentence). A cycloid can be created by tracing a fixed point on a circle as the circle rolls along (West, M.J., 2012, Chapter 4, Isotropy, Isectors, and Vertical Sections, fig. 4.7).
By D.328 10:34, 23 November 2006 (UTC) (drawn by D.328) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.1 jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
In the animation above, the cycloid line-segment probe put down on the tissue is represented between 0 and π. “When the minor axis, Figure 4.7C, of the cycloid is aligned with the vertical axis on a vertical section, the cycloid is a linear probe that will fulfill the criteria for a linear probe that has all orientation in 3D space when placed on vertical sections and will result in the desired isotropic interactions with surface features and particulate objects (West, M.J., 2012, Chapter 4, Isotropy, Isectors, and Vertical Sections, section 4.6.3, second paragraph, last sentence).
What probes use vertical sections and cycloids? If you are estimating surface and have to use thin sections and don’t want to use isotropic sections, the cycloids for Sv (Baddeley et al., 1985) probe can be used on vertical sections. In this case the minor axis of the cycloid is parallel to the vertical axis. If you are estimating the surface or volume of particles, all of those probes require isotropic or vertical sections. Let’s take for example the most popular probe for estimating the volume of cells, the nucleator. If you don’t want to use isotropic sections, vertical sections can be used, and in this case the minor axis of the cycloid is also lined up with the vertical axis. The sine weighted nature of the cycloid line segment ensures there is an equal chance of probing in any three dimensional direction. If you are estimating length of strings, sine weighted planes can be used to probe on vertical sections (Cycloids for Lv; Gokhale, 1989). In this case the minor axis of the areal cycloid must be perpendicular to the vertical axis. Since a plane is used for the probe, however, the section must be thick, and in that case, an isotropic probe, Spaceballs (Mouton, et al., 2002) should be used.
Gokhale, A.M. (1989) Unbiased Estimation of Curve Length in 3-D Using Vertical Slices, J. of Microscopy, 159, pp. 133 -141.
Mühlfeld, C. and M. Ochs (2013) Quantitative Microscopy of the Lung — a Problem-Based Approach Part 2: Stereological Parameters and Study Designs in Various Diseases of the Respiratory Tract. Am. J. Physiol. Lunc Cell Mol. Physiology, 305(3):L205-21.
Oster, S., Christoffersen, P., Gundersen, H. J., Nielsen, J.O., Pakkenberg, B. and C. Pedersen (1993) Cerebral Atrophy in AIDS: a Stereological Study, Acta Neuropathol., 85, pp. 617 -622.
Schmitz, C., Schuster, D., Niessen, P. and H. Korr (1999) No Difference between Estimated Mean Nuclear Volumes of Various Types of Neurons in the Mouse Brain Obtained on either Isotropic Uniform Random Sections or Conventional Frontal or Sagittal Sections, J. of Neuroscience Methods, 88, pp. 71 – 82.
Weibel E.R. and B.W. Knight (1964) A Morphometric Study on the Thickness of the Pulmonary Air-Blood Barrier, J. of Cell Biology, 21, pp. 367 -384.
West, M.J. (2012) Basic Stereology for Biologists and Neuroscientists, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY | <urn:uuid:cf258a0c-7a58-4924-9518-d71a14b58ad4> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.stereology.info/cycloid/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370518622.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20200403190006-20200403220006-00315.warc.gz | en | 0.87571 | 2,477 | 2.859375 | 3 |
If we were to judge by the caves existing in the area of Brotnjo as well as in the parish of Medjugorje, we can't completely exclude the possibility of habitation as far back as the older Stone Age period. From the later Stone Age period, there is material proof of the existence of a pre-Illyrian culture and civilisation in the area. In the older Bronze Age, there is evidence of Illyrian tribes. Copper objects found in the area are proof of an intensive lifestyle. Some walled settlements on the higher points, so-called "gradine" (castle ruins), which were either circular or square in shape, date from this period. A double wall surrounded some of them. In the parish of Medjugorje, there are still existing examples of the double-walled "gradine": in Surmanci and above Medjugorje itself in Zuzelj. Apart from the "gradine", the most eloquent evidence of the Illyrian civilisation (which is abundant in Brotnjo and indeed in the area of Medjugorje itself) are the graves of the Illyrian dignitaries.
In the second century before Christ, the Daors allied themselves with the Romans and waged war with the Illyrian tribes of Dalmatia. Brotnjo first belonged to the Illyrian province of Dalmatia, which has its administrational seat in Solin near Split, and from the third century to the setting of Narona. The writings on the gravestones testify that Roman legions and cohorts were situated in the area, and that Roman veteran soldiers lived there. There remain some parts of a road from the time of the Romans, constructed in the 3rd century. Apart from that, many Roman memorial tombstones and objects of everyday use have been found. The most significant archaeological site from the Roman time is to be found in the Catholic cemetery in Miletina, where some vestiges of buildings made of Roman bricks have been discovered, but it hasn't been sufficiently examined.
At the end of the 6th century, Croatians began to establish themselves in these regions. The region of Brotnjo represented a tribal political-territorial unit, a district, with a tribal regional chief, a district prefect.
Brotnjo always belonged to the land of Hum, which in 1322 fell under Bosnian administration. From 1357, this area then belonged to the Hungarian Croatian King, Ljudevit I.
From the mediaeval period, the most famous memorials of the civilisation in this region are the "stecak" - truly indigenous autochthones grave memorials. In many ways the "stecak" from Herzegovina are superior to those from the rest of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Croatia; in the number and in the dimension of burial grounds, in the beauty of their ornamentation, and in their worth regarding artful elaboration. In Brotnjo itself there are many burial grounds and "stecak", likewise in the area of Medjugorje. Man-formed crosses with arms raised in prayer are sculpted into some of them.
Up to the 12th century, this area was Glagolitic. The famous “Plaque of Humac” testifies to this. In the second half of the 12th century a form of the Cyrillic alphabet called “Bosancica” prevailed. In the area of Brotnjo, not one mediaeval Latin inscription is to be found, only Croatian inscriptions written in “Bosancica”.
Christianity arrived to the area surrounding Medjugorje in the time of the Romans. Judging by the amount of early Christian church ruins it was extensively widespread. In large part they were destroyed, and churches were levelled to the ground during the time of the migration in the 6th and 7th centuries after Christ. The Croatian settlers accepted Christianity very early: They started to be baptised as early as the 7th century. However, the Catholic Church never became really solidly established in the mediaeval Croatian Bosnian state, which facilitated the expansion of the "Bosnian Church." In the 13th century, the Croatian Bosnian state, which included the land of Hum (Herzegovina), was firstly visited by the Dominican missionaries and, after their lack of results, the Franciscan missionaries who accomplished great success in bringing the Bogumils or “Bosnian Christians” back to the Catholic Church and the Catholic faith.
Bosnia and Herzegovina fell under Turkish power in the year 1463. The Turkish invaders wished to occupy the whole of Croatia too, to reach Vienna and Rome, and likewise further west. On their way, the Croatians stopped them; for this reason, the Pope proclaimed them to be the "bulwark of Christianity". Croatia had nevertheless to pay a high price. Not only were many Croatian lives lost in continuous warfare, but the central part of Croatia - its heart - was also snatched away: Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The life of the Catholics under Turkish rule was constantly exposed to the forced passage into Islam, to oppression and to persecution. Under the Turkish feudal system, no Croatian could possess anything immovable. Catholics were permanently considered as “enemies of the state,” because their head was in “enemy” territory: Rome. Croatians subsisted from stock bearing and work on the properties of Turkish invaders and of local landlords who embraced Islam; they were paying large taxes in stock, corn, grain and even children. The Turks forcefully snatched their children, made them embrace Islam and used them as Janissaries, special-force units for the purpose of conquering the still unconquered Christian lands, among others their own Croatian country. For this reason, many Croatians were driven to flee westwards. This is how the Moslem element entered into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Up until the time of Turkish occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the area was almost completely inhabited by Croatians. As the Turkish broke in from the east, the Serbs migrated westwards fleeing from them, but later on they helped them in their conquests, and arrived in these areas where heretofore they had never been.
The activities of the Franciscans in these areas from the very time of their arrival had a major influence on the survival of Croatians under cultural, religious and every other aspect. The Franciscans emerged in Croatian regions in the first decades of the 13th century. During the whole time of the Turkish occupation (1463 to 1878), the Franciscans were the only ones who tended to the spiritual needs of the Croatian Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their only representatives and defenders in front of the Turkish administration. In every way, the Franciscans shared the plight of their people. After the Turks had destroyed all of the Franciscan monasteries in Herzegovina, in the first half of the 16th century, the spiritual care for the Croatian Catholics was taken over by Franciscans from the Christian Dalmatia, i.e. Croatia. During the Turkish administration, the Franciscans were persecuted, tortured and killed, many thrown alive into the river Neretva... After the Turkish rule, only the ruins of the Franciscan monasteries were left.
The first Franciscan Province to be set up in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the Bosnian Franciscan Province. In 1852, the Herzegovinian Custody was established, and in 1892 the Herzegovinian Franciscan province was founded, members of which serve today in the parish of Medjugorje.
The Franciscans have left indelible tracks in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many have enriched the Croatian Church with their personal holiness and heroic witnessing of the Gospel; they educated the population, and contributed to the alphabetisation and the development of art and science.
In the great wars of the 17th century the majority of parishes in Herzegovina were destroyed, among them the parish of Medjugorje. When relative peace returned to Herzegovina in the 18th century, the Franciscans gathered the remaining believers together and established parishes. The parish of Medjugorje was founded in the year 1892.
After liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy took power in these areas. For political reasons, it didn't want to include the newly liberated areas in the Croatian state to which they historically belonged. And so, once again in history, the Croatian people of Bosnia and Herzegovina remained separated from the motherland.
In the year 1914, the First World War began, the reason being the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian. In 1918, at the end of the First World War, Yugoslavia was fraudulently brought into existence as the kingdom of Serbians, Croatians and Slovenians. This fraud was brought about by the big powers of the time. In this state, the Croatian people were oppressed, and the parliamentarian who fought for the freedom of Croatians was perfidiously killed in the Parliament, in Belgrade, in 1928. In 1929, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was established, which was to crumble at the beginning of the Second World War.
During the Second World War, the losses of the Croatian people were immense. At the end of the war itself, when the cease-fire had already been officially declared, about 300,000 civilians and soldiers lost their lives at Bleiburg and at what is called the "Way of the Cross" of the Croatian people. According to attained agreements, the Allies were supposed to offer refuge to Croats after their surrender, and to others who were seeking to evade communism. But the Allies, according to the order of the field-martial general Harold Alexander, handed the soldiers and the civilians over to the communists – the partisans. In Bleiburg alone a multitude lost their lives, while the rest of them had to form a 60km long line taking them to the communist Yugoslavia and it's concentration camps. This was the beginning of the Croatian Golgotha, the so-called "Way of the Cross,” which extended from the most northern to the most southern point of the new multi-ethnic state of Yugoslavia. The Partisans killed the Croatians while walking, without trial, without establishing their eventual culpability, at their own discretion. Especially persecuted were the Croatians from Herzegovina.
The communists killed 630 priests and nuns from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alone in the Herzegovinian Franciscan province, 70 Franciscans were killed. The Second World War took 344 lives from the parish of Medjugorje.
In the parish of Medjugorje, life under communist rule was hard. People were beaten and sentenced to years in prison just because they were Catholics and Croatians. In schools, just as elsewhere in Croatia, the communists tried to separate children from their national identity and their faith. Thanks to the strong faith of the people, they didn't succeed in this.
At the same time, the area was systematically economically neglected, with the aim of having as many people as possible leave the area… The pilgrims, who came here at the very beginning of the apparitions, saw all this in action. They found here a very poor region and very rude policemen. The administration didn't permit the slightest help in accommodating the pilgrims; instead, many of them - together with the locals - were persecuted and imprisoned, just because they said that Our Lady was appearing. However, the local people were hospitable and had their standards.
The communist tyranny fell in 1990, when the Croatian people unanimously decided for the independence and breakaway from the artificially created Yugoslavia. This, certainly, didn't tie in with the idea of Great Serbian, so the Yugoslavian army, made up primarily of Serbs, militarily attacked Slovenia on the 25th of June 1991 (the tenth anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions), then Croatia and afterwards Bosnia and Herzegovina, desiring to suffocate independence. Several hundred thousands lost their lives during this bloody war. The world could have stopped this bloodshed. It didn't do this because of their respective interests. The E.E.C. kept on condemning the warring sides, hoping to wash its hands and save Yugoslavia as a multinational state, which could be used to further their own aims. James Baker, the Prime Minister of the Bush administration, even permitted the Yugoslav army to attack Slovenia.
European and world powers sought out and still seek their own interests in these areas. Because of that, they tried and continue to try to fog-up this war presenting it as a civil war in which all were equal. The truth is, however, completely different and very simple: The Serbs, wanting to create the Great Serbia, attacked other peoples which up until then had lived with them in the same state. They were able to do this because, in ex-Yugoslavia, all the power was in their hands. The major world powers had chosen them as the "policemen" of the Balkans, and because of this, they looked benignly on their actions. Even when they had committed the first genocide, as in Vukovar, the major world powers didn't want to stop them. They only began to stop them when they exceeded every measure, and began to injure the reputation of their protectors.
The warfare between Croatians and the Moslem community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (in 1993) began as a series of misunderstandings, but also out of a desire of some foreign intelligence services to occupy as much as possible of the territories in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to consolidate there. The Croatians simply desired that no one other than themselves govern them anymore. They wanted to have their own schools, to be allowed to call their own language Croatian, while remaining in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Moslem community, the largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by a fundamentalist leadership, wanted to administrate the new state according to the Islamic law and to impose its rule upon the others. For this reason, they brought into the country the Islamic soldiers - mudjahedins - from all over the world, who committed terrible crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This war, however, was stopped very rapidly because it was really not needed.
Today, Medjugorje is a part of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because of the communist administration and the terrible war, the infrastructure of Medjugorje is still underdeveloped. This however, didn't stop pilgrims from coming here, even during the cruelest clashes of the war. Many of them brought aid, thus helping the Croatian people to remain where they were. The Croatian people will never forget this. Today, pilgrims are coming more and more. They want to experience this time of grace with their whole hearts, and not let it pass them by. | <urn:uuid:5c79e072-592e-4f7b-aff5-d5159116348a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://webmedjugorje.com/index.php/medjugorje-xm-our-lady-city-xm/history-xm-of-medjugorje-xm/a-short-historical-presentation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371826355.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408233313-20200409023813-00474.warc.gz | en | 0.977671 | 3,123 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Swadlincote Town Centre
|Population||32,219 (2011)|
|OS grid reference|
|Sovereign state||United Kingdom|
Swadlincote is an English town in Derbyshire, near its borders with Leicestershire and Staffordshire, about 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Burton-upon-Trent, 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch and 11.5 miles (19 km) south-south-west of the City of Derby. It is an unparished area in South Derbyshire district and its largest town and administrative centre. It also covers Newhall, Oversetts, Midway and the contiguous villages of Church Gresley and Woodville, with the sub-district of Goseley. The combined population is about 36,000. Castle Gresley is under 2 miles (3 km) to the south-west and Albert Village 1.5 miles (2 km) to the south, in Leicestershire.
Swadlincote's name is derived from the Old English Swartlings Cottas, Swartling being a man's name and cottas meaning cottages. Past forms of the name include Sivardingescote and Swartlincote. Local residents sometimes shorten its name to "Swad".
The first record of mineral extraction in the area is from the end of the 13th century, but the area remained rural until the industrialisation in the 18th century. The presence of coal and clay in the area led to urbanisation as collieries, brickworks and potteries came to dominate Swadlincote. These industries continued to expand until the Second World War. In Alexandra Road one traditional bottle-shaped kiln survives.
The fire-clay strata in the coal measures has a high alumina content. Swadlincote is one of only six places in Britain with clay deposits of such quality. This makes it particularly suitable for salt glazing. The properties of the clay mean it is easily shaped into pipes that are resistant to sewage. The Public Health Act 1875 created a huge demand for locally produced pipes.
Emmanuel Church of England parish church is a Gothic Revival building consecrated in 1846. It was designed by H. I. Stevens and completed in 1848. Swadlincote also had a Wesleyan chapel by then. Today the town has also the Roman Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The town's first local-government body was formed in 1871 with the creation of Swadlincote District local board of health. Its area consisted of three civil parishes: Church Gresley, Stanton and Newhall and Swadlincote. Under the terms of the Local Government Act 1894, this became Swadlincote and District Urban District, renamed Swadlincote Urban District in 1951. In 1974 the urban district was merged with Repton Rural District and part of South East Derbyshire Rural District to form the present South Derbyshire District.
The urban district council was granted a coat of arms in 1947, in a design that reflected how Swadlincote was formed of part of the ancient parish of Church Gresley. Around the edge of the shield was a bordure or border in a "vairy" pattern of red and ermine, from the arms of the Gresley family, who took their name from the parish. The dedication of Gresley parish church to Saint George and Saint Mary was represented by their symbols: a cross and a fleur de lys respectively. The quartered ermine and red field of the shield was taken from the arms of the Stanhope family, Earls of Harrington. The Tudor roses were taken from the arms of Derbyshire County Council. Above the arms was a crest depicting a human arm holding a billet or: a yellow brick for the local brick-making industry. The arm rose from flames, indicative of mining of fireclay and coal. The Latin motto adopted: E terra divitiæ ("Riches from the earth") also referred to the mineral industries of Swadlincote. The current arms of South Derbyshire District Council, which bear the motto "The Earth Our Wealth" and also reflect this heritage.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the town's Rink venue (now demolished and the site of industrial units) hosted to major British and American pop stars. Gene Vincent appeared on 7 September 1963, and Ringo Starr in 1962, while he was the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
Swadlincote covers four of the 17 wards of South Derbyshire District, returning 11 of the 36 district councillors: Church Gresley (two councillors), Newhall and Stanton (three), Midway (three) and Swadlincote (three). Of the eleven elected in 2007, ten are Labour Party, and one a Conservative.
Swadlincote forms part of the South Derbyshire parliamentary constituency. Between 1997 and 2010 its MP was Mark Todd (Labour). In the 2010 General Election, the seat was won by the Conservative Party candidate Heather Wheeler, an ex-leader of the Conservative group on South Derbyshire District Council. A notable previous MP is Edwina Currie (Conservative). Until 1983 the area was part of the Belper constituency.
The town is located within the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield. Its landscape is marked by shallow valleys and ridges, shaped particularly by the mining activity which once dominated the area. Swadlincote lies within the National Forest, and there has been significant tree planting around Gresley Common, Swadlincote Woodlands and Church Gresley.
The suburbs of Newhall and Stanton to the north-west lie along the Burton upon Trent and Swadlincote Green Belt, as a curb to development which could have caused Swadlincote to merge with the Winshill and Stapenhill districts of Burton-on-Trent. Most of the green belt lies in Derbyshire, with small tracts in Staffordshire. Hence most of Swadlincote's 21st-century expansion has been to the south and east of the centre, particularly adjacent to Woodville and Church Gresley.
The town originally had a prominent manufacturing heritage that made pipes and earthenware. It was the centre of the South Derbyshire coalfield, but mining ceased when Rawdon Colliery closed in 1993. Light manufacturing and service companies are sited on large industrial estates.
Swadlincote has a moderate-sized town centre typical of the Midlands, containing national chain stores and small local businesses. It had a branch of Somerfield before the Co-operative Group took over the chain in 2009. The opening of a large chain supermarket on Coppice Side has been blamed as a factor behind the closure of several small independent shops. The shops that lined West Street and High Street from 1901 had disappeared by the early 21st century. Hepworth Retail Park is a fairly modern development with a restaurant, cinema and various shops.
Plans were announced in 2008 for a new retail complex consisting of a cinema, DIY store and a nationally recognised clothing store. A link road called Sir Herbert Wragg Way has been built, named after the area's mid-20th century Member of Parliament and pipe-yard owner.
A pub bar and restaurant opened on the former Empire Cinema site in April 2007, named The Paramount after Paramount Cars, a manufacturer based in the town in the 1950s. The pub closed in June 2013.
In 1804 the Ashby Canal opened, with its northern terminus at Moira, Leicestershire. Also built were tramways to carry coal and ceramics from Swadlincote and elsewhere to the canal for shipment.
The Midland Railway opened its Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line in 1845, with Gresley railway station to serve the area. The company later built a branch with two stations through both Swadlincote itself and the neighbouring village of Woodville. In 1947 passenger services were withdrawn from both lines. British Railways closed Gresley railway station in 1964. Swadlincote remains one of the UK's largest towns to lack a railway station.
Today the nearest station is Burton-on-Trent, some 5 miles (8.0 km) away. The Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line remains open for goods traffic and in the 1990s there was a plan to restart the passenger service as the second phase of Leicestershire's Ivanhoe Line. This plan was shelved after the privatisation of British Rail and has not been revived.
Swadlincote is on National Cycle Network Route 63. Although currently under development, the route is signed from Civic Way through to Church Gresley via Maurice Lea Park with onward links to the heart of the National Forest.
Schools in Swadlincote include Granville Academy at Woodville, William Allitt School at Newhall, St George's School and Pennine Way Junior Academy in Church Gresley, Belmont and Springfield Junior Schools and The Pingle Academy on Coronation Street, which with 1,200 pupils is Swadlincote's largest secondary school.
The main attractions in Swadlincote are local parks, such as Maurice Lea at Church Gresley and Eureka, Green Bank Leisure Centre, a large dry ski slope, and a '50s American Diner, said to be the largest such establishment in the UK. All are within easy reach of the town centre.
Swadlincote Woodlands Forest Park is an 80 acre site, with more than 40,000 trees, two recreational forest trails and has a number of view points across the town. It is also the proposed site for the Pipeworks arts and media project, a registered charity-based community theatre and media production facility.
The town's one museum is the Sharpe's Pottery Museum, which is devoted to the town's pottery heritage. It contains a café and the town's Tourist Information Centre is based there.
Accent and dialect
Recently, people have been moving to the town from south Staffordshire (Tamworth, Rugeley, Lichfield, etc.), who use Swadlincote as a dormitory site, working elsewhere. This West Midlands dialect can be heard alongside the traditional one.
In birth order:
- George Stanhope (1660–1728), royal chaplain and promoter of church building, was born at Hartshorne near Swadlincote.
- Henry Isaac Stevens (1806–1873), architect, designed Emmanuel Church in Swadlincote.
- George Lloyd (1820–1885), archaeologist and cleric, was curate of Church Gresley in the 1860s.
- Helen Allingham (née Paterson, 1848–1926), watercolourist and illustrator, was born to a Swadlincote doctor's family.
- J. Thomas Looney, (1870–1944), scholar who advanced the "Oxford wrote Shakespeare" theory, died in Swadlincote.
- George H. Widdows (1881–1976), schools architect, designed the Grade II listed Springfield Junior School in Swadlincote.
- John Hurt (1940–2017), actor, lived in Woodville from the ages of five to twelve. His father was vicar of St Stephen's parish church.
- John Bloor (born 1943), owner of Bloor Homes and Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
- Joe Jackson (born 1954), jazz-rock musician and singer-songwriter, spent the first year of his life in Swadlincote.
- Andrew Bridgen (born 1964), Conservative politician, attended The Pingle School in Swadlincote.
- Deborah Haywood (born 1970), award-winning film director, notably for her feature film Pin Cushion, which was filmed in Swadlincote.
- John Hulme (1862–1940), county cricketer, was born in Church Gresley.
- Arthur Archer (1874–1940), professional footballer, played also for Swadlincote Town FC.
- Ben Warren (1879–1917), England international footballer, was born in Newhall.
- John Heath (1891–1972), was a first-class and international cricketer born in Swadlincote.
- George Harrison (1892–1939), professional footballer and publican, was born and died in Church Gresley.
- Frederick Heath (1894–1967), first-class cricketer, was born in Swadlincote.
- Lew Bradford (1916–1984), professional footballer, was born in Swadlincote.
- Douglas Meakin (1929–1998), first-class cricketer
- Bobby Mason (born 1936), professional footballer, lives in Swadlincote.
- Alan Jackson (born 1938), professional footballer and schoolteacher, was born in Swadlincote.
- Jack Bodell (1940–2016), British heavyweight boxing champion, was born in Newhall.
- Luke Simpkin (born 1979), is a Swadlincote-based light heavyweight professional boxer.
- Marc Goodfellow (born 1981), professional footballer, was born in Swadlincote.
- Carl Dickinson (born 1987) is a Swadlincote-born professional footballer playing for Yeovil Town.
- Harry Ward (born 1997), professional darts player, was born in Swadlincote.
- Lewis White (born 2000), Paralympic, S9 swimming champion, was born in Swadlincote.
- Services, Good Stuff IT. "South Derbyshire - UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data.
- "Profile of the District and Council" (PDF). South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 14 December 2007.[permanent dead link]
- "Swadlincote". Key To English Place Names. English Place Name Society. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- Lysons & Lysons, 1817, pp. 165–172.
- Lewis, 1848, pp. 280–283.
- Lewis, 1848, pp. 338–340.
- "Swadlincote — a potted history". South Derbyshire District Council. Archived from the original on 8 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- Pevsner & Williamson, 1978, page 336
- James Woodward Limited, Swadlincote; South Derbyshire District Council, 2003
- Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire and Rutland. Kelly's Directory. London. 1895. p. 355.
- Youngs Jr, Frederick A (1991). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. II: Northern England. London: Royal Historical Society. pp. 658–660.
- Scott-Giles, C. Wilfrid (1953). Civic Heraldry of England and Wales. London: J. M. Dent & Sons. p. not cited.
- "Find your councillor". South Derbyshire District Council. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- "Local Development Framework" (PDF). www.south-derbys.gov.uk. South Derbyshire Council.
- "South Derbyshire District Council – Community and Planning Services: South Derbyshire Local Plan PART 1" (PDF).
- Bull, Keith (12 January 2007). "Fears growing for town shops". Burton Mail. Retrieved 17 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- A Century of Shopping in Swadlincote, 2011, pub. The Magic Attic
- Bull, Keith (14 February 2008). "Town revamp plan revealed". Burton Mail. Retrieved 17 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- Bull, Keith (13 March 2007). "New bar retains sense of history". Burton Times. Retrieved 17 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- "Chapter 7 – Accessibility and Transport". Structure Plan. Leicestershire County Council. 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- "Public Transport in Derbyshire and the Peak District". Derbyshire County Council. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- "Swadlincote" (PDF). Derbyshire Public Transport Maps. Derbyshire County Council. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- "The 50s American Diner". The 50s American Diner.
- "Swadlincote Woodlands". South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- Sharpe's Pottery Centre,
- "1211 (Swadlincote) Squadron". 1211sqn.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012.
- BBC Derby. "Discovering the Derbyshire Accent". BBC Online. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- "Swadlincote dialect". LANDshapes. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- Post, Birmingham (23 January 2014). "Birmingham Post Rich List 2014: No.7 - John Bloor (£520m)".
- "Ben Warren's England profile". Englandstats.com.
- Hack, Billy (10 November 1971). "'The Name of the Game is Money'" (PDF). 7 Days. 1 (3): 16 – via Amiel Melburn Trust Internet Archive.
- Lewis, Samuel, ed. (1931) . A Topographical Dictionary of England (Seventh ed.). London: Samuel Lewis. pp. 280–283, 338–340.
- Lysons, Daniel; Lysons, Samuel (1817). Magna Britannia. 5: Derbyshire. pp. 165–172.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (1978) . Derbyshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 336. ISBN 0-14-071008-6.
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Test Instructions: This is a multiple-choice type of questions consisting of 35-items. Each question tests your knowledge on one of the basic subjects in nursing, i.e. Fundamentals of Nursing. They are objective type of questions which are based from the facts; it is very important to use your critical and reasoning skills. The rationales are included once you finished the set. If there are questions that have a similarity to other sources, the author doesn’t intend to do it; instead, she hopes to enhance your knowledge on the said area. The topics included are the following:
- Principles of wound care
- Burn injury
- Nursing process
- Health beliefs and practices
- Developmental stages
- Delegation, leadership and management skills
1. In performing a bacterial wound swab, why is it necessary to cover the wound with appropriate dressing?
a. It reduces the transmission of microorganisms.
b. Promotes patient’s comfort.
c. Facilitates wound healing, absorbs exudate, and reduces risk of bacterial colonization.
d. It decreases trauma to the tissue.
2. Which of the following types of burn injury is more frequent?
a. Thermal burns
b. Chemical burns
c. Electrical burns
d. Radiation related burns
3. What kind of technique used for assessing the extent of burn that gives reproducible accuracy especially age-related cases?
a. Wallace’s “rule of nines” tool
b. Lund and Browder chart
c. Fitzpatrick’s Scale
d. Both A and B
4. Which of the following classification of burn injury that involves the muscle, bone, tendon and interstitial tissue?
a. Full thickness burn
b. Superficial partial thickness burn
c. Superficial burn
d. Subdermal burn
5. Which of the following clearly describes a stage 3 pressure injury?
a. It includes a full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, and muscle.
b. It includes a partial thickness loss of dermis and shallow open ulcers.
c. It includes a full thickness skin loss; subcutaneous fat may be visible.
d. It is present on areas of persistent, non-blanchable redness when compared with the surrounding skin.
6. Which of the following is considered as a major factor in determining pressure injuries to patients?
7. Which of the following strategy is not essential in preventing pressure injuries?
a. Promote rubbing and massaging the bony prominences.
b. Monitor patient’s nutrition and hydration.
c. Maintain good skin hygiene.
d. Prevent shear and friction.
8. Which of the following types of leg ulcer which is often painless?
a. Venous Ulcer
b. Arterial leg ulcer
c. Diabetic leg ulcer
d. Both A and B
9. All of the following describes the importance of using critical thinking except:
a. Nurses do not involve themselves in making important decisions.
b. Nurses use knowledge in a various field of study and subjects.
c. Nurses deal with change in a very demanding and stressful environment.
d. Nurses should use it to solve client problems and make a reasonable solution.
10. Nurses use the nursing process systematically in order to plan and provide the appropriate nursing care. Which of the following step in the nursing process where a nurse will continue, modify, or terminate the client’s plan based on the outcomes gathered?
11. There are various types of assessment use by a nurse which depends on the situation. Which of the following is performed during any physiologic or psychological crisis of the patient?
a. Time-Lapsed Reassessment
b. Initial Assessment
c. Problem-Focused Assessment
d. Emergency Assessment
12. Obtaining data is a very crucial part in planning patient’s care. Which of the following types of data is also referred as the overt data?
a. Subjective data
b. Constant data
c. Objective data
d. Inherent data
13. There are different types of nursing diagnosis that a nurse can choose from. Which of the following types is considered as a client problem which is present at the time of assessing the patient?
a. Actual diagnosis
b. Wellness diagnosis
c. Risk nursing diagnosis
d. Syndrome diagnosis
14. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs clearly depicts the human needs as it is ranked based on how essential it is for our survival. Which of the following is not a characteristic of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
a. It is realistic, sees life clearly, and is subjective about his or her observations.
b. Has superior perception, is more decisive.
c. It is self-centered rather than problem centered.
d. It is highly effective, flexible, spontaneous, courageous, willing to make mistakes.
15. Aside from Maslow, Kalish also presented a hierarchy of needs. Which of the following needs he incorporated or added to the five levels of needs by Maslow?
a. Affection needs
b. Stimulation needs
c. Independence needs
d. Recognition needs
16. Which of the following describes a secondary level of prevention?
a. Family planning services
b. Referring a client to a support group
c. Hepatitis B Immunization
d. Denver Developmental Screening Test
17. Health behavior change is a cyclical process where a patient progress in a series number of steps. Which of the following correctly describes the contemplation stage?
a. It is the stage where the patient acknowledges that he has a problem and considers changing that behavior for the future.
b. It is the stage where the patient plans to make actions in the immediate future (e.g. within next two weeks)
c. It is the stage where the person actively participates in the course of program designed for him.
d. It is the stage where the person strives to prevent relapse by integrating actions into his life.
18. The definition of health is very complex and may consider a lot of factors. Which of the following models of health and wellness describes that a person is considered healthy as long as they can perform their roles in the society?
a. Adaptive Model
b. Role Consistency Model
c. Role Status Model
d. Role Performance model
19. Agent-host-environment model by Leavell and Clark is one of the theories which is widely use in determining illness rather than promoting wellness. It is based on the interaction of three factors: agent, host and environment. Which of the following deals with the agent factor?
b. Economic level
c. Lack of body nutrients
d. Family history
20. Sociologists use the term illness behavior to describe how an individual deals with his signs, symptoms, and medical regimen at the time of his illness or disease. Which of the following is not included in the four aspects of the sick role provided by Parsons?
a. Clients are held responsible for their condition
b. Clients are obliged to try to get well as quickly as possible
c. Clients are excused from certain social roles and tasks
d. Clients or their families are obliged to seek competent help
21. Growth is the physical change and increase in size. Development on the other hand is an increase in the function and skill progression. Which of the following correctly describe the principle about growth and development?
a. The pace of growth and development is even.
b. Certain stages of growth and development are more critical than the others.
c. Development becomes increasingly undifferentiated.
d. Development proceeds from simple to complex or from integrated acts to single acts.
22. One of the significant characteristics during the toddlerhood stage is the increase in psychosocial skills and motor development. Which of the following nursing implications is very important during this stage?
a. The nurse should assist in developing coping behaviors
b. The nurse should assist the parents to identify and meet the unmet needs
c. The nurse should provide opportunities for play and social activity
d. The nurse should balance between safety and risk-taking strategies to permit growth
23. Freud identified five stages of development. Which of the following correctly happens during the anal stage?
a. 6 years to puberty
b. 1 ½ to 3 years old
c. 1 to 3 years old
d. 4 to 6 years old
24. Erikson identified eight stages of development. He pointed out that during the early childhood, the central task should be autonomy versus shame and doubt. Which of the following is an indicator of negative resolution to this stage?
a. Compulsive self-restraint
d. Lack of self-confidence
25. Cognitive development deals on ways in which a person learn to think, reason out, and use language. The cognitive theory by Piaget pointed out three primary abilities which are present in each phase. Which of the following deals with the process where an individual encounters and reacts towards new situation and using the mechanisms that they already have?
d. Coping behavior
26. Which of the following maternal factors does not contribute to the higher risk of low birth weight babies?
a. Low stress levels, including physical or emotional abuse
b. Use of addictive drugs or alcohol during pregnancy
c. Complications during pregnancy, poor health status, exposure to infections
d. Poor nutrition during pregnancy
27. Reflexes are normal to newborn; they are unconscious and involuntary responses. Which of the following infant reflexes is also known as the fencing reflex?
a. Babinski reflex
b. Stepping reflex
c. Tonic neck reflex
d. Palmar reflex
28. Which of the following psychosocial development stages is considered as the crucial crisis according to Erikson?
a. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
b. Initiative versus guilt
c. Identity versus role confusion
d. Trust versus mistrust
29. Nurses use different types of therapeutic communication techniques in order to build an effective relationship towards their patients. Which of the following techniques illustrates acknowledging the patient?
a. “You trimmed your nails today and washed your hands.”
b. “Your book is here in the drawer. It is not stolen.”
c. “I’ll stay with you until your mother arrives.”
d. “Tell me about…”
30. Learning is represented by a change of behavior. Which of the following learning theories where a nurse is seen applying a humanistic theory?
a. The nurse will provide an enough time for his patient to solve problems through trial and error.
b. The nurse will acknowledge the patient for correct behavior.
c. The nurse will encourage active learning by being the facilitator and/or mentor
d. The nurse will assess a person’s developmental and individual readiness
31. Andragogy is defined as the art and science use in teaching adults. Which of the following concepts can be used as a guide for client teaching?
a. An adult’s previous experiences can be used as a resource for learning.
b. As people mature, they move from independence to dependence.
c. An adult’s readiness to learn is often not related to a developmental task or social role.
d. An adult is more oriented in learning when material is use sometime in the future.
32. Nurses as part of the health care team can contribute largely on the health literacy of patients. Which of the following client behaviors will a nurse suspects that a patient has a problem in terms of health literacy?
a. No presence of pattern of excuses for not reading the instruction materials.
b. The patient will read the instructions instead of family members.
c. Pattern of compliance
d. Patient will insist that they already understand the information given to them.
33. A leader is someone who can influence others to accomplish a specific goal. Which of the following leadership styles that has a minimal leader activity level?
a. Authoritarian Leadership Style
b. Democratic Leadership Style
c. Laissez-Faire Leadership Style
d. A and B
34. Delegation is the transfer of responsibility and authority to a competent person. It is a tool that a nurse can use in order to improve productivity. Which of the following tasks that should not be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel?
a. Taking vital signs
b. Evaluation of care effectiveness
c. Postmortem care
d. Suctioning of chronic tracheostomies
35. Which of the following interventions that a nurse should not perform in patients suffering from hypothermia?
a. Cover the client’s scalp with a cap or turban.
b. Apply warm blankets.
c. Provide a warm environment.
d. Keep limbs far from the body. | <urn:uuid:22b1864f-7a79-453b-8733-975964a71e1a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.rnspeak.com/nursing-practice-test-fundamental-of-nursing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505730.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401100029-20200401130029-00394.warc.gz | en | 0.93269 | 2,692 | 3.59375 | 4 |
The author seems to have chosen the title ";purple hibiscus" deliberately. Purple hibiscus is one of the rarest flowers which many people cherish. The author has used the purple hibiscus as a powerful tool to draw the interest of the readers into reading the text. However, upon reading the first paragraph, readers soon realize that the purple hibiscus takes on a rather curious role. It represents the main character in the novel, and who is also the narrator. She tells of her experiences amid turbulent political and social times in Nigeria, soon after independence.
The novel details the trials and tribulations that the family, in which the narrator is a member, undergoes under the hands of a father who is a religious zealot. The narrator's father, Eugene, is an overzealous catholic who constantly over-reaches himself in matters of religion. He does not hesitate to violently punish members of his family, including his wife for any wrong-doing. In his blind and obsessive application of what he believes is Christian doctrine, he sets the family on the down-hill path towards self-destruction.
Eugene's twisted view of Christianity, in particular and the world, in general, sharply contrasts with that of another Catholic priest, Father Amadi. The latter's approach to issues is sober and more intelligent than the former. It is possibly for this reason that the narrator cannot help falling in love with him. The narrator lacks a father-figure, which she cannot find in her own father. This drives her into falling in love with the young priest at a tender age. She is hardly eighteen years old.
The novel details other factors that threaten the stability of the family unit. Apart from religious fanaticism, the political and social maladjustments are also bearing down hard on the family. The tyranny exhibited by the government has trickled down to individuals such as Eugene, to the detriment of the family (Basu 23). At the end, the tyrants have to be eliminated and that is exactly what happens to Eugene. Beatrice, his long suffering wife, takes it upon herself to bring to an end the era of tyranny by poisoning her husband.
My Reactions to the Novel
I reacted with shock and disbelief at the first reading of this novel. It is rather shocking that the narrator's father, who is a catholic priest, rules the family with an iron hand. Many a times, Kambili and her brother receive severe beatings from their father for no apparent reason. This is quite ironical, coming from a person expected to portray the ideals of Christian life. Being a Catholic father, I would have expected him to lead by example. It is also quite shocking that he does not spare even his own wife. Consequently, the family is on the verge of collapsing.
This kind of treatment is shocking to me because I have been raised in a Christian family, in which everybody tries to uphold the ethics of Christianity. The fundamental concepts such as understanding, love and forgiveness reign supreme in my family background. However, a closer examination of the novel has shoved me back into harsh reality. The institution of the family is currently facing threat from all quarters, including religion. In fact, religion seems to be combining with other factors such as political and social maladjustment to vanquish the hallowed institution of the family.
Nevertheless, after reading the text a number of times, it dawned on me that that was exactly how the author intended it to be: to shock her readers into reality. I realized that the situation in many families today is actually shocking. What the author has resented is a microcosm of the sorry situation the world is undergoing. This is because they are many problems besetting families today. Apart from the tyrannies of religion and socio-politics, there other factors such as infidelity, poverty and others.
This novel has also impressed upon me the fact that when marriages are shaken, the children bear the worst brunt. In this novel, the narrator and her brother lack filial affection. This is further heightened when they pay their aunt a visit. Unlike the oppressive atmosphere back home, the young teens find tranquility, ease and comfort at their aunt's place. The aunt's family lives happily yet they also devout Catholics like the narrator's parents.
The narrator's visit to the aunt provides a critical avenue to the author to push an important point forward. It is clear that all is not lost. Families can still be at peace and be united and happy under the prevailing circumstances. This is a critical opportunity for the author to offer a window of hope to her readers. The author, therefore, presents a perfect family so that readers can work towards emulating it. The question jogging my mind is how it is possible for two families under the same circumstances to lead two different lives.
Reading through the text for the umpteenth time, the answer began to take shape in my mind. The writer implies that it is everybody's responsibility to make the family happy. Parents need to create an enabling environment for their children to grow and develop morally, socially and psychologically. The narrator and her brother have been denied the opportunity to grow socially and psychologically by their indignant father (Mabura 4). It is as if they are trapped: ";…topped by coiled electric wires…so high she could not see cars driving by on their street" (Adichie 9). Their aunt and her husband have given their children freedom to express themselves, giving them an edge over the perpetually inhibited narrator and her brother.
However, this novel tends to lay the blame for the collapse of the institution of family in Africa to the west (Adesokan 3). For this reason, the west and its effects form the background of the storyline. The novel is set in Nigeria soon after independence. After independence, a new crop of leaders come in and it does take long for them to be inherently corrupt, dishonest and despotic. This is the kind of political dispensation that Nigeria is undergoing in this novel.
This is evident in the character of Eugene, which has been affected to a great extent by the western learning and the culture that he has undergone. Adesokan says: ";For complex institutional reasons, the west remains the primary context for the reception of these works." (Adesokan 3) Adesokan is simply acknowledging the impact of the west on characters such as Kambili's father. Kambili, therefore, suffers as a result of her father having been alienated and brain-washed in such a manner that he believes that anything from the west is better.
Kambili inevitably draws comparison between her father and aunt. Her sharp and keen mind is able to dissect the two personalities. She notices that although both of them are principled, their character has a dialectically different impact on their families. While Papa is largely aggressive and high-handed to his family, the aunt rules her family with affection and understanding. Kambili describes the atmosphere at the aunt's place as ";rare, fragrant with undertones of freedom" (Adichie 16). She describes the atmosphere at the aunt's place as rare because she has been exposed to a harsh environment most of her life.
The author has also developed characters to build on major themes in the novel. I have full admiration for the narrator, Kambili Achike, who is the central character in the novel. She is intelligent, observant and a religious young woman aspiring to mature in all areas of life. Her brother, Jaja is also likable. He even sacrifices his freedom in order to protect his mother. As a result, he has to languish in prison for a long time. He bears it all and at the end of it all, he is stronger than ever.
The narrator's view of her father is fraught with mixed feelings. To begin with, the narrator seems to have internalized Papa's authority to the extent that it forma part of her life. Her father basically shapes the way she interacts with the outside world. Though Papa is mostly cruel to the family, Kambili is intensely devoted to her father. She imbibes religious dogmas in respect to Papa's views and opinions. In essence, the narrator's view of the world is founded upon the articulations of her father. She reports: ";Military men would always overthrow one another, because they could, because they were all power drunk" (Adichie 24).
Papa's assertion that the military could not be relied upon to provide prudent leadership could not be further from the truth. After independence, Nigeria, like many other West African countries, went through violence military coups. During this period, citizens suffered bloodshed, forceful displacement from their homes and intense oppression among other ills. The narrator is, therefore, able to comprehend the political situation prevailing in the country at that time. The oppression sweeping across the land has inevitably rubbed off individuals in the country.
I have also noted the influence of Papa on the narrator's religious outlook. Papa being a staunch Catholic, he takes great exception to protestant churches sprouting everywhere in Nigeria. This view has also infected the narrator, as can be seen from the following description: ";The congregation said ";Yes"…but not too loudly so they would not sound like the mushroom Pentecostal churches."(Adichie 5). I am paying attention to the narrator's – or the author's - deliberate choice of words. The use of the word ";mushroom" is itself indicative of Kambili's affected negative view of the protestant churches. This is the impact of her father's inclinations.
Eugene's religious intolerance also stretches into the Igbo traditional religion. He refers to all those who are not devout members of the Catholic Church as pagans. He finds the practices of Igbo religion sinful and despicable. This sets him against those close to him, including his family members and his own father. The narrator adopts the same stance towards such people. ";Papa Nnukwu is a pagan" (Adichie 81), she declares.
Even though Kambili is unable to support her beliefs with concrete evidence, her convictions are still unshaken at this stage, as shown in her use of "had to" to indicate certainty (Tunca 125). Despite her biases, when the heroine is in her grandfather's compound, she cannot help being attracted to the location, a place which she is not accustomed to but which nevertheless bears strange resemblance to more familiar surroundings:
The bench held me back, sucked me in. I watched a gray rooster walk into the shrine at the corner of the yard, where Papa-Nnukwu's god was, where Papa said Jaja and I were never to go near. The shrine was a low, open shed, its mud roof and walls covered with dried palm fronts. It looked like the grotto behind St. Agnes, the one dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. (Adichie 66)
This description implies that the narrator is not in control of her actions and behavior. It is clear that it is not her free will to stay away from Papa Nnukwu's shrine. It is the environment that restricts her venturing forth into the traditional Igbo shrine. The bench acts as a physical manifestation of the narrator's father's influence on her actions and decisions. It is this kind of influence that creates tension among family members, dealing a blow to family unity and love.
However, this influence impacts more on the mother than the narrator. The mother, Beatrice, has been operating in fear. She lives in fear of her husband, who has been subjecting her to all manner of suffering. This is because he leads a dogmatic lifestyle that leaves no room for freedom among the members of his family.
Nevertheless, Beatrice is a rather passive and laid back mother, in sharp contrast to her voracious husband. She is the source of warmth, love and care for the children in the home. The narrator sums up her mother's character in one terse statement: ";there was so much that she did not mind" (Adichie 19).
The statement ";there was so much that she did not mind" tells us a lot about Beatrice. For the sake of the family, she was ready to make sacrifices. She bears with her husband's tyranny for the sake of the family and the children. But as the novel progresses, she finds it increasingly difficult to cope with the strain and tension between her and her husband.
Then there is Chukwuka Achike, otherwise known as Jaja, the narrator's younger brother. Just like other members of the family, he plays meek to the father, but he is very intelligent. Other characters include Papa Nnukwu, the grandfather-figure to the family, aunty Ifeoma and Father Amadi.
Father Amadi is instrumental in the development of the narrator. Through him, the narrator is able to modify her judgment on certain issues. This is because he is able to bring to the attention of the narrator the irrationality of her actions and decisions. A good example is when Kambili goes to make a confession to the effect that she slept in the same house with her grandfather, who is considered a pagan:
"I slept in the same room as my grandfather. He is a heathen," I blurted out.
He turned to me briefly, and before he looked away, I wondered if the light in his eyes was amusement.
"Why do you say that?"
"It is a sin."
"Why is it a sin?"
I stared at him. I felt that he had missed a line in his script. "I don't know."
"Your father told you that."
I looked away, out the window. I would not implicate Papa, since Father Amadi obviously disagreed. (Adichie 175)
Father Amadi opens new vistas to the narrator. Consequently, she falls in love with the young priest. He causes her to realize her sexuality and notices for the first time that she has grown into a fine young woman.
The novel depicts the impact of socio-economic and political problems on the institution of the family, as seen through the eyes of a fifteen-year old girl. After independence, the country slides into despotism, tyranny and corruption. These combine to inflict deadly blows on families and households. The most affected is Eugene's family, where the air is rife with oppression and lack of freedom. Eugene struggles to make his home and family a unique one.
I find the novel quite informative as it is entertaining. The depiction of the characters, the plot and the timely themes is a strong point for the author (Hewett n.p.). Family problems are rampant in the world today, and maybe people reading this text will be glad to learn that it is still possible to have a happy and contented family. | <urn:uuid:b82bb4a9-4789-4325-9771-51cb32b09ff9> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://cheap-papers.com/essays/analysis/threats-to-the-institution-of-the-family.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505366.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401034127-20200401064127-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.978681 | 3,080 | 2.671875 | 3 |
- Research article
- Open Access
Anatomy teaching with portable ultrasound to medical students
BMC Medical Education volume 12, Article number: 99 (2012)
Medical students as future clinicians will apply their anatomy knowledge in medical imaging. There are various radiological resources available for the medical students to learn anatomy and contextualise it to the clinical setting. Ultrasound is a safe and non- invasive imaging procedure commonly used in clinical practice. This study aimed to use portable ultrasound and evaluate its impact as an adjunct to cadaveric anatomy teaching together with cross sectional anatomy images and line diagrams.
Ultrasound teaching was incorporated into upper limb and lower limb anatomy practical dissecting room sessions. The number of medical students who participated was 121 students from the year 2008 - 2009 and 94 students from the year 2009- 2010. The students were divided into groups of 15-20. Initially ultrasound demonstration was carried out on a volunteer and then the students were given the opportunity to use the ultrasound and identify normal anatomical structures visualized on images. For the students in the year 2009- 2010, ultrasound teaching was supplemented with cross sectional anatomy images and line diagrams. Questionnaires were distributed with seven questions rated using four point Likert scale and free text. Qualitative data was analysed using 2- proportion Z test and Fischer's exact test.
The number of students in the 2009-2010 year group who were confident in interpreting ultrasound images increased significantly when compared to the 2008-2009 year group of students. The majority of students were able to identify structures like bone, muscles and blood vessels on ultrasound images. There was a significant increase in the number of students who found the ultrasound teaching useful and also those who regarded ultrasound to have improved understanding of anatomy considerably.
Ultrasound acts as a useful adjunct to teach anatomy in a clinical context to medical students. The use of cross sectional anatomy images and line diagrams together can aid ultrasound image orientation of structures during these sessions. Early exposure to this imaging technology may prime students for later encounters with ultrasound during clinical practice.
Anatomy is one of the important cornerstones of medicine. Traditional way of anatomy teaching using cadavers is universally practiced and has been considered as essential to medical learning . In the conventional setup, anatomy was taught as a preclinical component. At present medical students come in contact with patients as early as the first week of medical training in many of the medical colleges in the UK to contextualise learning in accordance to the recommendations of the GMC [2, 3]. However, there is an ongoing debate taking place in medical education regarding anatomy teaching methods following the recommendations of the GMC that there should be streamlined anatomy teaching with integration of clinical sciences. These include the study of anatomy of the living body through peer physical examination and/or body painting and the use of medical imaging methods such as X rays and Ultrasound [4, 5].
Ultrasound is safe and has the advantage of providing visualisation of structures and their movement in a non invasive manner. It could potentially be an effective method to enhance and facilitate the learning of anatomy in a clinically relevant manner. Ultrasound has evolved rapidly in the last few decades as an imaging modality and comprises almost 25% of imaging worldwide . Recent NICE guidelines encourage use of ultrasound for many clinical procedures including insertion of a central venous line in elective situations and ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins. Using portable ultrasound is well documented in settings like emergency medicine, anaesthesia and cardiology, and other specialities are now seeking training in using them . This would mean that there is more likelihood of medical students encountering ultrasound images in clinical practice. It can therefore be regarded as necessary and timely to expose medical students to ultrasound technology, training and images.
Currently, ultrasonography as a teaching modality is being explored in anatomy and clinical skills teaching in undergraduate medical education. Previous studies have found ultrasound as a helpful educational resource with high student satisfaction for teaching cardiovascular/ renal anatomy and for demonstrating organs, forearm muscles/ vessels . It is reported that using cadavers and imaging together improves the students' ability to identify anatomical structures and provides long term knowledge retention .
Hence the objective of our study was to use portable ultrasound as an adjunct to cadaveric upper and lower limbs anatomy teaching and to explore the best way of using it as a tool in teaching anatomy. We compared ultrasound with and without additional interpretative line diagrams as an initial step, and found that there was no significant difference in their confidence in interpreting ultrasound images between the two groups. We then introduced cross sectional anatomy images, and found a significant increase in the number of students who were confident in identifying particular structures between the year groups.
Portable ultrasound was used to show the normal living anatomy of upper and lower limbs as a part of the practical dissecting room sessions during the Thought, Senses and Movement (TSM) module. It was carried out after upper limb and lower limb anatomy teaching on cadavers and was used as an interactive round up session. A total of 121 second year medical students during the year 2008 - 2009 and 94 students the following year, 2009- 2010 were included in the study. The students had no previous ultrasound experience. They were taught by anatomy demonstrators who were doctors and were familiar with the use of portable ultrasound and the interpretation of images. The students were divided into 2 groups in each year. Within each group, they were further subdivided into 15- 20 for the ultrasound demonstration. After a brief introduction to the mechanics of ultrasound and how to use the portable ultrasound machine, the ultrasound demonstration of anatomy structures was performed for 15-20 minutes under good lighting conditions with projection of images on high quality audio visual equipment so that the students could clearly see and appreciate the structures better. The demonstration was carried out on a volunteer who had given written informed consent and had been pre-scanned for any abnormality or features requiring further clinical investigation. The demonstration included muscles, blood vessels with blood flow, tendons with movements, nerves, bones and other structures (e.g., menisci) in the respective regions of the upper/ lower limbs and the continuation of these structures if any in the other regions. The medical students were actively engaged during the ultrasound demonstration as they were constantly questioned on relevant anatomy. The students were then given the opportunity to use the ultrasound and identify structures for about 10- 15mins on each other. Students were informed about the session beforehand and verbal consent was obtained. There were 4 portable ultrasound machines available for the students to use and they were setup in a dedicated bay. For the second group of 72 students in the year 2008- 2009, ultrasound teaching was supplemented with line diagrams drawn on the white board as the students in the first group fed back that it was difficult to identify and differentiate structures while interpreting the two dimensional ultrasound images (Table 1). During 2009- 2010 ultrasound teaching for all the students was supplemented with cross sectional anatomy images along with line diagrams for orientation and to help students correlate ultrasound images and living anatomy (Table 1).
Feedback questionnaires with seven questions rated using 4 point Likert scale and free text (Additional file 1: Appendix 1) were distributed at the end of the session both the year groups and qualitative data was analysed using 2-proportion Z test and Fischer's exact test.
Ethical approval was obtained from Faculty of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee, Newcastle University (Reference number - 00537/2012).
Responses were received from all the medical students in both year groups (Table 2).
In the year group 2008- 2009, there was no statistically significant difference seen in students' responses whether or not the line diagram was used.
When the responses of the two year groups of students were compared (2008-2009 vs. 2009-2010), there was a statistically significant increase in the number of students who were confident in interpreting ultrasound images by identifying the anatomical features. Students who found ultrasound teaching useful and those who regarded ultrasound to have improved their understanding of anatomy, also increased significantly in the year 2009-2010 (Table 2). Moreover, although students in the year group 2009-2010 did not differ from the 72 students in the 2008-2009 group in finding the line diagram useful, the number of students who were confident that they were able to translate most/ all structures on the line diagram onto the ultrasound images increased significantly in the year 2009-2010 (Table 3). The students in the year group 2009-2010 had cross-sectional anatomy images as well as line diagrams to aid in interpretation of images.
Some of the free text comments that the students made in the year group 2008- 2009 included “Very helpful in reinforcing anatomy taught using cadavers”, “Session was advantageous”, “More sessions and more exposure”, “Very difficult to understand/ orientate”, “Line diagrams are very useful to orientate”. The year group 2009- 2010 commented “More clinically relevant information”, “They are useful as they will be applicable to our future as doctors”, “Is best used as a roundup session after the limb anatomy has been completed”, “Smaller groups and more time to practice”.
In medical practice, ultrasound technology is being used since late 1940 and early 1950, and has progressed greatly over time. It is predicted that ultrasound equipment will become more compact and will be the new stethoscope of the future [8, 10]. It can therefore be argued that it is important to introduce ultrasound and its significance in undergraduate teaching in the early years of their education.
In our study, portable ultrasound was used as an adjunct to cadaveric upper and lower limbs anatomy teaching to reinforce their anatomy knowledge and to ensure that the students become familiar with ultrasound images. We chose upper and lower limb anatomy as most of the anatomical structures can be visualized. The dynamic nature of this investigation and interpretation of ultrasound images can be challenging to the Phase 1 medical students (pre-clinical). Hence this was supplemented with line diagrams and/ cross sectional anatomy images.
For the students of the year group 2009-2010, cross sectional anatomy images with line diagrams were used alongside ultrasound demonstration to help the students orientate and thus identify structures while interpreting the two dimensional ultrasound images of upper and lower limbs. It was found that the confidence of these students to identify structures increased significantly when compared to the 2008-2009 year group who did not have the benefit of cross sectional anatomy images. There was also a statistically significant increase in the number of students who found the session useful and felt that it had improved their understanding of anatomy. The number of students able to translate most/ all of the structures on the line diagram to identify structures on the ultrasound images increased significantly in the 2009-2010 year group.
Studies have shown that medical students value the use of ultrasound, and this is confirmed by our finding. Integrated anatomy, clinical skill and radiological cardiovascular/ renal sessions focussed on small group problem based learning are valued highly by students on evaluation. The students have considered the use of ultrasound as an innovative, exciting and engaging approach to stimulate learning of clinical anatomy with enhancement of their reasoning skills . Although 95.7% of 2nd year medical students regarded ultrasound as a useful tool when used for demonstrating organs and forearm muscles and vessels, their understanding of ultrasound images was inadequate . In this study, 78% of students in the year group 2009-2010 have found ultrasound useful and among the structures identified, most students could identify bone (95%) followed by muscle (83%) and blood vessel (75%). About half of the students could identify tendons (52%) while the least identified structure was nerves (23%).
Limitations of the study were that the study was performed in a single medical school with only two cohorts of students and the study did not measure knowledge per se but rather confidence in knowledge.
To our knowledge, this study is novel because the impact of ultrasound with cross sectional anatomy images and line diagrams for teaching anatomy of upper and lower limbs has not been reported. It has shown that this can be a useful adjunct in teaching anatomy to medical students. Anatomy teaching using ultrasound in Phase 1 (year 1& year 2) medical curriculum can act as bridging tool to integrate anatomy learning and clinical practice by helping the students to apply anatomical knowledge to interpret normal ultrasound images and to be more prepared when they encounter abnormalities during their clinical years of medicine and as clinicians in their future practice. It can also increase the students' awareness of the importance of anatomy knowledge in clinical practice.
McLachlan JC, Bligh J, Bradley P, Searle J: Teaching anatomy without cadavers. Medical Education. 2004, 38: 418-424. 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2004.01795.x.
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McLachlan JC, Patten D: Anatomy teaching: ghosts of the past, present and future. Medical Education. 2006, 40: 243-253. 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2006.02401.x.
Patten D, Donnelly L, Richards S: Studying living anatomy: the use of portable ultrasound in the undergraduate medical curriculum. International journal of clinical skills. 2010, 4: 72.
Shapiro RS, Ko PP, Jacobson S: A pilot project to study the use of ultrasonography for teaching physical examination to medical students. Comput Biol Med. 2002, 32: 403-409. 10.1016/S0010-4825(02)00033-1.
Tshibwabwa ET, Groves HM: Integration of ultrasound in the education programme in anatomy. Medical Education. 2005, 39: 1143-1172. 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2005.02355.x.
Heilo A, Hansen AB, Holck P, Laerum F: Ultrasound ‘electronic vivisection’ in the teaching of human anatomy for medical students. Eur J Ultrasound. 1997, 5: 203-207. 10.1016/S0929-8266(97)00015-3.
Miles KA: Diagnostic imaging in undergraduate medical education: an expanding role. Clin Radiol. 2005, 60 (7): 742-745. 10.1016/j.crad.2005.02.011.
Hoppmann R, Michell WE, Carter JB, McMahon C, Lill PH, Brownlee NA, Carnevale KA: Ultrasound in second year pathology medical education. Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science. 2008, 7 (1): 11-12.
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/12/99/prepub
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
MS was involved in conception, design, acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, drafting of manuscript and literature review. RFS was involved in conception, design, revising it critically and final approval of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Swamy, M., Searle, R.F. Anatomy teaching with portable ultrasound to medical students. BMC Med Educ 12, 99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-12-99
- Medical Student
- Ultrasound Image
- Anatomy Knowledge
- Line Diagram
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Treebeard, or Fangorn in Sindarin, is a fictional tree-giant character in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel, he is an Ent and is said by Gandalf to be "the oldest living thing that still walks beneath the Sun upon this Middle-earth." He lives in the ancient Forest of Fangorn. It lies at the southern end of the Misty Mountains, he is described as being about 14 feet in height, in appearance similar to a beech or an oak. In The Two Towers, Treebeard meets with two Hobbits of the Shire; this meeting proves to have consequences that contribute to the story and enables the events that occur in The Return of the King. In Tolkien's elvish language, Sindarin, "Fangorn" is a compound of fanga, "beard", orne, "tree", so it is the equivalent of the English "Treebeard"; the Rohirrim called Fangorn Forest the wood of the Ents. Treebeard gave it various Quenya names in Lord of the Rings. "Ambaróna" means "uprising, orient" from amba, "upwards" and róna, "east". "Aldalómë" means "tree twilight" from alda, "tree" and lómë, "dusk, twilight".
"Tauremorna" means "gloomy forest" from taur, "forest", morna, "gloomy". "Tauremornalómë" means "gloomy twilight forest". The Forest of Fangorn was at the south-eastern end of the Misty Mountains near the Gap of Rohan; the mountains formed the western border of Fangorn. At the end of the mountain range stood Saruman's stronghold of Isengard near the southwestern corner of the forest. To the east and south of Fangorn was the land of Rohan, Lothlórien lay to the north and east. Fangorn Forest held many paths. Two significant rivers ran through the forest. To the north the Limlight flowed from the woods and formed the northern border of Rohan; the river merged into the larger Anduin. In the south, the Entwash spread deep into the forest arriving from Methedras, a mountainous region located near the Misty Mountains; the river flowed through Rohan to the Anduin River. The valley of Derndingle was located to the south-west. There was a path where the Entwash passed into a region called Wellinghall with the home of Treebeard, the shepherd of the forest.
Fangorn Forest was said to be humid, trunks and branches of many kinds of tree grew thick allowing little light to penetrate. Huorns lived deep within in the forest, like Ents but more discreet; the Ents and Huorns drank from the river Entwash, from it the Ents brewed their legendary drink, the Ent-draughts. As told in The Silmarillion, Ents were created in the Elder Days, they were created to be the "Shepherds of the Trees" and protect trees from the anticipated destruction that Dwarves would cause. Further details are provided in The Lord of the Rings, where Treebeard recounts to Merry and Pippin how the Ents were "awakened" and taught to speak by the Elves of that time. Treebeard says that only three Ents remain from the Elder Days: himself and Fladrif, he tells the hobbits of the time. He sings a song about roaming the woods of Middle-earth, naming regions of Beleriand which were destroyed in the war with Morgoth and now lie "beneath the waves." He contradicts Gandalf by saying there are valleys in Fangorn forest where the Great Darkness, the period of Morgoth's rule before the arising of the Moon and Sun, never lifted and the trees are older than he.
The description of Treebeard is the most detailed of all the characters in The Lord of the Rings. The text reads: "They found, it belonged to a large man-like Troll-like, figure, at least fourteen foot high sturdy, with a tall head, hardly any neck. Whether it was clad in stuff like green and grey bark, or whether, its hide, was difficult to say. At any rate the arms, at a short distance from the trunk, were not wrinkled, but covered with a brown smooth skin; the large feet had seven toes each. The lower part of the long face was covered with a sweeping grey beard, bushy twiggy at the roots and mossy at the ends, but at the moment the hobbits noted little but the eyes. These deep eyes were now surveying them and solemn, but penetrating, they were brown, shot with a green light." After meeting Merry and Pippin, Treebeard learns. He knows otherwise, he takes them to a place that he says might be called "Wellinghall" in the Common Speech. There the hobbits tell him Treebeard learns of Saruman's treachery.
When they are finished, Treebeard says, "Well, well. That is a bundle of no mistake. You have not told me no indeed, not by a long way, but I do not doubt. There's something big going on, that I can see, what it is maybe I shall learn in good time or bad time. By root and twig, but it is a strange business: up sprout a little folk that are not in the old lists and behold! the Nine forgotten Riders reappear to hunt for them, Gandalf takes them on a great journey, Galadriel harbours them in Caras Galadhon, Orcs pursue them all down the leagues of Wilderland: indeed they seem to be caught up in a great storm." Treebeard muses, "I must do something, I suppose." Saruman used to walk in Fangorn forest and talk to him, but on reflection he says that although he told Saruman many things, Saruman never told him anything. He realizes now that Saruman is plotting to be "a Power" and wonders what evil he is doing: why has Saruman taken up with Orcs, why there are so many Orcs in his woods, why these Orcs are able to bear sunlight, he is angered by trees being felled "to feed the fires of Orthanc."
Justus van Huysum spelled Huijsum, was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He was the son of the decorative painter Jan van Huysum I and the brother of the engraver Caspar van Huysum; the elder Jan van Huysum moved to Amsterdam from Huizum between 1654 and 1657, where his boys Justus and Caspar were born. According to Houbraken, when Justus came of age, his father sent him to learn painting from Nicolaes Berchem in 1675. Houbraken said he was good at all sorts of painting, but excelled at flower painting, founded a family business in painting flowers in vases, he married and became the father of Jan van Huysum, Jacob van Huysum, Justus II van Huysum. One painting by him named "Vase of Flowers" was stolen by the Nazis from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence Italy – it is believed to still exist in Germany
I Believe in You is a 1952 film directed by Michael Relph and Basil Dearden. It is based on the book Court Circular by Sewell Stokes. Inspired by the successful The Blue Lamp and Dearden used a semi-documentary approach in telling the story of the lives of probation officers and their charges. Henry Phipps a retired Colonial Serviceman takes on the job of a probation officer, finds it a challenge. Various characters' lives are examined as Phipps and his colleagues attempt to reform, a hardened criminal and a juvenile delinquent. Celia Johnson as Matty Matheson Cecil Parker as Henry Phipps Godfrey Tearle as Judge Pyke Harry Fowler as Charlie Hooker George Relph as Mr. Dove Joan Collins as Norma Hart Laurence Harvey as Jordie Bennett Ernest Jay as Judge Quayle Ursula Howells as Hon Ursula Sid James as Sergeant Body Katie Johnson as Miss Mackline Ada Reeve as Mrs Crockett Brenda De Banzie as Mrs Hooker Alex McCrindle as Tom Haines Laurence Naismith as Sergeant Braxton Gladys Henson as Mrs Stevens Stanley Escane as Buck Wilson Fred Griffiths as Fred Crump The New York Times wrote, "it shines with understanding and, except for a brash climactic moment, it is a warm and adult adventure, which pins deserving medals on unsung heroes without heroics."
Allmovie wrote, "the semi-documentary approach established early in I Believe in You gives way to sentiment as the film winds down." TV Guide noted, "an engaging drama with good performances from Collins and Harvey." I Believe in You on IMDb
El Burro is a wetland, part of the Wetlands of Bogotá, in the locality Kennedy, Bogotá, Colombia. The wetland on the Bogotá savanna covers about 19 hectares and is crossed by the Avenida Ciudad de Cali. Flora registered in the wetland are among others swamp smartweed. El Burro has 33 registered bird species, among others the common moorhen and yellow-hooded blackbird. Biodiversity of Colombia, Bogotá savanna, Thomas van der Hammen Natural Reserve Wetlands of Bogotá Andrade L. Martha Esperanza, Henry Benitez Castañeda. S.a. Los Humedales de la Sabana de Bogotá: Área Importante para la Conservación de las Aves de Colombia y el Mundo, 1-38. AICAS. Accessed 2017-03-03. Moreno, Vanesa. S.a. Descripción general de los humedales de Bogotá D. C. 1-28. Sociedad Geográfica de Colombia. Accessed 2017-03-03. Fundación Humedales de Bogotá Conozca los 15 humedales de Bogotá - El Tiempo
The 2000–01 Wollongong Wolves FC season was the club's 21st season since its establishment in 1980. The club participated in the National Soccer League for the 20th time, they were crowned the champions of the finals series. They were champions for the first time of the Oceania Club Championship from their first attempt. For the period between 16 December 2000 and 2 March 2001 the club went on an unbeaten run of 18 competitive games; this included seven consecutive wins in the 2001 Oceania Club 11 league games. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Source: WorldFootball As winners of the 2001 Oceania Club Championship, the Wollongong Wolves was one of the 12 teams that were invited to the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship, which would be hosted in Spain from 28 July to 12 August 2001. However, the tournament was cancelled due to the collapse of ISL, marketing partner of FIFA at the time. Official Website
Michael Chikong Seto is a Canadian forensic psychologist and author. He is director of Forensic Rehabilitation Research at the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, where he says his research focuses on pedophilia, sexual offenses committed against children, child pornography, risk assessment, offenders with mental disorders and program evaluation, he is editor in chief of Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, the official journal of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, an associate editor of the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the official journal of the International Academy of Sex Research. He serves on the editorial board for the journal Law and Human Behavior, the official journal of the American Psychology-Law Society, as well as the Journal of Sex Research, he is an associate professor at the University of Toronto and holds cross-appointments to Ryerson University, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa. Seto received a B. Sc. in biopsychology from University of British Columbia, completed his M.
A. and Ph. D. in clinical psychology at Queen's University, Ontario, Canada. He worked at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health from 1994 to 2008, before moving to the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group in 2008, first as a consultant and as the director of Forensic Rehabilitation Research, he serves as Scientific Advisor to Thorn, a company that partners across the tech industry, government and NGOs and leverage technology to combat predatory behavior, rescue victims, protect vulnerable children. Thorn is co-Founded by Demi Moore. Seto has been noted as "one of the foremost authorities" on adolescent sex offenders. Much of his research has focused on the psychological characteristics of sex offenders, their risk for reoffending, the relationship between paraphilias and sexual offending, he has suggested in his book on pedophilia and sexual offending that 3% of men are sexually attracted to prepubescent children. Pedophilia is related to sexual offending against children, but they are not synonymous: Some pedophiles are not known to have committed sexual offenses against children, some offenders are not pedophiles, motivated instead by high sex drive, criminality, or opportunism.
Controversially, Seto has suggested that pedophilia can be understood as a sexual orientation with regard to age, just as heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality can be understood as sexual orientations with regard to gender. In his research on online offending, Seto has discovered that there may be a closer link between pedophilia, child pornography use than between pedophilia and sexual offending against children directly; this does not mean pedophilia is the only motivation. Despite this strong association with pedophilia, online sexual offenders appear to be at low risk of reoffending, suggesting other factors such as personality must be involved. In related research, he and his colleagues have demonstrated that the same kinds of risk factors are valid for online offenders as they are for conventional contact offenders, including age, criminal history, substance use, sexual attraction to children; this research is summarized in his book on online sexual offending. In describing pedophiles, Seto emphasizes.
He told USA Today, "People would feel better if there was a profile, but there isn't." "It can be a coach, or a teacher. It could be a person, a trusted member of the community, they are employed. They have friends, it doesn't fit with the idea that this person is different in some way that we could notice and protect ourselves." Serial child molesters seek out vulnerable children and cultivate relationships with them, Seto said. "They are not picking children at random." Rather, "They are seeking out children who will be more receptive to their approach—children who may be isolated, lacking a father figure."Seto described child pornography offenders as being isolated, spending long stretches of time online, being secretive about their online activities."Several studies have suggested that child pornography offenders become involved online, sometimes spending hours every day searching for more content, as well as spending time on related sites" like youth-oriented forums or chat rooms, he said.
There appears to be an age difference, according to Seto: "People on average under 35 are more familiar with the technology than those who are over 35, the arrests reflect that."In 2007, Seto's research team received a $66,000 research grant to study child pornography offenders, comparing those who do with those who do not go on to commit future offences. Ontario politician George Smitherman criticized the study and the Ontario Mental Health Foundation for funding the project, because the study subjects would receive money for agreeing to participate. Seto responded, he said "I do understand why people are concerned about this, but I hope they don't lose sight of the fact that we're doing this research to understand pedophilia and sexual offending," and that it is standard practice to pay people to take part in clinical studies. According to OMHF, "The new knowledge to be gained from the proposed study would contribute to our theoretical understanding of the origins of sexual offending against children, because it would help identify factors that influence the likelihood that someone with a sexual attraction to children will act upon that attraction." | <urn:uuid:1f94b07b-2a8a-446e-b552-7abcff99a695> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Treebeard | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521876.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404103932-20200404133932-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.964055 | 3,388 | 2.953125 | 3 |
May 1: spring festival of fertility
The festival of May Day (May 1st) has been widely celebrated for centuries, even millennia. Essentially a seasonal and floral festival concerned with the spring rebirth of vegetation after its death in winter, it is a festival of all things green in nature.
Throughout the pagan Europe of ancient times, May Day was very much a festival of fertility, often associated with singing, dancing and orgiastic abandon. Widely known in Celtic cultures as Beltaine (Beltane, or Bealtaine, the Irish name for the month of May), the wild rites were primarily designed to bring the fertile blessings of the ancient tree spirits to the community for the coming year.
Modern Neopagans also celebrate Beltaine and for Wiccans, as a cross-quarter day approximately half way between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice, it is classed as a sabbat, one of the eight solar festivities of the sacred year.
The month of May is named after the ancient Roman goddess Maia, the wife of Mars and mother of Mercury. May Day (Kalends of May) was therefore associated with Maia, a manifestation of the Earth Goddess, and with Flora, goddess of flowers and spring. Flora's festival, the Floralia, was held at the end of April or the beginning of May; it was a pagan festival welcoming the season of warmth and growth.
It was also connected with the Fontinalia, dedicated to the spirits of the reviving waters. Girls made garlands of corn or flowers to hang on doors, where they remained until replaced the following year, as in the Greek Thargelia and other earlier spring festivals. Houses, byres and stables were decorated with hawthorn, rowan, fir or birch, or other apotropaic (="warding off evil") greenery, to keep evil or unlucky powers at bay.
May Eve is situated directly opposite Halloween and is the end marker in the seasonal cycle which begins with Candlemas (Groundhog Day in the US). Children in some parts still play pranks on unsuspecting victims around midnight on April 30, similar to Halloween, and some even dress up as witches and evil spirits.
On May Day, earth spirits like fairies and elves (the ancient dead) would come out of the hills and barrows to dance on May Eve and well into the summer.
Flowers and garlands were also thrown into the waters and springs and wells were decorated, a custom which was carried over into Christian times in Europe, the weIls being "dressed" with elaborate symbolic patterns, such as the cross, a dove, or texts from the Bible. The anciently accepted powers of healing waters were officially attributed to the saints, in place of the Celtic spirits of sacred wells and springs.
The custom of well-dressing still persists in parts of England and in Europe. Nearby bushes and trees are hung with ribbons or pieces of cloth, and a piece of a sick person's clothing hung there effects a cure. More on Well Dressing.
The placing on May Eve of apotropaic garlands or boughs of hawthorn, rowan, etc., on doors was to protect humans and animals against the powers at large during the Celtic celebration of Beltaine, the day of fire (Bel was the Celtic god of the sun). For the ancient Celts, it marked the beginning of summer, when they took their livestock up to the hills to graze again after being kept in the valleys over the winter. It was a time when fairies and witches were active and it also became known as Walpurgisnacht, the great German festival of witches and warlocks, celebrated in Goethe's Faust.
Bonfires were a feature of the May celebrations from the earliest times. It is ironic that in Christian times, the burning of witches was also a feature of May Day and bonfires were lit to drive them off. Many of these fires were lit on the ancient pagan hill-tops and in some cases battles were fought for their possession, usually a contest between youths of neighbouring parishes—youths representing the virile powers of spring growth—or there were mock battles between the powers of winter and summer, good and evil, in which winter was defeated.
Traditions in England varied in the counties, but gathering hawthorn or 'may' blossoms was a feature of the celebration. Women would dance around the may-pole singing songs, often taking the lead in courtship, quite a reversal, something of a throwback to very early times, when the Goddess was known to frown upon marriage. Couples would then pair off for the day (though not necessarily with the ones they would eventually marry). May Day was very much a celebration of reawakening fertility, and there were many customs and rituals designed to improve one's chances in the battle of the sexes! For a view on this, see Gathering Nuts in May.
The Isle of Man
In the Isle of Man a battle is fought between the Queens of Winter and Summer with clubs of gorse. Summer is first captured, then released, and finally triumphs over Winter. Crosses made of rowan are placed in front of doors to repel evil or mischievous spirits; kingcups are spread on the stable floor for the same purpose.
In Ireland the May Bush is placed over houses, byres and stables and bonfires are lit on May Eve. May Balls are made of gold and silver materials to represent the sun and moon. May Day is also a "gale" day, with the contracts of tenancy and rents and the hiring of servants; there were hiring fairs in earlier times. It is also the day for turning cattle out to pasture: this is traditional in other parts as well.
The King and Queen of May
May Eve was spent in the woods and on May Morning fresh green boughs were brought home, this being called "bringing the summer home". The great May Tree, usually represented by the maypole, was decorated with ribbons, garlands and a crown, and brought in in procession, with singing and dancing. There were, and still are, sports, racing to the maypole, and contests, the latter being formerly of archery. Arthur's Knights and Queen Guinevere went to the woods by Westminster; Henry VI and his Sheriffs and Aldermen of London dined in the Stepney woods and Henry VIII spent May Day with his Court in the woods at Greenwich.
May Day ceremonies formerly had a King and Queen of the May. The game of Robin Hood was played in May and Robin Hood is often described as the King of the May, with Maid Marian as his queen. The King and Queen also represented the Sun God (the Sky Father) and the Earth Mother, necessary to give birth to the powers of nature.
The orgies of earlier times and those reputed to take place in the woods on May Eve, encouraged these powers by sympathetic magic. The marriage of the King and Queen of May conformed to the ancient Sacred Marriage ritual which was widespread and involved not only sympathetic magic but also the almost universal belief in the intercommunication and bond between all living things.
The May Queen outlived the King of the May and reigned alone, seated on a flower-decked throne in a bower of greenery and flowers. Attendant children, forming her court, wore wreaths of flowers and carried garlands or cowslip balls. Maid Marian and Robin Hood still took part in the ceremonies as the Green Man, or Jack-in-the-Green, playing an essential role. Green, being the ritual colour of the May Day festivities, was worn by most of the characters; it is also the faery colour. Sometimes the Green Man was a sweep, with a blackened face, May 1st being a sweeps' holiday. The May Queen now survives in a few rural and urban places, appearing in pageants and carnivals, but the occasion has lost its original religious and magical significance. The Greek eiresione was the same as the May-branch of Europe; both were fertility symbols. The eiresione was of olive or laurel; the Maypole was decked with ribbons and fruits and carried in procession then fastened to the door of the house and left there until the next year.
Scandinavia and Germany
In Scandinavia and Germany, May trees were important both to people and cattle as fertility powers; the trees, or bushes, were set up at the doors of byres or stables, sometimes one for each animal, to bring fertility. The branch, or pole, is an embodiment of the tree-spirit of vegetation and its vital powers. In the slavic lands of Russia, Transylvania and Romania, Green George was their equivalent of the English Jack-in-the-Green, often celebrated on St George's Day, April 23.
May Eve was also a time for venting public opinion. "Birchers" went round from house to house leaving appropriate decorations on the doors—pear boughs for the well-liked and popular; plum for the glum; elder for the surly; thorns for the prickly types and those scorned; weeds for the unpopular and flowering gorse for ladies of easy virtue.
May Eve, the night from April 30 to May 1, is now called Walpurgisnacht, the night of Walpurgis or Walpurga. It is quite like Halloween in its celebration. The festival is marked by numerous rituals to ward off evil. Legend has it that on Walpurgisnacht the witches would gather on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains. Because of the Walpurgisnacht scene in Goethe's Faust, in which Mephistopheles takes Faust to the Brocken and has him revel with the witches, the witches gathering became widely known.
Under Christian influence, Walpurgisnacht became a festival to drive out evil spirits. Walpurgis derives its name from Walpurga or Walburga, Abbess of Heidenheim near Eichstätt, a Catholic Saint, who was known as the protectoress against witchcraft and sorcery, since she was one of the first missionaries from Christian Britain to pagan Germany.
On the Eve of May 1, bells toll in some areas and prayers are said; including blessings with holy-water; blessed sprigs of hawthorn, rowan etc can be found in homes and barns. The most widespread remedy against evil spirits during Walpurgisnacht is noise, since this was deemed the most effective way to drive off evil spirits. As soon as the sun sets, boys of all ages traditionally make lots of noise to drive out the evil spirits. In Bavaria, May Eve is called a Freinacht or Drudennacht. For young people it is an opportunity to play tricks. They stroll in groups through the streets playing pranks on the unsuspecting.
A Rich History
So our modern May Day holiday has a rich past, redolent with symbolism and meaning. Whether we take a deep historical view, or whether we just have fun in the sun, May Day (Beltaine) is widely celebrated throughout the world. It is one of the key turning points of the ritual year. In this writer's view, we need more ritual celebrations to bring our communities closer together and should cherish those that still survive.
May Day is one of the cross-quarter days, marking the midpoints between the solstices and the equinoxes. The other cross-quarter days are Candlemas (Feb. 2), Lughnassadh, or Lammas (August 1) and Halloween (Oct. 31) followed by All Saints Day (Nov. 1).
Now you know all about it, make sure you enjoy your May Day! | <urn:uuid:f72ec7c1-4719-4625-b542-7347c87be8bf> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://astrologycom.com/mayday.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370526982.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404231315-20200405021315-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.979102 | 2,464 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Everyone has a responsibility to monitor and tackle racial harassment and racist incidents!
In this activity participants role play a critical incident to explore issues about:
• Racism, stereotypes and cultural differences
• The prevalence of some forms of racism and prejudice, notably against Roma
• How to deal with racism in a school or other educational organisation.
- Related rights
• Equality in dignity and rights
• Freedom from discrimination
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• To deepen understanding about cultural differences and institutional racism
• To develop skills for democratic participation, communication and co-operation
• To promote responsibility, justice and solidarity
• Large sheets of paper or flipchart paper and markers
• 4 volunteers to present a role-play
• Role cards
• Critical incident card
• Guidelines for facilitators
• Copies of the school's policy and guidelines on racial incidents; enough to share one between two
• Copies of the handout "Some practical points for consideration", or write the points up on a large sheet of paper
• Paper and pens
• Review the critical incident and if necessary adapt it to your own situation.
• Choose four volunteers and ask them to prepare a very short role play based on the critical incident to present to the rest of the group.
• Make 5 copies of the critical incident scene card (one per role player and one for the facilitator).
• Make a copy of the guidelines for the facilitator.
- 21 MarchInternational Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ( Anti-Racism Day)
This activity is in two parts: part 1 is a review of what we understand by the term racism; part 2 involves drafting a policy for dealing with racist incidents in your school, club or organisation.
Part 1. A review: what do we understand by the term racism?
1. Begin the activity with a brainstorm on "racism".
2. Racist incidents and potential intercultural misunderstandings happen every day. Go on to brainstorm what kinds of everyday incidents and behaviour people identify as being racist.
3. Ask for four volunteers to act out the role play. Give them the role cards and copies of the critical incident and give them 15 minutes to prepare.
4. Explain that everyone else is an observer. Hand out paper and pens and explain that they will be watching three short scenes. There will be short breaks in between for the observers to write down key words which summarise their response.
5. Ask the volunteers to act out the role play.
6. At the end, conduct a short debriefing of people's comments:
a. What did people write down in the first break? What led participants to their conclusions?
b. What did people write down in the second break? What led them to those conclusions?
c. What did people realise at the end? What assumptions had they been making?
7. Go on to discuss what people thought the teachers, Gyula's father and the head teacher could – or should – have done to ensure a just outcome?
Part 2. Drafting a policy for dealing with racist incidents
1. Explain that the objective of this part of the activity is to develop guidelines on how racist incidents should be dealt with and to draft a policy for the school.
2. Carry out a short brainstorming activity of the different groups of people in the school, for example pupils/students, teachers, a head teacher, cleaning staff, librarians, school bus drivers and supervisory staff, for instance, playground supervisors.
3. Next, ask the participants to divide themselves into small groups of four or five people to consider the duties and responsibilities of the different members of the school with respect to racist incidents. Give the groups 30 minutes for their discussions and to prepare a report with key points on flipchart paper.
4. Ask participants to come back into plenary to report on their work. The facilitator should make a summary of the points on flip chart or on a board.
5. Ask the participants to review the policies or guidelines that already exist in their school. What needs to be updated?
6. Now encourage participants to work on developing the policy. Get each small group to work on one aspect (step or measure). For example: if a general school statement about racism and discrimination is needed, then one group should be in charge of writing it. Groups should also discuss ways to present their results in plenary, for example, using not only their writing but also images, collages and body sculptures to better convey their feelings.
7. In plenary, ask the groups to report their results and discuss how to implement their ideas.
Begin with a review of the activity itself and which human rights are at stake, and then go on to talk about what people learned and what they should do next.
• How prevalent is racism in your school and in society at large?
• Do you know of any racist incidents that have happened in your school or community?
• Are any groups targeted more often than others? Which? Why? Were the same groups targeted twenty or fifty years ago?
• How are Roma treated in your country and in other countries in Europe?
• What sorts of stereotypes do you have of Roma people? Where do these stereotypes come from? How can they be challenged?
• Which human rights are at stake in the critical incident?
• Have the participants' ideas of what constitutes a racist incident changed as a result of doing the activity? How? Elicit examples.
• Whose responsibility is it to ensure that racist incidents do not happen in your school or organisation?
• Having a policy on dealing with racist incidents is important, but would it not be better not to need it in the first place? What can and should be done to address the causes of racist behaviour, both in school and in society at large?
Be aware of the background of the members of the group and adapt the activity accordingly. People will be more engaged if you deal with issues that are real for the group. On the other hand, you need to be prepared for the emotions that may be brought out as a result. It is important to pay attention to the feelings of those participants who feel that they themselves have been discriminated against at school.
Brainstorming is a classic way to start an activity, but you could liven things up and be provocative by telling a racist joke. Consider choosing one that pokes fun at a group which is not represented in your class or youth group. In every country there are traditions of jokes about other nationals. You could start off the discussion by asking the group to share one or two. You could then go on to talk about the dividing line between racist and non-racist jokes. For instance, are jokes about Roma or Jews nationalistic or racist? This could lead you on to the definition of a racist joke and of a racist incident (see below in ‘further information').
At part 1 step 6, you may find that participants get very emotional. This may be reflected in the notes that participants take at the end of each scene and it may make it difficult to retrace the process. It may work better if you keep it concrete and focus on what the actors should do.
It may be that at the end of part 2 step 4 the conclusions are not sufficiently focused for the participants to use them for the next step. In this case, you may wish to use the handout, "Some practical points for consideration" and encourage groups to develop the first four steps.
The activity can be adapted to address issues such as bullying. If bullying is an issue, you may like to explore the activity, "Do we have alternatives?" first, before you try to develop an anti-bullying policy.
Review the situation and the policy regularly, for instance, once or twice a year. Policies need to be reviewed to ensure that they are in fact meeting the objectives. As society changes, so policies need updating to ensure that they continue to meet the challenges of the changing conditions.
If you want to do some campaigning, then the activity "Dosta!" will help you to develop an action.
Another activity that focuses on prejudice and discrimination is "My life is not a show". It addresses cyberbullying. If the group wish to look at discrimination against disabled people, they could look at the activity "Sports for all".
Continue to work on the policies in your own school or organisation and ensure their implementation. The group could also link up with anti-racist projects in other countries. For instance with "Schools Without Racism", a programme implemented in the Netherlands that requires at least 60% of the school population to sign and implement a common anti-discrimination statement http://members.multimania.nl/astrada/szr/swr.html
Definition of racism
Racism, in general terms, consists of conduct or words or practices which advantage or disadvantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. Its more subtle forms are as damaging as its overt form.
Institutionalised racism can be defined as the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amounts to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantages people from ethnic minorities. Racist incidents and harassment can take place in any institution, regardless of the numbers of pupils from different ethnic backgrounds within it.
A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person. For instance:
Physical harassment: comprises the more obvious examples of violent attacks or physical intimidation of both children and adults from minority groups, as well as incidents of "minor" intimidation which may be cumulative in effect.
Verbal harassment: name calling directed at those from minority groups and any ridicule of a person's background or culture (e.g. music, dress or diet) may be the most obvious examples. There may be other forms of verbal abuse, which are less obvious, involving teachers, pupils or other adults, such as off-the-cuff remarks of a racist nature, which cause offence.
Non co-operation and disrespect: refusal to co-operate with or show respect to minority pupils, students, teachers, trainers, youth leaders and others by people in the school/education community may constitute a racist incident if there is evidence of racist motivation or if the "victim" perceives racism to be a motive. Disrespect can also be inadvertent, for example if a teacher or trainer shows ignorance of a pupil's cultural practices in a way that makes the victim feel harassed or uncomfortable.
Other incidents: racist jokes and use of racist vocabulary, the wearing of racist insignia, badges, T-shirts, etc., racist graffiti, the distribution of racist literature or posters, the presence of racist or fascist organisations in or around the school community, or stereotyping by adults which could lead to discrimination.
Many racist incidents will be of a less obvious type. Such insidious actions which occur are often the most difficult to detect and deal with. Many racist incidents involving pupils or students will not occur in the presence of teachers or adults. It is therefore important that schools develop strategies to ensure that all members of the school community are sensitive to, and take responsibility for, reporting and dealing with incidents.
Further information about racism, antigypsyism and romahobia can be found in the Discrimination and Intolerance section of chapter 5.
Head teacher role card
Your greatest concern is the reputation of the school regarding safety and stealing.
Teacher 1 role card
You have noticed that other things, not just money, have been disappearing from the school. You have noted that last week Gyula came to school with a mobile phone.
Teacher 2 role card
You are Gyula’s class teacher. You know him quite well and like him. He is a kind, thoughtful boy who works hard, but he has not got any friends.
Father role card
Gyula is a good boy. You know how important education is and you always check that Gyula has done his homework before allowing him to go out to play football. It was his birthday last week.
Each scene takes place in the head teacher’s office.
Scene 1: Head teacher, teacher 1 and teacher 2
The head teacher, teacher 1 and teacher 2 discuss the problem and their reactions to a recent spate of pick-pocketing in the school. There have been several incidents: for instance, it started with a missing pen and since then several other things have gone missing, but mostly money.
There are rumours about who it could be, and the most likely culprit seems to be Gyula, a Roma boy.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Scene 2: Headmaster, Gyula’s father and teacher 1
The headmaster presses Gyula’s father to admit that his son has been stealing. The father stresses that Gyula would not do such a thing. Nonetheless, he apologises and offers to pay the stolen money back. The teachers feel awkward about the situation and promise to keep it a secret. Gyula can stay in the school, but the father should keep a closer eye on his son.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Scene 3: Headmaster and teacher 2
The headmaster and teacher 1 discuss the improved atmosphere in the school. They are pleased that the problem seems to be solved.
Enter teacher 1: S/he announces the news that the police have just arrested a pupil (not Gyula) for pick-pocketing at the school gate. Apparently s/he has confessed to have stolen all the money.
They discuss their reactions to the news.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Guidelines for the facilitator
Let the volunteers perform their role-play. At the breaks, between the scenes, you should interject with the questions and ask the observers to write down key words which summarise their response at that stage in the presentation.
First break: First question to the observers: If you were the head teacher, what would you do?
Second break: Second question to the observers: Do you think the matter has been solved satisfactorily?
Third break: Third question to the observers: What do you think now?
Some practical points for consideration in relation to developing an anti-racist policy.
In dealing with racial harassment and racist incidents, a whole school (organisation) approach to policy development and implementation is required. It is important that approaches to racist incidents fit in with general school / organisational policy and practice. The issues should be regarded as “special but not separate”. Some practical points for consideration are:
• A clear statement of policy needs to be made showing that no racist incidents or racial harassment will be tolerated.
• In the policy, the school should make a clear statement as to the procedures that should be followed when a racist incident occurs.
• The whole school approach, including processes and agreed actions for dealing with incidents, must extend to all members of the school community: governors, staff (teaching and non-teaching), parents, pupils, students and visitors.
• There must be clear understanding that everyone in the school community has a responsibility to monitor and tackle racial harassment and racist incidents.
• There should be a consistency of approach so that everyone involved is aware of what is expected of them.
• It should be understood that a response to an incident should be made at the time the incident occurs or is reported.
• Any follow-up responses to an incident should be made within an agreed time-scale. | <urn:uuid:5d088c77-2298-4dbf-bc94-4fe09790713b> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/responding-to-racism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506988.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402143006-20200402173006-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.957017 | 3,229 | 3.78125 | 4 |
Liberal Media – The role of Social Media in Fostering Social/Political Participation to Help Enhance Democracy
Liberal media democracy is a strong pillar for a free society. Democracy exists when citizens have the ability to practice their fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. The rise of social media has made it possible for people to express themselves more freely. Platforms such as Facebook, Skype, Twitter and Instagram have given their users the power to express themselves in a way that is cheap and easy to access. It has been immensely possible for people to convey their sentiments through these means which has greatly improved public opinion on governance. Social media unlike Liberal media allows for a two way communication means between the receiver and the sender.
Social media has influenced the political arena through opinion polls where citizens have an opportunity to present their views on politicians in a cheap easy way. Citizens also have the ability to express satisfaction or distaste towards their political leaders. This essay, therefore investigates the power of social media as a tool in supporting democracy especially through the idea of democratic deliberation, liberty and organization events.
Social Media Overview
The rapid growth of the social media in the 21st century has created a new trend on communication and information sharing which is significantly different from the traditional media known as the new media (Omede & Alebiosu, 2015. Pg. 272). Unlike the liberal media which requires expensive radio and television broadcasting systems, social media uses a different form of technology, the internet. Internet technology is relatively cheap and also subjected to less stringent regulation, and has no monopolistic ownership or control as it’s the case of the convection media (Coronel, 2003 pg. 1).Therefore, social media gives its users the liberty on the information that they can develop and share with each other. Also, it is widely accessible globally as more users are getting connected to the fast and reliable internet, hence making it a more efficient and effective approach in bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together, when compared to liberal media. Currently, over two billion people worldwide have access to the internet (European Commission, 2011, pg. 5). Large social media sites with millions of users such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram among several blogs have also emerged which give users platforms which they interact and share information with each other through images, video and text formats.
These sites have also created an opportunity for users to participate in discussions and forums to express their views and ideas on matters related to democratic governance. In addition, people have also taken advantage of the new social media platforms to organize and facilitate political actions and events, all of which have a significant impact on democratic policies across different societies worldwide. Some social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have advanced functions that allow users to follow and interact with politicians and other prominent figures in the society and participate in their discussions in an interactive way. This has given social media a significant advantage over the liberal media, making it ideal to foster social/ political participation which is essential in enhancing democracy.
Thesis statement: Therefore, social media has arguably a huge contribution in promoting democratic values and policies in any society. However, scholars have expressed concern that the lack of control and regulation of the social media may pose a threat to democracy. This essay, therefore, provides supporting evidence that indeed social media is a powerful tool in supporting democracy especially through the idea of democratic deliberation, liberty and organization events.
Role of Social Media in Democratic Deliberation
Deliberation plays a critical role in decision making for a deliberative democracy. Social media offers the right tools that provide advanced tools and functions for millions of users to experience the principles of democratic deliberation which include equality, active participation, and self-determination (Miswardi, 2014, pg.3). Social media has introduced new communication tools such as images, video, and text which users use to communicate and engage with each other in contentious political actions, through cheap, fast and reliable internet technology. Social media platforms have the Capability to support two-way interactive communication for a large number of people, therefore providing a limitless pool of ideas which can be adopted to promote and influence democratic governance (Omede & Alebiosu, 2015. Pg. 272).
In addition, Social media has no middlemen like the case of the liberal media who may control, influence or change the content. Hence, the millions of users in the social media have an equal opportunity to share their contributions and views on the appropriate democratic policies which aren’t skewed for the authoritarian non-democratic regimes (Kaul, 2012. Pg. 2). Also, unlike the liberal media which is controlled by a few political elites who manipulate the media to their favor, social media offers millions of users from diverse backgrounds, both rich and poor an equal opportunity to participate and deliberate on extensive and wide political issues.
The liberal media only provides a one-way communication channel where the end user only receives information but has no opportunity to provide their views or feedback. Social media has revolutionized this communication channel to create a two-way interactive communication channel where the people have an opportunity to participate in deliberating appropriate democratic policies in their favor actively.Due to the emergence of large free social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram among several others, social media is relatively cheap for users to pass their feedback or contribution on current political issues when compared to passing the same information through the liberal media.
Using social media, the user does not require to undergo any form of professional journalism training is a reporter. The social media platforms provide their users with perfect tools for individual reporters which can still enable them to pass their information to other people or concerned authorities. There are several instances where people have used the social media to organize and coordinate successful revolutions to remove authoritarian regimes out of power such as during the Arab Spring in the Middle East (Unwin, 2014. Pg. 1). Therefore, in such cases, social media facilitates the communication between the citizens and respective representatives coordinating these revolutions. In addition to political revolutions, social media has also been used to put pressure and force the government authorities to act or respond to several instances affecting their citizens, bringing the power of millions of social media users to influence democratic policies.
Social media promotes self-determination to contribute to democratic governance among citizens participate in various democratic processes. Since the evolution of the social media, citizens have used social media to express their support for certain political parties or ideologies. Also, the number of people who participate in thedemocratic process has risen as more people learn the importance of participating in such processes through the social media (Unwin, 2014. Pg. 2).Also, people are more determined than before to share information promoting democratic leadership when compared to the past when they left this critical democratic role in the hands of a few elites who influence the liberal media. Therefore, such determination may not exist if only the liberal media exists in the society. The social media has also been used for survey purposes by Analysts, non-governmental organizations, social activists and other bodies to promote a democratic society (Kaul, 2012. Pg. 2). The social media is a useful tool to collect statistics on millions of users using the platform to form or influence policies that advance democratic agendas.
The Role of Social Media in Promoting Liberty
Liberty refers to the state of freedom that a citizen enjoys from the oppressing restrictions in one’s behaviors, lifestyle and political opinions. It is, therefore, one of the key components of a democratic society where citizens have the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. As a new genre of media that allows people to socially network, share personal information and access the shared information, social media promotes liberty through some ways. First, it allows users to develop and exchange user-generated content, therefore promoting freedom of expression on matters relating to democratic governance (Omede & Alebiosu, 2015.pg. 273 & 274). The social media enables citizens to hold enhanced dialogues and share that information across some users on the social media platform.
The social media, therefore, eliminates the barriers such as regulation or restriction of content for ordinary citizens by the liberal media (Omede & Alebiosu, 2015.pg. 275).Also, it promotes free and open discussion among citizens which is one of the significant facilitators of democracy. Activists have also taken advantage of the social to utilize their freedom of expression, to rally ordinary citizens in demanding to effective democratic governance. Social media is a powerful tool for users to share not only information but also ideas and influence each other in the best form of democratic policies. In addition, its wide accessibility globally has given people the liberty to share and access information not only on the national and regional borders but also globally. This time and space liberty give people and advantage to learn what is going on in the world as far as the democracy is concerned and can use this information to influence better democratic governance policies in their individual countries. All this has been made possible because of the existence of an unbiased, cost-effective and unrestricted social media.
The Role of Social Media in the Election Process
In the 21st century, the influence of social media in elections has significantly increased. First, the social media gives the electorate the power to share their voice on their preferred leaders. With social media, each voter has an opportunity to share her opinion on the election process, which was possible with the liberal media as only a few elite controlled and influenced the election process using the power of the media. In addition, using social media, the collective views of the electorate can influence certain issues in an election process to promote a free and fair election, which is a center pillar of democracy.
The mainstream media has been labeled as based and used by the few to mislead the American public during the elections in the United States. According to Hatter, (2004, pg1), the liberal media has been widely biased towards the Democrats, which is labeled a threat to the free democracy. The United States media has always supported the Democratic candidates and influences the American electorate for the Democrats. According to Hatter, the liberal media has been interweaved into the Democratic Party, and with the power and influence of the media on the society, the people are denied the opportunity to make a free judgment on the candidates participating in an election. However, the social media has the power to correct the effects of a dishonest liberal media. As more people turn to social media, the electorate has access to unbiased information. In the last general election, the republican widely used social media to counter the effect of the biased liberal media against their presidential candidate.
However, despite its huge advantage over the biased liberal media in promoting democracy through a fair election process, the social media may create potential risk from the uprisings that result from supporters of different political action groups. For instance, the social media can be held highly responsible for the increasing rift between the democrats and republicans in the United States.
The social media is a powerful tool to improve the perception of the general population on matters relating to democracy. This is because content generated and shared through the social media is not regulated as the information passing through the liberal media, therefore eliminating the possibility of biases. Social media also has a great chance to educate the general population on the appropriate democratic policies as well as the election process, which will significantly promote a democratic society. One of the advantages of the social media is the low cost and wide accessibility especially as the number of people who are getting connected to a reliable and fast internet continues to increase. People, therefore, have the liberty to generate and share information using various trending social media platform. Therefore, social media has a significant contribution in promoting democracy.
Coronel, Sheila. “The role of the media in deepening democracy.” NGO Media Outreach: Using the (2003).
Hatter, J. “The Media Threat to Democracy.” 2013, p. 1. Accessed 4 May 2017.
Kaul, V. (2012). Are new media democratic? Global Media Journal, 5(1), 1-20.
Miswardi, Gideon. “Digital-Media-A-Double-Edged-Sword-for-Representative-Democracy.” International IDEA’s 20th century anniversary essay competition, 2014.
Omede, A.J, and Emmanuel A. Alebiosu. “SOCIAL MEDIA: A TREND OR THREAT TO DEMOCRACY?” Trans campus journal, ISSN 1596-8303, 2015.
Unwin, Tim. “Social media and democracy: Critical reflections.” background paper for Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (Colombo), Vol. 20. 2014.
Other Relevant Blog Posts
If you enjoyed reading this post on liberal media democracy, I would be very grateful if you could help spread this knowledge by emailing this post to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook. Thank you. | <urn:uuid:2326cddd-00c7-496f-8e55-ef6296b21157> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://study-aids.co.uk/dissertation-blog/category/media-studies-dissertations/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506673.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402045741-20200402075741-00035.warc.gz | en | 0.940898 | 2,640 | 2.921875 | 3 |
COMPOST QUIZ / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Take our 20-question quiz to see how much you know (or need to learn) about composting. Read each question, then click on your answer choice to reveal the result. When you've read the result, click the answer to close it or simply move on to the next question.
1) I'm having problems with my compost system and I'm not sure of the cause. What should I do first?
a. Add water
b. Add browns/carbon rich material
c. Turn the compost
Most problems associated with composting are due to lack of oxygen in the pile. Turning the compost will introduce oxygen, break up clumps, mix the materials, fluff up the materials, and generally improve the environment inside the compost system. Always turn first — the compost may start performing as desired.
d. Add greens/nitrogen rich material
2) My compost smells bad and I turned it yesterday. What can I do?
a. Add bulky browns/carbon-rich material
Most odor problems often result from either too much moisture, which causes the compost to compact and loose oxygen flow or too much green/nitrogen rich material which off-gas smelly odors (or both). Adding bulky brown/carbon rich material will help absorb the excess moisture and nitrogen rich gasses. You can just add the browns to the top of the compost bin, but if odors persist, you may have to mix the browns in throughout the pile, where the bulky material will help keep the pile oxygenated.
b. Add greens/nitrogen-rich material
c. Add water
3) My pile won't heat up, but I have the proper volume of material (approximately 1 cubic yard), enough oxygen (aeration), and a good balance of carbon to nitrogen (approximately 30:1). What can I do?
a. Add lime
b. Add moisture
Moisture can be the limiting factor for the most efficient composting. Try adding water to a compost system that won't heat up. Your compost should be as wet as a damp sponge. When you grab a handful of compost it will stay in a ball, but not drip with excess moisture. Too much moisture will also slow your composting process and may cause odors.
c. Add potting soil
d. Add clean wood ash
e. All of the above
4) What can I do about flies in my compost?
a. Spray with pesticide
b. Create a separate pile for kitchen scraps
c. No need to act
Flies and their larvae, which look like white grubs, can be part of the decomposition process. If the flies don't bother you, you don't really have to manage your pile to keep out flies. However, most people don't want to breed flies in their compost piles. Flies are most active in wet kitchen scraps. Keep all kitchen scraps tightly covered so that flies can't lay their eggs in the compostables. Make sure to bury scraps deeper in the pile, or cover with at least 4-6 inches of brown cover. Also, flies will be less attracted to a very hot pile.
5) How can I compost in my high-rise condomunium or apartment?
a. With a compost bin
b. With worms
You can compost kitchen scraps and organic matter such as trimmings from your house plants using a type of composting called Vermi-composting. This is composting with the help of worms such as red-wigglers. The worms need a place to live, such a small tub or bin placed in a shady section of your porch. Vermi-composting is very efficient and produces material suitable for potting plants.
Learn more about composting with worms.
c. With the in-sink disposal
6) What is the optimal size of a composting system?
a. The bigger, the better
b. Long and narrow
c. About 3 feet high by 3 feet long by 3 feet wide
The ideal size of the backyard composting pile in a bin is about one cubic yard (3' x 3' x 3'). If you generate more than one cubic yard of material, consider using more bins, rather than larger piles. Larger piles might compact and restrict air flow.
7) What can be used as a catalyst or inoculant to get my compost pile started?
a. Finished compost
b. Large pieces left over from screening compost
c. Small amount of organic top soil from the yard
d. Commercially prepared inoculant
e. All of the above
Many of the micro-organisms needed for decomposition already exist in the environment and on the organic material that is being composted. Other decomposers will join the composting process by floating in on air currents. However, you may want to use an inoculant / catalyst to jump start the microbial activity in your pile. The following materials can be added:
- Finished compost, which has a compliment of microbes active and dormant in the material;
- Large pieces left over from screening compost, which will provide bulk as well as microbes to the composting process;
- A small amount of organic top soil, from the yard; and/or
- A commercially prepared inoculant.
8) How do I get rid of fire ants in my compost pile?
a. Leave the pile alone
b. Water and turn the pile
Fire ants usually avoid places that are disturbed so a compost pile that is turned will be an unattractive home for those biting critters. Also, ants do not like wet feet, so keep your pile moist. Reaching higher temperatures in the early stages of composting may also discourage the fire ants. Most fire any activities are the result of abandoning the composting process.
Once the ants become established, it may be difficult to remove them. If they persist or are a hazard to you, try pouring boiling water on the nest. As a last resort, you may use fire ant bait killer NEAR but not in the compost pile. However, avoid direct application of pesticides directly on the compost and follow the pesticide label's instructions for use. For further assistance, consult with you local Cooperative Extension Service Office.
c. Spray the pile with pesticide
9) When is the compost finished?
a. After 6-8 weeks
b. When the compost appears dark, crumbly, and looks and smells like soil
Compost is finished when it appears crumbly and dark, and looks and smells like soil. You won't be able to recognize most of the materials that you put in at the beginning of the process. You may screen out larger woody pieces to remove materials that have not completely composted yet.
To learn more, see "Compost Maturity Tests".
c. When the pile temperature exceeds 131 degrees F
10) What determines how long it takes for organic material to become useful compost?
a. Size of materials place into composting system
b. Carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of materials place into composting system
c. Level of management/attention paid to the composting process
d. Intended use for finished compost
e. All of the above
A backyard composting system may yield finished soil-like compost in two to three months. This can be accomplished by using small organic pieces less than 2", a mixture of organic materials with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of approximately 30:1, and an actively managed system (where the pile is turned one to two times per week and monitored for correct moisture content and temperature). More time is needed to produce compost if less attention is paid to material size, C:N ratio, and active management.
Compost that will be used as a mulch will be ready for use more quickly than compost that will be incorporated into the soil for immediate planting.
11) Must I cover the compost bin?
In Florida, covers are not necessary for environmental reasons. However, if you need to deter animals from getting into your compost, a cover will be required. Covers are often used in northern climates where snow accumulations could compact the compost and saturate it with moisture.
12) What items may harm my worms if added to my vermi-composting system?
a. Alcohol or vinegar
Substances such as alcohol or vinegar may harm the worms.
b. Coffee grinds
c. Oranges or other citrus
d. All of the above
13) It I can't compost it, what can I do with it?
d. All of the above
- Reduce: The best environmental action is not producing waste in the first place. If you don't need it, don't buy it.
- Re-use: Buying durable products that can be used many times, helps save resources over time. Clothing, dishes, toys, lawn furniture, and many other household items may be sold at garage sales, or donated to charity.
- Recycle: Most municipalities have either curbside or drop-off recycling for materials such as glass, paper, plastic, aluminum cans and metal.
14) Must I use a manufactured composting bin?
No, not necessarily. Many people like manufactured bins because they generally have a much more finished look than homemade bins. However, you can construct attractive composting structures made of wire, wood or concrete blocks, depending on your personal tastes. Of course, the sheet, trench, and heap composting systems (see the Cold/Slow section under "Composting Methods") require no building materials at all, and can be integrated in your existing landscape – under trees, in annual beds, etc.
15) What is the lowest-cost backyard composting system?
a. Pile, trench, and sheet composting
Pile, trench, and sheet composting systems cost nothing and require little effort. Even minimal attention to material size, moisture, and turning will lead to successful composting.
For more information on each of these composting methods, see the Cold/Slow section under "Composting Methods".
b. Manufactured bins
c. Self-made bins
16) What best accelerates the decomposition of oak leaves?
a. Water the pile
b. Turn the pile twice a week
c. Shred leaves before adding to the compost
Shredding leaves prior to composting will accelerate their decomposition by breaking the waxy leaf edge. This creates sites for microorganisms to start breaking down the leaf structure. Watering and turning will also help speed up the decomposition process.
d. All of the above
17) How can I accelerate the compost decomposition process?
a. Active management of the compost system
Composting or decomposition can be accelerated through the active management of your compost pile, including the following basic steps:
- Balance high carbon leaves with a source of nitrogen;
- Add moisture as you build and turn your pile, but do not over saturate the pile;
- Turn your pile once per week; and
- Use your unfinished compost as mulch.
b. Building a bigger pile
c. Adding a compost starter/inoculant/catalyst
d. None of the above
18) How much time does it take to make compost?
a. One hour per day
b. One hour per week
c. One hour per month
d. As little or as much time as I want
You can compost most items with very little effort. Only large volumes of "green" material will require more intense effort during the initial stages. But as with many activities, the more that you put into it the more you get out of it. So the amount of time it takes to make compost varies. Just remember that any effort you make to compost will go a long way to reducing pressure on our landfills, and adds organic matter to our highly depleted sub-tropical soils. You can make a difference.
19) Hot composting and vermi-composting are compatible?
Temperatures higher than 90 degrees F will kill or drive away worms. Use a cold-composting method if you will be attracting worms to your compost.
20) How does composting affect soil pH?
a. Makes soils more acidic
b. Makes soils more basic
c. Has a buffering effect
In general, compost has a buffering effect on soils. Compost made from acidic materials, such as pine needles or oak leaves, may have a slightly acidifying effect on soils. Because many soils in Florida are slightly basic, there is rarely a need to add lime to neutralize even acidic composts. | <urn:uuid:4e55172e-c3a0-49e7-8864-caf8cc62bc70> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/natural-resources/waste-reduction/composting/quizfaq/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370508367.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402204908-20200402234908-00233.warc.gz | en | 0.922667 | 2,643 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Suggested Citation: Garko, Michael (2018, June). Comparing and contrasting medical paradigms. Retrieved from www.letstaknutrition.com.
Comparing and Contrasting Medical Paradigms
Dr. Michael Garko, Ph.D.
Host & Producer Let’s Talk Nutrition – Health Talk Radio for the 21st Century
A considerable amount of conceptual confusion spawned by misunderstanding, misrepresentations and misapplications characterizes discussions on medical paradigms found in the literature (i.e., allopathic medicine, functional medicine, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, naturopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, regenerative medicine and western medicine).
The purpose of this June, 2018, edition of Health & Wellness Monthly brief is to describe the primary medical paradigms identifying their major features and goals and along the way compare and contrast them, mention how they may overlap and note if nutrition is included with each paradigm. Finally, attention will be given to whether the described paradigms can or should work together or otherwise be integrated, with a particular focus on nutrition and how it can enhance the different paradigms.
Allopathic medicine refers to what is termed traditional, conventional or Western medicine. It is frequently contrasted with complimentary or alternative approaches to medicine (see National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2017). Allopathic medicine is an approach whereby medical doctors and other conventionally-oriented healthcare professionals (e.g., nurses, pharmacists, therapists, technicians) rely upon drugs, surgery, various diagnostic tests and procedures and therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, physical therapy, psychotherapy), among other methods, procedures and practices to diagnose, treat and ideally cure disease, relying on medical technology, scientific research (e.g., randomized clinical trials) and research based practice. Compared to the methods, procedures and practices of other medical paradigms (e.g., naturopathy & functional medicine), nutrition is not a hallmark of conventional medicine, while prescription drugs are (see National Cancer Institute, n.d.; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2017).
Functional medicine is a clinical operational system emphasizing the causes of disease from a patient-centered systems biology perspective, which brings the patient and practitioner together in a therapeutic relationship (Bland, 2015). It dovetails with integrative medicine, an evidence-based approach focusing on the whole person and using dietary-nutritional and lifestyle therapies (Bland, 2017). With functional medicine, there is less focus on dysfunction/disease (the endpoint) and more attention on the underlying causes of disease. It treats the whole person and seeks to restore homeostasis by taking into account how the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and creating and implementing a personalized therapeutic program to address the patient’s functional needs (Bland, 2017). Functional medicine integrates conventional treatment methods with complementary, genetic, holistic, and nutritional therapies (Richer, 2017). Hence, it includes the use of “acupuncture, Ayurveda, chiropractic manipulation, detoxification programs, herbal and homeopathic supplements, specialized diets, massage, meditation and mindfulness practices, neurobiofeedback, nutritional supplements, t’ai chi, and yoga” (Richer, 2017, p. 206).
Rather than a defined set of medical techniques, holistic medicine is more of a perspective on addressing the psychological, familial, societal, ethical, spiritual and biological dimensions of a person’s health and wellness. It integrate Western and alternative approaches, while celebrating the patient’s uniqueness, mind, body and spirit, promoting the mutuality of the doctor-patient relationship, encouraging people to take responsibility their health and encouraging the use of complementary and alternative therapies (e.g., acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, massage therapy, naturopathy), along with diet and nutrition, exercise, psychotherapy, relationship and spiritual counseling and even medications and surgical procedures (see Gordon, 1982). Taken together, these principles represent the cornerstone of holistic medicine and become integrated into other medical paradigms (e.g., naturopathic medicine).
Integrative medicine (IM) combines/integrates conventional medicine with complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies, with the former working together with conventional medicine and the latter used instead of conventional therapies (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016). CAM represents all that is outside of conventional or Western medicine. IM employs CAM therapies and modalities supported by evidence of safety and efficacy in conjunction with conventional medicine (Petri, 2015). IM is patient-centered, placing responsibility for health and healing on patients and healthcare providers but with patients assuming the lead role. It is also evidence-based in terms of the integration of conventional, complementary and alternative therapies (see National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016; Petri, 2015). Nutrition is an important part of IM. The American Board of Physician Specialists is illustrative of the importance attributed to nutrition in the care of patients (see American Board of Physician Specialists, 2018)
Naturopathic medicine is often described as an art, science, philosophy and the practice of medicine focusing on prevention, treatment and attaining optimal health using therapeutic methods and substances that promote self-healing (e.g., see American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, n.d.). The following principles represent the foundation of how naturopathic medicine should be practiced:
- The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae) – The body has the inherent ability to heal itself. Identify
- Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam) – Focus on the underlying cause(s) of illness rather than managing symptoms.
- First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere):Accomplished by 1. Using methods and medicinal substances that reduce risk of harmful side effects and employ the least force when diagnosing and treating the patient, 2. avoiding the suppression of symptoms and focusing on the self-healing process.
- Doctor as Teacher (Docere):The goal is t educate patients and encourage self-responsibility for health.
- Treat the Whole Person:Focus on and recognize the physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual factors when treating patients.
- Prevention:Prevention of disease is a first principle (see American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, n.d.).
Naturopathic medicine embraces the use of conventional and natural diagnostic and therapeutic methods and therapies such as “clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing, nutritional medicine, botanical medicine, naturopathic physical medicine (including naturopathic manipulative therapy), public health measures, hygiene, counseling, minor surgery, homeopathy, acupuncture, prescription medication, intravenous and injection therapy, and naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth)” (American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, n.d. p. 1).
Osteopathic medicine is not all that different from the principles and practices of allopathic medicine in that relies upon prescription drugs, surgery and medical technology in diagnosing and treating patients. However, it also employs the use of what is referred to as hands-on diagnosis and treatment by osteopathic manipulative medicine. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.
The goal of regenerative medicine is to create living, functional tissue with the purpose of repairing or replacing tissue or organ function caused by aging, disease, damage or congenital-associated defects in a p (National Institutes of Health, 2010).
The differences between and among the medical paradigms discussed above should not serve as an impediment to integrate the strengths and uniqueness of one paradigm with another. For example, it would serve allopathic medicine well to adopt some of the principles, practices and therapies of functional medicine, integrative medicine and naturopathic medicine so as to introduce more CAM therapies into the day-to-day practice of medicine. Doing so would give allopathic physicians more degrees of medical freedom in diagnosing and treating patients and perhaps even improving the prognosis of their patients and not being so reliant on prescription drugs. Conversely, some of the less conventional medical approaches would do well to adopt some of the proven medical technologies and practices of the allopathic medical tradition, which some do (e.g., integrative medicine, naturopathic medicine, holistic medicine). The medical paradigms discussed above, except for osteopathic and regenerative medicine embrace and integrate nutrition into their approach. Nutrition plays a vital and proven role in the practice of medicine no matter from which perspective it may be approached. Diet and nutrition taken together are among the most important first principles in medicine or at least they should be so considered. In that regard, nutrition is a first line therapy some alternative therapy. Somehow along the way, nutrition became relegated to an alternative or complimentary therapy. Perhaps it should be the other way around and other therapies should be considered alternative or complimentary to nutrition.
American Association of Colleges of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (2018). What is osteopalthic medicine? Retrieved from (https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/about-om.
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (n.d.) Definition of naturopathic medicine. Retrieved from https://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=59.
American Board of Physician Specialists (2018). Integrative medicine: Better health through individualized nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.abpsus.org/integrative-medicine-nutrition
Bland, J. (2015, October). Functional medicine: An operating System for integrative medicine. Integrative Medicine, 14, No. 5 • October 2015
Gordon JS: Holistic medicine: Advances and shortcomings (Special Essay). Western J Med 1982 Jun; 136:546- 551
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2016). Complimentary, alternative, or integrative health: What’s in a name? Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health.
National Institute of Health (2010). Regenerative medicine fact sheet. Retrieved from https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=62.
Osher Center for Integrative Health and Medicine (n.d.). What is integrative medicine and health? Retrieved from https://www.osher.ucsf.edu/about-us/what-is-integrative-medicine/.
Petri, R. (2015). Integrative health and healing as the new health care paradigm for the military. Medical Acupuncture, 27(5), 301-308.
Richer, A.C. (2017, August). Functional medicine approach to traumatic brain injury Medical Acupuncture, 29(4): 206–214. | <urn:uuid:d4329f02-6901-4c3a-b278-0300f0a377e4> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://letstalknutrition.com/comparing-and-contrasting-medical-paradigms/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370529375.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405053120-20200405083120-00154.warc.gz | en | 0.887008 | 2,251 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Henry Ford, an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, is best-known as both a folk hero as well as a technological genius. He is also called to be the father of the modern assembly line used in mass production whose Model T automobile modernized transportation in particular, and American industry in general. His businesses intellect permanently transformed the economic as well as as the social character of the United States. Within the five years of the inception of the Ford Motors, it produced 267,720 cars and employed 13,000 people. Within a decade; he had captured about 48 percent share of US car market with $100 million in annual sales.
“The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.” ~Henry Ford
Steve Jobs is one of the most influential innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders in history who changed the world through technology. He alone revolutionized three multi-billion dollar industries-personal computing, mobile phones, and the music industry. More importantly, he transformed the way people read, play and work and live. Steve Jobs’ business accomplishments and decisions have greatly impacted our lives, from the smart and attractive outlook of glass-faced smart devices to our access to songs, movies, animation and software developments. Minutest search of the business history may show his prominence, putting him beside the business legends such as Henry Ford and John Rockefeller in modernizing the whole society. His absence will be tremendously felt in coming years.
Ray Sharma, chairman of Toronto-based mobile app developer Xtreme Labs, states that “Jobs had a truly yogic way of thinking. He has uniquely upended the computer, digital movie, music, and mobile industries. He will be an inspiration for the ages and we will sorely miss his genius.”
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Thomas Edison was the greatest inventor of modern world who graced the humanity with his highly evolved and sensitive; and was responsible for over a thousand inventions that laid the foundation of several modern technologies and socioeconomic development.
Some of his early inventions include vote recorder, stock quote printer, numerous telephone devices, carbon telegraph transmitter, through which he made 40,000 U.S dollars. Edison utilized his fortune by establishing a lab in 1876. He devoted his whole life conducting research on several projects that resulted into some of the greatest invention such as the phonograph in 1877, the incandescent light bulb in 1879. In 1888, he also created the device called kinetoscope to play motion pictures, and made his own battery and named it the Edison Storage Battery. Moreover, Edison was the person behind producing the first talking movie. In later years of life, he started 14 companies that included General Electric.
“Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!” Thomas Edison
Richard Branson is an adventurous British entrepreneur who founded the Virgin group that includes over 400 companies. Virgin, the globally recognized brand, has ventured across almost everything from credit cards, to airlines and music “megastores” to telecommunications and lifestyle.
Branson’s first business venture was a magazine called ‘Studentl which he successfully ran at the age 16. Today, he has been consistently seeking new business opportunities and challenging the risks ahead; his vision, setting goals and accomplishing them under strict deadline has made him one of the highest regarded businessmen of 21st century. He is also popular as the founding father of ‘Space Tourism’. In 1999, he was awarded a Knighthood for his significant contribution to entrepreneurship.
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.” Richard Branson
Born on October 14 1900, W. Edwards Deming was an American statistician, professor, and consultant and best known for his principles on improving design, product quality, and sales through the application of statistical methods. Deming made significant contribution to Japanese economy by producing innovative and high-quality products and strengthening its core infrastructure sectors. He left great impact upon Japanese manufacturing industry.
In order to transform various business processes, he would emphasize on being consistent towards the improvement of products and services as well as staying competitive in business marketplace by implementing standard business philosophy that offered perception of progress and responsive leadership for change.
Deming was the person behind the ‘total quality movement’ and wrote the key business principles which are taught in all major universities across the world.
“If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
W. Edwards Deming
John Francis “Jack” Welch, Jr. is an American business executive, chemical engineer, and author. He was Chairman as well as CEO of General Electric from 1981 to 2001. During his tenure as CEO of General Electric for 20 years, he has been credited with the transforming the company’s market worth from $12 billion in 1981 to 280$ billion in 2001. On many occasions he was criticized for being aggressive and stubborn; yet he remained the company’s most important asset and his tremendous leadership skills made General Electric one of the most successful companies across the world. He has noted down his life experiences and challenges he faced and his approaches to business effectiveness in his book ‘Straight From the Guts’ which was published in 2001.
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“It’s through curiosity and looking at opportunities in new ways that we’ve always mapped our path at Dell. There’s always an opportunity to make a difference.” Michael Dell
Andrew Stephen Grove is a Hungarian-American Jewish businessman, engineer, author, and a science pioneer who changed the face of semiconductor industry. At the age of 20, he ran away from Communist-controlled Hungary to the United States. On completion of his graduation in 1960 in chemical engineering from the City College of New York, he earned his PhD from from the University of California, Berkeley in 1963. He began his career by joining Fairchild Semiconductor as a researcher and later became the third employee (joined as CEO) of Intel Corporation.
Grove has consistently made significant contributions to semiconductor devices as well as technology in 1960s and 70s. He is the person behind creating stable MOS devices, and enhancing the consistency of silicon semiconductor devices that helped emerging the MOS-based IC industry. He is widely known as a technological genius. He with his dynamic leadership in Intel Corporation, he made it one of the most successful business giants in the world. Some of his accomplishments and titles are the Heinz Family Foundation Award, the AEA Medal of Achievement, and Technology Leader of the year, Man of the Year, CEO of the Year, and Distinguished Executive of the Year by respected organizations across the world.
“So give me a turbulent world as opposed to a quiet world and I’ll take the turbulent one.”
Ted Turner, a Media mogul, is widely known as the founder of CNN and philanthropy. He is also the founder of WTBS that initiated the concept of “superstation” in cable television nationwide by means of satellite and the system was later dubbed TBS that is Turner Broadcasting Station and reached more than 160 million homes in approximately 40 different languages in around 200 countries across the world. He revolutionized the American news media by turning his father’s billboard business into Turner Broadcasting System and Cable News Network. Turner’s candidness, vision, determination, generosity have always made him worth noticing. He also supports environmentalism through Turner Foundation. He reportedly donated $1 billion to the United Nations for making the environment better.
“You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.”
“You can never quit. Winner never quit, and quitters never win.” Ted Turner
Sam Walton is the founder of the largest retailer in the world, Wal-mart, which first opened in 1962 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Throughout his career, he worked hard to bring a wide variety of products in low prices to his consumers. According to the Forbes Global 2011 list, Wal-mart is now the world’s 18th largest public corporation and the biggest private employer in the world with more than 2 million employees and 8,500 stores in 15 countries.
He earned many honors in his lifetime, some of them are: in 1998, Time magazine kept him in list of ‘100 most influential people of the 20th Century’. In 1992, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush for his significant contribution in retail.
“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” | <urn:uuid:9282279b-2969-40c6-9d8f-e41986719102> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://brainprick.com/people-who-changed-the-world-in-business/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371876625.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409185507-20200409220007-00114.warc.gz | en | 0.975677 | 2,064 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Is depression a side effect of anti-retroviral medications taken by people living with HIV?
The issue and why it’s important
The Ontario HIV and Substance Use Training Program offers workshops across Ontario for counselors working in the field. In the past these workshops have advised counselors to consider that someone with HIV may be experiencing depression as a side effect of their HIV medications, not just the HIV diagnosis. In order to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, the program requested a review of the research literature to determine whether HIV anti-retroviral medications result in depression for people living with HIV or AIDS.
What we found
- Numerous studies have revealed that up to 50% of people living with HIV or AIDS experience depression (1-4).
- The available data suggests that depression leads to worse outcomes in people living with HIV. However, it is unclear whether this difference in outcomes is driven by depression or another factor such as differences in medication adherence or both. More research is needed to help further explain the relationship between depression, HAART and differences in medication adherence (5).
- There are many reasons why some people living with HIV experience depression. Biological and psychological mechanisms can explain this phenomenon (4). For example: Depression may be related to the psychological impact of an HIV positive test report and with the progression of HIV (6)
- Depression may be caused by HIV penetration of the blood-brain barrier and infection of the central nervous system (sometimes called “organic depression”) (7).
- Depression may be caused by HIV-related opportunistic illness such as infections or tumors of the brain (also called “organic depression”) (7).
- Depression and other preexisting psychiatric disorders may be exacerbated by HIV (8, 9)
- Depression or other negative impacts on mental health may be a side effect of certain HIV medications (10).
- Some studies in the post-HAART era suggest that certain HIV medications show side effects related to depression.
- Side effects of HIV medications other than those noted in scientific literature may be noted by patients. No significant research has been carried out on self reported symptoms of HIV versus side effects of medication.
- Some HIV antiretroviral medications specifically note ‘depression’ or ‘strange dreams’ as a side effect. Please note that while some HIV medications note depression, for all medications it is possible for a patient to experience other side effects. In all cases patients should contact their physician if any unusual problems arise while taking this medication.
HIV antiretroviral medications that note depression, strange dreams or night terrors as a possible side effect (11-14):
Fusion Inhibitor (FI):
- Enfuvirtide Injection
- Brand name: Fuzeon ®
- Other names: T-20; Pentafuside
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs):
- Brand name: Ziagen ®
- Brand names of combination products: Epzicom® (as a combination product containing Abacavir and Lamivudine)
- Trizivir® (as a combination product containing Abacavir, Lamivudine, and Zidovudine)
- Brand names: Emtriva ®
- Brand names of combination products: Atripla® (as a combination product containing Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir);
- Truvada ® (as a combination product containing Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate)
- Brand names: Epivir®, Epivir-HBV®
- Brand names of combination products: Combivir® ®(as a combination product containing Lamivudine and Zidovudine); Epzicom® (as a combination product containing Lamivudine and Abacavir Sulfate); Trizivir® (as a combination product containing Lamivudine, Abacavir Sulfate, and Zidovudine)
- Other names: 3TC
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
- Efavirenz (side effect: strange dreams) (15)
- Brand names: Sustiva®
- Brand names of combination products: Atripla® (as a combination product containing Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir)
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
- Brand names: Invirase ®, Fortovase ®
- Brand name: Reyataz ®
CCR5 co-receptor antagonists
- Maraviroc (side effect: “night terrors”)
- Brand name: Selzentry ®
Key take-home messages
- Depression experienced by people living with HIV or AIDS can be caused by various biological and psychological factors.
- Eight of the HIV antiretrovirals surveyed list depression as a possible side effect.
- Some HIV antiretroviral medications have proven serious or lesser side effects related to depression, including ‘strange dreams’ and ‘night terrors’.
Factors that may impact local applicability
- Covering all mental illnesses is beyond the scope of this rapid review response. Our findings are limited to afflictions and side effects described as ‘depression’, ‘strange dreams’ and ‘night terrors’.
- Very few studies have examined depression as a side effect of HAART.
- Many studies of HIV-related symptoms and treatment side effects do not distinguish individual causal attributions between the two types of problems. The result is a limited ability to differentiate the experience of side effects and disease symptoms on health outcomes such as adherence and quality of life.
What we did
We located the literature used in this review by searching Medline using the keywords for highly active antiretroviral therapy, depression, mental health and neurological function (1). In addition, we searched PubMed using text search terms related to HIV anti-retroviral therapy, depression and mental health (2).
- Medline keywords used: HAART (sub search “adverse effects”) AND depression (2); HAART (sub search “adverse effects”) AND mental health (1); HAART (sub search “adverse effects” AND “Nervous System Physiological Phenomena” (13); HAART NOT “efavirenz” [Substance Name]) AND (“Depression”[Mesh] OR “Depressive Disorder”[Mesh]; “enfuvirtide “[Substance Name] AND “Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects”[Mesh]
- PubMed search terms used: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors AND depression (8); non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors AND depression (6); protease inhibitors AND depression (856); HIV AND protease inhibitors AND depression AND adverse effect (10); Fusion Inhibitors AND depression (1);
- Hinkin CH, Castellon SA, Durvasula RS et al. Medication adherence among HIV+ adults: Effects of cognitive dysfunction and regimen complexity. Neurology 2002; 59(12):1944-1950.
- Judd FK, Mijch AM. Depressive symptoms in patients with HIV infection. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 1996; 30(1):104-109.
- Bennetts A, Shaffera N, Manopaiboon C et al. Determinants of depression and HIV- related worry among HIV-positive women who have recently given birth, Bangkok, Thailand. Social Science and Medicine 1999; 49(6):737-749.
- Gibbie T, Mijch A, Ellen S et al. Depression and neurocognitive performance in individuals with HIV/AIDS: 2-year follow-up. HIV Medicine 2006; 7(2):112-121.
- Hartzell JD, Janke IE, Weintrob AC. Impact of depression on HIV outcomes in the HAART era. J Antimicrob Chemother 2008; 62(2):246-255.
- Chandra PS, Ravi V, Desai A, Subbakrishna DK. Anxiety and depression among hiv-infected heterosexuals— a report from india. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 1998; 45(5):401-409.
- Cohen MA, Hoffman RG, Cromwell C et al. The Prevalence of Distress in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Psychosomatics 2002; 43(1):10-15.
- Ellen SR, Judd FK, Mijch AM, Cockram A. Secondary mania in patients with HIV infection. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 1999; 33(3):353-360.
- Colibazzi T, Hsu TT, Gilmer WS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Depression in Primary Care: A Clinical Review. Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2006; 8(4):201-211.
- Rourke SB, Halman MH, Bassel C. Neurocognitive complaints in HIV-infection and their relationship to depressive symptoms and neuropsychological functioning. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 1999; 21(6):737-756.
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, National Center for Biotechnology Information (U.S.). AHFS Consumer Medication Information. 2008. Bethesda, MD, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. 23-12-2008.
- Rafik S, Robert B, Byungse S. Antiretroviral therapy 2006: pharmacology, applications, and special situations. Archives of pharmacal research 2006; 29(6):431-458.
- WebMD. AIDS and HIV Medication Side Effects. http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/aids-hiv-medication-side-effects . 2007. 23-12-2008.
- Drug Information Online. Prescription drugs: Information, interactions and side effects. http://www.drugs.com/ . 10-12-2008. 22-12-2008.
- Lochet P, Peyrière H, Lotthé A, Mauboussin JM, Delmas B, Reynes J. Long-term assessment of neuropsychiatric adverse reactions associated with efavirenz. HIV Medicine 2003; 4(1):62-66.
Rapid Response Service. HIV medication and depression. Toronto, ON: Ontario HIV Treatment Network; March, 2009. | <urn:uuid:35ee1d54-1b0e-4a1b-be2d-21b83062743a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.ohtn.on.ca/rapid-response-hiv-medication-and-depression/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496669.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330054217-20200330084217-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.804577 | 2,263 | 2.734375 | 3 |
By Lawrence Wilson, MD
We recommend specific products and specific numbers of tablets or capsules for many reasons. This bulletin explores some of these reasons.
Among them are the balance of yin and yang, specific nutrients for certain toxic metals, specifics for the levels, ratios and patterns on the hair analysis, and often specifics for a tendency or what we calla research associations or disease trends.
There are also reasons why we do NOT recommend many herbs, certain glandulars and a number of popular vitamin and mineral products.
YIN AND YANG
All things in life are to some degree yin or yang in the Chinese medical scheme of things. This is a very complex concept, but one which acupuncturists and a few other practitioners have been exposed to.
The concept also applies to foods and nutritional supplements. It is an important reason, however, why some approaches work on some people while they are not effective with other patients.
For example, slow oxidizers are far more yin, in general, than true fast oxidizers. This can be confirmed with acupuncture and other methods of assessment.
The products recommended take this into account. Fast oxidizers are told to eat more lightly cooked or raw oils and fats, which is quite yin. Slow oxidizers must reduce fats and oils and eat more cooked vegetables and meats. These dietary items are quite a bit more yang, since cooking renders food more yang and animal protein, which we strongly prefer, is far more yang than vegetarian or raw food regimens.
Supplements. The same principle of balance applies to nutritional supplements we suggest. Yang supplements include animal based products such as certain glandular products, especially thyroid, for instance. Others are pancreas found in GB-3.
Some practitioners prefer to use a vegetable based digestive aid and wonder why the results are not quite as good. It is because it is far more yin.
Supplements are that synthetic chemicals tend to be much more yin as well. These include such remedies as vitamin C, for instance. When given intravenously, in particular, it is harmful for most people. It will, however, cure a severe infection and is okay in this situation only.
In this way, understanding yin and yang as applied to our nutrition programs will help one understand why certain products are recommended at special times and why others are not in the program at all.
WHY WE DO NOT RECOMMEND MANY HERBS
Herbs are incorporated into some of our formulas. However, few others are ever recommended. Here is why:
1. Herbs tend to be quite yin. This fact alone makes them less attractive for us, as most people today are very yin. We regularly have to take people off even the best herbal regimens to obtain excellent results.
2. Herbs are of irregular quality. Some are even irradiated, a horrible practice that may have been instituted to discredit herbs. The quality control problem is getting worse as more and more people seek to use them.
3. Many herbs contain toxic metals and other toxic substances. This makes the herbs even more yin and harmful in other ways. For instance, peppermint and spearmint will soothe the stomach quite well. However, they contain too much aluminum, which happens to be the active ingredient, just as it is in many over-the-counter remedies of heartburn. The presence of toxic substances will give a quick response, but will also show up in poorer results long term, We are particularly concerned with East Indian, Chinese and other imported herbal products. These do not go through the rigorous testing, in most instances, that American herbs tend to go through.
4. Most herbs are not specific enough for our protocols. That is, they do not balance body chemistry in the way we like. For example, ginseng will enhance the rate of metabolism, but has a few stimulant substances in it. It is, unfortunately, a yin herb by our experience. It is not just nourishing the body, but stimulates it in too many cases.
5. Herbs are not that easy to combine. Anyone who has studied herbs extensively knows that only certain combinations are good. However, modern doctors are not trained in this science and combine herbs willy-nilly. This is harmful in most cases. Because we must combine products in our programs, we much prefer working with nutritional products that are far better researched in combination with each other such as the vitamins, minerals, glandulars and a few amino acids that we do recommend.
WHY WE RECOMMEND METABOLIC PACKS
The most important single product for your patients is the correct metabolic pack for their oxidation type and, in the case of the fast oxidizer, the correct product for their sodium/potassium ratio.
Endomet Labs, the products we recommend, offers three metabolic packs. Megapan is for slow oxidizers only. Stress Pak is for the fast oxidizer with a normal or elevated sodium-to-potassium ratio. SBF Formula is only to be used for a fast oxidizer with a low sodium-to-potassium ratio.
Doctors may want to match these Metabolic Packs by combining their own products. However, it will likely cost much more and require many more tablets or capsules.
These products are formulated for their nutrient content, their yin or yang balance, and much more. They are made a certain strength so that one can give more to an extreme fast oxidizer and few to a more mild case or a smaller person.
The are also formulated to take into account the overall condition of the body chemistry, which is often not the case with other brands of supplements.
WHY WE SUGGEST ONLY CERTAIN VITAMINS, MINERALS AND GLANDULARS
The main reason has to do with the specificity of the programs. In our model of health, the body maintains a delicate balance of the minerals, for example. This we call the mineral system of the body.
When one gives any mineral, vitamin or even some amino acids, for that mater, it will tilt the entire balance in one or another direction.
Dr. Eck learned about this balance from soil science and the work of Dr. William Albrecht. He worked at the University of Missouri in the early twentieth century. Dr. Eck refined the concepts further with his own research. The theory appears correct and helps explain about how our bodies interact with nature.
This means that when one takes a multi-vitamin product, for example, much of it is usually incorrect for the delicate balancing that we require. It is the same with multi-mineral formulas and so on.
So we are careful to only recommend that which will balance the body chemistry, as revealed on the hair mineral test. This fact cannot be ignored without sacrificing the power of the program, even if one desires “instant” results in a symptomatic fashion.
THE STAGES OF STRESS AND THE OXIDATION RATE
Two other important concepts that are woven into our nutritional balancing programs have to do with the stress theory of disease, put forth originally by Hans Selye, MD in the mid-twentieth century. DR. Selye was a brilliant doctor who realized that all bodies respond to stress in specific and predictable ways.
Dr. Eck took much of Dr. Selye’s work and made it available in a form that the public can readily appreciate. He also popularized another important concept that is at the heart of our program recommendations. This is the concept of oxidation or metabolic typing.
Dr. Eck borrowed from the work of Dr. George Watson, PhD and Melvin Page, DDS, among several others. This is one of the most basic concepts in healing and has much to do with the stress theory as well.
WHY WE DO NOT ENDORSE MOST SYMPTOMATIC THERAPIES
Finally, we tend not to recommend symptomatic therapy. This may be a difficult lesson, but is an important one. Symptomatic approaches, which are the rage in medical circles as well as nutrition circles, always leads to masking of deeper problems, more illness later, greater cost later, rebound effects and more.
Correcting the underlying body chemistry is far more powerful than any hormonal approach, replacement therapy and other symptom ased approaches. It is a unique feature for those who want to go beyond symptomatic medicine and nutrition.
I will, however, list a few instances where symptomatic approaches are used, and we do recommend it in these cases.
1. The patient may demand symptomatic relief. This is understandable if the symptom is severe, or the patient does not understand why we don’t like symptomatic approaches.
2. Symptomatic therapy (such as hormone replacement therapy) may be the only way to approach a patient who cannot or will not change the diet, lifestyle and reduce stress.
3.Rarely, a symptom is life threatening and must be handled first. Examples include an overwhelming infection, very high blood pressure, arrythmias, a tumor, a blocked artery or other similar situations. In these cases, we suggest waiting to do a nutritional balancing program until the symptom is under good control.
4. Symptomatic remedies used temporarily may convince a patient that nutrition can be helpful. This alone is a benefit. They can then go on to learn that nutrition can be used in a much more powerful, preventive, predictive way to alleviate many conditions at the deepest levels of functioning of a human being. Of course, it is equally important that the patient not stay in the symptomatic mode of thinking. This is where many practitioners unfortunately remain, even after years of exposure to our concepts. We hope we can continue to reduce this problem with our written material and other educational efforts.
These are basically the only times we recommend symptomatic approaches, which we feel have caused the current health care “crisis”, by which we mean the terrible health of the American people, and those everywhere who use conventional medical and even symptomatic nutritional approaches.
All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition. | <urn:uuid:9b14340c-43d5-461b-8bc0-91735d54ca27> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://nutritionalbalancinglifestyle.com/specific-nutrient-formulas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371896913.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410110538-20200410141038-00314.warc.gz | en | 0.951327 | 2,115 | 2.609375 | 3 |
10 History Myths Still Taught As Fact
To the victor go the spoils . . . and the privilege of writing their own history, most frequently in glowing terms. But, alas, this has all too often resulted in misconceptions, myths, and outright lies being taught and believed by future generations.
History seldom lets truth get in the way of a good story. The official versions of the entries below might have become widely believed because they were more popular, but they don’t represent what actually happened.
10 Pavlov Rang Bells For Dogs
Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov’s experiments into classical conditioning are among the most famous scientific tests ever devised. By ringing a bell before serving his dogs food, he created a link between the two in their minds. Subsequently, the dogs would start reacting to the sound of the bell alone by salivating, thus being conditioned to react to a neutral event otherwise unrelated to food.
In reality, Pavlov was a physiologist, not a psychologist, and his original experiment was a little different. Pavlov was much more interested in the mechanics of the body. Specifically, he wanted to examine the secretions triggered in the body by eating. He developed a technique of “sham” feeding. Pavlov would remove the esophagus of the dog and cut an opening in its throat. That way, the food would fall out and never reach the rest of the digestive system, but it would still trigger the body’s responses. Afterward, he would collect secretions like saliva and gastric juices and analyze them. Then he would take another dog, move the opening farther down the digestive system, and repeat the process. It was this work that won Pavlov a Nobel Prize in 1904, not classical conditioning.
The famous test was an offshoot Pavlov created when he noticed increased saliva production when dogs saw his lab coat–wearing assistants entering the room, even when they didn’t have food. Eventually, this evolved into its own experiment, but bells where seldom used, if at all. Pavlov tried a variety of stimuli, including electric shocks, buzzers, and harmoniums, but he typically preferred a metronome.
9 Nobody Expected The Spanish Inquisition
Throughout its almost 400-year span, the Spanish Inquisition was responsible for some reprehensible acts. It wasn’t until 1970 that the Inquisition became funny thanks to the efforts of Monty Python, who boldly exclaimed that, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.”
While hilarious, the proclamation wasn’t factually accurate. In fact, most people expected the Spanish Inquisition because the inquisitors announced their presence and their intention to weed out heretics and gave people a few weeks or more to confess their sins. When the Inquisition started a campaign in a new location, they would usually attend Sunday mass. Here, they would issue an Edict of Grace or an Edict of Faith, inviting people to denounce themselves or others they believed to be heretics. They usually had around 30 or 40 days to do this.
Many people came to confess willingly, hoping to save themselves. However, they soon found out that self-denunciation only typically spared them the harshest punishment, which was death. Since heresy was considered not only a sin but also a crime, the penitents were still subjected to a public trial. They had to endure lesser punishments for heresy, such as imprisonment or confiscation of property. They also had to denounce all other people involved in the heresy, including family members. Later on, the Inquisition obligated faithful to denounce all suspected heretics under threat of excommunication.
8 Feminists Burned Bras In Protest
The 1960s were a turbulent time in the US. Counterculture was going strong as more and more people were rejecting societal norms. The feminist movement was particularly powerful at that time. Even today, we are left with the striking image of liberated women casting off the shackles of oppression by symbolically burning their bras. The only problem is that 1960s feminists never burned bras, and some even argue that the image was perpetuated by opponents of feminism.
The infamous rally in question occurred at the 1969 Miss America pageant (which was held in September 1968). Protesters organized a mock pageant outside the Boardwalk Hall, where the real competition was taking place. They awarded the crown to a sheep to symbolize women being judged like livestock and also threw a number of feminine products in a garbage can. This included bras but also girdles, corsets, Playboy magazines, makeup, curlers, and high-heeled shoes. The organizers considered setting them on fire, but they couldn’t get a permit.
The protest received widespread coverage, including from New York Post reporter Lindsy Van Gelder, who wrote a piece titled “Bra Burners and Miss America.” In the article, she drew comparisons between feminist activists and young men burning their draft cards in protest of the Vietnam War, and the myth was born. In a later interview, she lamented that she would be remembered for “inventing” bra burning.
7 US Presidents Had a Red Phone to Russia
The Cuban Missile Crisis was probably the closest humanity has ever come to full-scale nuclear war. In October 1962, the Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba in response to the United States doing the same in Italy and Turkey. This was followed by a tense standoff in which the two nuclear powers almost declared war on each other.
Following the crisis, poor communication between the US and the Soviet Union was considered one of the factors that worsened the situation considerably. Messages from one side to the other took almost six hours to receive and decode. Both parties subsequently decided that a better line of communication was necessary.
That is how the red phone came to be. According to myth, this phone, found in the White House, was a direct line between the US president and the Kremlin. It was popularized in the movies Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe. Later, it was used prominently by Walter Mondale during the 1984 presidential campaign in commercials against Gary Hart and Ronald Reagan.
The real “hotline” was installed in 1963, but there was never a red telephone involved, simply because the technology at the time made it impossible. The original system used teletype and radiotelegraph equipment. It still had to travel from Washington to London to Copenhagen to Stockholm to Helsinki and finally to Moscow. The first message sent over the hotline was, “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 1234567890.”
6 Medieval Armor Rendered Knights Immobile
One of the most famous images from history is that of the medieval knight, clad in shining armor, swinging his sword around. While most can agree the armor looked impressive, it did hurt the knight’s speed and mobility. In fact, many believe that it turned the wearer into a lumbering buffoon who was almost as helpless as a turtle on its back.
Historians have been aware for a while that armored knights were more nimble than most people would assume. However, it wasn’t until recent years that others thought to finally put the medieval armor to the test. A team at the University of Geneva led by Daniel Jaquet dressed test subjects in armor replicas and had them replicate the range of motions pictured in various paintings and tapestries. This included climbing a ladder, rolling, jumping, and various sword swings. None of them were incredibly difficult to pull off, even for someone who wasn’t a real knight.
The team went a step further and replicated the training regimen of 15th-century French knight Jean Le Maingre, aka Boucicaut. He was not only famed for his strength and stamina but also took the trouble to write down the activities he performed while wearing his full-plated armor. They included jumping on a horse, running for an extended length of time, scaling walls, and climbing the underside of a ladder. Jaquet’s test subject managed to replicate the feats without too much difficulty and also added a few somersaults and cartwheels for extra style points.
5 Napoleon Destroyed The Nose Of The Sphinx
The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous landmarks of the ancient world. It is immediately recognizable thanks to its most distinguishing feature: the missing nose. At one point in time, people started to blame Napoleon for the destroyed facial feature. According to the tale, the French emperor had his men blast the nose off with cannon fire.
We’re not sure exactly when or why this story first appeared, but it is easily proven false. The Brooklyn Museum has a sketch of the Sphinx published in 1757. It belonged to Danish explorer Frederic Louis Norden from his 1738 journey to Egypt and clearly depicts the Sphinx without its nose. This happened three decades before Napoleon was born.
The story is also debunked by eminent archaeologist Mark Lehner, who said that the Sphinx’s face showed signs of rods or chisels being hammered into the nose and then being used to pry it off. As to the real perpetrator, the only written proof we have comes courtesy of 15th-century Egyptian historian al-Maqrizi. He wrote that a Sufi Muslim named Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr destroyed the nose because he was angered by peasants praying to the Sphinx for a good harvest.
4 Wall Street Jumpers Of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was devastating for the Western economy. Having lost everything, many Wall Street bankers and stockbrokers decided to end it all by jumping from windows and rooftops. One apocryphal story said that it was so bad that when guests would check into hotels in New York, the receptionists began asking if it was for sleeping or jumping.
The story of the Wall Street suicides has been often repeated, and plenty of people believe it today, but one study debunked it as far back as the 1980s. The overall suicide rate climbed and reached an all-time high in 1932 of 17.4 out of 100,000 Americans. However, the rate had already been steadily climbing for years prior to the crash during the booming 1920s.
Between October 24, 1929, aka Black Tuesday, and the end of the year, The New York Times reported 100 suicides and suicide attempts in the city. Only eight killed themselves by jumping off buildings or bridges. The number of people who jumped on Wall Street because they lost everything in the crash was just two. In fact, the suicide rate in the weeks immediately following the crash was lower than it was during the summer. While undoubtedly many people committed suicide due to the financial crisis, very few did it by jumping, and even fewer did it on Wall Street.
3 Polish Horses Vs German Tanks
One of the many long-lasting notions to come out of World War II was the inability of underprepared Polish forces to face the might of the German Wehrmacht. Specifically, the idea is reinforced by the image of Polish cavalry armed with lances desperately and hopelessly attacking Panzer tanks.
It’s true that Poland had multiple cavalry regiments during World War II, as did many other nations. It’s also true that there was a battle known as the Charge at Krojanty, where Polish cavalrymen called Pomeranian Uhlans engaged German armored vehicles. The rest of it, however, is mostly propaganda spread first by the Nazis and later by the Soviets.
For starters, the Polish cavalry didn’t march into battle in World War II armed with lances. They had rifles. And, technically, there were also no tanks involved in the charge, since the German units were actually armored cars used for reconnaissance.
Most importantly, though, the Polish troops never went into battle expecting to fight a motorized army. German infantry had just breached a Polish defense line, so the cavalry had to attack and slow them enough for the rest of the Polish forces to fall back. Unbeknownst to them, Germany also had armored cars in the area, which were able to join the fight and tip the scales in their favor. While the Polish Uhlans were forced to retreat under heavy gunfire, they had accomplished their goal of forcing the German army to regroup and delay its advance.
2 The US Wanted To Go To The Moon
When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 into space in 1957, it triggered a reactionary response from the United States, officially starting the Space Race. Neither Eisenhower nor JFK truly wanted this, due to the huge strain it would put on the country’s resources. Kennedy even advocated for a joint mission to the Moon with the Soviet Union. Despite the huge cost, at least the space program enjoyed enthusiastic support from the American people, right?
Actually, only about half of Americans were in favor of lunar exploration, even at the height of the Apollo missions. Polls showed that public approval toward the space program stayed under 50 percent for most of the 1960s. It was also among the first things they thought should be cut from the federal budget. It only reached a peak approval rate of 53 percent after Neil Armstrong took his “giant leap for mankind.”
This would suggest that political reasons were the main factors that committed the United States to the Space Race, not public demand. One reason why people disapproved of the space program was undoubtedly the public’s misperceived notion of NASA’s budget. Polls show that Americans believe NASA receives up to 22 percent of the federal budget. In truth, it actually only ever reached 4.3 percent at the height of the Space Race and usually stays under one percent.
1 Nero Threw Christians To The Lions At The Colosseum
There were a lot of crazy shows Romans saw at the Colosseum. The ones best remembered today are the gladiator fights and Christians being thrown to the lions. However, there is no reliable evidence to suggest that Christians were ever executed in the Colosseum, by lions or otherwise. The idea was spread mostly by Renaissance artists and writers.
Just to be clear, there have been Christians sentenced to damnatio ad bestias (condemnation to beasts). There have also been people who were killed by animals in the Colosseum. There just is no reliable proof that the two overlapped.
We know for a fact that Nero never did this for a simple reason: The Colosseum didn’t exist when he was emperor. Nero reigned until AD 68, and construction of the Colosseum didn’t start until four years later under Vespasian. Nero is often the emperor most associated with the act because, according to contemporary historians, he was the first Roman emperor to persecute Christians. Tacitus said that Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. However, Tacitus wrote that Nero had Christians killed by burning, crucifixion, or being mauled by dogs. He makes no mention of lions.
For more historical lies, check out 10 Myths About Historical Figures We Still Believe and Top 10 Common Historical Myths. | <urn:uuid:47572477-25ba-4c8e-a2d2-f2cde22c4820> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://listverse.com/2017/08/22/10-history-myths-still-taught-as-fact/?utm_source=more&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=direct | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506988.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402143006-20200402173006-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.981599 | 3,121 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Have you ever thought that what would happen if your eyes get into trouble one day? The truth is a series of eye-related diseases progress so slowly and silently that it would be too late while noticing it.
One of these diseases, which we notify very late, is keratoconus. When I first saw the name, it was so strange to me that I thought it might be the name of a planet! Have you ever heard about this disease? If you are one of those people who have not even heard of this word and wondered while hearing it, I suggest you to read this article until the very end of it.
Keratoconus (Conical Cornea) Is Exactly What Its Name Suggests
The fact is that in this disease, the cornea deforms and changes to a cone shape. This deformation affects the amount of light entering the eye. Unfortunately, in 90% of the cases, both eyes are affected. Sadly, we do not go to an ophthalmologist until our eyesight gets disturbed. To be honest, I’m also a part of this group of people.
The first time when I heard the name, I told myself: “Is it really possible that the cornea of the human eye become conical in shape?” or “Is it possible to have a cone-shaped cornea and do not notice it?”
It was a strange thing and that was enough for me to start my studies on the matter. After research, I found that the disease of the cornea was exactly what its name had implied. In fact, the cornea of the eye becomes progressively thinner and deforms into a conical-shape. This deformation affects the amount of light input on the eye.
What Are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?
As previously mentioned, most of us do not visit an ophthalmologist until our vision is disturbed. I’m also like you. I visit an ophthalmologist once a year just to check my eyesight number. Every time I do so, I feel I have nothing else but a pair of weakened eye. Well, health disregard usually brings bad results, and in this case, this bad result is keratoconus.
You may also have blurry vision, aura and light sensivity. A person with conical cornea may also suffer from nearsightedness (also known as shortsightedness or high myopia) and astigmatism. In general, it is not easy to diagnose this disease and you should see your doctor. At a stage in which the disease progresses, there are signs that everyone in such a condition will notice a change and disorder in their eyes. These signs are:
- Sudden Change of Vision in the Eye
- Double Vision
- Inability to Drive at Night
- Blurred Vision
- Sensitivity to Light
- Continuous Change of Eyeglass Prescription
What Is the Cause of Corneal Thinning?
I think you posed a very important question. Researchers have discovered a direct relationship among continuous and vigorous eye rubbings and long-term use of contact lenses with the occurrence of this disease. However, these are not the main causes of this disease; they only exacerbate it. Family history of this disease, the environment and some other diseases can also affect the progress of keratoconus.
However, the main cause source of this disease is the weakness of the collagen protein in the cornea. This deficiency causes the structural and biomechanical weakness of the cornea and creates a conical shape with irregular astigmatism. The progression rate of the disease varies from person to person, sometimes the disease never progresses in one person and sometimes it progresses rapidly in another one. Another point about conical cornea is that the disease is more common in people with Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome than in healthy ones.
Corneal keratoconus is also more common in the countries, which have a warm, cold and dry weather, than other ones. The reason is that such a climate is more allergenic.
Please Visit an Ophthalmologist!
Given that the disease progresses over time, early diagnosis can totally prevent its progression. To diagnose, you should first consult an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist examines the cornea with corneal imaging, the use of various topographic techniques, as well as family history to diagnose KC. Control your stresses and worries if you had this disease. Although we do not have much information about keratoconus and hearing its name may confuse us, medical and ophthalmology specialists and researchers are investigating this disease every year and discovering new methods of controlling and curing it. The tests used to cure keratoconus are as follows:
Eye Reflection Test
In this test, the ophthalmologist uses special equipment to examine your eyes thoroughly. He may not use a device that contains various lenses or hand tools (retinoscopes) to assess the eye.
The ophthalmologist directs a vertical light beam to the eye surface and uses a low-power microscope to check the shape of the cornea.
In this method, the ophthalmologist similarly uses light to test the cornea. In fact, the ophthalmologist focuses a light circle on the cornea to check its movement and response.
In this method, using special photographic tests, such as combined optical tomography and corneal topography, the ophthalmologist captures accurate images of the cornea and then, examines them.
What Should I do to treat this Damn (!) Conical Cornea?
No worries about this! Just go along with me to explore different ways of keratoconus treatment. Generally, to treat conical cornea, the physician prescribes one of the aforementioned treatments by examining the progression of the disease in various stages.
Step One: You should wear Eyeglasses
In the early stages of the disease, it has not much progressed. Therefore, the ophthalmologist will try to improve your eyesight by prescribing glasses. Consider the fact that the disease is progressive and the eye-sight number will change constantly.
Step Two: Using Hard Contact Lenses
In the second step, the disease has progressed more than before and nearsightedness and irregular astigmatism would possibly appear. In this condition, the disease is not controllable with eyeglass prescription. The doctor prescribes hard contact lenses to improve vision at this stage. When the ophthalmologist places these lenses on the cornea, the lacrimal layer formed between the lens and the cornea corrects the irregularities. Of course, there are some people cannot tolerate wearing these lenses and in this case, the doctor prescribes hybrid lenses (combination of hard and soft lenses).
Step Three: Keratoconus Surgery
In the third step, the disease has so much progressed that the ophthalmologist uses surgery for treatment. Surgery is done to plant a ring inside the cornea. When the patient cannot tolerate hard lenses, this type of surgery is also performed for weak or mild cases. In this operation, the surgeon corrects much of the irregularities created at the corneal surface and the patient will have a much better eyesight (sometimes using new eyeglasses).
Step Four: Corneal Cross-linking Surgery
When keratoconus has progressed very much, performing corneal cross-linking surgery is the best way to treat and stop the progression of the disease. This treatment, using a series of chemical changes, strengthens the corneal tissue, enhances the corneal strength, and thus greatly reduces the progression rate of the disease. In fact, in this method, after removing the cornea cells layer for thirty minutes (every three minutes), a 1% drop of riboflavin is poured into the eye every five minutes. After thirty minutes, the ultraviolet radiation is directed to the cornea. This, as mentioned before, strengthens the cornea. Approximately, in 100% of the cases, the progression of the disease is controlled and in half of the cases, the cornea becomes slightly flattened i.e. the disease improves.
Step Five: Corneal Transplantation
The last resort is to use corneal transplantation in cases where the disease has progressed significantly or none of the above treatments has helped to improve the patient’s vision. Generally, progressed and uncorrected KCN is one of the most important reasons for corneal transplantation; a surgery that is generally successful.
LASIK and LASEK Eye Surgery Are Not Suitable For the Treatment of Conical Cornea
I whisper in your ears once again that do not use LASIK and LASEK eye surgery to treat keratoconus. LASIK and LASEK are not used to treat keratoconus. In principle, the ophthalmologist photographs the cornea prior to the LASIK and LASEK surgery to make sure of the disease presence. In fact, if the cornea is thin or cone shaped, the patient will not be able to undergo LASIK or LASEK surgeries.
LASIK and LASEK are among the most commonly used eye surgeries. These two operations, which are considered as laser surgeries, are almost lexically similar, but the surgical process is completely different. LASIK surgery is used to treat nearsightedness and other refractive errors, and the LASEK is used to treat severe nearsightedness or those patients who face medical restrictions.
Nevertheless, Why Is LASIK and LASEK Not Useful for Keratoconus Treatment?
The answer is here! In keratoconus, the cornea becomes thinner and deforms into a conical shape. In fact, the corneal tissue strength decreases and makes irregularities in the tissue. If someone undergo LASIK or LASEK under these conditions, the irregularities of the corneal tissue is accelerated and even the patient’s blurred vision becomes aggravated. That is, by performing these surgeries, corneal tissue condition does not improve and the process of disorder in the corneal tissue is accelerated, as well. These are the same reasons why LASIK and LASEK are not used for treating conical cornea.
The Final Word
With the early diagnosis of conical cornea, you can completely prevent it and enjoy having healthier eyes. However, if the physician diagnosed the presence of keratoconus disease, you should care about treating it and trust your doctor in that. He/she will choose one of the treatment methods and stop the disease progress. Choosing any of the treatment methods in each of the disease stages or combining them depends on the ophthalmologist’s diagnosis and patient’s condition.
If you have some experiences about conical cornea, please share with us. | <urn:uuid:c8d2e77d-9bb5-4afa-8ae1-094e1f6e5895> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://sinahealthtour.com/blog/what-is-keratoconus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370524604.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404165658-20200404195658-00395.warc.gz | en | 0.944743 | 2,247 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Definition of Research Paper Writing
Looking for Research paper writing Service? You are at Right Place. Courseworktutors Inc provides complete help to Students at a various level such as Ph.D. level, College Level, High School Level etc on their Research Paper Writing Service. Research paper writing is a writing where a writer will be answering all the research questions in a broad manner by taking numerous consulting advice, relying on books, Journals etc. Research paper writing is a detailed description of all the questions asked. A research paper can be in any fields such as Management, Financial Analysis, statistical analysis etc. The final output of completing a research paper is meaning of all the Research work carried out, various interpretation and evaluation of all the information that has been researched upon.
Purpose of Research Paper Writing
Research paper Writing is a completely new topic for a writer. The writer has generally no knowledge about the topic. The purpose of Research paper writing is to develop awareness and increase the ability of a writer to answer about the topic.
Research paper writing helps in developing logic reasoning in the mind of the writer as it gives opportunity in generating infinite thoughts about the topic.
The time frame to Complete Research paper Writing
A Research paper writing is a long essay and it can be assigned by University Professor to any level of Student. Generally, the level at which Research paper is assigned to Students are Graduate, Ph.D., Undergraduate, High School or at Corporate Level. The time frame required to complete a Research paper Writing Service completely depend upon the knowledge of the Student on the particular topic and Nature of the topic.
The time frame to complete the topic also depends upon the requirements of the Professor on the particular topic. If the Professor requires more information regarding the topic than time frame required to complete the topic would be more.
How to find a good Topic for Writing Research Paper?
Writing a Research paper is a tough job as it requires lots of Research work and the Writer has to work upon the topic from Scratch but sometimes find a good topic for Research work can even become a harder task. If a Writer can search a good topic than it is said that almost half of the work is already completed because a good topic gives more chances to the writer to carry a good research.
Following are the Steps for finding a good Research paper writing service Topic :
Background Research on the Topic Selected: Once you select a topic, a writer must do a background research on the Topic and check whether any chances for Possible Changes exist or not. It is no doubt an extra work but doing Background Research helps a writer to save time in Future.
Brainstorming the Concepts: Do some brainstorming of the topic selected and try to relate it to the similar concepts which will give the writer a more clear understanding of what and How to write about the topic.
Start exploring possible opportunities present that can help develop a good Research: In this step, a writer can search over the internet about the topic selected. A writer can also read different Journals, Books, and Publication etc. about the topic that will help to develop more knowledge about the topic.
Select a Flexible and Interesting topic: It is always advisable to select a most flexible topic as it gives an opportunity to a writer to carry out research in a depth manner. Make sure that there is a backup plan because sometimes we get a very interesting topic but there is very less to write about the topic or it might happen that there are no resources for writing about the topic.
Develop a Research Question: Once the topic is selected and all the steps such as background research, brainstorming, various books, and Journals are referred, a writer has to develop a Research Question which will form the base of the entire Research Paper Topic. This Step will help the Readers of the Research paper regarding the question which has been answered by the writer by carrying an in-depth Research.
Research is a Dynamic Work: This is a never-ending step. A writer should always try to discover new ideas while writing the topic which will help in refining the topic.
We, at Courseworktutors has tried to explain the entire step in a diagrammatic Manner:
What are the Steps of Writing a Research Paper?
Writing a Research paper as such does not require any step. The main objective of writing a Research paper should be to make it as detailed as possible so that it would seem to be impressive to the reader. Thus the main objective should be, “How to Make a Research paper look more attractive and more impressive to the Reader”.
Research Paper Writing is a combination of Steps that need to be followed for completing it in an efficient manner. Following is the procedure for completing a research paper in an efficient manner:
Selecting a good Topic: Selecting a good topic is a base for writing a Good Research paper. To select a good topic, one needs to follow all the steps mentioned above. A good Research topic helps in writing all the Researched information in a best possible manner.
Make an Appropriate Time plan and Timetable for each step of Research paper writing: This is one of the most important steps in any Research paper writing service. Generally, a Research paper needs to be written in 8000-10000 words. So, for completing a Research paper, generally time frame of 2-3 months is given by Professor. Before, a student Start writing Research paper, it is very much required that a student should make a Fixed Schedule that will make the work look easy and interesting. The Schedule should include – Date of Starting time and Ending Time of Project, Name of all the Reliable Resources that can be looked upon for generating Information, Checklists, and Flowcharts etc.
Carry Survey to Obtain Reliable Information: A Research paper looks impressive only when the information gathered are precise and accurate. A writer must put all the Recent Statistical information, if any. While writing a Research paper, Student should gather all the relevant information as proficiently as possible.
Conducting the Research: This is the action stage of Research paper writing service. Here, the Writer would be conducting the Research to gather all the possible reliable Data’s. The Sources that would be looked upon for conducting Research are Newspapers, Trade Journals, Internet, Books, and Magazine etc. Sources of collecting information for Research are divided into two parts :
Primary Source: Primary Source includes making personal Interviews, carrying out in-depth Research etc.
Secondary Source: Secondary source means taking information from already published Researched papers. Here the writer needs to put references for the information taken. A writer must put references for all the information taken otherwise it will become a case of Plagiarism.
Examples of Secondary Resources are Books, Author’s Publication, Videos, and Newspaper etc.
Organizing the Data: Organizing the data will help the writer to present all the information Researched in a good manner that will be easy for the Reader to understand. It also gives scope to the writer to check if at all there are any information which does not support work than it can be edited to make it Meaningful and Reliable.
Making a Final Outline of the Paper: In this step, the writer should make an outline of the paper. The writer should make a note of all the pitfalls present in the paper and should check whether there exist any chances to correct them and make the paper look more impressive.
Type the Research Paper Correctly: You must write information only what is being researched. Unnecessary information should be avoided. The Research paper should carry all the Pros and Cons, Right and wrong regarding the information cited. A writer must try to use as much statistical data as possible so that idea of Research would be supported.
Proofreading: This is the final and the most important step in writing a Good Research paper. No matter how well you have collected the information, it would be useless if it contains a lot of mistakes. The final Research paper must be re-read infinite times and edited properly before the submission.
The format of Research Paper Writing Service
Writing a Research paper is always a tough job. Since Research paper is an academic paper, Student has to give a lot of efforts and they need to take it in a serious manner. Along with completing a Research paper, one also need to be serious on part of deadlines. Following a particular pattern of Research paper writing would always be a good way to complete it in an efficient manner.
Following is the format for Completing Research paper in the best manner
Title of the Paper: The title of the Research paper should be selected in such a way that it should define the entire paper in one word. It should be such that it is a substitution of the entire Research paper. The title of the Research paper should contain the Name of the topic, name of the Student, tutor name, date of submission etc.
Content of the Paper: Generally a Research paper is of about 5000+ words. Since it is a big affair, one has to keep the reader interested. Hence the paper should be in such a way that it should keep the reader attention alive for a long time. In order to do this, a writer should give the glimpse of the paper by highlighting the name of chapter, tables, figures, illustrations etc.
Executive summary of the Paper: This part will contain summarization of the context, summary, purpose, Results, and conclusion of the topic.
Introduction of Research Paper: These part will contain the overall information about the Research paper such as background, objective, aims, reasons that motivated the writer to choose this topic, terms of references etc.
Literature Review: The main objective of Literature review is to let the readers known that the writer has read all the recent publications, books etc. relating to the topic and has summarized it in the most efficient manner. It contains the current knowledge including substantial findings relating to the topic.
Research Methodology: A reader will appreciate any paper only when they would be provided with evidence supporting the paper. Thus this part contains all the evidence of data collection and clear presentation of findings in the form of Charts, Graphs, and Flowcharts etc.
Analysis and Various other Research work Findings: Research work will finally lead to the finding of various logical arguments and findings. Our experts at Courseworktutors will help you provide complete findings and analysis on Research paper writing service.
Conclusions: It is the summarize Statement of the Research paper. All the main points which is being concluded from the research paper should be written here.
Bibliography: This is one of the most important section of the Research paper. Here the Student has to mention all the sources from where the data is gathered or used in the paper. The references include Author’s Name, Website, and Name of the Book etc. This is done to avoid plagiarism is the paper. | <urn:uuid:df208e51-bf55-4a83-8f9f-88a8b0114e3b> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.courseworktutors.com/research-paper-writing-service/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371805747.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407183818-20200407214318-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.935564 | 2,218 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Transit of Venus: A Rare Astronomical Event
Eight years ago in 2004, astronomers and lay people around the globe were anxiously waiting for a very unique astronomical phenomenon to occur. In fact, this event was so rare that no one then alive had observed it before. The last time it had occurred was back in 1882. This rare and fascinating event was a transit of our planetary neighbor Venus across the face of the Sun.
Transits of Venus occur in pairs and can be seen over a large area of the Earth’s surface. In 2004, residents in this area of the country were able to view the transit already in progress as the Sun rose. Despite some initial clouds, we finally did get some great views. (See my 2004 observing report on the Skyscrapers website, plus also find an expanded version of this article with more historical overviews there as well.)
Well, the second Venus transit of this current pair happens on June 5-6. In this hemisphere it occurs on the 5th. To prepare everyone for this rare event I will first present a brief historical overview on Venus transits in general, and I will provide the local observing circumstances with some tips on safe viewing.
Let’s first explore what a transit is. Simply stated, an astronomical transit occurs when one celestial object, such as a planet or a moon, passes in front of another celestial object. If you think about it, technically a solar eclipse is really a transit of the Moon across the face of the Sun! We just have another name for it!
But, let’s extend that analogy a little further. The Moon passes between the Earth and Sun and occasionally we observe a solar eclipse. Sometimes it’s a partial, sometimes it’s a total, and most times it doesn’t occur at all. It all depends upon the alignment of these three bodies! But why don’t we get a solar eclipse every New Moon? We would if the Moon’s orbit wasn’t tilted or inclined at an angle to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. If all things were perfect, we would see a total solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse every lunar month. It would become so routine that we probably wouldn’t pay much attention to it.
When Mercury and Venus pass inferior conjunction (between us and the Sun), most of the time they pass above or below the solar disk as seen from the Earth. This concept is simply stated here, but it took the greatest astronomical minds of the past to solve this great mystery. The process took much observation, dedication and deduction to organize the solar system design we have all come to know.
What effect does this fact have on the frequency of transits for both of these planets? With Mercury closer to the Sun than Venus, its passages across the solar disk are therefore more likely to occur! Between 1907 and our current day there have been 16 such transits. Not very rare. In fact, on May 7, 2003, we were well positioned here in New England to watch a portion of a Mercury transit. Unfortunately we were clouded out. Though a first-hand look is much better than watching an event on a television or computer screen, I did watch the event on the Web from several locations, including the Canary Islands, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Australia. Another Mercury transit was similarly clouded out locally on November 8, 2006.
However, when we talk about a transit of Venus, we are talking about a very rare astronomical event indeed (only 81 will occur between 2000 B.C. and 4000 A.D.). This rarity is due to Venus’ nearly circular orbit and its inclination. When the calculations are performed, Venus transits usually come in pairs (like Mercury), but the interval between the second transit of the pair and the next one is generally 122 years.
On June 8, 2004, Venus transited the Sun for the first time since 1882. Though I believe there is no new knowledge we can obtain from such an event these days, professional and amateur astronomers alike had been anxiously awaiting their chance to experience this rare occurrence. Like the old days when scientific expeditions were sent worldwide to observe these transits, some folks will still travel to far away lands to be ideally situated to watch the event in its entirety.
Like we did for the 2004 Venus transit, I and many fellow Skyscrapers members will be content to observe the second of this pair of transits on June 5 from right here in Rhode Island. (A quick note: Seagrave Observatory will not be open to the public for this year’s transit. Since the transit occurs with the Sun very low in the western sky, our tree-studded horizon will prevent any observations from Seagrave.) At the time of this writing the other local observatories have not yet finalized any observing plans.
Before we get to the local circumstances for this event and how to safely observe it, we first should examine why transits of Mercury and Venus were thought to be so important. Astronomers were trying to determine the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun, known as the astronomical unit (AU).
You can read up on more details at the Skyscrapers website about the early expeditions sent around the globe to position observers to make precise measurements and timings to calculate the solar parallax. (This measurement is an apparent shift in the position of Venus’ transit across the disk of the Sun due to its being observed from different locations on the Earth’s surface.)
Unfortunately bad weather plagued many an expedition (some things never change). Also, a phenomenon called the “black drop” effect made getting precise timings nearly impossible.
The black drop effect was something I was anxious to observe for the first time back in 2004. It looks like a drip about to detach itself from a faucet, or like the shape of a teardrop. As the black disk of Venus begins to cross the limb or edge of the Sun, it is a perfectly round dark spot –- blacker and more round than any sunspot. Just as Venus is about to enter fully (second contact) or begins to exit (third contact) the solar disk, a portion of the planet seems to elongate outward toward the blackness of space along the Sun’s limb (see accompanying graphic detail).
The effect can last for several seconds, depending upon atmospheric conditions, thereby preventing astronomers from obtaining precise timings of the beginning (ingress) and ending (egress) of the transit. Observations differed greatly, thereby throwing calculations off by millions of miles.
Here in the colonies during 1769, some of the first notable astronomical observations were made during the transit of Venus. Joseph Brown, a prominent citizen in the Providence community, learned of the upcoming event and sent for a telescope and other equipment from England. It arrived about one month before the transit. (This same instrument can be seen today in the John Hay Library at Brown University.) Much preparation ensued to determine accurately the precise latitude and longitude of the site from which they would observe the transit. This fact was critical if the solar parallax was to be determined and hence the calculation of the astronomical unit. As reported in Florence Parker Simister’s book, Streets of the City: An Anecdotal History of Providence, Brown set up a temporary observatory “on the crest of a hill one hundred feet to the east of Benefit Street between what is now Governor and South Water Streets, at the southern end of Thayer.”
Cloudless skies prevailed that June 3, 1769. Simister writes, “Crowds of curious spectators, and those interested in scientific matters, gathered at the observatory while Governor Stephen Hopkins, Dr. Benjamin West, and Joseph Brown looked through their instruments and made their calculations.”
Though the observations from Providence fell in line with observations made elsewhere, the scatter due to the black drop effect still produced an unacceptable error. Regardless, the Providence scientists did produce valuable results which not only were published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, as noted by Steven F. Crump, Jr. in a Rhode Island History Journal (Volume 27, January 1968) article titled, “Joseph Brown, Astronomer,” but also were well received by the Astronomer Royal of Greenwich, England.
Unfortunately, for all intents and purposes, the use of transits to determine the scale of the solar system proved fruitless. The expeditions to far away lands did provide valuable scientific discoveries in other disciplines, not to mention the exploration of our world. For example, if you want to follow up on just one of these expeditions, read about Captain Cook’s voyage and his involvement with the transit of 1769.
During the transits of 1874 and 1882, photography was the new method of acquiring data to determine the solar parallax and to make other discoveries. However, simpler methods had already revised the AU to unparalleled accuracy, and although scientific expeditions were still funded for the purpose of research, very little new information was forthcoming. The one thing that did arise from the 1882 event was an increased interest and excitement of the event by the general populace.
In fact, Skyscrapers’ own Frank E. Seagrave (whose 8-inch Clark refractor telescope we own and for whom our observatory in North Scituate, Rhode Island, is named) observed and photographed the 1882 transit from his original observatory in Providence. Visit the Skyscrapers website to see a letter Seagrave sent to Professor Asaph Hall of the US Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. You also can read a more detailed account of the transit that appeared in the December 16, 1882, issue of Scientific American that was most likely compiled from Seagrave’s submitted report.
The more recent 2004 transit did pique some interest by the public, but the early hour of the event on a weekday more than likely kept observations at a minimum. Besides, without properly filtered telescopes or cameras, observing the transit can pose damage to one’s eyesight. (More about observing tips later.) June’s upcoming transit may pose similar challenges.
Let’s now look at the circumstances for 2012’s upcoming transit of Venus on June 5. Unfortunately we will not be able to view the entire event from here in southern New England. Folks in Hawaii have the best seats in the house. I understand a few spacecraft will be observing the transit as well.
The following times have been specifically calculated for Providence. Though these times will vary by geographic location, the difference for locations throughout the New England region will only be a matter of seconds. (See accompanying graphic of the path of Venus across the face of the Sun.)
The transit of Venus begins at 22:03:32 UT (universal time; also known as Greenwich Mean Time). We are four hours behind UT in June, so locally that is 18:03:32 or 6:03:32 pm EDT. At that time, called first contact, the disk of Venus will begin to “notch” the Sun. This event will begin along the Sun’s top left edge. Venus will continue to encroach upon the solar disk. At 22:21:12 UTC (18:21:12 or 6:21:22 EDT), Venus will be entirely in front of the solar disk. This event is called second contact.
The “black drop” effect I mentioned in my 2004 report occurs at this time, so be vigilant to observe it. A portion of Venus’ dark disk will seem like it is dripping towards the solar limb, or edge, like a teardrop. Within a few seconds the effect will vanish. The transit’s progress will continue locally through sunset at around 8:17 pm EDT. Choose an appropriate site with an unobstructed western view to maximize your observation.
Now, several words of caution are necessary to state here. Do not stare or even attempt to take occasional glimpses at the Sun without protection! Just because the sunlight may be dimmed by the dense atmosphere when the Sun is low on the horizon, do not stare at it. Number 14 welders’ glass is one safe method to use. DO NOT use exposed film of any kind. This method is not safe.
Only if you are an experienced solar observer should you attempt to observe the transit with a properly filtered telescope or use the solar projection method. If you have never observed the Sun before this event, don’t start now! Don’t risk your eyesight due to an oversight or an outright mistake. Even if you have one of those department store refractors that often come with small glass or plastic filters, do not be tempted to use them. They have been known to shatter when exposed to the Sun’s concentrated image.
An inexpensive alternative is to purchase some solar eclipse glasses from a reputable vendor through the Internet. These glasses will provide a safe view of the Sun, but be sure to place your order early, as the transit will be visible to millions of folks across the United States. Even when observing the Sun using these glasses, observe caution as well. Caution will be the keyword of the day. You will not wish to ruin your eyesight by looking at the event unfiltered, for there will be many more astronomical events for your eyes to experience and enjoy in the coming years.
In addition, I’m sure there will be some websites available from which you can safely watch the event. Surf the Web ahead of time to see what sites will be offering this great event. I agree that this method is not the same as experiencing it firsthand, but if you can’t observe it safely, don’t observe it at all. If all else fails, and I mean the weather, you may have no choice but to pull up a chair in front of your computer screen to watch the progress of the event. In fact, once the Sun sets for us here, I will continue to monitor the transit’s progress on the Web from those locations farther to the west. We can only hope we will have our opportunity to see the last Venus transit until the year 2117!
Good luck in whatever observing method you choose, and remember to keep your eyes safe.
And, just in case you’re wondering what the current value of the astronomical unit (mean Earth-Sun distance) is, it’s 92,955,807.3 miles, plus or minus about 10 feet!
David A. Huestis | <urn:uuid:d5264dea-1a5b-4123-b491-42d19590b2d0> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://frostydrew.org/publications.dc/show/entry-675/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505359.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401003422-20200401033422-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.952742 | 3,014 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Most people have back pain at least once.
Fortunately, you can take measures to prevent or relieve most back pain episodes. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
Signs and symptoms of back pain can include:
- Muscle ache
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Pain that radiates down your leg
- Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
- Pain that improves with reclining
When to see a doctor
Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care, usually within a few weeks. If yours doesn't improve in that time, see your doctor.
In rare cases, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. Seek immediate care if your back pain:
- Causes new bowel or bladder problems
- Is accompanied by fever
- Follows a fall, blow to your back or other injury
Contact a doctor if your back pain:
- Is severe and doesn't improve with rest
- Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee
- Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs
- Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss
Also, see your doctor if you start having back pain for the first time after age 50, or if you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, steroid use, or excessive drug or alcohol use.
Back pain that comes on suddenly and lasts no more than six weeks (acute) can be caused by a fall or heavy lifting. Back pain that lasts more than three months (chronic) is less common than acute pain.
Back pain often develops without a cause that your doctor can identify with a test or an imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back can cause painful muscle spasms.
- Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain. Disk disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
- Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Skeletal irregularities. A condition in which your spine curves to the side (scoliosis) also can lead to back pain, but generally not until middle age.
- Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.
Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teens. These factors might put you at greater risk of developing back pain:
- Age. Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 40.
- Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
- Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on your back.
- Diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
- Improper lifting. Using your back instead of your legs can lead to back pain.
- Psychological conditions. People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.
- Smoking. This reduces blood flow to the lower spine, which can keep your body from delivering enough nutrients to the disks in your back. Smoking also slows healing.
You might avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.
To keep your back healthy and strong:
- Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities — those that don't strain or jolt your back — can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices. Talk with your doctor about which activities you might try.
- Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises, which strengthen your core, help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels. Your doctor or physical therapist can tell you which exercises are right for you.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight strains back muscles. If you're overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.
- Quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit.
Avoid movements that twist or strain your back. Use your body properly:
- Stand smart. Don't slouch. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. If you must stand for long periods, place one foot on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back. Alternate feet. Good posture can reduce the stress on back muscles.
- Sit smart. Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back can maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level. Change your position frequently, at least every half-hour.
- Lift smart. Avoid heavy lifting, if possible, but if you must lift something heavy, let your legs do the work. Keep your back straight — no twisting — and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.
Because back pain is so common, numerous products promise prevention or relief. But there's no definitive evidence that special shoes, shoe inserts, back supports, specially designed furniture or stress management programs can help.
In addition, there doesn't appear to be one type of mattress that's best for people with back pain. It's probably a matter of what feels most comfortable to you.
Your doctor will examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. Your doctor might also ask you to rate your pain on a scale of zero to 10 and talk to you about how well you're functioning with your pain.
These assessments help determine where the pain comes from, how much you can move before pain forces you to stop and whether you have muscle spasms. They can also help rule out more-serious causes of back pain.
If there is reason to suspect that a specific condition is causing your back pain, your doctor might order one or more tests:
- X-ray. These images show the alignment of your bones and whether you have arthritis or broken bones. These images alone won't show problems with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves or disks.
- MRI or CT scans. These scans generate images that can reveal herniated disks or problems with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels.
- Blood tests. These can help determine whether you have an infection or other condition that might be causing your pain.
- Bone scan. In rare cases, your doctor might use a bone scan to look for bone tumors or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis.
- Nerve studies. Electromyography (EMG) measures the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and the responses of your muscles. This test can confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or narrowing of your spinal canal (spinal stenosis).
Most acute back pain gets better with a few weeks of home treatment. However, everyone is different, and back pain is a complex condition. For many, the pain doesn't go away for a long period, but only a few have persistent, severe pain.
For acute back pain, over-the-counter pain relievers and the use of heat might be all you need. Bed rest isn't recommended.
Continue your activities as much as you can tolerate. Try light activity, such as walking and activities of daily living. Stop activity that increases pain, but don't avoid activity out of fear of pain. If home treatments aren't working after several weeks, your doctor might suggest stronger medications or other therapies.
Depending on the type of back pain you have, your doctor might recommend the following:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might relieve acute back pain. Take these medications only as directed by your doctor. Overuse can cause serious side effects. If OTC pain relievers don't relieve your pain, your doctor might suggest prescription NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants. If mild to moderate back pain doesn't improve with OTC pain relievers, your doctor might also prescribe a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants can make you dizzy and sleepy.
- Topical pain relievers. These are creams, salves or ointments you rub into your skin at the site of your pain.
- Narcotics. Drugs containing opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be used for a short time with close supervision by your doctor. Opioids don't work well for chronic pain, so your prescription will usually provide less than a week's worth of pills.
- Antidepressants. Low doses of certain types of antidepressants — particularly tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve some types of chronic back pain independent of their effect on depression.
- Injections. If other measures don't relieve your pain, and if your pain radiates down your leg, your doctor may inject cortisone — an anti-inflammatory medication — or numbing medication into the space around your spinal cord (epidural space). A cortisone injection helps decrease inflammation around the nerve roots, but the pain relief usually lasts less than a few months.
There's no commonly accepted program to teach people with back pain how to manage the condition effectively. So education might involve a class, a talk with your doctor, written material or a video. Education emphasizes the importance of staying active, reducing stress and worry, and learning ways to avoid future injury.
Physical therapy and exercise
A physical therapist can apply a variety of treatments, such as heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and muscle-release techniques, to your back muscles and soft tissues to reduce pain.
As pain improves, the therapist can teach you exercises to increase your flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and improve your posture. Regular use of these techniques can help keep pain from returning.
Few people need surgery for back pain. If you have unrelenting pain associated with radiating leg pain or progressive muscle weakness caused by nerve compression, you might benefit from surgery. Otherwise, surgery usually is reserved for pain related to structural problems, such as narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) or a herniated disk, that hasn't responded to other therapy.
A number of alternative treatments might ease symptoms of back pain. Always discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor before starting a new alternative therapy.
- Chiropractic care. A chiropractor hand-manipulates your spine to ease your pain.
- Acupuncture. A practitioner of acupuncture inserts sterilized stainless steel needles into the skin at specific points on the body. Some people with low back pain report that acupuncture helps relieve their symptoms.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A battery-powered device placed on the skin delivers electrical impulses to the painful area. Studies have shown mixed results as to TENS' effectiveness.
- Massage. If your back pain is caused by tense or overworked muscles, massage might help.
- Yoga. There are several types of yoga, a broad discipline that involves practicing specific postures or poses, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. Yoga can stretch and strengthen muscles and improve posture, although you might need to modify some poses if they aggravate your symptoms.
Preparing for an appointment
If your back pain lasts for a few days without improvement, see your doctor. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
What you can do
Make a list of:
- Key personal information, including mental or emotional stressors in your life
- Your symptoms, and when they began
- All medications, vitamins and other supplements you take, including doses
- Questions to ask your doctor
Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you receive.
For back pain, questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is the most likely cause of my back pain?
- Do I need diagnostic tests?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- If you're recommending medications, what are the possible side effects?
- I have other medical conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- How long will I need treatment?
- What self-care measures should I try?
- What can I do to prevent a recurrence of back pain?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:
- When did your back pain begin?
- Have you ever injured your back?
- Is the pain constant?
- Does the pain affect your ability to function? If so, how much?
- Do you have other signs or symptoms besides back pain?
- Do you do heavy physical work?
- Do you exercise regularly? What types of activities do you do?
- How often do you feel depressed or anxious?
- Do you sleep well?
- What treatments or self-care measures have you tried so far? Has anything helped? | <urn:uuid:cc712819-f90d-4f98-aaf9-edc71d6e816d> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/back-pain | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505359.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401003422-20200401033422-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.929852 | 2,903 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Author: Stephan Pfennig
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an important aspect in the development of devices and circuit boards. The essential requirements for equipment’s (devices and fixed installations) EMC are defined in the EMCD (“Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive”). In general, a distinction can be made between the interference and the immunity of an operating medium.
Part of the interference is the radiated emission. This article offers an introduction to the basic mechanics leading to the radiation-induced interference of printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Emissions and Immunity
In EMC, a simple model for describing electromagnetic interference consisting of a disturbance source, a disturbance sink, and a coupling path is typically used. The interference signal propagates from its source to its sink via the coupling path. Various coupling mechanisms can contribute to this coupling, though in principle, there is a distinction between the galvanic, capacitive, and inductive coupling as well as radiation coupling. The model distinguishes between the source interference and the immunity of the sink. Depending on the how the disturbance propagates, a further distinction is made between the line-connected- and radiated emissions and immunity, respectively.
When testing electromagnetic compatibility, the device is regarded as a source of interference and an interference sink. This means that the corresponding EMC measurements are used to check whether the emissions and immunity requirements are met.
Near Field and Far Field
The measurement of the radiated interference generally takes place in the disturbance source’s far field, i.e. a certain minimum distance between the test object and the antenna is maintained during measurement. This distance is dependent on the lower limit of the frequency range. Typical measuring distances are, for example, 5 m, 10 m, and 30 m.
The fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation of antennas can be explained with the help of the electrical and magnetic elementary dipole. The so-called “2-region model”, which is based on a simplification of the equations and differentiates between the near and far field of the antenna (source), can be derived from the equations of the electric dipole (Hertzian dipole) and the magnetic dipole (Fitzgeraldian dipole). This model defines the distance r0 = λ ⁄ 2π as the boundary between the near and far field. This boundary is dependent on the wavelength λ or the frequency f. For distances r less than r0, the observed reference point lies in the source’s near field. For distances r greater than r0, it lies in the source’s far field. The distance r0 for different frequencies or wavelengths is given in Table 1.
If the mentioned simplification of the equations is not used, the so-called “3-region model”, which differentiates between the near field (r < 0.6r0), the transition field, and the far field (r > 5r0), can alternatively be derived. [1,2]
|f in MHz||30||48||100||300||1000||3000|
|λ in m||10||2π||3||1||0.3||0.1|
|r0 in m||1.6||1.0||0.5||0.16||0.05||0.016|
|Table 1 Near-field and far-field limits for different wavelengths and frequencies|
Furthermore, the mechanisms which lead to the radiated interference at the PCB level should be considered. The realization that the primary mechanisms (inductive and capacitive coupling) act in the near field of the printed circuit board is helpful to better understand the radiated emissions.
In order to be able to minimize the radiated emissions from the PCB, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms. The following thought-experiment is a very helpful introduction to the subject:
We assume that the size of the PCB’s dimensions is not greater than 15 cm. Furthermore, we assume that there is a broadband interference source whose amplitude spectrum has frequency components of up to about 1 GHz.
Continuous amplitude spectra with frequency components up to the gigahertz range result, for example, for non-periodic (transient) time signals with rise times in the range of a few nanoseconds. In practice, such rise times occur when switching inductances, for example.
For the second step, we assume that in the worst case, the PCB has structures that act as a λ ⁄ 2 antenna and are excited by the observed interference signal. For PCBs with dimensions d ≤ 15 cm (λ ≤ 30 cm) only frequency components f ≥ 1 GHz will be radiated directly from the PCB. This means, in the considered case there will be no radiation despite the broadband interference source. This simple example shows that interference is not typically directly radiated.
However, if there are structures in the near field of the PCB into which the electrical or magnetic near field can couple, a capacitive or inductive coupling will occur first. These structures can then act as antennas and emit the coupled interference signal. A typical example of such structures are cables connected to the PCB.
In order for the structures present in the near field to act effectively as an antenna, two conditions must be fulfilled: two elements which are not electrically small – whose dimensions are not small compared to the wavelength λ and can act together as an antenna – are required and [there must be] an interference source, which feeds the two antenna elements relative to one another.
At the PCB level, various configurations which can act as a source of emission are possible. In general, two types of emission sources can be distinguished: the voltage- and current- driven interference sources. Two examples explaining these different types of interference sources are provided in the following section.
Voltage Transformers and current-driven Sources of Interference
A voltage-driven interference source is present when the antenna elements necessary for the emission are fed by a disturbance voltage. The two elements could, for example, be a heat sink and a connected cable. The signal could be electrically (capacitively) coupled into heat sink by a conductor or component on the printed circuit board. If a potential difference occurs between the heat sink and the ground surface to which the cable is connected, then the interference voltage will feed these two antenna elements (heat sink and cable) and can lead to emission.
An electrically long conductor train would, in principle, also be conceived as an antenna element. Typically, however, they are directly above or below a continuous ground area and thus do not effectively act as antenna elements.
A current-driven source of interference is formed, for example, when conductor loops are present in the layout of the printed circuit board, the loops of which are perpendicular to the ground plane. The current flowing through a conductor loop generates a magnetic field, which also partly forms around the ground surface. This amount is dependent on the dimensions of the ground surface and causes a voltage drop between the points of the ground surface where the conductor loop is connected. If two cables which act as antenna elements are connected to the corresponding (opposite) sides of the printed circuit board, the interference voltage can lead to emission. In comparison to the useful signal, the interference voltage is typically very small, but can contribute significantly to the interference emission.
The operating mechanisms, which lead to radiated interference at the PBC level, are explained through many practical examples at experimental EMC seminars held by Langer EMV-Technik GmbH. The seminar uses, for example, the seminar board A62, which is equipped with a booster converter. Using the near-field probe RF-E 02, the existing electric field is measured in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 500 MHz, which can capacitively couple into other structures. The largest measured values are above the inductance of the step-up converter. The interference voltages measured at the spectrum analyzer while the near-field probe is positioned one centimeter above the inductance are shown in Figure 1. The given comparison of the measured voltage levels with the board switched on and off shows the interference potential of this voltage-driven interference source.
In the next step, the seminar board is placed on the table and the radiated interference in the frequency range of 30 MHz to 500 MHz is examined with a broadband EMC antenna (Bilog antenna) at a distance of 3 m. To do this, the board is placed on the center of the table with the power cable placed to the left of it. Subsequently, one end of a laboratory cable is placed at the step-up converter’s inductivity and the cable is moved to the right [of the board]. There is no electrically conductive connection between the board and the cable. The length of the table is 160 cm. The two cables hang [downward] off the end of the table.
The subsequent interference measurement (Figure 2) is displayed in two configurations – with and without the laboratory cable. Analogous to the first measurement taken with the near-field probe, the interference voltages measured at the spectrum analyser are recorded and displayed. Since a statement on the absolute field strength values was not necessary in either case, the conversion of the voltage levels is not done.
The results in Figure 3 show a significantly stronger interference when using the laboratory cable. This means the electric field measured with the near-field probe capacitively couples into the laboratory cable. Because of its length (not being electrically short), the cable acts as a second antenna element and, together with the power cable, forms an effective radiating antenna structure.
Since the interference was measured with the Bilog antenna in an unshielded space, the signals in the environment, such as FM radio signals, are included in the measurement. The corresponding frequencies, however, can be seen in the comparison between the measured noise and ambient level.
The radiated interference emitted at the PCB level are generally not emitted directly from the printed circuit board, even if corresponding sources of interference are present. Emission occurs only when the disturbance variables are coupling in to other structures which act as antennas.
In order for the structure to radiate effectively, there must be two antenna elements whose dimensions are not electrically short and are fed to one another from a disturbance source. Examples of antenna elements include: cables, heat sinks, metal rails [traces?], or other electrically conductive structures. When considering the interference source, a distinction can be made between voltage-driven and current-driven sources on interference.
In order to improve one’s understanding of interference sources, coupling mechanisms, antenna structures, and radiated-related emissions resulting therefrom, fundamental function mechanisms are explained in EMC experimental seminars offering many practical examples.
|||A. J. Schwab und W. Kürner, Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit, 5., aktualisierte und ergänzte Auflage, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2007.|
|||C. Capps, „Near field or far field?“, Delphi Automotive Systems, 16. August 2001. [Online]. Available: http://m.eet.com/media/1140931/19213-150828.pdf. [Zugriff am 20. Februar 2016].|
|||T. H. Hubing, “Printed Circuit Board EMI Source Mechanisms”, in 2003 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, DOI: 10.1109/ISEMC.2003.1236553, 2003.| | <urn:uuid:6f29f70f-8b91-4e79-a9dd-a4b57f930ed1> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.langer-emv.de/cn/page/%E8%B5%84%E8%AE%AF/51/04-radiated-emissions-at-the-pcb-level-an-introduction/69 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506870.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402080824-20200402110824-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.915856 | 2,418 | 3.296875 | 3 |
Climate change is a global problem that will require global cooperation to address. The objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which virtually all nations, including the U.S., have ratified, is to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations at a level that will not cause “dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.”1 Due to the persistence of the increased concentrations of GHGs, significant emissions reductions must be achieved in coming decades to meet the UNFCCC objective. Unrestricted growth in global emissions is projected to lead to a 5% increase in CO2 concentration levels from 2011 to 2030 and between a 74-202% increase by 2100.2 Stabilizing CO2 at 450 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere by the year 2100 (which will likely keep temperature change below 2°C relative to pre-industrial levels) will require lowering global CO2 emissions in 2050 by 40-70% compared to 2010, and will require emissions levels near zero GtCO2e in 2100.2 Stabilization at 500 ppm, almost double the pre-industrial concentration, could be achieved by holding GHG emissions constant for 50 years and then reducing emissions by two-thirds over the following 50 years.3 In 2017, U.S. GHG emissions were 6.5 GtCO2e.4 In October 2018, the IPCC report published the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5oC. It details impacts of temperature rise of 1.5 and 2oC, and mitigation strategies necessary to remain below warming of 1.5oC.5
Historical Carbon Emissions with Two Potential Pathways for the Future6
- Market-based approaches include carbon taxes, subsidies, cap-and-trade programs, and emissions standards.7
- In a tradable carbon permit system, permits equal to an allowed level of emissions are distributed to each party. Parties with emissions below their allowance are able to sell their excess permits to other parties that have exceeded their emissions allowance.7
- Market-based instruments are recognized for their potential to reduce emissions by allowing for flexibility and ingenuity in the private sector.7
- Regulatory approaches include non-tradable permits, technology and performance standards, product bans, and government investment.7
- In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can regulate CO2 emissions from mobile sources under the Clean Air Act.8 In 2012, after several appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the original ruling.9
- In the U.S., Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for vehicles, administered by the NHTSA, are intended to decrease carbon emissions by reducing gasoline consumption.7 In 2012, the EPA and the NHTSA finalized CAFE and EPA GHG emission standards requiring new vehicles to meet an average emissions level of 163 grams of CO2 per mile, or 54.5 miles per gallon, by model year 2025.10
- Voluntary agreements are, in general, agreements between a government agency and one or more private parties to “achieve environmental objectives or to improve environmental performance beyond compliance.”2 The EPA partners with the public and private sectors to oversee a variety of voluntary initiatives, including GHG emission reductions, clean energy, and climate change adaptation.11
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol came into force on February 16, 2005. The Protocol established mandatory, enforceable targets for GHG emissions. Initial emissions reductions for participating countries ranged from –8% to +10% of 1990 levels, while the overall reduction goal was 5% below the 1990 level from 2008 to 2012.12 When the first commitment period ended in 2012, the Protocol was amended for a second commitment period; the new overall reduction goal would be 18% below 1990 levels by 2020.13
- The Protocol is based on three GHG emission reduction mechanisms: Joint Implementation (JI), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and International Emissions Trading.13
The Paris Agreement
In December of 2015, all Parties of the UNFCCC reached a climate change mitigation and adaptation agreement, called The Paris Agreement, in order to keep global temperatures below a 2°C increase above pre-industrial temperatures. The agreement will be enforced 30 days after 55 countries ratify the agreement. The 55 countries must account for at least 55% of the global emissions.14
- The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016. As of September, 2019, The Paris Agreement had 197 signatories of which 185 parties have ratified the agreement accounting for at least 55% of total global emissions.15 In June 2017, President Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement.16
Government Action in the U.S.
- According to the U.S. Senate, “Congress should enact a comprehensive and effective national program of mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases that slow, stop, and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that will not significantly harm the United States economy and will encourage comparable action by other nations”17
- In 2015, the Clean Power Plan was proposed that sets a national limit for CO2 emissions from power plants. On February 9, 2016, the plan was stayed by the Supreme Court due to several lawsuits against it.18 In October 2017, the EPA proposed to repeal the Clean Power Plan, the repeal was finalized in 2019. It was replaced by the Affordable Clean Energy Rule.19,20
- Due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, large emitters of GHGs in the U.S. must report emissions to the EPA.21
- Climate change action plans have been enacted by 34 states and D.C.22
- Twenty three states and D.C. have greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. For example, California has established targets to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.23
- Twenty-nine states, D.C., and three U.S. territories have Renewable Portfolio Standards, which specify that a certain percentage of electricity be generated from renewable sources by a certain date.24 24 governors have joined the US Climate Alliance, to uphold the GHG reductions outlined in the Paris Agreement. The alliance represents 55% of the US population, and boasts an economy larger than all other Paris signatories other than the US and China.25
States with Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards24
Stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations cannot be accomplished without changes in energy production and use. Effective mitigation cannot be achieved without individual agencies working collectively towards reduction goals.2 Stabilization wedges are one method of illustrating GHG reduction strategies; each wedge represents 1 billion tons of carbon avoided per year over 50 years.3
- Energy Savings: Many energy efficiency efforts require an initial capital investment, but the payback period is often only a few years. In 2009, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission entered a 10-year agreement to purchase 28% of their electricity from a local wind energy provider, saving $1.2 million over the first four years.26
- Fuel Switching: Switching power plants and vehicles to less carbon-intensive fuels can achieve emission reductions in the short-term. For instance, switching from an average coal plant to a natural gas combined cycle plant can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 50%.2
- Capturing and Storing Emissions: CO2 can be captured from large point sources during both pre- and post-combustion of fossil fuels. Once CO2 is separated, it can be stored underground.27 Alternatively through climate intervention strategies, existing CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere through various Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies and methodologies such as direct air capture and sequestration, bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration, land management strategies, as well as many other methods.28
- There are many actions that individuals can take to reduce their daily GHG emissions; many involve energy conservation and also save money.
- Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle and keep your car well maintained, including properly inflated tires.29
- Decrease the amount you drive by using public transportation, walking, riding a bike, or telecommuting. Leaving your car at home for two days a week can prevent 4,000 lbs of CO2 emissions per year.29
- Ask your energy supplier about options for purchasing energy from renewable sources.
- When purchasing appliances, look for the Energy Star label and choose the most energy efficient model.
- Energy Star qualified light bulbs use 70-90% less energy than a typical incandescent bulb and last 10-25 times longer.30
- Space heating is the largest user of household energy (24%).31 Ensure that your home is properly sealed by reducing air leaks, installing the recommended level of insulation, and choosing Energy Star qualified windows.32
- United Nations (UN) (1992) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2014) Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. O. Edenhofer, et al., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
- Pacala, S. and R. Socolow (2004) Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies. Science, 305: 968-972.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2019) Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2017.
- IPCC (2018) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 C: Summary for Policy Makers
- Adapted from Socolow, R., et al. (2004) Solving the climate problem: Technologies available to curb CO2 emissions. Environment, 46(10): 8-19.
- U.S. EPA, National Center for Environmental Economics (2001) The United States Experience with Economic Incentives for Protecting the Environment.
- Massachusetts, et al. v. EPA, et al. (2007) Supreme Court of the United States. Case No. 05-1120.
- U.S. EPA (2016) “U.S. Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit Upholds EPA’s Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act.”
- Federal Register (2012) Rules and Regulations, Vol. 77, No. 199, Monday, October 15, 2012.
- U.S. EPA (2014) “Voluntary Energy and Climate Programs.”
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2007) “Kyoto Protocol.”
- UNFCCC (2013)” Kyoto Protocol.”
- UNFCCC (2016) Summary of the Paris Agreement.
- UNFCCC (2018) “Paris Agreement-Status of Ratification.”
- Brookings Institution (2018) “One year since Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.”
- U.S. Congress (2005) Energy Policy Act of 2005. 109th Congress.
- U.S. EPA (2017) “Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants.”
- U.S. EPA (2017) Fact Sheet: Proposal to Repeal the Clean Power Plan.
- U.S. EPA (2019) Electric Utility Generating Units: Repealing the Clean Power Plant
- U.S. EPA (2012) “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.”
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (2016) “Climate Action Plans.”
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (2016) “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets.”
- DSIRE (2017) U.S. Summary Maps: Renewable Portfolio Standard Policies.
- United States Climate Alliance (2019) 2019 Fact Sheet
- U.S. EPA (2014) “2014 Climate Leadership Award Winners.”
- Statoil (2007) “Carbon Dioxide Storage Prized.”
- National Academy of Science (2015) Climate Intervention: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Reliable Sequestration.
- U.S. EPA (2016) “Climate Change & You: What you can do on the road.”
- Energy Star (2016) “Light Bulbs for Consumers.”
- Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2018) Annual Energy Outlook 2018.
- U.S. DOE (2014) “Tips: Your Home’s Energy Use.” | <urn:uuid:86202579-1a63-4351-b482-41255582b742> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://css.umich.edu/factsheets/climate-change-policy-and-mitigation-factsheet | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370506673.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402045741-20200402075741-00035.warc.gz | en | 0.904305 | 2,629 | 3.640625 | 4 |
Timeline of 1954 Shooting Events
On March 1, 1954, a group of armed Puerto Rican nationalists fired onto the House Floor from the public galleries wounding five U.S. Representatives. Within a matter of moments, normal House proceedings were thrown into chaos creating a scene etched into the memories of Members, staff, and Pages. This chronology features eyewitness accounts and newspaper reports from the time of the shooting and from the days that followed.
March 1, 1954
- On the morning of March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists—Lolita Lebron, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodriguez—boarded a train from New York City for Washington, D.C. Since 1898, when the United States took control of Puerto Rico, the status of the island has been debated. Over time, three main viewpoints took shape concerning Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States: territory, state, or independent nation. The nationalists who traveled to the Capitol supported the most extreme interpretation of the latter—one which called for violence to draw attention to their goal of complete Puerto Rican independence from the United States.
- The House convened at 12:00 pm, with Speaker Joseph W. Martin of Massachusetts presiding. A roll call held shortly after the session opened indicated that 373 Members were present.
- Representative Leo Allen of Illinois introduced House Resolution 450, a measure calling for the re-authorization of a program allowing migrant Mexican farmers to work in the United States.
- During the debate, between 2:00 and 2:30 pm, a number of visitors entered Gallery 11 on the southwest side of the chamber, including the four Puerto Rican nationalists and a group of sixth-grade students from Maryland.
- Shortly before 2:30 pm, Representative John Chenoweth of Colorado moved that the House vote on the resolution. Representative Harold Cooley of North Carolina requested a quorum count; 243 Members were counted as present. The question was then put to a vote.
- At 2:30 pm, as Members waited to have their votes counted by Speaker Martin, Lebron began firing a .38 caliber German pistol while shouting about Puerto Rican independence. Her companions joined her, firing at the House Floor. Many witnesses initially mistook the shooting for firecrackers. “A lot of the Congressmen didn’t realize they were real guns,” recalled House Page Bill Goodwin. “A lot of the Congressmen just heard pop-pop-pop-pop going on, and they thought it was firecrackers. Everybody had different ideas. And I saw the gun. I knew they were shooting. They weren’t firecrackers.”1
- At 2:32 pm Speaker Martin declared the House in recess as he sought cover behind a marble pillar on the rostrum. While her companions continued to shoot, Lebron attempted to unfurl a Puerto Rican flag. During the next several minutes, some 16 shots were fired according to police records. Martin later recalled, “Bullets whistled through the chamber in the wildest scene in the entire history of Congress . . . ‘The house stands recessed,’ I declared, unhindered by any parliamentarian.”2
- Three of the shooters attempted to exit the gallery, but were overpowered by visitors, Capitol and Metropolitan police officers, House staff, and Representative James Van Zandt of Pennsylvania. The fourth shooter escaped in the chaos, but was apprehended later in the day.
- At 2:42 pm Speaker Martin called the House to order and at 2:43 pm the House officially adjourned.
- Five Congressmen were wounded in the shooting, including Representatives Alvin Bentley of Michigan, Kenneth Roberts of Alabama, George Fallon of Maryland, Ben Jensen of Iowa, and Clifford Davis of Tennessee. Bentley, the most seriously injured remarked, “I next remember being hit with what felt like a terrific blow on the chest. I didn’t realize it was a bullet. It felt more as if somebody had taken a club and socked me on the chest and knocked the wind out of me.”3
- Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner Antonio Fernós-Isern, who could not vote, was in his office during the shooting. A trained doctor, he ran toward the Capitol after hearing about the attack to see if he could help the medical personnel. Capitol Police stopped him for security reasons, confining him to his office on the seventh floor of the New (Longworth) House Office Building. Fernós-Isern denounced the attackers as “communist dupes.” “Can it be the doing just of Puerto Rican Nationalists?” he asked a Baltimore Sun journalist rhetorically. “Who benefits? Certainly not Puerto Rico.”4
- Arthur Cameron, a House Page overseer, tried to convince various hospitals and ambulance services that a shooting had occurred at the Capitol. “I said, ‘There’s been a shooting in the House of Representatives. You got to send an ambulance.’ He said, ‘Kid, you shouldn’t joke about things like that,’ and hung up the phone.”5
- Members joined House Pages and staff in caring for the wounded Members. Pages William Emerson, Paul Kanjorski, and Bill Goodwin located stretchers and helped to carry the injured Representatives out of the Capitol. “We sort of took over, ordering the stretchers and getting people put together,” future Representative Kanjorski recalled. “And a group of maybe a half dozen of us really started getting the people put in the stretchers, identifying who they were, and by the time that the ambulances arrived, we were taking them out.”6
- Within minutes of the shooting, the police sealed off the Capitol and surrounding grounds. Guards were stationed at every exit of the Capitol, while police searched the building and established blockades throughout the city until the fourth suspect, Irving Rodriguez, was captured. “By that time guards were stationed everywhere with instructions to shoot to kill and ask questions afterward,” recalled Representative Barratt O’Hara of Illinois. “When I attempted to drive into the Capitol Grounds to attend the conference, a guard pulled a pistol on me. He was halted in firing by a scream from his back. The scream was directed at me, a notification that the conference had been called off.”7
- Shortly after recessing the House, Speaker Martin convened a meeting with House leaders Sam Rayburn of Texas and Charlie Halleck of Indiana, as well as Senate Majority Leader William Knowland of California to discuss emergency security measures.
- Speaker Martin held a press conference to discuss the shooting and security measures. “They came in with the tourists in a section where no tickets are needed,” he noted. “We’re going back tomorrow, so that everyone will have to have a ticket. We’ll stop tourists till this is straightened out. We’ll have a new set of admission cards.”8
March 2, 1954
- Puerto Rican Governor Luis Muñoz Marín flew to Washington on March 2 to express his condolences. The governor visited all the wounded Congressmen, except Bentley, who was unable to receive visitors.
- When the House reconvened at noon, Resident Commissioner Fernós-Isern was the first to speak, walking to the well as his colleagues applauded. “Mr. Speaker, on no occasion could I address this House with deeper sorrow,” he intoned. “To add to my consternation, the name of the dear island of my birth was invoked by the reckless vandals who staged this terrible deed yesterday. . . . The bullets that were shot did not only sorely hurt five of our colleagues; they all hit the heart of Puerto Rico.”9 He submitted resolutions of condemnation from Muñoz Marín and from the Puerto Rican legislature.
- Governor Muñoz Marín stood in the well of the House, shook hands with Members, and received a standing ovation. Speaker Martin voiced his support for the Puerto Rican government. “A few gangsters can’t break up the friendship of great nations,” he said.10
- Presented with a range of new security options in the wake of the attack, Speaker Martin remained careful to balance safety with public access to the House of Representatives. “We did indeed tighten up the security arrangements a good deal,” the Speaker observed. “Nevertheless I rejected the most ambitious proposal, one that called for installation of bullet-proof glass around the front of the galleries. For one thing, I was advised that the weight of this glass would be too great for the galleries to support. For another, I felt that, danger or not, Americans do not want their Congress walled off from the people by glass.”11
- All five injured Members recovered from their wounds and returned to their House service. Congressman Bentley, the most seriously injured, continued serving in the House until 1961. Representatives Davis, Jensen, and Roberts served for a decade before leaving the House in 1965. Of the group, Representative Fallon remained the longest, serving until 1971 and chairing the Committee on Public Works.
- Page Bill Emerson later served as a congressional aide before winning election to the U.S. House as a Republican from Missouri in 1980; he served from 1981 until his death in 1996. Page Paul Kanjorski was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat from Pennsylvania in 1984 and served from 1985 to 2011.
- The four Puerto Rican nationalists—Lebron, Miranda, Cordero, and Rodriguez—were indicted, tried, and convicted in federal court for their actions. They received sentences ranging from 16 to 75 years in federal prison. More than two decades later, President Jimmy Carter granted clemency to the shooters.12
1Bill Goodwin Oral History Interview, Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives [October 20, 2005].
2Joe Martin, My First Fifty Years in Politics as Told to Robert J. Donovan (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960): 217.
3Alvin Bentley, “Exclusive: I Was Shot Down,” 20 June 1954, Los Angeles Times: J12.
4“Communist Plot Charged,” 2 March 1954, New York Times: 19; “Attack Seen Red Inspired,” 2 March 1954, Baltimore Sun: 7.
5Bree Hocking, “Together Again: 1950s–Era Pages Return to the Capitol, Full of Memories,” 20 September 2004, Roll Call: n.p.
6The Honorable Paul Kanjorski Oral History Interview, Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives [October 26, 2011].
7Congressional Record, House, 83rd Cong., 2nd sess. (9 March 1954): 2960.
8John Harris, “Globe Reporter Describes Scene of House Shooting,” 2 March 1954, Daily Boston Globe: 1.
9Congressional Record, House, 83rd Cong., 2nd sess. (2 March 1954): 2484.
10William M. Blair, “Regrets Voiced by Muñoz Marín,” 3 March 1954, New York Times: 14.
11Martin, My First Fifty Years in Politics: 220.
12C. P. Trussell, “Four Are Indicted in House Shooting; Plot Plans Bared,” 4 March 1954, New York Times: 1; "Puerto Ricans Get Maximum Terms," 9 July 1954, New York Times: 1; “Carter Grants Clemency to Puerto Rican Who Shot at Legislators in ’54 House Raid,” 7 October 1977, Los Angeles Times: B17; “Carter Frees Puerto Ricans Who Shot Five Congresmen,” 6 September 1979, Los Angeles Times: A1. | <urn:uuid:63e3e945-c9eb-4e65-86b9-6e189c0dfdff> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/1954-Shooting/Essays/Timeline/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505730.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401100029-20200401130029-00395.warc.gz | en | 0.963325 | 2,500 | 3.046875 | 3 |
In the USA ecological direct action is more synonymous with Earth First! than in Australia and Britain. Earth First! was founded in the USA in April 1980 by five environmentalists disillusioned by their experiences with the major environmental organisations. They viewed the compromises of the pressure groups as inadequate in the face of the erosion of wilderness and threats to biodiversity This was brought to a head after the Forest Service's second Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) in which less than a quarter of the area under consideration had been designated as protected wilderness (Scarce 1990). According to movement legend, it was after a hike in the Picante desert in Mexico that the five decided to found a more militant group. In doing so, they drew on the guidance provided by Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975). This novel was a thinly disguised call to arms for wilderness defenders. It heroised the actions of four eco-saboteurs prepared to 'undermine road building, bridge building, dam building - anything that threatens the wild places of Utah and the surrounding states' (dust jacket). Like the monkey wrench gang, Earth First! was prepared to support the use of ecological sabotage (or ecotage)
wherever it was strategically appropriate. It did not directly advocate ecotage or any illegal actions, but in publishing Ecodefense: a field guide to monkeywrenching (Foreman 1985) and in calling those who took part 'heroes', the position of the organisation was clear.
The driving force in the formation of Earth First! was Dave Foreman, who had been senior campaigner with the Wilderness Society in Washington and came from a right-wing and military background. The initial base of the movement was in the south-west, but effective publicity and Earth First! roadshows produced new recruits nation-wide. Since there was no formal membership of Earth First! after 1982 there are no reliable estimates of the numbers of activists, but there were probably no more than a few thousand at any one time.4 In the 1980s more than half the journal's subscribers were in California (Zakin 1993: 358) and the West Coast remains the strongest base of activity. Most activity was based in local networks with a national gathering of the most committed activists at the annual Round River Rendezvous. In the intervening period the main linkage between local groups was through the movement's journal. While the movement was still very small in the early 1980s the strategic direction provided by Foreman was accepted. However, the journal's editorial policy became a matter of dispute in the second half of the 1980s when strategic divisions began to emerge within Earth First! On one side were those like Foreman who saw Earth First!'s purpose as to take practical actions that produced tangible results in saving wilderness. Carefully targeted sabotage of development projects or logging in wilderness areas would increase the costs for developers and make development uneconomical. Public protests were also useful, as when tree sitting was used to increase the costs of logging in the forests of the Pacific north-west. But Foreman, and others such as Chris Manes, rejected the broadening of Earth First!'s goals to include alliances with other organisations campaigning on issues of social justice. In their view, human nature was irredeemable and humanity needed to 'return to the Neanderthal'. They expected an ecological meltdown and speculated that only an ecological elite with the correct 'wilderness gene' would be able to survive it (Lee 1995).
The second 'holistic' group accepted the priority of defending wilderness and the likelihood of ecological collapse but thought that progress to a better society was still possible. The best means to defend the wilderness was through direct action, but based upon the inter-relationship between issues of social justice and ecology. Thus, in tackling the logging industry, activists such as Judi Bari tried to build an alliance with logging communities by showing how clear-cutting undermined the long-term future of the timber industry and only served the interests of the largest companies. The 'holies' were influenced by new social movement ideas and wanted Earth First! to develop as a political force. Bari made links with the remnants of the International Workers of the World, or the Wobblies as they are better known, whose agitprop and direct action tradition had earlier inspired Foreman (Zakin 1993: 361). While actions that directly preserved wilderness were seen as justifiable, they needed to be complemented by actions that built the base of the movement. As Bari put it: 'Dave Foreman wants Earth First! to remain small, pure and radical. I want it to be big, impure and radical' (quoted in Lee 1995: 128).
The split deepened following the furore created by two infamous articles written by Chris Manes in the Earth First! Journal in 1987, touching on an issue that divided the two groups, namely poverty and the causes of over-population. Manes wrote that Aids and famine could have good effects in reducing overpopulation, although he did not disregard the suffering of Aids victims. The holies rejected Manes' argument because it did not tackle the causes of overpopulation, primary among which was inequality. No letters on Manes's article were published in the Earth First! Journal, edited by Foreman. The 'holies' felt that debate was being stifled and the Round River Rendezvous were often bedevilled by disagreements between supporters of the two positions. Among the more important incidents were the expulsion of an eco-anarchist group from the 1987 Round River Rendezvous after a confrontation with Abbey and the burning of an American flag by 'holies' at the 1989 Rendezvous (Zakin 1993: 409). Another bone of contention was the suspicion among holies that Foreman was using the resources of the journal to finance activities that he supported to the exclusion of other groups. Mike Roselle, a leading 'holie', and like Foreman, one of the five original founders of Earth First! established a 'Nomadic Action Group' (using the name of an Australian EDA group) of Earth First!ers committed to direct action, which was funded separately from the journal. Disputes continued over the failure by the Earth First! Journal to cover the public EDA actions favoured by the holies (Maenz 2000).
Two major incidents increased the stakes of the conflict. In 1989 after an undercover operation by an infiltrator, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) arrested a group of Earth First!ers in Arizona who were trying to cut a power line. Foreman was later arrested and charged with financing the operation. Although the FBI had failed in its aim of entrapping Foreman in carrying out ecotage, it had for the first time been able to successfully prosecute Earth First! activists for serious ecotage. The second incident was the bomb that exploded under the seat of Judi Bari's car in April 1990, causing her serious injury. She had been organising a Redwood Summer of protest against logging of old growth forest, evoking the 1964 Freedom Summer campaign of the civil rights movement. Police charges against Bari and her partner, a musician and poet, Darryl Cherney, were dropped, and it is extremely unlikely that they were, as the police initially professed to believe, carrying a home-made bomb (Littletree 2000). Neither of these traumas was sufficient to reunite the movement. Arguments over the journal and the philosophy of the movement continued until in August 1990 Foreman announced he was leaving Earth First! because it had been 'taken over by West Coast hippies' (Lee 1995: 137). This was followed by the resignation of the journal's staff.
From 1990 onwards the 'holies' were in control. Since then there has been a clearer commitment to the importance of public EDA and to taking social justice seriously. The journal now carries extensive reports on direct action campaigns in the USA and other countries. Most activists have remained within
Earth First! rather than following Foreman and other wildies. Although it remained an uneasy combination of biocentrists and ecological leftists, most of those who remained were more prepared to live with their differences. Activists such as Bari, who had socialist parents and past experience in trade union, feminist and anti-nuclear energy campaigns, succeeded in contradicting Foreman's assertion that Earth First! was not on the left (Lee 1995: 106). Earth First! continued to campaign against logging, with long-term camps at Headwaters, Cascadia and other parts of the Pacific North West and also against other development projects such as new roads through Native American lands at Minnehaha. Earth First!ers also played an important role in the network that coordinated the protests against the meeting of the WTO in Seattle in 1999 and subsequent protests such as those in Washington in April 2000 and Quebec in April 2001.
A new dimension of EDA campaigning in the US has developed in the form of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Although the ELF emerged from within the EDA network, its membership and activities are clandestine and its actions are not claimed publicly by Earth First! The ELF claims to have been inspired by British EDA5 in the 1990s but whereas there is no evidence that the ELF has ever really existed as a distinct group in Britain, the ELF in the USA has a press officer and a website and has claimed responsibility for many acts of ecological sabotage (or ecotage). The ELF describes its main aim as 'To inflict economic damage to those who profit from the destruction and exploitation of the natural environment' and it has worked alongside the Animal Liberation Front in major incidents of sabotage since 1998. In October 1998 the ELF claimed responsibility for arson attacks in Vail, Colorado. The attacks were targeted at developers who, it was thought, were threatening the viability of a scheme to reintroduce Lynx to the area (The Observer, 25 October 1998). Since then targets for arson have included new houses on Long Island, in Kentucky and Arizona, deemed guilty of adding to urban sprawl and encroaching on nature, warehouses containing genetically modified (GM) cotton and offices of the US Forest Service and logging companies. In March 2001 damage by the ELF was calculated at more than $45 million dollars (The Guardian, 6 March 2001).
The ELF is linked to the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), and the latter hosts the ELF website6, which states that environmental and animal rights groups have to 'learn from each other what needs to happen to make other movements a real threat to the death industries'. In some areas the ELF and ALF overlap, but the ELF is also the inheritor of a long-standing tradition of ecotage in the US which has been revived by activists who have taken heart from the renewed militancy of direct action in Britain in the 1990s, Seattle and other protests. ELF groups can function alongside public campaigning of groups such as Earth First! without activists from the latter knowing who, if any, of their friends is carrying out ecotage. Small groups of this kind, or even individuals can work covertly and autonomously simply reporting action to the press or through the internet without needing to develop any public organisation. The analysis of Britain below shows that a similar repertoire of ecotage exists in Britain, but perhaps because there have been fewer large-scale cases of ecotage it has been less widely reported.7
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From rags to riches – it happens more often than you might think. In fact, it could be you! Are you content with life as it is or do you find yourself dreaming your way to riches? If you answered yes, then you are definitely on the right track because without your imagination – without dreaming – you are not going to get there. | <urn:uuid:f3a7e962-948d-46f0-b1ec-f091c59d8e71> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.briangwilliams.us/green-movement/ecological-direct-action-in-the-usa-australia-and-britain.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371805747.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407183818-20200407214318-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.975839 | 2,410 | 2.71875 | 3 |
In a previous article we looked at the power formula, and discussed the relationship between power, voltage and current. Having looked at the power formula, there is now only one more formula needed to help solve just about every electrical calculation, this is the dreaded Ohms law. We wont get involved with deriving the formula, but take a minute to read the following illustration:
When you turn the tap on connected to a garden hose without a nozzle, you will see water flowing out the other end. The flow of water through the hose is similar to electric current flow – electric current is the flow of electrons through a wire.
If you now put your thumb on the end of the hose and try to block the water flow, the water pressure you feel is like voltage. Voltage is the pressure which pushes the electrons through the wire. What is interesting is that if your thumb completely blocks the water flow, there is still water pressure (voltage). Having a nozzle on the end of the hose and stopping the water flow is like having a wall power socket with nothing plugged in – there is no water/current flow, but the pressure/voltage is still there. The point to note is that voltage is present, even if there is no current flowing. Another example of this is a car battery – it always has 12 volts available to any wire connected to it, no matter what the current drawn.
Back to the garden hose, if you now move your thumb around on the end of the hose, you can vary the amount of water which comes out. That is, as you vary the resistance to the water, you vary the flow. This is same in an electrical circuit – vary the resistance and the current flow changes accordingly. Let’s define electrical resistance as “that which resists, blocks, impedes or restricts current flowing through a circuit”. Examples of a resistance in a circuit are a light bulb or an electrical appliance.
If the voltage (water pressure) remains the same, the current flow will depend on the resistance. The greater the resistance, the less the current flow. Conversely, the less the resistance, the greater the current flow. This is like the more you block the end of the hose the more the water flow decreases, reducing the resistance increases the water flow.
If the resistance remains the same, the current flow can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the voltage (water pressure).
In 1827, a German named Georg Simon Ohm published a book describing the relationship between voltage, current flow and resistance. This relationship is now known as Ohms Law. Ohms law states that current flow is directly proportional to voltage, and inversely proportional to resistance.
Mathematically, it looks like this:
Current = Voltage/Resistance
The symbols and units of measurement for voltage and current are the same as for the power formula. Note the standard terms for resistance.
|Name||Symbol||Units of Measurement|
|Current||I||amperes or amps (A)|
Therefore, we can write this formula quickly as:
I = V/R
A popular way to remember this formula and its derivatives is by the triangle shown here. Whatever characteristic you are looking for, place your finger to cover that, and the formula you need remains.
Example 1: To find the voltage of a circuit when you know the resistance and the current, place a finger to cover the “V”, and the formula is I x R.
Example 2: To find the current in a circuit when you know the voltage and resistance, place a finger to cover the “I”, and the formula is V/R
Example 3: To find the resistance of a circuit when you know the voltage and current, place a finger to cover the “R”, and the formula is V/I
In other words, the formula in its three possible forms is:
V = I x R I = V/R R = V/I
Using these formulas and the following circuit, the relationship between resistance and current can be seen, given that the voltage remains the same.
I = V/R = 220/110 = 2 Amps
Example 2: Same voltage (220 Volts), but now the resistance is only 2Ω.
I = V/R = 220/2 = 110 Amps
That is, the greater the resistance, the less the current allowed to flow. Also the less the resistance, the greater the current allowed to flow.
Using the water analogy again may be useful. If you had a large diameter water pipe, then a lot of water (current) could flow through it because the “resistance” is low (no blockages). If there is a blockage in the pipe (resistance), then the (current) flow is reduced. The greater the blockage (the higher resistance), the less the (current) flow.
This principle is illustrated in the examples above. In example 1, a resistance of 110Ω allowed only 2 amps to flow through the circuit. In example 2, a small resistance (2Ω) allowed a large current of 110 amps to flow through the circuit.
Resistance is anything that resists current flowing through a circuit. A light bulb is a resistance, as is an iron, a food processor, or a stove. In electronics, there are little components called resistors, which are made to be a fixed known value. Even just plain cable has some resistance, in fact, the reason to have thick cables is to reduce the resistance and allow more current to flow through it (like a fire hose is larger than a garden hose – so more water can flow through it).
P.S.: we have just covered the basic principles of Ohms Law, but shhh, don’t tell anyone.
If you find the maths confusing, try the simple Ohm’s law calculator.
Series or Parallel
Often you don’t know what the resistance in a circuit is, nor do you need to know. However these formulas are still very useful, but mainly for what is derived from them, rather than for their immediate calculation. This is a long-winded way of saying, “please accept that the following concepts are derived from the above formula, without us having to waste time and effort proving it”.
Consider this circuit of six light bulbs. Because they are connected one after the other, they are said to be connected in series.
Voltage: The “voltage in” is the sum of the voltages across all the individual lights. In this example, the individual voltage across each light is 40 volts, so the total voltage is 240 volts.
Current: The current through each individual light is the same as the current throughout the whole circuit. If the current going to the circuit is 1 amp, then the current through each individual light is also 1 amp.
Resistance: The total resistance equals the sum of all the individual “series” resistances.
In practice this type of circuit isn’t used much in a house. This is because if 240 volts comes into the house, and there are six lights in series, then each light would only be getting one sixth of that voltage i.e. 40 volts. However, this type of circuit is often used for Christmas tree lights e.g. 20 lights at 12 Volts each equals 240 Volts. The problem with this circuit is that if one light blows, then all the others go out also. This is because the wire connection to the next light is broken, so the circuit is not complete.
A series circuit is often used with batteries. When batteries are in series, the total voltage equals the sum of all the individual voltages, and the total current flowing through the whole circuit is the same as the current flowing through any one battery. For example: four 1.5 volt 500mA batteries in series with each other makes a battery of 6 volts (4 x 1.5) @500mA.
Consider this circuit of six light bulbs. Because they are connected across each other, or in parallel with each other, they are said to be connected in parallel.
What happens with the voltage, current and resistance in this type of circuit is in contrast with what happens in a series circuit.
Voltage: The voltage across each light is the same as the “voltage in”. If 220 volts is coming in to the circuit, then there is 220 volts across each individual light.
Current: The current going into the circuit is the sum of the currents in each individual light. If the current through each light is 1 amp, then the total current coming into this circuit would be 6 amps (6 x 1 amp).
Resistance: The total resistance is calculated by a complicated formula that we don’t need to learn at this stage. Suffice to say that the total resistance is less than the lowest individual resistance. Here is the formula for those who really need to know:
In practice this type of circuit is used in houses. e.g. If you have 220 volts coming into your house, then all the lights and power outlets (power sockets) are also 220 volts because they are connected in parallel.
Batteries can also be connected in parallel. The output voltage of two batteries in parallel is the same as one of the batteries, but the current capacity is doubled. For Example: two 12 volt 100 amp/hour car batteries in parallel make up the equivalent of a 12 volt 200 amp/hour battery. The same two batteries in series would make the equivalent of a 24 volt 100 amp/hour battery.
Putting it all Together
Some people are excited by the way that the Ohm’s law formula can be substituted into our Power formula to create new formulas. For those of you who like to play with formulas, you can work out how this is done; for the rest, just accept that this table shows the various combinations of these formulas.
This table displays all the possible combinations using the two basic formulas we have learned. Try using a calculator and the following values to check it out:
V = 12 volts I = 2 amps R = 6Ω P = 24 watts
You might like to print the table out and stick it to your multi-meter case or workshop wall for handy future reference.
A simple calculator to do all these combinations is available here.
Congratulations on having finished reading these first two articles about electrical fundamentals.. It has been very heavy with theory and all sorts of formulas, but now you have the basics to understand most electrical and electronic principles. | <urn:uuid:166350d7-8c61-41ff-accf-e2a3e757dc9a> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://geoffthegreygeek.com/ohms-law/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371810807.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408072713-20200408103213-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.943195 | 2,188 | 3.6875 | 4 |
DESIGN ELEMENTSDesigning a Vegetable Garden part 4: Terms Explained.
You can pronounce Clivea-that’s rhyming with Clive or you can pronounce it Clivvea like give.
They’re both acceptable pronounciations of that plant.
But what about other gardening terms and names?
Pronouncing them is one thing but what do they all mean?
We’re going through a few terms in this next segments so let’s find out…
|Vegetable Garden of Lyn Woods in Ulverston, Tasmania. photo, owner/|
Some of the terms that were talked about were 'crop rotation, Mandala garden, and no dig garden.
You can buy ready made gardening troughs or planter boxes that fit the bill, or you can use large Styrofoam boxes, put in some drainage holes and fill them with a good quality potting mix but not gardening soil.
You can even have a veggie garden made entirely of pots with lettuce, basil, tomatoes and perhaps some chillies.
If you have any questions about designing a veggie garden, write in to firstname.lastname@example.org
VEGETABLE HEROES.This weeks Vegetable Hero is Today’s vegetable hero is Strawberries or Fragaria x ananasa.
Did you know that Fragaria means fragrance in Latin?
Strawberries aren’t actually berries because true berries have seeds inside them.
And as every schoolkid will tell you, strawberries have seeds on the outside, and usually about 200 of them!
So what are strawberries exactly?
Did you know that Strawberries are sometimes called an accessory fruit or false fruit because of the seeds being on the outside?
|Strawberry display at Chelsea Flower Show photo M Cannon|
Would you believe that there’s archaeological evidence suggesting that people ate strawberries as far back as during the Stone Age?
The first people to grow strawberries as a crop were the Persians in ancient Persia.
The Persian-called their strawberry plants - Toot Farangi.
By the 18th century Fragaria x ananassa had replaced the alpine strawberry because of the larger berry or fruit.
How about this? In parts of Bavaria, some people still tie small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves each Spring.
The Bavarians believe that because the elves love strawberries so much, they will help to produce healthy calves and lots of milk in return.
|Strawberries have seeds on the outside photo M Cannon|
It’s probably not the right time of year to grow plant out strawberries in many districts, but if you see them for sale as potted strawberries, because you surely will, you can plant them out in January.
For all sub-tropical, temperate and arid zones you can plant strawberries now, but you’ll get advice that May and June are the best planting times.
For cool mountain districts, October and November are your best planting times.
They’re frost sensitive but a 10cm layer of mulch will be enough to protect the plants.
So what are the strawberry plants’ requirements?
Strawberries are short-lived herbaceous perennials, meaning plants can produce for 2-3 years.
Did you know that commercially strawberries are grown for only one season and replanted each year to keep up the yield levels? Strawberries Growing Pattern
The pattern for most strawberries is flowering in spring, set fruit in late spring/early summer, send runners out in summer and become dormant in winter.
At this time of year you will be able to get the ever bearing varieties which give you a second crop in autumn.
If you planted your strawberry plants, in last autumn and winter, they should’ve flowered already and you’ll be telling me that you’ve been enjoying strawberries with cream already.
But why not plant some more plants for Autumn strawberries?
What do Strawberry plants love?
Not sure what they like? Well…Strawberries love at least 6 hours of sun a day and will grow in most soils but strawberries prefer a sandy loam that is deep and contains a lot of organic matter.
IMPORTANT: When planting a strawberry plant, make sure that about a third of the crown is above the soil. If you plant too deep or shallow the plant might die.
Strawberries have 70% of their roots located in the top 8cm of soil.
By mulching the soil, it helps to keep the roots from drying out and will prevent the plant from drowning in boggy soil.
This means that if growing your strawberries in the garden, you need to grow them on mounds to improve drainage and you will also need to put down a thick layer of mulch such as hay, pea straw or sugar cane to prevent the berries from touching the soil and rotting.
Mulch as you should now, also prevents the soil from drying out too much.
Potting soils usually have the right mix if you’re planning on planting strawberries in a container.
In that case, add an extra inch or two of fresh compost either to the mix before filling the pot or to the surface of the potting mix.
I would also recommend adding some coco peat into the potting mix to increase water holding capacity.
The idea behind strawberry pots is good in principle but in practise I find it needs careful attention because the plants dry out too much.
And you know strawberry pots have several holes in them to cater for about5-6 plants.
|Strawberry pot photo M Cannon|
Also make sure you water the plants, especially when the young plants are establishing, and during dry spells.
Strawberries prefer a moist environment.
Avoiding overhead watering will reduce fungal disease; drip irrigation or a 'leaky pipe' is best.
They're technically a perennial so live for a few years producing fruit. Plants will usually fruit best in their second year of planting and will need replanting with new runners by their 2nd to 3rd year.
After 3-4 years (or even sooner) the plants usually become diseased and die.
And don't forget nurseries do sell certified virus-free stock, and that's the safest way to grow new strawberry plants.
Feeding Strawberry Plants
To feed your strawberries, sprinkle a small handful of complete fertilizer (such as tomato food, organic pellets, fish emulsion and any stuff which is high in potash) around each plant when it first comes into flower, and water well. Liquid seaweed fertilizer once a fortnight will not go astray either.
Keep a close eye on the plants as flowering begins as the birds and possums are just as keen on strawberries as we are. You may need to net the strawberry bed. Slugs and snails can also seriously affect the crop so place snail traps in the bed.
Slugs and snails can be a problem, so lay beer traps, lay protective barriers (like lime or sawdust) or get out with a torch at night to get them.
TIP:Make sure your berries are fully red before picking them because they don't get any riper off the vine.
Cut the stem above the berry with scissors.
Summer time care of Strawberries
Over summer, strawberry plants send out runners. These modified shoots can be used to propagate new plants but if you don't need new plants, cut these runners off.
After fruiting has finished, tidy up the bushes by giving them a hard prune down to 10cm.
Stick 'em in the fridge soon after picking the strawberries and don't wash the strawberries until just before you want to eat them.
Strawberries don't last, and the extra water on them causes their cells to break down more quickly.
TIP: Wash the berries and pat them dry before removing the stems. That way you avoid excess water entering the berries from the stem end.
Use the berries within three or four days.
To really feed a family you need about 20-30 plants to provide plenty of fruit, but even a couple of plants can be fun to grow.
Varieties include Redlands Crimson was developed in south east Queensland so it does very well in subtropical climates sending runners everywhere.
Tioga's - is better suited to a cooler climates.
Summer strawberry varieties include Cambridge Riva for the intense flavour,
Kamu has blood strawberries from summer to autumn.
Torrey has medium sized sweet fruit and is best suited to warm climates
For Ever- bearing varieties, the autumn crop is the biggest and you can choose from Tempation which doesn't send out runners so it's great for hanging baskets and Sweetheart is very sweet to taste – an everlasting variety also have their fruit set in autumn .
Why are they good for you? Growing your own strawberries is much healthier because strawberries are ranked third out of 50 popular fruits and vegetables that retain pesticide residues.
Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fibre, folic acid, and potassium
From only half a punnet of strawberries you'll get more than 100% of your daily needs of Vitamin C, and 5.5g fibre in if you eat the whole punnet of strawberries that's about 20% of your daily fibre needs.
Did you know that eating strawberries, which are rich in nitrate, can increase the flow of blood & oxygen to the muscles by 7%?
This prevents muscle fatigue, making exercise easier.
Strawberries are also low in kilojoules, meaning you can eat 2 cups as one of your daily fruit serves!
AND THAT WAS OUR VEGETABLE HERO SEGMENT FOR TODAY!
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Edible Figs: Ficus caricaKnow to Egyptians as the “tree of life,” this fruit tree is small enough to fit most gardens.Better still these trees ( figs) don’t need pollination for you to get the fruit.
|Fig tree at jeremy's nursery. photo M Cannon| | <urn:uuid:e66c467b-4523-4393-a8ab-b67d7d551163> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://realworldgardener.blogspot.com/2017/01/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370519111.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404011558-20200404041558-00194.warc.gz | en | 0.945238 | 2,107 | 3 | 3 |
Fifty years ago the Americans missed their chance when they planted an American flag in the lunar dust around Apollo 11. The bulky astronauts bounding around the airless moon never looked so small as when they saluted the stars and stripes, a bedraggled piece of cloth held aloft by a horizontal rod. It was a diminishing moment in an otherwise impressive mission, and it looks smaller with the years. It seems that Horace Walpole was right when he wrote in 1783: “Could we reach the moon, we should think of reducing it to a province of some European kingdom.”
Apollo 11 was a magnificent technological feat that also stirred a common humanity. There were times when the sheer wonder of leaving our planet to land on another world transcended the grubby, aggressive cold war politics that fuelled the space race. The plaque left on the moon depicted the two hemispheres of Earth and assured the solar system that Apollo 11 “came in peace for all mankind.” But nationalism was the mud on their boots, and they tramped it in.
A few hours after the first moonwalk, an uncrewed Soviet spacecraft, Luna 15, crash-landed on the moon, thus giving the Americans a satisfying first spike on the graph of their newly installed lunar seismometer. Luna 15 took the space race to the finish line, for it was designed to retrieve Russian samples of moon rock before the Americans could return with their own.
The rhetoric of space exploration was so future-oriented and cold war politics so competitive that NASA underestimated the power of looking back. In 1968, the historic Apollo 8 mission launched humans beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time, out and across the void and into the gravitational power of another heavenly body. For three lunar orbits, the three astronauts studied the strange, desolate, cratered surface below them and then, as they came out from the dark side of the moon for the fourth time, they looked up and gasped:
Frank Borman: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! Here’s the Earth coming up. Wow, that is pretty!
Bill Anders: Hey, don’t take that, it’s not scheduled.
They did take the photo, excitedly, and it became famous, perhaps the most famous photograph of the twentieth century, the blue planet floating alone, finite and vulnerable in space above a dead lunar landscape. Frank Borman said: “It was the most beautiful, heart-catching sight of my life.” And Bill Anders declared: “We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.”
In his fascinating book Earthrise (2010), British historian Robert Poole explains that this was not supposed to happen. The cutting edge of the future was to be in space; Earth was the launch pad not the target. Leaving the Earth’s atmosphere was seen as a stage in human evolution comparable to our amphibian ancestor crawling out of the primeval slime onto land. And now, “after thousands of years of life on this planet” (declared the Los Angeles Times) “Man has broken the chains that bind him to Earth.” Humans had left the realm of solids and gases for gravity-free, oxygen-free space, for a new frontier and a beckoning future. The weightless astronauts, even in their clumsy spacesuits, were liberated. Furthermore, their new dominion was seen to offer what Neil Armstrong called a “survival possibility” for a world shadowed by the nuclear arms race. In the words of Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear (sometimes hilariously confused with Buzz Aldrin), the space age looked to infinity and beyond!
So the power of the view back towards Earth took NASA by surprise. A few years later, in 1972, a photo taken by the Apollo 17 mission and known as The Blue Marble became one of the most reproduced pictures in the world, showing the Earth as a luminous, breathing garden in the dark void. Earthrise and The Blue Marble had a profound impact on environmental politics and sensibilities.
Within a few years, the American scientist James Lovelock put forward “the Gaia hypothesis”: that the Earth is a single, self-regulating organism. In the year of the Apollo 8 mission, Paul Ehrlich published his book The Population Bomb, an urgent appraisal of a finite Earth. During the years of the moon missions, British economist Barbara Ward wrote Spaceship Earth and Only One Earth, revealing how economics failed to account for environmental damage and degradation, and arguing, like Ehrlich, that exponential growth could not continue forever. Earth Day was established in 1970, a day to honour the planet as a whole, a total environment needing protection.
Then, in 1972, the Club of Rome released its controversial and enormously influential report The Limits to Growth, which sold over thirteen million copies and went into over thirty translations. In their report, Donella Meadows and Dennis Meadows wrestled with the contradiction of trying to force infinite material growth on a finite planet. The cover of their book depicted a whole Earth, a shrinking Earth. Shrinking the Earth became the title of a 2016 book by the American environmental historian Donald Worster about modern humanity’s ill-fated quest for endless growth and how the view of Earth from space initiated a change in consciousness comparable to the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions.
When the Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard looked up from the lunar surface and regarded the Earth high in the sky, he was struck by “that thin, thin atmosphere, the thinnest shell of air hugging the world.” He looked at his home in the blackness and felt its extreme fragility, and he wept.
In the fifty years since Apollo 11, we’ve learned a lot about that precious atmosphere. Earth systems science emerged in the second half of the twentieth century and fostered a keen understanding of planetary boundaries — thresholds in planetary ecology — and the extent to which the human enterprise is threatening or exceeding them. The same industrial capitalism that unleashed carbon enabled us to extract ice cores from the poles and construct a deep history of the air. At least we now understand our predicament even if we are perilously slow to act. The blue planet is suffering the sixth great extinction and a climate emergency. The fossil fuels that got humans to the moon now endanger our civilisation. But fifty years after Apollo 11, we might hold onto the idea that the space race also unexpectedly quickened our race to save the Earth.
Last week I watched Todd Douglas Miller’s fiftieth anniversary documentary, Apollo 11, and was mesmerised by the real footage and voiceovers, and felt all the anxiety and suspense even though I knew what would happen next. The surviving 65mm footage surpassed all the efforts of Hollywood (in the 2018 film First Man) to represent the awesome power of the Saturn V rocket launch. I was moved by how mechanical and brittle was the whole grand enterprise. They were shooting at a moving target in a machine with 5.6 million moving parts. As the astronauts boarded the spaceship and the countdown proceeded, technicians were fiddling with a leaking liquid hydrogen valve on the rocket below them. In the Houston control room, slide rules were used dexterously. When Armstrong stepped out for the moonwalk, he bumped and broke a switch that was crucial to the operation of the ascent engine, and it was fixed with a ballpoint pen. The lunar module, Eagle, was a tinfoil Tardis. These vulnerable humans were camping at the edge of the universe.
I was twelve at the time of the Apollo 11 voyage and found myself in a school debate about whether the money for the moon mission would be better spent on Earth. I argued that it would be, and my team lost. But what other result was allowable in July 1969? Conquering the moon, declared Dr Wernher von Braun, Nazi scientist turned US rocket maestro, assured Man of immortality. I followed the Apollo missions with a sense of wonder, staying up late to watch the Saturn V launch, joining my schoolmates in a large hall with tiny televisions to witness Armstrong take his Giant Leap, and saving full editions of the Age newspaper reporting those fabled days. I’m reading them now: “Target Moon — here they come,” “Here we go round the Moon,” “Down to the Moon — Spacemen set for walk into history,” “Apollo hurtles for home — Nixon will see that big splash.”
Other news was pushed to the margins: about senator Edward Kennedy leaving the scene of a fatal car crash at Chappaquiddick Island, about the latest “light casualties” in Vietnam, about the immigration minister (Mr Snedden) welcoming a significant rise in the number of refugees settling in Australia, about the arrival of seven Nauruans in Australia for eye operations, about efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef from oil drilling. One telecommunications company took out a full-page advertisement comparing Neil Armstrong to Captain Cook and thus the moon to Australia as “yet another unknown where intrepid man has now trod.”
But the legendary cartoonist Les Tanner depicted the two astronauts sitting on the moon gazing at Earth and saying: “Funny — it looks like one world!”
Apollo was an astonishing extrapolation of the military-industrial complex, of a cold war superpower blasting even into space. Thus with the eyes of the whole world upon them, with a moment of unity in their grasp, the Americans planted their national flag on the moon. It was the next phase of colonisation, the new frontier, an affirmation of the future. Everything was simulated and rehearsed in advance, every possible problem imagined and solved before it could happen. The day before the launch the crew were still in simulators, practising the future. But NASA did not foresee Apollo’s greatest legacy. It could not imagine the radical effect of seeing the Earth. • | <urn:uuid:c91f30da-ed48-430d-b0db-f462bc74d773> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://insidestory.org.au/the-radical-legacy-of-apollo/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496669.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330054217-20200330084217-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.956095 | 2,072 | 3.296875 | 3 |
THE INTONATION TO 432 HERTZ, THE GOLDEN SCALE AND THE MATHEMATICS OF THE 8
by Riccardo Tristano Tuis
a science that must have certain rules: they must be extracted from
an evident principle, which can not be known without the help of
I must admit that,
despite all the experience I have acquired with a long musical
practice, it is only with the help of mathematics that my ideas are
arranged, and that the light has dispelled the
Jean Philippe Rameau
Originally the music was part of the quadrivium, the teaching
order in which the four liberal arts called mathematical, namely
arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy, constituted the corpus
of higher education with respect to the trivium, the liberal arts
such rhetoric, grammar corresponding to , logic and
The position of music among the arts of the quadrivium responded to the representation of the mindset of time that he saw the music as a science based on mathematical laws physical-acoustic and generated by the arithmetic.
is regarded as
queen of the
is due to the
although it is
increasingly secreted in the status of art, limiting the enormous influence that he could exercise on human beings and on social engineering.
No coincidence that philosophers such as Hegel, Schilling, Schopenhauer or Nietzsche put the music in the foreground in their philosophical systems.
Historically, the first attacks on the science of music - which were included in the study of harmonics and proportions taught by intellectual giants like Pythagoras and Plato - were perpetrated by the Roman Catholic Church.
Despite the banning of the study of harmonics and proportions Pope Gregory IX decided to ban the so-called sacred music, the tritone - the interval of an augmented fourth in this way Lydian - defining it as "Devil's Interval" or Diabolus in Music.
Unfortunately, even during the Enlightenment continued to boycott the musica universalis and scientists like Galileo, Cartesio and Newton - to co-exist with the hegemony of the Church - publicly showed no interest in the harmonics and the golden proportion and this ancient knowledge was lost by successive generations of scientists to this day.
In fact in the mainstream
scientific officer only now you start to talk about the importance
of the harmonics and of the golden proportion, the latter recently
rediscovered by science to the importance also in atomic dimensions
(this trend is also shared by traders who have dusted off the
sacred geometry and the Fibonacci numbers to make the analysis of
the securities stock exchange).
Moreover, the science of the last century, initially with the equation E = mc ² and then with the superstring theory, not surprisingly came to the conclusion that our world is not that a great symphony of harmonic vibrations and inharmonious, and that the matter is just the way we interpret some.
In a recent interview on
Science and Knowledge Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist,
co-founder of String Field Theory, said that «Physics is the
law of the harmony of vibrating strings, Chemistry are the various melodies that can be played, when these strings collide with one another. (...)
The universe is a symphony of strings.», this parallels between music and strings is more than legitimate even mathematically speaking, and in the continuation of my article I will highlight how the numbers 8, 888 and 24 (multiple of 8), used in the modular functions of the Theory of Everything more accredited in the scientific world, are part of the mathematics of life and are present into the Protocols of the music of Bosman and in my 432Hz Golden Scale.
The High Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci - few know that he was also an accomplished lyre player - anticipated the modern discoveries of quantum mechanics and the modern holographic paradigm with this bold thinking
«At the same laws they obey the waves both of the water both sound and light» (1).
The entire universe is made of vibrating waves,
including our conscious and unconscious thought ... when we look
the layout of a brain scan, we are observing a score of thought for
four voices: state delta, theta, alpha and beta; and as the latter
- called ordinary state of consciousness - is one of the voices of
reality, but certainly not the only one.
But in this technological Middle Ages, where the mind
digital still believes in the myth of scientific objectivity and
still dissect with a mental scalpel, observation and the
observed, art and science and inevitably music and scientism
continue to forget that to generate the sounds, you need to know
the proportio aurea studied by intellectual giants such as
Pythagoras, Da Vinci, Bruno and Bohme.
They will Continue to forget that there is a scientific intonation with which to make the music and that the golden ratios are not covered in the tempered system, forgetting that the relationships between the notes should follow the same mathematical relationships that govern the reproduction of many species, the phyllotaxis and our solar system, or, if you prefer, Sol-La-Re system.
Over the last three years there has been much talked about in Internet of the intonation with the choir at 432 Hz, presenting it at times, as if it were a novelty using slogans such as «there is a new frequency in the air.»
This intonation, in fact, was already widespread in the past,
many Italian theaters
and Europeans used it along with at the La 430 Hz and 435 Hz.
These three intonations were used by geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, etc.. to compose their immortal works.
On many blogs and websites dedicated to music at 432 Hz
there was much talk of so-called Tuning Conspiracy, the alleged
conspiracy on the intonation to 440 Hz, treading hand on
sensationalist information that the tone at 440 Hz was imposed at
the first international conference organized by the Nazi propaganda
minister Joseph Paul Goebbels, who introduced her as the official
Researchers such as
Vassilatos say that even in the days of massive parades National
Socialist the Nazis were using infrasound to create states of
malaise among the population.
The pitch at 440 Hz, compared to 432 Hz, tends to further stimulate the central nervous system, and probably, already at the time of the Nazis was known as the different intonations would create different feelings and physiological responses in listeners.
But the alleged Tuning Conspiracy of modern times could be explained simply by the fact that Hitler, as a deep admirer of the great composer Richard Wagner, he ordered at Goebbels to choose the A at 440 hertz as official German intonation only because Wagner and the Romantic School employed precisely this intonation.
the Congress of
asked for a
this request was
by all the
Also the Church supported a intonation highest, conjecturing that more was high and most closely to God.
In Europe, the 440 hertz appeared with the Russian and Austrian military bands, but in 1917 it seems that the American Federation of Musicians accepted the 440Hz as the standard pitch in 1920 and so did the American government.
Only in September 1938, the Commission of Acoustics Radio Berlin requested the British Standard Association to hold a conference in London for to use in the international arena the intonation at 440 Hz of the German radio.
It was the
International Standardizing Organization, to put internationally
the 440 hertz, and in 1971 this intonation was further recognized
in legal terms by a delegation appointed by the Council of Europe,
despite a referendum carried out by French musicians against the
imposition of this
To do this, we need an introduction.
For LaRouche and the Schiller Institute, the same human voice as well as being the basic tool for the music, it is a real living process aureus.
LaRouche noted as the Da Vinci, through its morphological studies, has shown that all living processes have their own internal geometry based on the Golden Section.
The Schiller Institute has done its stronghold the concept that music is the product of the voice and, before that, of the human mind.
Since the human voice, and our minds are based on the Golden Section also the music must reflect the geometric forms of his two "parents" invoking, along with the Bel Canto, a intonation with the La (A) of the choir at 432 Hz because this is the intonation more suited to the human vocal register.
Now, if we listened to music based on the Golden Spiral and in tune with our biology, is in some way a music for Life, both biological that perceptive because both use the same math.
Now that we know what proportions to use to create a musical scale that takes account of our biology and of our listening logarithmic, we just have to figure out at which frequencies intone every single note of it.
We will call into question the research of some of the pioneers of neuroscience and studies on the frequencies.
There are numerous laboratory studies have shown that the sound waves are able to modify the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, the electrical resistance of the skin, sweating, neuroendocrine response, concentration and brain waves.
ELF waves and infrasound, for example, are the frequencies that most affect us.
Andrija Puharich, physician and pioneer of research on electrobiology and extrasensory abilities of the brain made numerous discoveries about a specific infrasound: 8 hertz.
The combination of 8 Hz and the Life was subsequently verified by other researchers who discovered that the pineal gland is activated directly by issuing a signal to 8 cycles for second, while melatonin, one of the hormones produced by this gland, endocrine, induces with an identical signal, the DNA replication, strengthening the repair of DNA damage, due to old age and even cell regeneration.
The Epiphysis also helps to release serotonin, with antidepressant action, enhancing the immune system and the central nervous system.
The Dr. Robert Becker, in his book Cross Currents, demonstrated that calcium, which is essential also in the process of healing, it is released at a rate of 16 cycles per second, which is the first multiple of 8 Hz.
As noted out by Dr. Dieter Broers,of the Institute of Biophysics and of the Department of Clinical Experimental University of Berlin and inventor of the device Mega Wave:
«Ananda was the first to suggest that the pinolina produced by the pineal gland resonates at 8 Hz, and it will be the remedy for cancer.
I have observed this process for a long time, until it has been confirmed, and it was already during my research on the Mega Wave.»
Now that we have begun to understand the importance of the frequency/number 8 and its multiples in our biology, we must note that the normal music at 432 Hz played in equal temperate scale has only the A at 432 Hz which is a direct multiple of 8 but, for that matter, even the A at 440 Hz is a direct multiple of 8.
In my book, 432 Hz: The Musical Revolution, hint of biophysical studies on the angles of 90 °, with which unfortunately are built our houses, which give magnetic imbalances in the human body (in the corners there are specific frequencies similar to those of rheumatism).
If you touch specific points of the corners of your home these biological imbalances are instantly recognizable due to a decline in muscle tension.
Even if the person is not conscious immediately his central nervous system (CNS) is inhibited, with the important neurotransmitter called acetylcholine and in its place, take over his antagonists, for example, the atropine.
This in the long run causes a muscle fatigue and weakness of the CNS.
The Atropine essentially exerts effects of nature excitatory on the central nervous system and in low doses causes slight restlessness, while high doses cause restlessness and agitation.
One of the first tests done in 2005 with the AUMega Music (music composed at 432 Hz but with protocols based on the mathematics of the pentahedron of Sierpinski and, partially, with the mathematics of 8) by Ananda Bosman, was own the seeing if the music at 432 hertz influenced the central nervous system.
The test was done in a private manner by an university professor expert in biophysics linked to environmental biopathologies.
A quick test on muscle tone (technique used by kinesiologists) or a blood test done before and after listening to music to 432 Hz of Bosman can empirically demonstrate how it can affect on your central nervous system.
From these initial tests repeated in my presence and in front of 30 other people in 2009, you might think that all music to 432 hertz has these beneficial properties.
In fact, there is music to 432Hz that, as the music to 440 Hz, not from any improvement in the CNS, but there is also music to 432 Hz, like that of Bosman, which has a positive effect.
The AUMega Music seems to work because it uses a strict protocol designed by Bosman himself, that the normal music tuned to 432 Hz does not use.
This Protocol further improved by me in a model in which we make use of a
intonation with the A to 432 Hz but, unlike the music to 432 Hz or AUMega Music, is used the Golden Scale, in which each individual frequency of the note corresponds to a direct multiple of 8.
Only with this scale fully quantized on the mathematics of the 8 (1), that I present in my book, we can elevate the intonation with the choir at 432 Hz at its most perfect and consistent.
Hence the title of my book 432 Hz: The Musical Revolution because the revolution is not in itself this intonation as the synergy between a new pitch scale and a intonation fully quantized on mathematics of the 8.
Bosman, rightly, to differentiate their music from normal music to 432 Hz coined the term AUMega Music, I have done the same by creating a logo certification for the music to 432 Hz with the use of "Scala Aurea", the 432 Hz Golden Scale .
I hope this article makes a little bit clarity on the intonation to 432 Hz, dispelling some myths taste new age but also some gratuitous criticism against this intonation, perhaps due to its superficial presentation, arrogant and sensationalist made in some specific websites.
As said Lorenz Mizler, a pupil of JS Bach, and founder of a semi-secret Society of Musical Sciences in which militated none other than Handel and Bach himself:
«Music is the sound of mathematics.»...
yes, but the math of the 8.
(1) The so-called nodes of Leonardo resemble at the 8 and often in his paintings these nodes are willing to numbers of 8, 32, 96, etc ... all multiples of 8.
The nodes of Leonardo are present massively in the little-known work in the Hall of the Axis of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, but we can find also in the Lady with an Ermine or the Mona Lisa.
In the six incisions made for its school of painting in Milan as its main theme, there are these 8 masquerading as nodes and there are seven circles in which there is engraved:
An eighth circle encloses the seven smaller circles and the nodes of Leonardo.
Even his version of the ball bearing expected a shape octagonal,
and in his project can be noticed eight spheres.
Why this obsession of Leonardo for this number?
Leonardo is known for his works full of subliminal messages clearly of esoteric matrix, perhaps the supreme genius of the Renaissance was referring to the Law of the Eighth or the knowledge the builders of pyramids in which the eight and its multiples are present in the pyramids of Giza? | <urn:uuid:ddda1a9f-f1b6-4254-b857-2948516a01a6> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.thecymartist.com/432-hz | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371660550.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406200320-20200406230820-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.946787 | 3,350 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Microlearning through a TV and movie lens: join us as we take you through 8 key aspects of microlearning, and the benefits of each. Make your digital learning micro – using these aspects as guidelines – and you’ll be well on your way to L&D success!
Learning and leisure viewing: close relatives
In the last week, which have you watched more – movies or TV series? A ninety minute
sit-a-thon or a nice, squat hour squeezed in before bedtime?
And what was the last lesson you learned really well, and how did you learn it? Think specifics here; we’re not talking about your last module or semester in the education system. No – the last new thing you learned – whether that was an everyday skill or some new information. Like finally figuring out how to use that weird programme on your washing machine. Or finding out who won the Oscar this year for Best Foreign Language Film...
And how did you learn that? Odds are it was through one short, snappy event that targeted that information only – maybe a YouTube video about that washing machine cycle, or a newspaper app’s handy list of this year’s Oscar winners.
In either case, two key aspects of how you did this learning – and how you did your leisure viewing – were convenience and focus.
True to our human condition, we like life to suit us, to fit our wants and needs, as much as possible. And that’s the way workplace learning is going, too – something that we here at Logicearth see more and more frequently these days. Our clients want digital learning solutions that tick the convenience and focus boxes; learning experiences that are easy to deploy, easy to use and efficient for everybody – learners, the L&D department, and the organisation as a whole.
We see the real need for regular, episodic learning rather than training marathons. But we don’t buy into the sensationalist headlines shouting about reduced attention spans. People nowadays are not all rapidly morphing into goldfish-brained organisms who can’t cope with focusing their minds on anything for longer than eight seconds. Actually, it turns out that even poor old goldfish have been hard done by when it comes to the popular (mis)take on neuroscience. They’ve been tangled up in a myth about short attention spans, when in reality, there’s no evidence that they suffer such a deficit.
Step 1: In your own time...
No; it’s about that focus again – and the convenience. In many situations, the best learning solutions are microlearning ones: short, single-outcome, focused learning experiences that learners can do when and where suits them. Okay, so maybe not last thing at night,
Netflix-style, after the kids are in bed, while you’re curled up on the sofa with a loved one/pet/hot drink (or, better still, all three). More like during those in-between times in life that you don’t want to see wasted, like while you’re on the train or bus into work, or waiting for an appointment at the doctor’s, where the hands on the clock move grindingly slowly.
It makes sense for employers to choose a learning mode that suits their learners’ lifestyles – learning that can wrap around work, rather than interrupt it in one big, cumbersome lump. If learners can access targeted resources – concise, to-the-point content – at a time that suits them, they’re more likely to retain the information better. As well as this, because they’ll often access the learning just when they need it, applying it soon afterwards in their actual work, this ‘just-in-time’ approach impacts their work performance positively – and quickly. All of this means your learners might actually even enjoy their workplace learning – and get greater job satisfaction. And as Patti Shank points out, the ripple effect stretches even beyond the confines of the office; used wisely, microlearning promotes a better work–life balance.
Step 2: Not just ‘Cut!’
But it’s a real mistake to think microlearning is merely simplifying, or ‘chunking up’, content. Is Game of Thrones one enormous movie sliced into parts? Far from it! It’s more like a series of mini movies, with each episode having its own story arc – and, with some series, even their own ‘visual arc’ – a distinctive style for each episode, maybe thanks to a different director each time. Similarly, microlearning is all about ‘resources, not courses’.
Microlearning research would suggest that a carefully developed model is worthwhile. The modern learner values the opportunity to engage with a variety of formats: short videos, animations, conversations, interactive infographics, quizzes, games, diagrams, scenarios, demos, user-generated knowledge shares. Try this quickfire quiz we made to make Security Awareness training more engaging:
Bite sized assets and interactions, that sit on any platform and work beautifully for mobile learning, will encourage the high engagement level long sought after by L&D. We have lots of ideas and suggestions for keeping each short resource fresh: different types of microlearning, and part of a vibrant portfolio that’s designed to suit the content and keep learners interested at every stage of their learning. As we say in our Complete Guide to eLearning and the LMS, a good microlearning programme delivers a series of training interventions using a variety of appropriate tools: not just a hacksaw.
Step 3: Spotlight is best
Microlearning isn’t one monster-long training course parcelled up. Instead of the big picture, think little pixel. At its best, a microlearning resource is zoomed in on a single learning outcome – learning one new skill, or one new piece of knowledge – and, like your Game of Thrones episode, it keeps you engrossed, and leaves you refreshed and knowing something new. Okay, so it can’t promise heart-stopping swashbuckling or gore galore (although we have been known to compose songs for clients!) … but nonetheless, the comparison holds. Learners enjoy the satisfaction of achieving something concrete in a matter of minutes – three to five, in the most effective microlearning resources – and without a big disruption to their usual work or life routine.
For L&D, meanwhile, spotlighting individual learning ‘nuggets’ in this way means that they’re structuring their content organically, systematically, curating it carefully to focus on the truly important material, and using only relevant and helpful contextual content. Working alongside the best content developers, L&D find themselves following molecular biologist John Medina’s Brain Rules: ‘Meaning before details’. L&D can showcase the quality of their learning strategies and content more than ever before.
Step 4: Efficiency is the showrunner
Just like straight-to-streaming-TV means our favourite shows can cut out the middleman of TV networks, microlearning allows L&D departments to save time, money and effort by doing away with expensive trainers’ fees and facility costs. L&D have more control over the development of the training, and when and how they roll it out.
Working with expert content developers, L&D and their subject matter experts enjoy all the advantages of an agile development process. It means closer collaboration with the learning experience designers and digital designers, so L&D get to spend more time demonstrating the quality of their learning content.
It also means a faster response to business challenges. So you’ve just heard that your new product rollout has been brought forward by six months? No problem! You can get your staff up to speed on that with a custom-designed resource focussed on all they need to know ahead of the release. Knowledge gaps don’t have to mean panic stations!
Step 5: Data behind the lens
Your online TV viewing is, more than ever, yours; Netflix, Amazon Prime and so many others use data analytics on user trends to customise their recommendations to you and provide you with just the type of programming and movies that you relish. The recommendation system influences about 80% of the content streamed on Netflix.
Top-notch microlearning – like our own Verify platform – works on the same premise: a tailored fit, rather than one-size-fits-all. Verify collates data on learners’ accuracy, speed and confidence when they respond to questions on the learning content.
The system then harnesses an algorithm to this data, creating an adaptive learning programme for each individual learner, delivering – essentially ‘streaming’ – content to them on a spaced practice schedule, in a method proven to maximise their retention of what they learn (Read our LXDs’ take on spaces repetition). The content is always pitched at the learners’ current ability level, and it takes them all the way to their ‘Mastery Goal’ – the very final episode that they’re dying to reach!
Step 6: Choose your audience
Just as streaming platforms are now vying with TV networks as the ideal launchpad for new series, microlearning allows L&D the flexibility of targeting multiple types of audience. Scaling up a piece of training from a target audience of 30 learners to 300 is no longer an issue; the short, quirky animation showing you how to use the newest piece of software at work can be as easily deployed to big numbers as to small. Scaling up doesn’t equate to ramping up effort. This flexibility can revolutionise the quality of workplace learning. Small is beautiful, yes – but so is lots of small!
Step 7: Episode = reduced cognitive load
The episode is the new abode of our TV consumption, so why shouldn’t our working life follow suit? Microlearning isn’t a symptom of a hyper-speed culture that inevitably results in a ‘dumbing down’. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s really about tapping into the enormous capacity of our ability to focus on one thing only.
As psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney points out in her bestselling book Flourishing, ‘[t]he power of full, undivided and devoted attention can, and often does, move mountains’.
Microlearning takes us from the territory of the ‘mind-full’ to the ‘mindful’: away from crushing, yawn-inducing cognitive overload, and towards the clarity of focus. Get the right learning consultants and content development team at your side, and you’ll soon find yourself transforming your learning content into a dynamic, really useful suite of microlearning resources. With these experts guiding the portfolio’s organising narrative – its very own story arc – your learners will soon be in ‘the flow’ in more ways than one. They’ll be not just in their own personalised learning stream – a perfect fit for them – but also in something like that ‘flow’ state that psychologists call ‘vital engagement’: happy absorption in the one task at hand.
Step 8: Kaleidoscope your learning
As TV screenwriters and producers have come to realise the huge appeal of streaming series, they’ve started to use cinematographers more frequently, applying their expertise from the movie industry to TV drama. (This was already becoming clear in 2017, when the Emmys’ governing body, the Television Academy, decided to split its cinematography awards across two categories – one-hour series and half-hour series.) Microlearning is flexible in a similar way; it can share TV series’ blended nature.
Each microlearning resource lends itself not only to independent use, as a standalone resource, but also as part of a blended learning programme that combines the best of instructor-led training and digital learning. You once had an hour-long SCORM course, plodding through page after page of mind-numbing ‘Click Next’ interactions. Now you find a combination of an introductory animation, a virtual classroom session, a comic strip-style scenario, interactive infographics, a video with interrupting questions, and a quiz with a wide variety of question formats. Pixels are portable!
So, like Terry Pratchett’s camera-operating imps, it’s the little pixels that are the heroes in the big picture of digital learning. What are you waiting for? Your audience of learners awaits; all you need now is the perfect partner for your production!
Lights – camera – action!
Adams, Tim. ‘Secrets of the TV writers’ room: inside Narcos, Transparent and Silicon Valley’. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/23/secrets-of-the-tv-writers-rooms-tv-narcos-silicon-valley-transparent Accessed 14 March 2019.
Gaffney, Maureen. Flourishing: How to achieve a deeper sense of well-being, meaning and purpose – even when facing adversity. Dublin: Penguin Ireland, 2011.
Medina, John. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Seattle: Pear Press, 2014.
Nevins, Jake. ‘Aesthetic excellence: how cinematography transformed TV’. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/mar/01/tv-that-doesnt-look-like-tv-how-cinematography-relit-the-small-screen Accessed 14 March 2019.
Pratchett, Terry. The Colour of Magic. London: Corgi, 2012.
Pratchett, Terry. Moving Pictures. London: Corgi, 2012.
Shank, Patti. ‘Microlearning, Macrolearning. What Does Research Tell Us?’ https://elearningindustry.com/microlearning-macrolearning-research-tell-us Accessed 15 March 2019.
Winograd, David. ‘Ways Microlearning Increases Attention And Retention’. https://elearningindustry.com/microlearning-increases-attention-retention-ways Accessed 14 March 2019. | <urn:uuid:ae41a9f9-e4d1-4c72-8ec7-04c334ab8da9> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://blog.logicearth.com/microlearning-design-model | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370508367.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402204908-20200402234908-00233.warc.gz | en | 0.930349 | 2,999 | 2.625 | 3 |
Bees are typically not aggressive creatures if you leave them alone, although, in reality, the same cannot be said for the Africanized Honey Bee species. However, there are instances when they get riled up and attack. It is during these times when bees can cause the most harm to humans, pets and other living creatures. Even if they tend to attack you without you knowing why it is still important that you treat these creatures with respect; they are after all the major pollinators in our planet.
Armed with their main defense mechanism, bees will only sting as a last resort as their stingers are often ripped off their bodies together with the venom sac after they drive it through their target, causing the bee’s death. You might feel unlucky because you got stung, but the bee who’s stung got embedded on your skin is the unluckier one.
Can bees harm cats or kittens?
The reason why your cat might get stung by a bee is when he tries to swat or play with the insect, stumble upon a hive or just plainly in the wrong place at the wrong time. The level of the reaction of your cat to the sting can be categorized into two: mild and severe.
Yes, but most cats fall on the mild reaction category and would only need your assistance in helping them remove the lodged stinger in their body. It is important that you remove the stinger as soon as possible because even if it is severed from the main body of the bee, it continues to pump bee venom and also release a pheromone that signals the other bees to attack. Place a cool, wet towel on the site of the sting to help alleviate the burning sensation and swelling on the area.
There is a small percentage of cats that have severe allergic reactions to a bee sting. If you suspect your cat to be experiencing one, then the best course of action is to remove the sting, place a cold, wet towel on the affected area and call the vet. Depending on the severity of the reaction, your cat may go into shock, so working fast in addressing the issue is the key.
As for kittens, expect them to be more on the severe reaction side because of the small size they have. Your adult cat may have a mild reaction, but your smaller kitten might have a more severe one. Bring them directly to a vet when you see them exhibit severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. It can be a life or death situation for your furry little friend.
Can bees harm dogs or puppies?
Yes, and just like us humans, dogs may have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. This severe reaction is called anaphylactic shock, and it can be fatal to our four-legged companions. Consider yourself lucky if your dog belongs to the majority that is not allergic to bee venom. The main action you need to take after your dog gets stung is to remove the sting from the area. You’ll be able to determine if your dog is stung by a bee if you find him scratching and biting a certain area of his body and if upon closer inspection, you see red, swollen skin on your dog.
Puppies, with their small bodies, may be more severely affected by bee stings especially if they are stung multiple times. The best course of action is to immediately bring your puppy to the vet so that he can get treatment asap.
After the removal of the sting, you can disinfect the area by washing it with soap and water and then putting some baking soda or oatmeal paste to relieve the itching and soothe the inflammation. In addition, your vet might advise you to give some antihistamine to your dog to help stop further damage on the blood vessels surrounding the bite site.
Please see our related article here: https://schoolofbees.com/can-bees-hurt-dogs/
Can bees harm flowers?
Since the beginning of time, we are taught that bees and flowers have a mutual relationship where the flowers provide bees nectar necessary for the production of honey and the bees, in return, pollinate the plant. However, this kind of mutual relationship is now on the brink of turning into an antagonistic one.
Flowers that are visited and drained of nectar more regularly than they can manage harms the flowers ability to produce pollen effectively.
So the answer to this question is yes, bees can harm flowers if the number of the bee population is too high for the number of flowering plants in a certain area. Flowers will be more hard at work producing nectar, compromising their pollen production. If there are too many bees and not enough flowers, then expect the flowers to be harmed in a setting like this.
Can bees harm hummingbirds?
For this question, defining the word “harm” needs to be done. Harm, for the most part, denotes a certain physical injury on the concerned party. However, harm may also be used defined as any wrong effect as a result of certain actions.
No, bees don’t cause any physical harm to hummingbirds. That is, if we take into consideration the original context of what harm is. But if we take the second context into consideration, the answer is yes, because they are natural competitors of nectar in flowers. An abundance of bees in an area can mean that hummingbirds are left with no choice but to seek other nectar sources.
The best example I can give you is the case of keeping bees away from hummingbird feeders. Apparently, this has been a major concern for many bird lovers because there are cases when the bees have driven away from the annual hummingbird visitors of a certain bird lover. This bird lover took on to the internet and asked on how to prevent bees from monopolizing the sugar water that she puts out for the hummingbirds. Turns out, there are already solutions for this dilemma, which only means that this is not a new issue. Several online articles mention that if the hummingbird feeder is too populated with insects (because it is not only bees that are attracted to sugary water), the feed gets contaminated, and the hummingbird will not see it as a viable source of food.
Can bees harm birds?
I’ve read of insect-eating birds, and how they beat the sting of the bees first before eating them, so I know that the birds can harm bees.
However, during my research on whether bees can harm birds, I was thoroughly surprised that the answer to this question is yes. A certain species of bumblebees are capable of some “parasitism by theft” behavior in which they steal nesting sites of birds to serve as their own nesting grounds. These bumblebees use their loud buzzing sound to discourage birds from returning to their nests and drive them away.
You can imagine my reaction when I read that bumblebees have this kind of behavior in the wild. I’ve always thought of them as cute; I just didn’t expect to see a darker side to them, that’s all.
Can bees harm gardens?
This is closely linked with the question for “can bees harm flowers?” and carries a similar answer.
Yes, bees can harm gardens, especially if the numbers of bees are high. Most gardens will include some form of flowering plants as part of the arrangement or landscape design. Having a large population of bees that visit your garden too often will certainly cause harm to your plants and therefore compromise the integrity of the whole garden.
However, let us not be discouraged by the answer above. Bees are still facing crisis to this date and having plants for them to gather nectar from will certainly help them recover little by little. Please keep in mind how important bees are to our environment as they are a key species and is responsible for pollinating the majority of the food we enjoy. It is said that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat every day.
My best advice is to keep only a small section in your garden with flowers. You can minimize the number of bees that visit your garden this way. Or you can try and plant bee-friendly flowers somewhere away from your garden, like a vacant lot in your neighborhood. We strongly discourage you from using insecticides but instead encourage you to find natural ways to deter bees from your garden.
Can bees harm children or kids?
Yes, they can. Aggravated bees are known to swarm and sting any living creature that they label as a predator, and this can sometimes be you or worse, one of your kids. If you remember, bees have the ability to release a pheromone that signals other bees to attack if your kid does not get out of harm’s way as soon as possible. Both adults and children who are stung several times may experience a severe allergic reaction due to the generous amount of bee venom that enters their body. Small children might be more in danger from anaphylactic shock because they have a lesser developed immune system compared to big kids.
However, there is a small percentage of people who reacts in an extremely negative fashion to bee venom. These people’s reactions will start as a simple discomfort then will quickly progress to an alarming state as difficulty in breathing sets in. If this reaction is not managed right away, death due to asphyxiation caused by anaphylactic shock may occur. People who are diagnosed to be extremely allergic to bee stings almost always have epinephrine (adrenaline) shot close by. This shot combats the severe allergic reaction a person is experiencing during anaphylaxis.
What are the harmful effects of bee venom on living creatures
Bee Venom is composed of a mixture of enzymes, peptides, pheromone, amino acids, other acids and histamine that work together to cause the victim discomfort and pain. Mild symptoms can vary from as simple as itching, hives, tenderness on the area to moderate ones like inflammation on the affected area, pain in the surrounding region, swelling of lips, mouth and throat. Severe symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention or hospitalization are difficulties in breathing, stomach cramps, a sudden decrease in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and unconsciousness.
Bee venom is an apitoxin that is both cytotoxic and hemotoxic. Cytotoxic, meaning it targets cells or is toxic to cells, it works by breaking the cell membranes causing inflammation and pain. Hemotoxic means that it targets the oxygen-rich red blood cells and destroys it, disrupting the ability of the blood to clot and cause tissue damage due to lack of oxygen that is usually delivered by the red blood cells. A total of 63 components are in bee venom, but we will only be detailing the major ones.
Half of the dry weight of bee venom is a peptide called melittin. Together with apamine, they are peptides that cause excruciating pain you feel. In addition, they are also responsible for lowering your blood pressure and releasing a compound called histamine that causes itching and redness. Melittin degenerates blood cells by destroying the membrane surrounding it.
Phospholipase A2 is an enzyme in bee venom that works by breaking down the main component of a cell membrane and converts lecithinase into lysolecithin which further targets the red blood cell’s membranes. Hyaluronidase aids in the spread of the previous enzymes by breaking down the tissues that holds cell membranes together.
People with severe allergies to bee venom are allergic to one or more of the components that make up this bitter tasting, clear liquid. No matter what level of reaction you or your family might have, it is still strongly suggested that you have a first aid kit and action plan in place especially during the months when bee activity is at its peak. Having an epinephrine pen on hand is also a good idea.
Can bees harm house walls?
If you are referring to honey bees, they do not cause any structural damage to house walls. However, having a hive within your walls can be a cause of alarm, especially if you have little kids around. Also, if the nest gets abandoned, the leftover waxy comb and honey will seep into the boards, insulation and siding of the structure and produce a foul odor eventually.
There is a species of bee that do burrow in wood, and they are the carpenter bees. If the numbers are low and if the nest site has not been used by other carpenter bees as nesting sites before, it should not be a problem. However, if the site has been drilled by carpenter bees for a number of years and evidence of nest entrance and wood shavings can be seen each nesting season then you might have a problem on your hands. Sites with a large number of carpenter bee population can be inspected by tapping on the wooden structure to determine how much hollow spaces the wall has.
If you find a large number of hollow areas, then it might be time for a replacement. Please see our other related article here: https://schoolofbees.com/what-can-bees-and-yellow-jackets-chew-through/
Can bees harm trees?
Bees that nests in the hollow of a tree does not necessarily harm the tree if the hollow is already there in the first place. But if the bees start to expand their hive more than the hollow can accommodate, then this might pose harm to the trees.
There are also instances when the presence of bees inside a tree trunk further harm the tree until it dies. The presence of hive also can mean that the overall structure of the tree is compromised and therefore has a greater chance of being toppled over by strong winds during a storm.
Now, trees that do not serve as a home for bees have a different story, especially the flowering ones. They benefit from the visitation of bees as they pollinate the flowers, which in turn produces some of the fruits we love to eat.
The main idea of this article is to provide you with answers to each question. As you can see, most of the answers depend on important factors to consider such as the severity of the allergic reaction, how small or big the dog, cat or individual is, number of bee population and purpose of the bees.
Technically, bees are docile creatures that are only ever aggressive when they feel threatened. They can cause some harm, but there are easy steps you can employ to deal with it. The important thing to remember is that bees are facing extinction, and if we do not help them, there will be significant agricultural, economic, and lifestyle changes coming our way.
Environmentalists have already predicted a bleak outcome if bees are gone from our planet. As a key species of our environment, the harm that they may cause is nothing compared to how important they are for the continued survival of plants, flowers and crops. Let’s help the bees in their plight for survival. | <urn:uuid:5505b043-dbc8-48b9-91ed-fd331847d2c1> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://schoolofbees.com/can-bees-harm-these-everyday-things/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371810807.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408072713-20200408103213-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.956197 | 3,072 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Medical Support of the Mobile Riverine Force
The mission of America’s first Mobile Riverine Force was to penetrate the delta stronghold of a determined enemy. The US Navy’s first hospital ship, USS Red Rover, was a part of that historical Mississippi River squadron. That vessel was refitted to provide the medical support required by the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. In the next century a similar situation came about. Our nations second Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) was encountering an enemy seeking shelter in the extensive waterways of the Mekong River delta. Once more, close medical support was provided by men who faced the task and developed their own special vessels. From the first MRF in 1863 to the second in 1967, many changes have occurred in the conduct of warfare. The Army Medical Department has kept pace and continues it’s mission to preserve the fighting strength of its units.
The Mobile Riverine Force in Southeast Asian was a joint operation comprised of the US Army’s 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division and the US Navy’s River Assault Flotilla One Task-Force 117. The transportation of this joint force was accomplished by using two principal types of vessels: the barracks type ship for housing troops for long moves on the rivers, and the smaller craft for assault landings and security missions. The larger ships were designated Self-propelled Barracks Ships (APB’s). These were reconstructed Landing Ship Tank (LST) class ships. The assault craft were reconstructed Mechanized Landing Craft (LCM-6) boats. After the addition of armor plate and various weapons, one of the boat types was referred as an Armored Troop Carrier (ATC). Several of the ATC’s were fitted with Helicopter Landing pads. The ATC(H)’s with the landing pads were used by the medical platoons of the force infantry battalions as medical aid boats. One ATC(H) was also used by an element of the medical company of the division medical battalion as a medical aid boat which was used in support of the joint Army/Navy operations.
Configuration of the Aid Boat
The medical aid boat used the bunks that were attached to the inside cargo deck hull. This allowed for the management of five litter cases. Due to the small working area, it was necessary to revolve patients in and out in the shortest time possible. Ambulatory patients had to climb the up and out of the cargo deck or, in the case of litter patients, be handed up in the space between the end of the flight deck and the landing ramp of the boat. The vertical distance from the cargo deck to the flight deck was ten feet. The flight deck was constructed from steel runway matting welded over a framework of pipe. The primary drawbacks in using a boat of this type for close medical support was the lack of illumination for night operations and the small size of the pad, which always required of the pilot great skill to effect a safe landing. Some of the medical equipment present on the aid boat included a basic field medical and surgical set, and a whole blood mechanical refrigerator. The medical personnel consisted of one medical Corps officer, seven enlisted medics, and a radio operator. A three-day level of supplies was maintained.
Unit level medical service was furnished by the medical aid boat, manned by the medical platoon from the infantry battalion. This aid boat would accompany the ATC’s carrying the assault troops. Under the direction of the battalion surgeon, the aid station was operated at the point where the troops disembarked to start the sweep. It would remain there until the ATC’s began to move to the predesignated troop pickup point. At this time, the aid station would close up and return, unless the tactical situation required it to reopen at some other spot.
Division Level medical service was provided by a medical aid boat manned with medical personnel from Company D, 9th Medical Battalion. This medical company aid boat was normally positioned in the vicinity of the barge-mounted artillery fire support base. This location provided security, a central location with regard to the area of operation, access to communications, and close liaison with the brigade operations center.
The casualties from the operation could be evacuated to the aid boats or other medical facility by either water or air. The vast majority were handled by air ambulance. The Pilot had the choice of taking the casualty to one of three facilities. These were, 1) the forward element of the medical company located at the fire support base; 2) the medical company itself; or, 3) the surgical hospital. The latter two were located at Dong Tam, the MRF base camp. The evacuation decision was made by the helicopter pilot after consideration of casualty condition and the distance to be flown.
The Improvement of Facilities and Support
As riverine operations moved farther into the delta, time and distance pointed out the need for changes in the concept of medical support from all levels. If a curved line had been drawn, connecting Dong Tam, Saigon, Long Binh, and Vung Tau late in 1967, five American hospitals would have been on or near that line. When the MRF operated east of Dong Tam, inside the area created by the curved line just mentioned, evacuation time to a hospital was very short, the main reason being the location of several helicopter ambulance units at Long Binh. Conversely when operations were conducted west of Dong Tam toward the Cambodian border, or southward toward the U-Minh forest, the line of air evacuation was stretched to the limit. The only American ambulance unit located in the Delta was at Soc Trang. To offset the complete lack of military hospitals and limited air ambulance capabilities deep in the delta, there was a variety of air ambulance shuttle systems, utilizing air ambulance from the units at Long Binh.
The decision that the MRF should have an enlarged medical treatment and holding capacity was the beginning of the solution. Another aspect of the solution was the deployment of an evacuation hospital at Can Tho. To effect the increased medical mission, many types of boats and ships were considered and, in the end, it was decided to use an APB rather than add another vessel. In December 1967, the APB-36 USS Colleton, was sent to Subic Bay Naval Base, in the Philippines to have her sick bay enlarged. The ship was back with the flotilla in January 1968. Also in January of that year, the medical brigade assigned three personnel to D Co, 9th Medical Battalion. This consisted of one general surgeon and two male nurses.
Configuration of the USS Colleton Medical Facility
The Colleton now filled an additional role, that of being an afloat medical facility. The sickbay consisted of three separate areas on three levels of the ship. To allow for easy movement of personnel and material from one level to another, they were interconnected by ramps…
Level one was the flight deck of the ship. It was large enough to allow the landing of any type of helicopter. All approaches were controlled by Navy radio operators, and the landings were made under the direction of the Navy. This, plus the white or red illumination for night Landings, provided the helicopter pilots with visual controls and contributed to safer operations. The materials necessary for the direct exchange of litters and blankets were stored on the flight deck.
The triage area was next and immediately below the flight deck. It was reached via a two section ramp. This ramp was wide enough for two way traffic. The ramp’s half-way point was large enough to allow litters to be rotated completely, without any stopping or shifting. Outside of the entrance to triage was slightly lower and wounded soldiers were stripped and washed off with warm water at this point. This prevented debris from collecting in the triage room. It also contributed to easier determination of the extent of the injuries. Near the shower on the weather deck was an electric winch. It was rigged to swing out over the side of the ship. This was used to hoist up casualties that arrived by boat (ATCs) shipside or any other type of vessel. The winch and litter combination made it unnecessary to move casualties through narrow passageways and up steep ladder wells. Inside the triage room, there were six treatment positions always set up. More could be easily erected if needed by using litter stands. Liquids, dressings. and other materials were distributed at each treatment point. Medics or corpsman circulated and replenished supplies as they were consumed. To assist in the rapid diagnosis and treatment of casualties, a 50 mil x-ray unit in a fully shielded enclosure was located in triage. The wide double doors allowed easy entry of litters, and the automatic plate developer provided rapid evaluations. A blood bank and an autoclave were also located here.
The third area was on the second covered deck of the ship. This air-conditioned area was reached by using a wide single stage ramp, which was attached to the port side of the hull. On this level, and grouped about a common passageway, was a two table surgery, the central material section, storage area, recovery area, ward, pharmacy, and a one chair dental clinic. Surgery was provided with it’s own ventilation system, to reduce the chances of cross contamination and infection. Central materials section had an autoclave which was operated from the ship’s steam system. When the patient load exceeded the 18 beds available in the primary ward area, additional bed space was obtained by using a portion of the petty officers quarters. This area was just aft of the ward. In addition, some patients were sent to convalesce in their own bunks, located in the troop compartments. In essence. the entire bed capacity of the Colleton could have been used which could have been up to 900 beds or bunks if needed. The only limitation were those regarding the ability of the assigned medical personnel to provide the high level of care expected of the Army and Navy medical departments on the Colleton. Any patients sent to the troop compartments were cared for by the battalion medics, and returned to sick bay for outpatient treatment and follow-up.
Joint Force Cooperation
Medical personnel representing unit, division, and army level medical service, plus the normal medical complement of the ship were quartered on the Colleton. When the infantry battalion troops were not engaged in combat operations, the battalion surgeon and his medics conducted a daily sick call in the troop compartments. If necessary a man would be referred to sick bay for more extensive treatment. The Navy doctor did the same for the ships company and boat crews. During any period when casualties were being received from an area of operations, all medical personnel worked as one team. No distinction was made as to branch of service or unit. In these situations, the required professional guidance was provided by the general surgeon, who was an Army Medical Corps Officer. For each operation, a medical evacuation helicopter was placed in support of the 82nd Medical Detachment. The crew stayed on the ship, and responded to missions that were handled by the communication section from D-Company. Table I gives a breakdown of all the regularly assigned medical personnel on the Colleton. Not included are the personnel of the infantry battalion medical platoon or the air ambulance crew.
|Med Battalion||MOS||9th Med Bn||USN||44th Med Bn|
|General Medical Officer||3100||1||1|
|Operating Room Nurse||3445||1|
|Medical Operating Asst||3506||1|
|Operating Room Tech||91D||2|
|Medical Records Clerk||71G||1|
The Measure of Success
The USS Colleton, with her enlarged sickbay, was back in operation only a few days prior to the 1968 TET offensive. The capability of it’s medical facility can be seen in the following statistics. During the 94 day period between 29 January 1968 and May 1969, the Colleton handled a total of 890 casualties. This represents only the casualties evacuated to the ship and is exclusive of the daily sick-call. Of 890 casualties received, 690 were classified as having received injuries due to hostile action (IRHA). Three hundred forty-five of this group were returned to duty after initial treatment. One hundred thirty four men were admitted to the ship’s ward and completed their entire course of treatment without leaving the MRF. The remaining 411 casualties were evacuated to the next higher level of medical treatment, after receiving emergency life saving treatment and stabilization had been achieved. The evacuation hospital at Long Binh was the usual destination for personnel from the Colleton.
From the beginning of MRF operations in the delta, several medical support ideas existed. These ideas overlapped not only a number of command lines but also normal boundaries of the levels of medical service. All were aimed at overcoming a distance factor that was reducing the medical support of the MRF. In the final conclusion, the mission stayed with the division medical battalion, a logical selection. By augmentation with the medical brigade personnel and in the presence of the Navy medical complement, the basic deficiency was corrected; there was immediately available for the combat troops a facility capable of performing definitive life saving procedures.
In the evolution of the medical support to the Mobile Riverine Force, we can see that there was no easy solution and that the measures applied were subject to change. The skill with which the changes were conceived and executed served to point out the close and meaningful communications which existed between all levels of the Medical Departments. In the end, the time honored and proven level of medical service saw the creation of a facility that overlapped the normal parameters in terms of personnel, equipment, and missions. The workable solution, in the form of the USS Colleton medical facility, was important in and of itself, but it also depicts a flexibility on the part of the medical support planners in both the Army and Navy Medical Departments.
Photos contributed by Albert Moore, firstname.lastname@example.org (President, MRFA) | <urn:uuid:4f6509e8-7ba4-4161-beba-f8483863bb98> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.mrfa.org/us-navy-army/medical-support-of-the-mobile-riverine-force/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496227.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329201741-20200329231741-00034.warc.gz | en | 0.975914 | 2,883 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Land use and cover changes are highly influenced by the food demands of increasing populations the world over. The continual conversion of land for agricultural use has destroyed or degraded many habitats and poses a threat to biological diversity.1,2 Not only are forests being converted into cropland to meet these demands, causing land degradation and the loss of ecosystem services, but so are orchards. Orchards are intentional plantings of perennial fruit, berry, or nut bearing trees and shrubs maintained for food production. This unique land cover is converted to cropland for several reasons: food security, age, high costs, etc.
As a type of land cover, orchards provide numerous direct and indirect ecosystem goods and services, and studies show they often provide more ecosystem services than cropland.3 For example, in a 25-year period, managed orchards produce more carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphate than corn and soybean systems. Another group of researchers showed how forestry and orchard habitat supports both biological diversity and timber production more than cropland.4 Evidence from Germany shows that orchards produce more biomass than cropland and further provide erosion protection, drought risk regulation, and flood regulation.5 High recreational and cultural values were also found in Spain.6 Given their importance to many ecosystem services, awareness of their fragility and threatened status should be raised in order to protect these trees and shrubs from being cut unsustainably. Unfortunately, little data exists as to what extent they have already been removed or converted.
So in order to safeguard these unique ecosystems, we should be looking at what could incentivize society to protect them. Losing the many ecosystem services they provide is very costly for society, as low crop yields usually result in production shortages for consumers and income losses for farmers. Despite significant progress in the area, there are still gaps in analyzing the monetary values of ecosystem service losses for numerous biomes and ecosystems, including orchards. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, which is the largest database of ecosystem valuations from around the world, contains 1,310 cases. However, there is only one example of the total economic value (TEV) of orchards—TEV being the summary of all the values humans derive from natural resources.7
It is essential to put more emphasis on the role of orchards in ecosystems. More research needs to be conducted on the TEV of ecosystem services provided by orchards to fully understand the benefits they offer, as this will provide a better understanding of how to protect them and secure their future sustainability. Currently, there is uncertainty with estimating local TEV for orchards and croplands because of their extensive variety of ecosystem services and lack of existing data to calculate the different values from. To begin addressing this gap, we undertook a case study on southern Russian orchards. It provides an example of how TEVs can be used as a starting step to understanding the value of orchards and protecting otherwise threatened landscapes.
Over the period from 2000 to 2010 in the Azov district of the Rostov region, 3,000 hectares of orchards were transformed into cropland, causing much land degradation. There were three main reasons for the conversion: 1) some of the trees were older and no longer fruiting; 2) cropland has shorter investment cycles and during that time, wheat and sunflower crops were more profitable than fruits; and 3) there was national demand in Russia to fulfill a need for grain and sunflower and stabilize food security after the economic collapse of the 1990s.
Removing the orchards increased the overall cropland area by only 3,000 ha, to 210,000 ha. As a result of this land use and cover change, the amount of phosphorous and humus in the soil declined, and other ecosystem services, such as fruit production, soil formation, and water balance were also lost. Only one ecosystem service—potassium content—increased under the conversion of cropland as a consequence of particular fertilizer application.
We thus set out to calculate what comparative market prices of orchards and cropland yields were over a 20-year period to provide incentives from both economic and ecological points of view to restore the orchards. To achieve this, the cost of action versus cost of inaction method proposed by Joachim von Braun and Ephraim Nkonya was applied.8,9 This method uses data on prices and costs to compare possible outcomes of different scenarios, ranging from leaving the current land use as is to investing in sustainable land management. This tool often shows that sustainable land management is much more effective from both ecological and economic points of view, and this is what we expected in these Russian orchards.
The absence of ecosystem value data in Russia, and particularly the Azov district gave us an incentive to calculate several versions of TEV, each with justification. To accomplish this, we took one ecosystem service with a market price, which in this case was food production. We then multiplied this price by so-called coefficients of importance for other ecosystem services (in research literature, this is sometimes called the basic transfer approach). As what actual land use changes will be in the future is unclear, we calculated the TEV for three probable scenarios with different types and quantities of ecosystem services. We used multiple scenarios as their differences would result in comparable estimates of TEV and provide a range of understanding. As we don’t know what ecosystem services will be used in the future, multiple TEVs can show the potential outcomes of different land management decisions and guide us towards an optimal and sustainable management strategy.
The first scenario had valued one ecosystem service—food production—and in it orchards were actually more valuable than cropland. Orchards were valued at USD$842 per hectare compared to $550 per hectare for cropland. In the second scenario we valued nine types of ecosystem services: food production, raw materials, water regulation, increased air quality through the capturing of fine dust, climate regulation, maintenance of soil structure, water purification, biodiversity protection, and recreation services. The coefficients here were based on a survey where 200 ecologists were interviewed on the value of ecosystem services of different land types in China.10,11 We thought it was acceptable to transfer these values in our case, because Chinese orchards produce a lot of pome fruits, as do the Russian ones. Finally the third scenario was based on a survey in Russia that involved 20 scientists and a large array of ecosystem services: carbon sequestration, climate regulation, water regulation, disturbance regulation, water supply, erosion control, nutrient cycling, maintenance of habitat for resident and transient populations, genetic resources, biological control, pollination, waste treatment, food production, raw materials and feed production, cultural functions, and recreational functions.
The results in Table 1 show that TEV for cropland in the three scenarios ranges from USD$550 to $3,803 (2010) per hectare. On the other hand, the TEV for orchards ranged from USD$842 to $8,004 (2010) per hectare. Based on this, we can see in all scenarios that orchards are more highly valued than cropland.
The next step was to use these TEV estimates to calculate the costs of either taking action or not taking action against land degradation. This will help determine the value from ecological and economical points of view of regrowing orchards. In all scenarios, there was a fairly high cost of action, due to the establishment and maintenance costs for sustainable land management in orchards. The cost of action was estimated using establishment price of orchards at USD$983 per hectare and maintenance at $871 per hectare, which are values based on studies of Russian scientists already working in this region.
In the first and third scenarios, orchards were valued 1.53 and 1.19 times higher than cropland, respectively. However, in both cases this value is not enough to be an incentive for farmers to plant orchards, because the cost of taking action is higher than the cost of inaction in a 20 year period. In the first scenario, every dollar invested in the orchards would only bring back USD$0.2, and in the third scenario it was only $0.1.
Our results show that cost of action in all three scenarios is higher than costs of inaction, largely because establishment and maintenance costs were high. Only in the second scenario is the cost of inaction/action ratio close to 1, at USD$0.9. To incentivize society to replant these orchards, the ratio will need to be bigger than 1, which means lowering establishment and maintenance costs or increasing our understanding of the full value of orchards.
Based on our research, we are suggesting that orchard restoration is both economically and environmentally optimal. It does not need to affect crop production outputs, as there is high potential to increase yield for agricultural producers in the region, up to 40 to 50 percent according to some estimates,12 and simply requires increased inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation, and/or seeds of better quality. The conversion of 3,000 hectares could be easily compensated by a slight yield increase of seven percent on the remaining 207,000 hectares in the Azov district.
This range of TEV for potential future land uses can be used to justify new policy actions in the Azov region. As orchards are clearly more valuable than croplands, but have high start-up and on-going costs, the government could subsidize farmers to motivate replanting. Based on the outcome of our studies on these orchards, our solutions for orchard management and protection in this region of southern Russia are thus a mixture of analytical, research, and practical recommendations:
- First, not to further cut down existing orchards. They are unique biomes and provide several ecosystem services that although not always yet clear, serve many functions in nature and provide value to humans. Further, our TEV shows that their restoration costs are currently too high, although their land value is higher than cropland. Thus, it makes sense to maintain all orchards that currently exist, in order to reap their benefits.
- To re-establish orchards in the region, we need to further define these ecosystem services and their values. This will require research work in different fields like soil and biological sciences as well as ecological and economic studies. Economically, we must not only estimate the value of the provisional services of orchards that are on the market, but other ecosystem services too—such as regulating, supporting, and cultural services.
- The TEV method, along with cost–benefit analyses, may not always show the efficiency or profitability of sustainable land management methods if the full data is not available, as in our situation. However, this doesn’t mean that orchards shouldn’t be protected; we should make additional efforts to research and undertake novel estimates to grasp the essence and significance of these orchards (and other threatened biomes). Bolstered with further data, the range of TEVs we have already established here can help stakeholders and policymakers eventually understand the benefits of restoration.
Two practical and immediately implementable solutions are to:
- Have policy-makers increase subsidies for replanting orchards, as establishment costs and maintenance costs are high, and farmers struggle independently to manage them sustainably.
- Spread information about existing orchards and their many ecosystem services—which we are just beginning to understand—so that everyone can understand their significance.
Understanding the difference in costs and benefits between taking action and not taking action is a powerful tool that can protect threatened landscapes and establish sustainable land management practices. Here, in the case of the diminishing orchards of southern Russia, we can see that orchards are ultimately more valuable than the cropland that is replacing them, but the cost of re-establishing and maintaining them is too high for farmers. Gaining more knowledge can thus help governments set policies that protect this unique ecosystem from further degradation and even re-establish them so that their benefits can be sustainably reaped.
This article was prepared while working on a project, “Assessing Land Degradation in Eurasia,” at Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia) with financial assistance from the Russian Science Foundation, grant No. 14-38-00023.
- Nkonya, E, Mirzabaev, A & von Braun, J. Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement—A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development (Springer, Netherlands, 2014).
- von Braun, J, Gerber, N, Mirzabaev, A & Nkonya, E. The economics of land degradation. An issue paper for Global Soil Week (2012).
- Zhang, X, Chen, L, Li, Q, Qi, X & Yang, S. Increase in soil nutrients in intensively managed cash-crop agricultural ecosystems in the Guanting Reservoir catchment, Beijing, China. Geoderma 193–194, 102–108 (2013).
- Polasky, S, Nelson, E, Pennington, D & Johnson, KA. The impact of land-use change on ecosystem services, biodiversity and returns to landowners: a case study in the state of Minnesota. Environmental and Resource Economics 48, 219–242 (2011).
- Koschke, L, Furst, C, Lorenz, M, Witt, A, Frank, S & Makeschin, F. The integration of crop rotation and tillage practices in the assessment of ecosystem services provision at the regional scale. Ecological Indicators 32, 152–171 (2013).
- Garcia-Llorente, M et al. The role of multi-functionality in social preferences toward semi-arid rural landscapes: An ecosystem service approach. Environmental Science and Policy 19–20, 136–146 (2012).
- van der Ploeg, S & de Groot RS. The TEEB Valuation Database – a searchable database of 1310 estimates of monetary values of ecosystem services. Foundation for Sustainable Development [online] (2012). http://es-partnership.org/services/data-knowledge-sharing/ecosystem-serv....
- Nkonya, E et al. Global cost of land degradation in Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement (eds Nkonya, E, Mirzabaev, A & von Braun, J). 5, pp 117-165 (Springer, Netherlands, 2016).
- von Braun, J, Gerber, N, Mirzabaev, A & Nkonya, E. The economics of land degradation. ZEF Working Paper Series 109, University of Bonn (2013).
- Tianhong, L, Wenkai, L & Zhenghan, Q. Variations in ecosystem service value in response to land use changes in Shenzhen. Ecological Economics 69, 1427–1435 (2008).
- Xie, GD et al. Ecological assets valuation of the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Natural Resources 18, 189–196 (2003).
- Schierhorn, F, Faramarzi, M, Prishchepov, A, Koch, F & Muller, D. Quantifying yield gaps in wheat production in Russia. Environmental Research Letters 9 (2014). | <urn:uuid:f745dd88-3f7a-43a5-8a7e-8b5f87bbe5a7> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/replanting-orchards-worth-case-study-russia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494064.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329074745-20200329104745-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.933731 | 3,188 | 4.21875 | 4 |
How Novozymes harnesses the sustainability superpower of enzymesJennifer Gerholdt, Director of Corporate Engagement, We Mean Business coalition
Microorganisms are everywhere. Forty million in a single gram of soil. One hundred trillion in the gut flora of the average human. Among this soup of single-celled, microscopic organisms are microbes such as bacteria, which, among other things, produce enzymes. These enzymes speed up chemical reactions and act as catalysts in living cells.
Enter Novozymes. Headquartered in Bagsværd, just outside Copenhagen, this Danish biotech firm has been putting enzymes to commercial use for the last 70-plus years.
The precise science is complex, but the essence of Novozymes’ business is straightforward. Think of enzymes as nature’s change agents. When one substance turns into another — yeast into bread, say, or milk into cheese — enzymes are helping that transition happen.
Novozymes’ strength is in helping adapt this catalytic process to specific industrial applications. Today, its enzyme-based products and solutions are used in over 40 industry sectors, from household care and bioenergy to agriculture and animal health.
For the most part, the company uses fungi (Aspergillus oryzae, mostly) to produce the enzymes that it needs, drawing on the work of its 1,000-plus large team of researchers around the globe.
But what does this all have to do with sustainability? Quite a lot, it transpires. For one, enzymes are biodegradable. Second, unlike raw materials, they don’t form part of a final substance: they are catalysts, not components. Put together, that’s less waste and less resource use.
A rich bank of data gives the company an almost unprecedented picture of its overall carbon footprint.
As important, enzymes work at low temperature and at moderate pH levels. That means you can wash your clothes at a lower-than-usual heat and an enzyme-based washing liquid will deliver the same results if not better.Enzyme-based solutions also open the possibility of using fewer chemical inputs. Consider leather. When untreated, leather is super stiff. Sulphide, a toxic component, is usually used to help soften the protein components that stiffen leather — a function that enzymes can assist with (reducing sulphide use by 40 percent in the process).
The potential of enzymes to slash energy consumption and reduce chemical use endows these biologically active proteins with something akin to sustainability superpowers.
Novozymes’ leadership is committed to use these powers for good. And not just the good of shareholders. On the first page of its Articles of Association (PDF), the company commits to operate in a “sustainable” manner; namely, with “environmental and social regard,” as well as the normal financial perspicuity you would expect.
Cutting direct emissions through collaboration
How to achieve this balance relates in part to how the company manages the impacts of its own operations. Even with the best will in the world, creating enzymes in three-story fermentation tanks is an energy-intensive business.
But through a combination of energy efficiency measures and investments in renewables (the firm’s Denmark operations have relied 100 percent on wind energy since 2011), Novozymes’ overall carbon dioxide (CO2) intensity has dropped by 11 percent since 2014 — surpassing its target 2017 of 9 percent.
Over recent decades, Novozymes has won particular acclaim for its pursuit of a circular production system at its Kalundborg site on Zealand, Denmark’s largest island. In conjunction with eight other private and public sector organisations, the “Kalundborg Symbiosis” has developed a range of innovative solutions to facilitate cooperation in the use of water, steam, energy and other resources.
Most recently, the consortium saw the energy provider Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy) inaugurate the largest biogas plant in eastern Denmark. The plant, which uses biomass residues from Novozymes’ local facility to generate power, promises to slash annual carbon emissions by an estimated 17,000 metric tons.
In addition, Novozymes and several of its partners are helping to keep the air clean in Kalundborg. As part of a 20-year purchase agreement with Ørsted, energy supply to Novozymes no longer will come from coal but instead from wood chips. The new facility, due to open in 2019, is set to reduce CO2 emissions by around 800,000 metric tons (35,000 of which are attributable to Novozymes).
For Justin Perrettson, the company’s head of global engagement in the Sustainability team, such examples demonstrate the “very rigorous process” that Novozymes has for reducing its own environmental impact. As he noted: “You can always challenge yourself to do more, but I think Novozymes is quite tough on itself and I think that’s fair.”
Catalysing consumers’ carbon reductions
Internal environmental improvements (and emission reductions, in particular) are only part of the picture. The real prize, he insisted, is using the company’s cutting-edge enzyme technologies to reduce emissions outside Novozymes’ four walls.
“The main way that Novozymes has approached the reduction of climate emissions is through the use of its products and services by its customers,” said Perrettson.
To that end, the company has set itself the exacting goal of saving 100 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year through the application of its products, by 2020. Last year’s count saw it hit 76 million (the equivalent of taking 32 million cars off the road).
Contributing a significant chunk of these reductions are Novozymes’ laundry products, which, as mentioned, enable consumers to reduce energy consumption by washing at lower temperatures. Another major contributor is the company’s fuel ethanol solutions, which see it swap the use of fossil fuels for bio-based feedstocks.
Two principles characterize Novozymes’ long-standing efforts to reduce consumer emissions. The first is scientific exactitude. The Danish biotech isn’t one to come out with rough “guestimates.”If it says it’s reducing 76 million metric tons of CO2 every year, you can bet the math is there to prove it.
“Our approach to the whole sustainability and climate change discussion is rooted in science. It is super important to us to show that there is a scientific validation for everything that we claim.” So says Jesper Kløverpris, a senior sustainability specialist in the company’s three-person team responsible for life cycle assessments (LCAs). Novozymes has been carrying out LCAs to determine the environmental profile of its products and solutions since 2004.
Such a rich bank of data gives the company an almost unprecedented picture of its overall carbon footprint. It also enables the company to accurately calculate potential emission savings should its current markets expand or new solutions emerge.
A case in point is the work of Kløverpris and his colleagues around corn-based animal feed in the United States. Based on four separate LCAs, the The One Acre Study report interrogates the environmental benefits of Novozymes’ biosolutions in the agricultural value chain.
The results make compelling reading. Consider the product JumpStart. Sold as part of a seed inoculant, the product contains a naturally occurring soil-organism called Penicillium bilaiae (P.b.). P.b. improves the ability of crops to take up nutrients, which leads to higher yields. The subsequent surplus can, in the case of corn at least, be used to produce starch-based ethanol.
Or take Ronozyme HiPhos, an enzyme-based product that increases the digestibility of animal feed as well as reducing the need for (carbon-intensive) inorganic phosphorus. A variant on the product — the amylase Ronozyme HiStarch — helps reduce the fat going into chicken feed. As with extra crop yields, this saved fat can be used for biodiesel production (aided by the enzyme product Novozymes Eversa, which converts glycerides and free fatty acids).
Novozymes has won particular acclaim for its pursuit of a circular production system on Denmark’s largest island.
The potential impact of this suite of products is striking. The LCA team calculate that a single acre of cropland could provide 13 U.S. gallons of biodiesel, 32 pounds of protein-rich animal feed and 230 kWh of clean electricity. That’s all alongside producing feed for 900 chickens, as before.”If you calculate for the resource savings and the bioenergy production (among other things), that leaves you with a total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1.1 metric ton of CO2 equivalents per acre,” Kløverpris stated.
Scale that up to every cornfield in the United States and then the numbers become properly staggering. Ten billion extra U.S. gallons of bioethanol, for instance; 21 TWh of bioelectricity; 120 million pounds of pure phosphorus saved. The result? A total saving of almost 90 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Of course, those numbers suppose mass adoption of Novozymes’ products. Despite year-on-year growth, the company isn’t there yet. Which leads to the other main pillar of its emission reduction strategy: innovation.
At present, the Danish biotech leader ploughs around 13 percent of its annual revenues back into research and development. Its pipeline of new research projects runs to over 100.
But it’s not just product innovation where the company invests its creative energies. Bringing its nous and know-how to the design of novel business models and breakthrough policies also forms part of the mix.
One area of ongoing focus, for instance, is in the biorefinery market. The transport and energy sectors desperately need electrification (renewable electrification, that is). On that score, Novozymes is categorical. It also sees a huge role for sustainable biofuels as the transport and energy sectors transition away from fossil fuels over the coming decades.
“Even with some of the most aggressive scenarios, it won’t be until 2045 or 2050 that we get a break even between purely electric passenger cars and cars running with combustion engines,” said Kløverpris. “Plus, it’s hard to electrify certain forms of transport, such as heavy-duty vehicles, planes and shipping. So we need an alternative to liquid fossil fuels and that alternative is low-carbon biofuels.”
Meanwhile, integrated biorefineries have the ability to produce more than low-carbon liquid fuels. Co-products such as biogas and solid combustibles can be stored and used for electricity production during peak demand periods when other renewables such as wind and solar cannot meet the full demand. Besides, the highly concentrated stream of biogenic CO2 from fermentation processes can be captured and stored to generate negative greenhouse gas emissions, a measure that will be “badly needed” to meet international climate targets, according to Kløverpris.
It also sees a huge role for sustainable biofuels as the transport and energy sectors transition away from fossil fuels over the coming decades.
The company therefore has developed a series of innovative blueprints for how the biorefinery market could be scaled up. Its plans incorporate the adoption of new technologies, novel commercial opportunities and progressive public policies.”We have presented our vision at several bioenergy conferences already, and we are also working with experts in academia to challenge our thinking,” said Kløverpris, adding that the company’s strategy has “lots of resonance” with the bioenergy “roadmap (PDF)” recently published by the International Energy Agency.
Actioning the company’s vision for biorefining won’t happen overnight, he admitted. That said, it need not take years either. He points to the example of Brazil, where the government recently introduced a new national biofuels policy.
A similar commitment to large-scale, collaborative change is behind its decision to link up with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Novozymes is channeling its energies and expertise into two of the business network’s main clean energy programs: the Low-Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative and the below50 initiative (which focuses specifically on the development of sustainable fuels).
Novozymes’ combination of science and innovation is already delivering major benefits for climate change. Seventy-six million metric tons of CO2 averted is no mean feat.
According to Ridhima Kapur, a senior analyst in Novozymes’ sustainability team, clear benefits also exist for the company itself. Not only does the firm’s environmental performance inspire its 6,000-plus employees (nicknamed internally as “Zymers”), but it’s also attracting favorable interest from institutional investors.
The positive emissions’ profile of Novozymes’ products are winning it an edge in the marketplace as well. In industries such as bioenergy, the case for low-carbon solutions is quite clear, Kapur admitted. But even in consumer-facing industries, such as home care, Novozymes’ eco-credentials are winning it new business.
She cited the example of Nice Group, one of China’s largest detergent manufacturers. Spurred on by a new green manufacturing program from the government, the company approached Novozymes to help it understand the environmental impact of its products and identify areas of improvement.
“They came to us and asked if we could help with an initial LCA of a specific product,” she said. “We’ve been talking about sustainability for years. But to have a company come to us and ask for this, and to say it wants to make greener products and change consumer demand, is terrific. It’s basically why we do what we do.” | <urn:uuid:081493a6-1816-451a-991b-edee9f2533b0> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/how-novozymes-harnesses-the-sustainability-superpower-of-enzymes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370519111.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404011558-20200404041558-00194.warc.gz | en | 0.939935 | 2,943 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Course:Law3020/2014WT1/Group D/Separation Thesis
HLA Hart was an English legal philosopher at the forefront of the debate in the 20th century and arguably redefined the nature of law. The Concept of Law (1961) is his most notable work. He was a law professor at Oxford University and the principal at Brasenose College at Oxford.
In his Separation thesis, HLA Hart posits that morality and law should be separate. Rather than morality driving our obedience to laws, we have ought claims. Ought claims boils down to the proposition that the inner quality of a law is not morality, but rather a feeling we have that tells us we ought to follow them. This inner quality is what makes a law valid.
He believed that when morality and law clashed, one must weigh the competing obligations in each case. Although law is not morality, it also does not supersede it.
Hart posited that legal rules are expressed in general words because they need to apply generally. We have general categories of people. This means that rather than the law applying to the individual because they are specifically that person, it applies to that individual because they fall into the category.
Hart does not believe judges apply moral rules in their judgments. Judges are drawing from the rule governed practice to decide on the hard cases that fall outside the settled core. These are cases where no applicable rule exists; the cases in the penumbra. So judges are enforcing laws and not interpreting them. This involves drawing on moral beliefs of the system itself which are fairness, justice and equality.
Lon Fuller was an American legal theorist who, like Hart, discussed the connection between morality and law, which can be found in his work, The Morality of Law (1964). Fuller was a professor at Harvard University around the same time that Hart was a professor at Oxford and his debate with Hart can be found in the Harvard Law Review (Vol.71). This debate has helped frame the modern tension between legal positivism and natural law. Interesting to note, Lon Fuller was Ronald Dworkin’s professor at Harvard University. Ronald Dworkin would go on to write the System of Rights theory.
In his work, Morality of Law, Fuller argued that social acceptance of legal rules relies on external morality which is the belief that they will produce good order. This external morality comes from the internal morality. Internal morality consists of the requirements that the rules be expressed generally, must be publicly known, must be prospective in effect, must be understandable, must be consistent with each other, must not require behavior beyond the powers of the affected, must not be changed frequently and they must be administered in a way that is consistent with their wording.
For the law to have the external morality: to produce good order, Fuller agrees with Hart in that it needs to have an inner quality; however, unlike Hart, Fuller believes this is morality. Laws require this inner morality.
Fuller argued that the separation thesis does not adequately explain why we should obey the law since there is no answer to the dilemma of whether or not to obey unjust and immoral laws. He further claimed that Hart’s view that morality is potentially dangerous as a source of law, ignored the inner morality of law. He believes men should be required to explain their reasons because it will pull them to goodness.
Fuller would disagree with Hart in his position that sometimes morality will win in situations in which morality and law clash. Fuller argues that the separation thesis does not provide sufficient guidance in coming to a conclusion but rather is playing with word games and semantics. Rather, Fuller believes morality would win the day because for a law to be valid in the first place it requires morality. Fuller contends Hart’s opinion of morality in law saying that the positivist and realist notion of morality is a straw man which is never really defined.
Fuller believes that judge’s using their interpretation abilities to reference the internal and external morality of the law, will make the law what it ought to be. Fuller believes law is a collaborative effort between the legislator and the judiciary.
Comparison with Other Theories
Contrast to Natural Law
Hart’s position contrasts natural law theory’s view of true law being derived from a non-human source which requires our human skill to find these laws, implying a universality of acceptance among society because they are natural. Hart does not believe that laws stem from God, but are to an extent universal because laws have an inner quality that we will recognize and feel we ought to obey. Both would agree that something inside of us lead us to the right legal rules but what that drive is is a point of contention for the two; natural law believes it is the common good which comes from God and Hart believes it is that inner quality but does not further explain where it comes from other than that it is not morality. Natural law, however, postulates that morality plays a role in our human law in that they must have a morally right aim.
This is contrary to Hart’s thesis of separating morality and law. Hart does not require that a law be made by a valid maker whereas natural law does. This valid law maker is someone who holds the position by natural order has and knows what the common good is. Natural law theory also holds that laws must be written. Natural law prefers legislation over judge made law because legislators possess the greater authority, are more likely to have the necessary wisdom and will not be moved by emotion. Hart understands that general laws will not cover every circumstance and there will be novel cases which fall outside the text of the law and therefore judges are required to provide the spirit of the law. This is the penumbra.
Where Fuller believes laws require a social acceptance based on the external morality which is the belief that the law will produce good order, natural law requires that the law be directed at the common good, follow practical reason, made by a valid law maker and be written. In rendering decisions, Fuller believes that judges are in a position to apply their reasoning, which includes morality. Natural law prefers the legislators to make laws over judges making decisions because judges are in an inferior position to legislators in making decisions about the law.
Contrast to Legal Positivism
Austin distinguishes between God’s revealed law –religion- , positive morality –customs, international law- and positive law –our legal rules. For a positive law to be valid it must be imposed by a political superior over an inferior and backed by threat of sanctions. The main distinction here to Hart is the requirement of a superior sovereign regarding the validity of law.
Positivism requires two separate lines of inquiry. One looks to the validity of the law. The second line of inquiry looks to the morality of the law. Morality does not play a part in determining the validity of a law. This appears to be much like Hart’s separation thesis in that it takes morality out of the validity equation.
Hart says that judges need to feel obligated to follow the law. This should not consist of a mindless approach. What they are doing is enforcing the law and not interpreting it. Austin claims that judicial decisions are commands and not general rule applying to a class. Austin believes Judges are subordinates that are acting as ministers with restricted authority from the state.
Fuller, unlike Austin’s requirement of a political superior, political inferior and threat of sanction, requires a law to have an internal morality which in turn supports an external morality -the belief that the law will produce good order. Unlike Austin’s approach where the legislator is preferred to make decisions about the law and not judges because they are in an inferior position, Fuller believes that judge’s using their interpretation abilities to reference the internal and external morality of the law, will make the law what it ought to be. Fuller believes law is a collaborative effort between the legislator and the judiciary.
Case Study: Eldridge v B.C.
In the Eldridge case, the issue concerns the protection of s.15 of the Charter involving equal benefit under the law without discrimination based on a disability is violated by the Medicare Protection Act. In other words, do the benefits determined by the Medical Services Commission, which are included under the definition of benefits in s.1 of the Medicare Protection Act violate s.15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it fails to provide medical interpreter services for the deaf. This is a novel case which rests in the penumbra; the area surrounding the eclipse, which requires judges to apply the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.
The court, in applying their own reasoning, contradicts Hart’s conception of what a judge should do in a case. Justice La Forest provides a subjective interpretation that by granting discretion to the Medical Services Commission, the Hospital Insurance Act is in conformity with s.15 of the Charter. Justice La Forest states, “In my view, however, it is preferable to read the Act in conformity with s. 15(1)”. This illustrates a process of interpretation and not simply enforcement of law. This subjective approach is also illustrated when Justice La Forest sets the standard for determining a prima facie breach of s.15 of the Charter . This approach is more in line with what Fuller would argue is involved in court decisions: a collaborative effort between the legislature and the judiciary. Conversely, when Justice La Forest looks to precedent in regards to the interpretation of s.15 of the Charter, he is drawing on the rule governed practice which is in line with Hart’s thesis .
When Justice La Forest distinguishes the court’s approach to interpreting what is integral to medical services from the lower court , he is drawing from the moral belief of the system by determining that it should include coverage for the hearing impaired because the court has done the same in other cases .
In determining which groups are subject to the Charter, and in turn whether the Commission should be held to it, Justice La Forest notes that s.32 of the Charter is general in the sense of who the Charter applies to. They determine that it applies generally to a category of government bodies which follows Hart’s idea that law’s should be general and apply generally to a category and not specifically the individual.
When the court looks to adverse effect discrimination , they are considering the moral beliefs of the system itself which is what Hart would argue for. Fuller, on the other hand, would argue the judges are applying there interpretation abilities to reference the inner and external moralities of the law and thus how the court should interpret s.15 and its protection of rights against the exclusion of benefits for interpreters.
The human rights legislation referenced to determine whether the Medical Services Act was required to take positive steps to ensure members of a disadvantaged group benefitted equally (para 79), is yet another illustration of how the court is drawing from the moral beliefs of the system and not simply applying subjective morality based on the whims of the judge.
How Hart Would Decide It
Hart would argue that judges have an “obligation” toward the law, fidelity in law in order to reach a decision that is consistent with the general conception of law. Determining which rights are included under the protection of s.15 of the Charter, it would be consistent to include a hearing impairment disability under the category of physical disability in s.15(2). A judge’s interpretation would involve drawing from moral beliefs of the system which include fairness and equality.
One could begin with an interpretation of s.15 of the Charter to determine if it is valid law because if it is not then there would be no law in which the Medicare Protection Act violates. As mentioned, according to Hart, a valid law is one that has the required inner quality. This inner quality is what drives our obedience. Hart argues this does not encompass our morality. Rather, it is what Hart calls “ought claims” which summons our obedience because we would have an inclination to feel that we ought to follow.
Under Hart’s separation thesis, the judges, drawing from the rule governed practice, would find that s.15 of the Charter is a valid law since it promotes fairness and equality which are aspects of the moral beliefs of the system itself. S.15 of the Charter also embodies the inner quality of an ought claim and would be validated by the majority of people seeing as the Constitution of 1982 was approved by Parliament; our elected representatives.
In determine whether the Medicare Protection Act violates s.15 of the Charter by not providing coverage for interpreters, Hart would find that the exclusion of interpreters for the hearing impaired renders the provision void of ought claims, in that it lacks that inner quality which is required for the law to be valid because it discriminates against an identifiable group, deaf people, by not providing benefits coverage for a necessary aspect to provide the required health care service of diagnosis, while providing other identifiable groups with coverage. This is in line with Hart’s belief that laws are made generally and apply to individuals because they fall into a group, and not because they are specifically that individual. The Medicare Protection Act is law that provides coverage for identifiable disabled minorities which a hearing disability should be included.
Assuming the Medicare Protection Act was valid; would the exclusion of the hearing impaired under the groups of which receive benefits be a violation of s.15 of the Charter? One could argue that the question of inclusion of one identifiably disabled minority into the Medicare Protection Act is a cross road of morality and law. Hart would argue that when morality and law clash, one must weigh the competing obligations in each case. Although law is not morality, it also does not supersede it. Weighing the obligations in this case and considering the finding through the separation thesis that the Medicare Protection Act is not valid law in that it does not have that inner quality because it discriminates against at least one group, morality would trump law and one would then determine how best to obey the law in light of this finding. In other words, the Medicare Protection Act would require the inclusion of the hearing impaired under the list of groups that receive benefits.
Hart would not save the definition of benefits under the Medicare Services Act under s.1 of the Charter because if it were to permit the discrimination of a minority, s.1 of the Charter would not have that inner quality that demands our obedience.
As one would expect, Fuller would go about deciding this case differently than Hart. In examining s.15, Fuller would conclude that it is a valid law because it encompasses the internal and external morality requirements of what he considers a valid law. The inner morality here would be the protection of minorities through requirements of equality and restrictions against discrimination. This would work towards providing functional order since it is defensive and caring legislation providing for an identifiable group that society would agree could benefit from the protection of discrimination as opposed to a law oppressing a group which in turn could instil feelings of resentment and anger.
The external morality is established through the inner morality. Here, the inner morality provides the necessary belief that s.15 of the Charter would afford order. Fuller believes that the external morality is the acceptance of the law which is ultimately grounded in morality. Since s.15 of the Charter works to protect the identifiable minorities, this would be accepted as satisfying Fuller’s requirement of external morality. Fuller would conclude s.15 is a valid law.
In examining the Medicare Protection Act, Fuller would conclude that it lacks the external morality in the context of the Eldridge case because it discriminates against a group by failing to provide for the hearing impaired while explicitly providing for other identifiable minorities.
Through Fuller’s approach a judge would find that the Medicare Protection Act, by failing to provide for the hearing impaired, fails to be consistent with its purpose. This examination includes referring to the external morality and the law’s inner morality. The morality here would be providing coverage for handicapped minority groups so that they receive the treatment they require that is equivalent to the general individual. This morality is not met.
Assuming both the Medicare Protection Act and s.15 of the Charter were valid, the court in determining whether the Medicare Protection Act violates s.15 of the Charter under Fuller’s thesis would go about it differently from Hart’s Separation Thesis. A judge, under Fuller’s thesis, would find that s.15 of the Charter, in order to serve the purpose in which it was drafted, would be violated by the Medicare Protection Act because it discriminates against an identifiable minority, the hearing impaired and in turn does not promote equality. Fuller would not save the law under s.1 of the Charter because in doing so would draw a conclusion that s.1 of the Charter, in practice, does not possess the internal and external morality required to be a valid law because it works towards an immoral end and therefore would defeat itself.
In conclusion, Fuller would find that s.15 of the Charter is violated by the Medicare Protection Act and would agree that the coverage for hearing impaired patients should be required.
- Eldridge v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 3 SCR 624 at para 32
- Ibid at para 81
- Ibid at para 61
- Ibid at para 69
- Ibid at para 54
- Ibid at para 40
- Ibid at para 64 | <urn:uuid:a93f41e7-e940-4694-b0c7-a5006629c11e> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://kumu.tru.ca/Course:Law3020/2014WT1/Group_D/Separation_Thesis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371606067.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405150416-20200405180916-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.959422 | 3,551 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Wheat is one of the world's most commonly consumed cereal grains.
It comes from a type of grass (Triticum) that is grown in countless varieties worldwide.
Bread wheat, or common wheat, is the primary species. Several other closely related species include durum, spelt, emmer, einkorn, and Khorasan wheat.
White and whole-wheat flour are key ingredients in baked goods, such as bread. Other wheat-based foods include pasta, noodles, semolina, bulgur, and couscous.
Wheat is highly controversial because it contains a protein called gluten, which can trigger a harmful immune response in predisposed individuals.
However, for people who tolerate it, whole-grain wheat can be a rich source of various antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
This article tells you everything you need to know about wheat.
Wheat is mainly composed of carbs but also has moderate amounts of protein.
Here are the nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of whole-grain wheat flour (
- Calories: 340
- Water: 11%
- Protein: 13.2 grams
- Carbs: 72 grams
- Sugar: 0.4 grams
- Fiber: 10.7 grams
- Fat: 2.5 grams
Like all cereal grains, wheat is mainly composed of carbs.
Starch is the predominant carb in the plant kingdom, accounting for over 90% of the total carb content in wheat (
The health effects of starch mainly depend on its digestibility, which determines its effect on blood sugar levels.
High digestibility may cause an unhealthy spike in blood sugar after a meal and have harmful effects on health, especially for people with diabetes.
Whole wheat is high in fiber — but refined wheat contains almost none.
The fiber content of whole-grain wheat is 12–15% of the dry weight (
As they’re concentrated in the bran, fibers are removed during the milling process and largely absent from refined flour.
What’s more, wheat contains small amounts of soluble fibers, or fructans, that may cause digestive symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (
By and large, though, wheat bran may have beneficial effects on gut health.
Gluten a large family of proteins, accounts for up to 80% of the total protein content. It's responsible for the unique elasticity and stickiness of wheat dough, the properties that make it so useful in breadmaking.
Wheat gluten can have adverse health effects in people with gluten intolerance.
SUMMARY Carbs are the main nutritional component of wheat. Still, this grain harbors significant amounts of fiber, which may aid your digestion. Its protein mostly comes in the form of gluten.
Whole wheat is a good source of several vitamins and minerals.
As with most cereal grains, the amount of minerals depends on the soil in which it’s grown.
- Selenium. This trace element has various essential functions in your body. The selenium content of wheat depends on the soil — and is very low in some regions, including China (
- Manganese. Found in high amounts in whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, manganese may be poorly absorbed from whole wheat due to its phytic acid content (
- Phosphorus. This dietary mineral plays an essential role in the maintenance and growth of body tissues.
- Copper. An essential trace element, copper is often low in the Western diet. Deficiency may have adverse effects on heart health (
- Folate. One of the B vitamins, folate is also known as folic acid or vitamin B9. It’s particularly important during pregnancy (
Some of the most nutritious parts of the grain — the bran and germ — are absent from white wheat because they’re removed during the milling and refining process.
Therefore, white wheat is relatively poor in many vitamins and minerals compared to whole-grain wheat.
Because wheat accounts for a large portion of people's food intake, flour is regularly enriched with vitamins and minerals.
In fact, enrichment of wheat flour is mandatory in many countries (16).
Enriched wheat flour may be a good source of iron, thiamine, niacin, calcium, and vitamin B6, in addition to the above nutrients.
SUMMARY Whole wheat may be a decent source of several vitamins and minerals, including selenium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, and folate.
The highest levels of antioxidants are found in the aleurone layer, a component of the bran.
Wheat aleurone is also sold as a dietary supplement (
Common plant compounds in wheat include:
- Ferulic acid. This polyphenol is the predominant antioxidant in wheat and other cereal grains (
17, 18, 19).
- Phytic acid. Concentrated in the bran, phytic acid may impair your absorption of minerals, such as iron and zinc. Soaking, sprouting, and fermenting grains can reduce its levels (20,
- Alkylresorcinols. Found in wheat bran, alkylresorcinols are a class of antioxidants that may have a number of health benefits (
- Lignans. These are another family of antioxidants present in wheat bran. Test-tube studies indicate that lignans may help prevent colon cancer (
- Wheat germ agglutinin. This protein is concentrated in wheat germ and blamed for a number of adverse health effects. However, lectins are inactivated with heat — and thus neutralized in baked goods (24).
- Lutein. An antioxidant carotenoid, lutein is responsible for the color of yellow durum wheat. High-lutein foods may improve eye health (
SUMMARY Wheat bran, which is present in whole wheat, may contain a number of healthy antioxidants, such as alkylresorcinols and lignans. Notably, white flour and other refined wheat products do not contain these compounds.
While white wheat may not be particularly beneficial to health, whole-grain wheat may offer several positive effects — especially when it replaces white flour.
Whole-grain wheat is rich in insoluble fiber, which is concentrated in the bran.
One study found that bran can reduce constipation risk in children (
Yet, depending on the underlying cause of the constipation, eating bran may not always be effective (
Prevention of colon cancer
Colon cancer is the most prevalent type of digestive system cancer.
SUMMARY Whole wheat and other whole-grain cereals may promote gut health and reduce your risk of colon cancer.
Celiac disease is characterized by a harmful immune reaction to gluten.
Einkorn, an ancient wheat variety, causes weaker reactions than other varieties — but is still unsuitable for people with gluten intolerance (
Adhering to a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease. Although wheat is the main dietary source of gluten, this protein can also be found in rye, barley, and many processed foods.
SUMMARY Gluten — which is found in all wheat — can harm individuals with celiac disease. This condition is characterized by damage to your small intestine and impaired absorption of nutrients.
Although whole-grain wheat may have some health benefits, many people need to eat less of it — or avoid it altogether.
The number of individuals who follow a gluten-free diet exceeds those who have celiac disease.
Sometimes, people simply believe that wheat and gluten are inherently harmful to health. In other cases, wheat or gluten may cause actual symptoms.
Frequently reported symptoms of wheat sensitivity include abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, joint pain, bloating, and eczema (
One study indicates that, in some people, the symptoms of wheat sensitivity may be triggered by substances other than gluten (
Evidence suggests that wheat sensitivity is caused by fructans, which belong to a class of fibers known as FODMAPs (
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common condition, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, irregular bowel habits, diarrhea, and constipation.
It is more common in people who experience anxiety and is often triggered by a stressful life event (
Although FODMAPs — which are found in wheat — make symptoms worse, they are not considered the underlying cause of IBS.
If you have this condition, it may be best to limit wheat consumption.
Food allergy is a common condition, triggered by a harmful immune response to certain proteins.
Gluten in wheat is a primary allergen, affecting approximately 1% of children (
In adults, allergy is most often reported among those regularly exposed to airborne wheat dust.
Baker's asthma and nasal inflammation are typical allergic reactions to wheat dust (
Whole-grain wheat contains phytic acid (phytate), which impairs the absorption of minerals — such as iron and zinc — from the same meal (
For this reason, it has been referred to as an antinutrient.
While rarely problematic for people following a well-balanced diet, antinutrients may be a concern for those who base their diets on cereal grains and legumes.
SUMMARY Wheat has a number of potential downsides. These include allergy, worsened IBS symptoms, wheat intolerance, and antinutrient content.
Spelt is an ancient variety of wheat closely related to common wheat.
Grown for thousands of years, spelt has recently become popular as a health food (59).
Common whole wheat and spelt have similar nutritional profiles — particularly regarding their fiber and protein content. Still, this depends on which varieties of spelt and common wheat are being compared (59, 60, 61).
Other than its higher mineral content, spelt is not clearly more beneficial than whole-grain common wheat.
SUMMARY Spelt may have a higher mineral content than common wheat. However, this difference is unlikely to have any major health effect.
Wheat is not only one of the world's most common foods but also one of the most controversial.
People who are intolerant to gluten need to eliminate wheat from their diet entirely.
However, moderate consumption of fiber-rich whole wheat may be healthy for those who tolerate it, as it may improve digestion and help prevent colon cancer.
Ultimately, if you enjoy breads, baked goods, and other wheat products in moderation, this ubiquitous grain is unlikely to harm your health. | <urn:uuid:9981dba7-91a8-4791-ac32-025cc42fde99> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/wheat | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370503664.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331181930-20200331211930-00193.warc.gz | en | 0.943802 | 2,208 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Granite?
Granite is a naturally found stone composed of several large mineral grains tightly packed together. The main components include Feldspar and Quartz with a mix of other minerals including Biotite and Muscovite.
The minerals Feldspar and Quartz, which are the major components of granite, are harder than steel. This is why throughout human civilization, granite has been used as a building material.
The mica minerals called Biotite and Muscovite are more minor components of granite and give it a glittery appearance.
Why is it so popular?
Granite has emerged as the most popular kitchen countertop material because of its natural beauty and durability.
- The elegance of granite countertops adds value to homes
- Heat, scratch, and stain resistant
- Granite outlasts even the life of the home it is installed in
- Very little maintenance is required
- It is more affordable than many people think because of the abundant supply
Where does granite originate?
Granite is naturally formed in most parts of the world, but it is quarried in significant quantities in Brazil, India, Italy, Africa, Norway, Finland, and China. A majority of the most desirable granite slabs used for kitchen countertops in the USA come from Brazil, India, and Italy.
Is granite high maintenance?
In fact, granite countertops require very little maintenance. You only have to clean them with a mild soap and warm water and apply a sealer as needed.
Does heat damage granite?
No, granite can withstand very high temperatures. Placing hot pans or a hot kettle will not cause any damage to the granite’s color or stability. However, it is recommended that you use trivets because of other reasons.
Can knives scratch granite?
Knives cannot scratch true granite. The only thing harder than granite is diamond. For example, diamond is scored 10 on the MOH’s hardness scale and granite is scored 7. Diamond blades are the only thing that can cleanly cut through granite. Other natural stones like Gneiss and Schist are commonly called granite, but they do not have a MOH score of 7, and they can be probably scratched by knives.
Is granite expensive?
Actually, the entry level granite countertop prices have become very affordable because of the abundant supply of natural granite and modern technology.
Can granite be repaired?
The answer is sometimes. Chips that occur from accidental impacts can be fixed. Cracked counters can sometimes be filled but the repair will be noticable.
Does granite harbor bacteria?
No, the center for disease control did not find any evidence to suggest that bacteria could grow in granite.
What is the thickness of the granite used for countertops?
We recommend using 3cm (1 ¼”) thick granite for countertop application. 1 ¼” thickness granite is sturdy enough to be placed directly on the cabinets. Granite also comes in 3/4″ thickness but requires plywood decking for support.
What surface finishes does granite come with?
- Polished: A shiny, glossy surface. This is by far the most popular.
- Honed: A matte finish.
- Brushed / Antiqued: A textured surface
What are the pits in the granite?
It’s not uncommon to see some small pits on the surface of the granite slabs. These pits are formed during the polishing process, when some of the weaker components of granite, like Biotite, flake off from the surface. This happens at the granite processing plants in different countries where the granite is quarried and polished.
The pits themselves do not make the granite less durable or inferior for use in countertops, but the look and feel of the granite with the pits may bother some clients. It is a better if you discuss these issues with the fabricators before you make the final decision on your stone selection.
We do not recommend that you have the pits filled because no compound can adequately or permanently fill these spaces without visually affecting the surface of the stone. The best practice is to discuss imperfections with your fabricator before selecting the stone, and if you really hate the pits you should consider a granite that has no visual imperfections.
What about the filled lines in the granite slabs?
A good number of granite colors that are very beautiful with a variety of colors and veins that flow in different directions, are not truly “granites” in strict geological terms. Though they are commonly called granites, they are actually Gneiss or Schists stones. True granite stones scale between 6 and 7 on MOH’s scale of hardness (diamond hardness is 10). Whereas, the MOH’s scale for Gneiss and Schist is less than 6.
In order to strengthen these stones to be used as countertops, they undergo a process called resinization, where epoxy resin is used to fill the weak spots of these stones. These slabs, with the visually filled lines, do not break or crack once they are installed, with proper care. If any problem does happen, it will happen during fabrication or transportation.
Mascarello, Copenhagen, Louise Blue, Barricato, Betularie, and many more popular stones belong to this category. A lot of customers do not mind the fill lines and visual imperfections because of the beauty of these natural stones.
If you are a perfectionist, and do not want any imperfections, then you should choose another type of stone.
Does granite need to be resealed regularly?
If you use high quality impregnating sealers like DuPont Bulletproof sealer, you should have to reseal your granite every couple years. However, using the wrong type of cleaner on your stone countertop can break down the sealer prematurely.
What are prefabricated granite blanks?
Granite slabs that are cut into particular sizes and have one edge that is polished. They are typically fabricated in countries with cheap labor, like China, and if you decide to use these, you will not have a custom fabricated countertop. Some lower end fabricators use granite blanks to entice customers with a low price.
How much can I extend the granite overhang?
Granite countertops can often be extended beyond the cabinets to give an added functionality to kitchen spaces.
The standard overhang is 1 ½” from the face of the cabinets.
The actual overhang may slightly vary depending on how straight the countertops are installed. Having the cabinets not installed in a straight line is not an uncommon problem. Your salesperson can discuss these issues with the homeowners to come to a clear understanding of what variances can be expected.
We can extend the 3 cm granite countertops up to a maximum of 10” from the cabinets unsupported and 6″ for 2cm granite.
We have to be careful when we install upper bar tops that sit on a 5” knee wall. These overhangs have to be supported by steel braces placed under the countertop and then screwed into the wooden studs in the knee wall.
Any granite countertops with more than an 10” overhang for 3cm and 6″ overhanf for 2cm should be adequately supported by steel braces. Please see our option on our Supports Page.
Extended islands, higher level bar tops, and peninsulas are some of the areas of the kitchen that may have an extended overhang, up to 18”. The placement of wood or metal supports that extend from the cabinets, sometimes called corbels, can hit your knees and are not visually appealing. The ideal solution is to place steel bars, secured adequately, and is a permanent support that is almost invisible and does not hit your knees.
What is the ideal overhang for my bar top or breakfast area?
12” is the ideal overhang for comfortable seating without hitting your knees on the cabinet, however, the overhang does need to be adequately supported.
Can I keep my existing tile back splash?
The answer is Yes and No. We cannot guarantee that the existing tile will not break or chip while removing the old countertops. Secondly, if the granite being installed is a different thickness than the counters being removed there could be a gap between the existing tile backsplash and the new countertop.
Do seams in Granite show?
Yes, seems are visible if you look carefully at the countertops. However, the goal of a good granite installation company is to make them as inconspicuous as possible. Some stones tend to hide the seams better than others.
How much does granite weigh?
Granite weighs about 16 to 17 pounds per square foot.
How do you attach the granite countertops to my cabinet?
The stone countertops are places on the cabinets and, after ensuring that everything is leveled, a bead of silicon is applied at the intersection of the cabinets and the underside of the stone. This is sufficient to hold the countertops in place in a normal situation.
If the cabinets are not leveled, which is not uncommon, we have to place shims underneath the countertops to level them.
Can you level my cabinets?
No, we do not level your cabinets. You will need the help of your carpenter or your contractor for that.
How do I prepare for template?
On the day of template our technician will use a laser templating device to create a digital template of your countertops. He will need an unubstructed view of the entire countertop so we ask that the counters are clear from any objects.
Will you dispose of my old counters?
Yes, We will haul away your old counters. We will however leave sinks so that your plumber can salvage any necessary parts needed for the reconnect.
Will there be any dust?
Creating cut-outs for sinks, cooktops, and faucet holes do create dust if and when these must take place in the home. However, our installers will do their best to minimize dust.
When you give me the arrival window for my measure and/or install does that mean you will arrive at the beginning of the time frame and be completed by the end of the time frame?
No! We give those windows as an “arrive between” window. We will NOT be there at the beginning of that window always. We try stay on time as much as possible but sometimes things arise at the job site that is beyond our control and may cause us to be at a job site longer than expected. We will do our best to call and let you know if that happens and that we may be arriving later than our expected window. We feel this is the best way to go about the scheduling so we don’t give people windows of 8am-8pm like so many other repair, cable and delivery companies do.
Who disconnects my plumbing and electrical connections before you come to install my new tops?
We are not licensed plumbers or electricians. Therefore, we can not disconnect your plumbing or electrical connections. All plumbing and electrical connections need to be disconnected BEFORE we arrive on the job site. If you have paid for us to remove and dispose of your old tops but wish to keep your old sink or faucet YOU will have to have them unattached from the old tops before we arrive. If you are fine with us disposing the sink and faucet along with the tops they may still be attached to the countertops.
Can granite crack?
Not with ordinary use. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping and installation. Normal use will not overstress this durable material. Normal use does not include standing on the countertops.
How do you clean Granite?
Warm soapy water will do the trick. You can always use cleaners specifically formulated to help clean and protect stone surfaces as well.
Will my granite look like the sample?
Granite is a natural stone created by the forces of nature. It is composed of various minerals and is susceptible to wide variations in color, texture, spotting, veining and cracking. These variations are expected and are the source of its natural beauty. Therefore, no 4” x 4” sample can completely represent the changes found throughout a whole slab of granite. If you select a color that has a lot of movement and varies in color you will select your actual slab to be used in your kitchen by either selecting at Texas Custom Granite or one of our many suppliers.
Why is some granite more expensive than others and are the higher priced granites stronger?
No! It is simply supply and demand and rarity of color. More attractive stones are in higher demand and if they come from a distant land in small quantities the price will be higher. Some of the toughest stones are also quite cheap and some of the most expensive can be very fragile. Also note that all natural stone contains small “pits” to varying degrees. These are simply small voids between grain boundaries and some of the most expensive stones can be full of them.
Will my granite countertop have visible seams?
Most granite installations will require at least one or more joints called seams. During layout and design, we will try to minimize the number of seams required. Additionally, our care in manufacturing ensures that edges fit together very tightly to help lessen the appearance of visible seams. You will however be able to see and feel all granite seams.
How should I prepare for installation and how long will it take?
The Average 2 slab kitchen installation usually takes about 4-6 hours from start to finish.
Recommendations to Prepare for Installations:
- Installation Preparedness: Access: Granite countertops are extremely heavy, and installers need clear access to entry ways. Please have your walkways and driveways as clear as possible.
- Cabinets: We recommend that you empty the cabinets under the sink base because they will be drilling the faucet holes on site. Even though we have one guy drilling and another holding the vacuum it is impossible to catch all dust. We will vacuum up our mess, but do not wipe down the cabinetry.
- Safety: Please remove any breakable items and cover items to protect them from dust. Granite installation can create a lot of dust. Our installers do try to control the mess the best they can, but please remember that this is construction and it is by definition a messy business.
- Faucets: Please have ready any faucets, soap dispensers, disposal switches, reverse osmosis spigots and any other items that need to be drilled into the countertops. Your plumber will NOT be able to drill extra holes.
- Sinks: Top mount sinks will be cut on site inside the home after the tops have been set in place. Under-mount sinks are cut and polished at our shop and attached at the job site.
- Cook Tops: These will be cut out inside the home once the top has been set on the cabinets. Even though we do our best to lessen the dust it is the responsibility of the homeowner to remove any soft glide hardware or anything they fell the fine granite dust will damage.
- Dishwashers: These need to be in their final position. We install a metal bracket across the top of the cabinet that you can screw your dishwasher tabs into the following day.
- Refrigerators: These need to be in their final position.
Is there a chance that my walls will be dinged during the installation of my counter tops?
Yes. This is a construction site and granite does not flex, so in order to install the tops you may have damage to your walls and they may need to be touched up by the homeowner. We do everything we can to minimize the dings but occasionally damage does occur to the sheetrock and paint.
Will the underside of my granite be smooth like the top?
No. We do not touch the top of the surface of the granite. It comes to us from overseas like you see it in our yard and showroom. We do not touch the underside of the granite either. We radius the bottom edge when we polish the edge to your edge selection, but we do not polish the under side of the slab.
What is your warranty and repair policy?
Texas Custom Granite has a 1 year workmanship warranty. This warranty covers seam separation for one year from the date of installation.
The warranty will not cover fissures and pits in granite. Because it is a natural stone, granite may have fissures which look like cracks; these pose no actual structural problems. When selecting your granite, please look for these carefully in your slabs if you wish to avoid them.
Although Granite is one of the hardest substances on earth so sitting, standing or hitting with a meat clever is not recommended. Texas Custom Granite will not warranty against breakage after installation. | <urn:uuid:29ff4f50-071d-496d-8243-8f1a1faa0ece> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://texascustomgranite.com/care/faq/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371611051.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405213008-20200406003508-00355.warc.gz | en | 0.939033 | 3,500 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Pathogen Safety Data Sheets: Infectious Substances – Bordetella pertussis
PATHOGEN SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Bordetella pertussis
CHARACTERISTICS: Bordetella pertussis are small, gram-negative, encapsulated, non-motile, coccobacilli with outer pili. They are generally about 0.5-1.0 µm in sizeFootnote 3 -Footnote 5 . Some have reported that the bacteria are covered with surface slime or biofilm composed of carbohydratesFootnote 6 . B. pertussis is a strict aerobe and grows optimally at 35°C to 37°CFootnote 3 ; however, it is fastidious in its nutritional requirements as it specifically requires nicotinamide supplementFootnote 5 , and growth can be inhibited by the presence of fatty acids, metal ions, sulphides, and peroxides in the mediaFootnote 3 . Its production of extracellular toxins such as pertussis toxin (PT), invasive adenylate cyclase, and tracheal cytotoxin greatly contributes to its pathogenicityFootnote 5 .
SECTION II - HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
PATHOGENICITY/TOXICITY: B. pertussis is a respiratory pathogen that causes pertussis, also known as whooping cough, a localized infection of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchial tree Footnote 3, Footnote 7. The disease affects mainly children, but adults have also been increasingly reported to be affected Footnote 2, Footnote 8. The pathogen produces toxins which cause local damage to the cilia of epithelial cells, which leads to prolonged illness and pertussisFootnote 2, Footnote 5. Symptoms of pertussis can be either typical (classical) or atypical Footnote 3. Four hundred thousand fatal cases are reported each year Footnote 9.
Typical symptoms occur in three different stages Footnote 3. The first stage is the catarrhal stage. This stage lasts for about 1-2 weeks, and is characterized by non-specific symptoms such as rhinorrhea, sneezing, low-grade fever and cough. The second stage is the paroxysmal stage, lasting for about 1-6 weeks, and is characterized by various pathognomonic symptoms of pertussis such as episodes of paroxysmal cough with a characteristic whooping sound. The paroxysmal cough can also be associated with post-tussive cyanosis and emesis Footnote 2, Footnote 3. The final stage is the convalescent stage. During this stage, the respiratory symptoms gradually decrease although coughing may last for several months Footnote 2, Footnote 3. Atypical pertussis, a less severe respiratory illness which include prolonged, nonparoxysmal cough occurs mainly in older immunized children and adults Footnote 3, Footnote 7. Pertussis infection in infants may cause severe cough, choking, poor feeding, and apnea without paroxysmal cough Footnote 3, Footnote 7, Footnote 10. Serious complications associated with the pertussis are cyanosis, pneumonia, bradycardia, seizures, encephalopathy, refractory pulmonary hypertension, and even death Footnote 2. Complications vary depending upon the age group and occur mainly in infants Footnote 2.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: B. pertussis is of worldwide prevalence as it can exist as a noninvasive parasite of the respiratory tract of mammals, however, 20-40 million cases of pertussis, and 400,000 fatal cases, are reported each year Footnote 9. The last national peak of pertussis infection in Canada occurred in 1998 Footnote 7. Between the years 1998-2004, the incidence of pertussis as well as pertussis-related mortality declined significantly following introduction of the acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine) in 1998 Footnote 7. In the United States, the rates of pertussis infection moderately increased between the years 1980 and 2000, although larger rate increases were observed in adolescent and adult cases of pertussis Footnote 2, Footnote 9. Infants below the age of 12 months have the highest incidence and mortality associated with pertussis. The incidence rates in this age group have remained stable since 2001 with a range of 71.3–91.6 cases per 100,000.
HOST RANGE: Disease occurs only in humans Footnote 3.
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Transmission of B. pertussis occurs primarily via direct contact or inhalation of airborne droplets Footnote 2, Footnote 11. Symptoms develop following inhalation of the airborne pathogen.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Seven to 10 days, with a range of 4-21 days Footnote 3.
COMMUNICABILITY: It is highly contagious (infects 80-90% of susceptible persons) and is transmitted from human-to-human via contact with discharge from respiratory membranes or inhalation of infectious respiratory droplets Footnote 3, Footnote 11. It is most contagious in the catarrhal and the paroxysmal stages Footnote 2.
SECTION III - DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Humans are the sole reservoir Footnote 3. The main reservoir consists of adults and adolescents with atypical or undiagnosed infection, who may transmit the infection to infants and children Footnote 8.
ZOONOSIS: None Footnote 3.
VECTOR: None Footnote 3.
SECTION IV – STABILITY AND VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY/RESISTANCE: Susceptible to erythromycin, macrolides such as azithromycin and clarithromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, floroquinoles such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gemifloxacin Footnote 3, Footnote 12.
SUSCEPTIBILITY/RESISTANCE TO DISINFECTANTS: B. pertussis has been shown to be sensitive to glutaraldehyde Footnote 15. In addition most vegetative bacteria are susceptible to low concentrations of chlorine (<1ppm) Footnote 16, Footnote 17, 70% ethanol, phenolics such as orthophenylphenol and ortho-benzyl-paua-chlorophenol, and peracetic acid (0.001% to 0.2%) Footnote 17.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Information specific to B. pertussis is not available; however, most vegetative bacteria can be inactivated by moist heat (121°C for 15 min- 30 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for 1-2 hours) Footnote 18.
SECTION V – FIRST AID / MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms. Diagnosis of B. pertussis can be done using cultures of clinical specimens such as nasopharygeal aspirates and posterior nasopharyngeal swabs Footnote 2, Footnote 3, however, it should be noted that cultures are less sensitive after antimicrobial therapy has been started Footnote 2. Gram-staining or biochemical tests such as PCR, Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA), or ELISA can also confirm infection Footnote 2, Footnote 3. PCR is a quicker and more sensitive method, but it is less specific than culture. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of both culture and PCR assay for diagnosing pertussis Footnote 2.
Note: All diagnostic methods are not necessarily available in all countries.
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Treatment for pertussis is generally supportive. Antibiotic treatment is most effective when given during the catarrhal stage, and can also reduce the risk of transmission when given at paroxysmal stage Footnote 2. A 14-day regimen with erythromycin is recommended for treating pertussis Footnote 2, Footnote 12. Other antibiotics effective for treating pertussis include azithromycin and clarithromycin Footnote 2. These drugs have fewer side effects than erythromycin. For neonates, only azithromycin is recommended Footnote 2.
IMMUNIZATION: Vaccination for control of pertussis infection is given as a combined DTaP vaccine of diptheria, pertussis, and tetanus toxoid Footnote 10. It can be administered along with the vaccine for poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) to infants at a very young age Footnote 7. A booster dose of DTaP–IPV vaccine can also be given between 4 and 6 years of age Footnote 7, Footnote 10.
PROPHYLAXIS: Antibiotic prophylaxis with erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin is advocated by both The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and CDC to control pertussis outbreaks Footnote 2. In Canada, azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin prophylaxis is recommended for close household contacts of pertussis infected patients Footnote 12. Azithromycin was also effective against a hospital-wide outbreak of pertussis Footnote 12.
SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Eight cases of B. pertussis infection were reported from a research institution conducting pertussis research Footnote 8. The infections were found among individuals not directly working with the bacteria. They may have acquired the infection through the common laboratory spaces where the research was conducted Footnote 8. Two cases of B. pertussis laboratory acquired infection were also reported from a large Midwestern university Footnote 8. Another B. pertussis infection was reported in a worker who had aerated the liquid cultures of bacteria for the preparation of vaccine Footnote 21.
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Exposure to infectious aerosols, generated during manipulation of pertussis cultures or working with concentrated suspensions of the bacteria, to mucous membranes Footnote 8.
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None.
SECTION VII – EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION
RISK GROUP CLASSIFICATION: Risk Group 2 Footnote 22.
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Containment Level 2 facilities, equipment, and operational practices for work involving infectious or potentially infectious materials, animals, or cultures Footnote 23.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Lab coat. Gloves when direct skin contact with infected materials or animals is unavoidable. Eye protection must be used where there is a known or potential risk of exposure to splashes Footnote 23.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: All procedures that may produce aerosols, or involve high concentrations or large volumes should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). The use of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects should be strictly limited. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals or large scale activities Footnote 23.
SECTION VIII – HANDLING AND STORAGE
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle and, wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply an appropriate disinfectant, starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre. Allow sufficient contact time before clean up Footnote 23.
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes that contain or have come in contact with the infectious organism by autoclave, chemical disinfection, gamma irradiation, or incineration before disposing Footnote 23.
STORAGE: The infectious agent should be stored in leak-proof containers that are appropriately labelled Footnote 23.
SECTION IX – REGULATORY AND OTHER INFORMATION
REGULATORY INFORMATION: The import, transport, and use of pathogens in Canada is regulated under many regulatory bodies, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment Canada, and Transport Canada. Users are responsible for ensuring they are compliant with all relevant acts, regulations, guidelines, and standards.
UPDATED: October 2010
PREPARED BY: Pathogen Regulation Directorate, Public Health Agency of Canada
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Pathogen Safety Data sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010
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With 2019-nCoV still uncontrolled across China, and global control challenged by incidents on cruise ships, in alpine ski towns, in apartment blocks, and elsewhere, conversations about the coronavirus epidemic always circle back to trying to figure out just how deadly it really is.
The disease’s case fatality rate (CFR) — the percentage of 2019-nCoV infections that result in death — is devilishly difficult to calculate this early on in the outbreak. So the range of numbers tossed out is very wide, going from .1% (like the seasonal flu) all the way up to 10% (like SARS), and 30% (like MERS).
Why is it so difficult to calculate a CFR for this virus? Well, it’s partially because people are irresponsibly quoting numbers with no scholarly support whatsoever, whether too high or too low. But it mainly comes down to the fact that the CFR of an outbreak of a brand new virus is hard to estimate.
Just to put real information up front, responsible estimates are all between 1% and 10% right now, and have been trending toward the lower end of that range.
Calculating a CFR is simple in theory
For any disease that has already run its course, where we can look back at a sample of cases that we’re certain is representative and divide them cleanly into deaths and recoveries, the CFR is a simple ratio: the number of deaths divided by the number of cases.
- The CFR of SARS is about 10%, because about eight thousand cases yielded about eight hundred deaths.
- The CFR of the 2014-2016 West African ebola virus outbreak was about 40%, because about 28,000 cases yielded about 11,000 deaths.
- The CFR of the 2009 H1N1 influenza epidemic was about .01-.08%, because between 700 million and 1.4 billion cases yielded between 150,000 and 575,000 deaths.
- The CFR of the 1918 influenza pandemic has been estimated at around 10% to 20%.
For a thoroughly studied epidemic that’s already over, this kind of pat number can be calculated with relative ease, although as you can see, the numbers can carry significant uncertainty even after a century of retrospective research.
The trouble is that in a new and evolving outbreak, both of these numbers are very uncertain, and the relationship between them is far from guaranteed to remain constant over time.
Uncertainty in the number of cases
Right now, there’s huge uncertainty in the number of cases of 2019-nCoV that are actually out there.
The best estimates are that ascertainment, the percentage of cases known to medical authorities, is still pretty low, and probably still rising over time. Early in the epidemic, ascertainment numbers were estimated in the single digits, meaning real case numbers were probably over ten times higher than official numbers.
Even now, in Hubei province, thousands of patients with 2019-nCoV-like symptoms are being quarantined together in huge spaces without even being tested for 2019-nCoV, likely including many with the cold or flu who don’t even have 2019-nCoV. On the other hand, thousands of 2019-nCoV patients are also suffering at home, while others may not even have symptoms. And thousands more cases are latent.
Outside Hubei and especially outside China, ascertainment is almost certainly higher, but significant uncertainty still exists.
Uncertainty in the amount of time it takes for the disease to run its course
We need better data on how long this disease takes to run its course, before we can figure out which of the known cases should be considered as part of the denominator for a CFR calculation.
Someone who exhibited symptoms yesterday and was diagnosed today is a real case, but hasn’t had a chance to die yet. So should they be included in the “number of cases” term in our CFR calculation? Probably not.
But how long does someone have to have symptoms before you can count them? Do you wait a fixed period of time, or until they’re already recovered?
This uncertainty around the timetable of the disease is likely to be a big factor with 2019-nCoV, because the epidemic has been approximately doubling in size every week, while some reports from Wuhan indicate that deaths tend to come in the third week of the infection.
Uncertainty in the number of deaths
In most outbreaks, the official death numbers are likely to be closer to correct than the official case numbers, because more serious cases which are more likely to result in deaths are also more likely to wind up in the hospital. However, there are still a number of factors that can lead to significant uncertainty.
For one, some people do die of epidemic disease at home, completely outside the medical system. This is often pretty rare in times and places with functioning and trusted health systems, but there have been reports of this happening in Wuhan. We don’t know how often it’s happening.
In addition, in Hubei, significant numbers of deaths are occurring in hospitals without being confirmed by positive tests, and they are not counted as 2019-nCoV casualties. We don’t know how many.
It’s also the case that current case numbers contain people who haven’t died yet, but will die in the future, and we don’t know how many (see the above section on how long it takes the disease to run its course).
Finally, since the onset of this outbreak there have been rumors on Chinese social media that the government has been having bodies cremated before they can be tested and entered into the official death count. It’s very hard to evaluate these allegations of official suppression of fatality numbers, much less factor them into a CFR estimate, which is why many of us are keeping a close eye on the numbers coming from outside China.
Changes in these relationships over time
In addition, there is no single CFR for a disease — no guarantee that the CFR derived from one set of cases, even if it is unimpeachably correct, will extend to other circumstances. So talking about “the” CFR of 2019-nCoV is a little bit of a fool’s errand.
The CFR in a place where all the cases are making it into hospital beds may be significantly better than in a place many cases are winding up in improvised epidemic wards, or suffering at home.
The CFR in a first world hospital may be better than one in a third world hospital, and better in a hospital with plenty of resources to spare than one seeing lots of cases. Washington State University hospital treated its case with robots, used experimental drugs like remdesivir, and had a team of specialists standing by, conditions unlikely if they had more cases, and unlikely in Wuhan under even the best of circumstances.
The CFR in a population with more vulnerable people may be worse than one in a place with a younger population. Japan, e.g., has nearly twice the elderly population of China as a percentage, while India has half the elderly population.
The CFR in the same place may improve over time as new treatments emerge, or as experience with the clinical features of the new disease accumulates. The CFR of 2019-nCoV may drop significantly if repurposed antivirals prove effective and become widely available, or if new insights emerge about how to care for critical cases.
Numbers you’ll see that are definitely wrong
There are a number of ways that people in the popular press are calculating CFRs for 2019-nCoV that are wrong. The numbers may eventually turn out to be correct, but these methods are wrong, and the numbers should not be relied on at all until they’re derived by more reliable methods.
- Making stuff up. A surprising number of people, including press outlets and even some medical experts, have been claiming the CFR of 2019-nCoV is “similar to seasonal flu” (which has a .1% CFR) or even “similar to the common cold” (which has a CFR of approximately zero) with no sources or calculations whatsoever, despite the fact that no responsible, data-based estimates have come close to this, or could be sustained by the numbers we have available. 2019-nCoV has caused a minimum of 725 deaths already; for it to have a CFR like the flu, this would mean that 725,000 cases would have had to have already happened and run their course, which is much higher than responsible estimates.
- Naively dividing current death numbers by current case numbers. This has all kinds of biases in both directions, and the 2% figure it produces, while possibly approximately correct, can’t be relied on.
- Naively dividing confirmed death numbers by the sum of current death and recovered numbers. This method is a favorite of conspiracy cranks and doomsayers. It will produce reliable results in an epidemic that is over, and wherein the ascertainment rate of fatal and nonfatal cases is similar, but in an ongoing and rapidly growing epidemic with a long recovery timeline and higher ascertainment of serious cases, like this one, will produce massive overestimates. The 23% number that people derive with this method is almost certainly a massive overestimate.
Right now, ridiculously high and ridiculously low CFR numbers, as well as plausible numbers derived by totally unreliable methods, are everywhere. Skepticism pays, right now.
Which numbers might actually be right?
Right now, none.
Medical experts continue to entertain numbers as low as 1% (still ten times higher than the seasonal flu) and as high as the SARS rate of approximately 10% for current caseloads in China.
While the higher of those numbers is now seemingly less likely, there’s still no clear consensus on a specific number for current caseloads, no clear consensus on how it might differ by circumstances (hospitalized vs improvised conditions, by country), and no clear consensus on how it might change over time. The highest recent number we’ve seen was an estimate of 6.5% from a recent modeling study.
One notable report we’re paying attention to is a lengthy interview with Caixin from Peng Zhiyong, the director of acute medicine at Wuhan University South Central Hospital about the experiences his group had.
Dr. Peng reports on 138 cases his hospital admitted up to January 28, a group which has a couple noted advantages as a study group: they have had time for the disease to largely run its course, they entered the medical system before case numbers got totally out of control, and they were seen in a hospital and treated pretty well. Of this group, about a quarter required ICU treatment, and about 4% died. Dr. Peng also reports that the fatalities in this group all came in approximately the third week of the symptomatic phase of the disease.
Although not formally published yet, this is the first cohort study of any kind to report fatality numbers. It’s unclear what this means, in exact terms, because we don’t know the percentage of admitted patients among all patients, but it speaks against the higher end mortality estimates of 10% and above. It also speaks against using current case numbers as a denominator, because the epidemic has been growing so rapidly and many cases have not had time to develop to the serious stage yet.
This article in Swiss Medical Weekly summarizes different reports and possibilities, but doesn’t account for long estimates of the outcome time by Dr. Peng and others.
This large cohort study in MedRxiv is another good piece of information. It’s the largest cohort study so far, and it comes from outside of Wuhan where conditions are under more control and ascertainment is higher. It reports a CFR of about 1.4%, lower than other recent reports. It’s based largely on cases which are still not resolved, which will bias the estimate downward, but also is only based on the cases which made it to the hospital, which will bias the estimate upward.
As time passes, more reliable cohort studies will start to give specific numbers for ascertained cases, and population surveys and reviews of death records will begin to pin down how representative those cases are of the general population. Cases in different places will get separate numbers attached to them, and studies from different times will show temporal trends. Research on any new therapies will focus on CFRs with and without them. The CFR landscape of 2019-nCoV will become clearer.
In the mean time, don’t commit yourself mentally to any single number, and pay no attention to any numbers far below 1%, far above 10%, that don’t have any sourcing, or that use unreliable methods. | <urn:uuid:49b7c9ac-c804-4e55-8be9-5baac62312c7> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://theprepared.com/blog/why-is-it-so-hard-to-tell-how-deadly-2019-ncov-is/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494349.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329140021-20200329170021-00154.warc.gz | en | 0.964459 | 2,662 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Ellen Fries was the first woman to defend her thesis at a Nordic university. She was also a pioneer of research in Swedish women’s history.
Ellen Fries was the only child of Beata Maria Borgström and Patrik Fries, colonel of the Svea artillery regiment and secretary at the Krigsvetenskapsakademi (the academy of military sciences). He was a keen history enthusiast and has been described as an extremely educated officer. Ellen Fries became interested in history as a child and received support of her parents in this interest and in her other studies. Due to illness she was home-educated by her mother over long periods. At the age of 13 she began to attend the Åhlin school. In 1870 she transferred to the newly opened high school section of the Wallin school. Along with three female friends – one of whom, Maria Cederschiöld, would become her biographer – she graduated as a private student from the Stockholm high school in 1874. Their only female precursor had been Betty Pettersson, who had graduated in 1872. After graduating Ellen Fries spent a couple of years studying German in Leipzig and French in Paris. When she returned to Sweden she began to study Latin on her own and taught at the Wallin school. In October 1877 she enrolled at Uppsala University.
Her university experience had both negative and positive sides. Ellen Fries’ letters home to her parents contain joy about her seminars and lectures, but also reveal the burden of being a female pioneer: “If I show stupidity then many professors, who have never had to deal with a woman, will believe that all women are either more stupid than or equally as stupid as I am.” She complained that female students were unable to learn by socialising as the male students did. “The conversations they [the men] have with us women are just trivial, if they deem us worthy of a conversation at all.” Nevertheless, the few female students stuck together, socialised frequently and attended seminars and lectures together.
In May 1879 Ellen Fries took her exams in Latin, history, political science, Nordic languages and modern languages. In the autumn term of the same year she began her licentiate work, majoring in history. During her studies she met the known Uppsala historians of her day. The history society at Uppsala became an important environment for her, where she felt at home and was clearly treated with respect. In 1881 she became the first woman to give a talk at the society. Her subject matter was the St Bartholomew’s day massacre, based on a newly published German work. Later she gave a talk based on her dissertation work.
In 1883, shortly before she defended her thesis, Ellen Fries sat her licentiate exams in history, political science and Nordic languages. Her dissertation theme lay within one of the core research areas of the history department in Uppsala: seventeenth century Swedish history with a focus on nationalist and conservative perspectives. Ellen Fries wrote on Sweden’s and the Netherlands’ diplomatic connections during the rule of Karl X Gustav. On 26 May 1883 she defended her thesis in history at Uppsala University. The day before her defence she summarised her time at Uppsala which, despite her final success, contained a tone of bitterness. She complained of having been lonely during her period of study. At the same time the comments she made in her letters home reveal her independence and ability to distance herself from the difficulties of being a female pioneer. There was no way she could stay on at the university but her future plans were clear: she wanted to continue to research.
After her defence Ellen Fries moved back to Stockholm and completed a probationary year at Norra Latin, a boys’ school. Subsequently she taught at various different schools in Stockholm. In 1890 she became director of studies at the Åhlin school and helped set up a high school section there. Alongside her teaching she also continued to research. In 1889 she published Erik Oxenstierna. Biografisk studie in which she not only discussed the person of Erik Oxenstierna and his upbringing, but also the women he was surrounded by. She received acclaim from her fellow historians for the book, which was described as “one of the first genuinely modern examples of Swedish biographical work”.
As an unmarried woman Ellen Fries was legally independent but it was impossible for her to become employed by the university, an official institution, an archive or a library like her male colleagues. In contrast, it appears to have been an almost natural trajectory for male historians to enter into politics as a career, such as becoming a member of parliament or by taking a ministerial post. Ellen Fries also took the political route in the only sphere open to her, namely, women’s issues. Sophie Adlersparre ensured that the newly graduated doctor of philosophy joined the editorial board of Tidskrift för Hemmet. Ellen Fries was also one of the founders of both the Fredrika Bremer Förbundet and the women’s organisation Nya Idun in 1888. She was chair of Nya Idun from 1885 to 1887. She also initiated Svenska Kvinnors Nationalförbund (National Council of Sweden) which comprised a variety of Swedish women’s organisations, and was itself connected to an international women’s organisation.
Ellen Fries’ activities on behalf of the women’s movement were important to her continued historical research. In 1890 and 1891 she published two volumes of women’s history entitled Märkvärdiga kvinnor. The first part dealt with foreign women whilst the second part covered Swedish women. The foreword to the Swedish section reads: “The history of Swedish women remains largely unwritten. The cultural impact which women have had in Sweden, and the influence they have had on the development of society – as well as society’s influence on them – continues to go completely unnoticed by our researchers.” The volume on foreign women was based on already extant work, whereas the majority of the work on Swedish women was undertaken by Ellen Fries herself. She used sources from the Swedish national archives and the university library. During her summer holidays she also visited archives at various Swedish castles and estates, where she discovered new source material.
Some of the Swedish women that Ellen Fries chose to write about include: Birgitta Birgersdotter (St Birgitta), Kristina Gyllenstierna, Karin Månsdotter, Ebba Brahe, Queen Kristina, Maria Sofia De la Gardie, Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht and Fredrika Bremer. She was meticulous in setting the various individuals within their contemporary contexts. Her portrayals are vivid and concrete. Sometimes her own judgments emerge in her depictions, for example when she writes about Sophia Elisabet Brenner’s extensive education or Catharina Charlotta De la Gardie's contributions to saving women accused of being witches during the last Swedish witch trials in the eighteenth century.
In 1885 Ellen Fries found a manuscript at Uppsala University library which was later published under the title of Agneta Horns lefverne. She worked on an edition of the manuscript, which was posthumously completed by Sigrid Leijonhufvud. The collection entitled Teckningar ur svenska adelns familjelif i gamla tider, which she published in 1895, was also based on source material which she herself had discovered. She focused mainly on women and her accounts also include less prominent women as historical subjects. Both Märkvärdiga Kvinnor and Teckningar ur svenska adelns familjelif received positive reviews in Historisk Tidskrift.
Ellen Fries’ interest in schooling was also expressed in her study trip to French girls’ schools. In 1890 she wrote an article on co-educational schools for Dagny. She emphasized that she only agreed with this school form if the teachers “remained true to the belief that a good upbringing and education are of equal importance to girls and boys”. In an attempt to make history teaching more lively she gave lectures on Svenska kulturbilder ur 16- och 1700-talens historia posthumously published in 1901. She also released three popular science pamphlets on Den svenska odlingens stormän during the period of 1896-1899. Furthermore, she wrote articles for Föreningen Heimdals småskrifter, Dagny, Idun, Aftonbladet, and Stockholms Dagblad, as well as contributing to Nordisk familjebok*. Considering that she was simultaneously working as a teacher, a director of studies, and was heavily involved in the women’s movement, her output is impressive.
Like many of her female contemporaries Ellen Fries decided not to marry quite early in life. As a married woman she would have lost her legal independence and it would have been very difficult to have a career. When she was 17 years old she wrote in her diary: “If I could only see the role of women as that of producing children and serving men, then it would be alright. And these things are probably part of women’s roles in life, but I deplore and hate that calling… My plan is to become a teacher instead.” Despite being forced to choose between marriage and a career, and despite being prevented from entering the world of research and learning that she longed to join, she did not allow herself to be deflected. Within the given boundaries she succeeded in achieving personal development and in living a full life.
Ellen Fries died from appendicitis aged only 44 in 1900. She is buried at the Norra cemetery in Solna. | <urn:uuid:703c7da2-ede2-4116-a567-12606bda75c9> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://skbl.se/en/article/EllenFries | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505730.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401100029-20200401130029-00395.warc.gz | en | 0.981449 | 2,087 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Why did the Dinosaurs go Extinct?
Many wonder, “Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?” Experts agree that the meteor was the most significant contributor, but acknowledge other factors as well such as changing climate, food supply, disease, etc.. These were all at play no doubt, but until now there was no unifying theory to explain the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.
The story of the demise of the dinosaur doesn’t start with their extinction but rather much earlier. The close approach of the moon set off a series of events that resulted in the utter devastation of the Permian Extinction. This cataclysmic event in the history of life on Earth set the stage for the emergence and rise of the dinosaur.
After the Permian Extinction, it took millions of years before life was able to recover and begin to return to normal. The extinction left many niches vacant, for new species to exploit. A slow march of new species, including the dinosaurs, came to dominate the drier Triassic period.
The rise and fall of the dinosaurs is intricately tied to the energy of lunar tidal heating, dissipated by the close approach of the moon. A Close Approach Lunar Model (CALM) tells the story of how the dinosaurs obtained their great size and how they survived in what today are arctic latitudes. In the long run, however, these same forces which originally benefited the dinosaur, continued to work on the environment. Spoiler alert –ultimately they brought about the dinosaurs’ demise.
Environmental changes played a huge role in how the dinosaurs evolved and why they eventually went extinct. At the Permian-Triassic (P-T) Boundary a dramatic change in the style of plate tectonics occurred. Prior to this boundary, tectonic activity had been rather quiet, since the gathering together of the great continent of Pangea. This was a period of great calm. However, after the P-T Boundary, the modern plate tectonic regime that we know today began.
As the orbital dynamics of a closer moon produced heat, which was dissipated into the interior of the Earth, this heating re-energized the convection currents of Earth’s interior. From the minimal pre-boundary rates prior to the Permian-Triassic boundary to sometime in the Cretaceous, when plate motion reached a peak, plate motion dynamics had made a major shift.
This tectonic shift not only brought about the break-up of Pangaea, beginning with the eruption of the Siberian Traps, but also caused changes in the atmosphere. As plate motion began to accelerate, plate subduction increased, and the associated rate of volcanic activity increased as well. Volcanic activity produced by the tidal heating of a closer moon began to pump the atmosphere full of CO2 and other volcanic gases and the atmosphere became denser and concentrated with green house gases.
By the Jurassic period the atmosphere had become something like seven times the density of Earth’s current atmosphere. An atmosphere is the weight of the earth’s atmosphere exerted at sea level. A scuba diver knows that 33’ of the water column equals one atmosphere. Therefore if you dive down 33 feet you feel the weight of two atmospheres, one of water and one of air. Seven atmospheres is equivalent to a dive of about 200 feet deep. Anyone who has experienced a dive to this depth recognizes that things are a little different down there. It was the density of the earth’s Jurassic atmosphere that allowed the dinosaurs to achieve their great size.
The Rise of the Dinosaurs
During the age of the dinosaurs, the creatures of the earth obtained gigantic proportions, some weighing as much as 70 tons. All forms of life averaged two to three times the size and four to nine times the mass of today’s equivalent life. The fact that the physiology of this size does not meet with the current physical laws of the earth has remained one of the major mysteries surrounding the dinosaurs.
One of the dilemmas of dinosaur size is the question of what gave long neck dinosaurs the ability to pump blood to the head when raised to their full height. It does not seem to be anatomically possible, by today’s standards, for the heart of the dinosaur to be able to pump blood to its brain. It is also not known how the large dinosaurs seemed to defy gravity and generally withstand the crush of their own weight. Plants too did not have the woody structure that today’s plants have developed in order to stand erect against gravity.
A Dense Atmosphere
The elevated levels of CO2 and other volcanic gasses produced by the tidal heating of a closer moon, created buoyancy capable of “floating” the great dinosaurs –Dr. Octave Levenspiel, (2001) personal communication. Carbon dioxide levels peaked during the Jurassic and it is no coincidence that the Jurassic is the time of the most massive dinosaurs. “This denser atmosphere, it was claimed, also helped the ungainly pterosaur (some with wing spans of up to eleven meters across) stay airborne — Milne (1991) “The Fate of the Dinosaurs.”
A by-product of this increasing atmospheric density was higher temperatures; the Jurassic was a hot and tropical time on Earth. Coral reefs extended as far as 60 degrees latitude, which today is represented by the southern tip of Greenland. In comparison, today coral is limited to within about 23 ½ degrees from the equator. It is interesting to note that today the Arctic Circle is at 66 degrees north latitude, only some 400 miles away from where coral once lived. Dinosaurs amazingly lived within 5 degrees of the poles (or 350 miles); this is equivalent to them living in the middle of Antarctica.
With the dense atmosphere, it is conceivable to imagine the poles being warm. This is the thinking today of global warming. More greenhouse gases mean a warming arctic. But this does not answer how the dinosaurs lived near the poles, because warmth is not all that is necessary to solve the problem. On Earth today 5 degrees from the pole is dark for months on end. It might be warm enough for the dinosaur, but what would they eat during these long nights? This is where a more vertical axial tilt of the earth, as proposed by the CALM, comes in. If the Earth had a vertical axis, there are no areas of polar night, like that of a tilted Earth. It makes perfect sense that with greenhouse warmth, 12 hour days, and 12 hour nights, the dinosaur could live near the poles. The sun’s rays would be “weaker” but reliable. The CALM suggests that, during the close approach of the moon, the earth’s axis was near vertical and therefore there were no significant seasons. The combination of a vertical axis and a dense atmosphere explains how the dinosaurs were able to live near the poles.
Fossil records back this up. They indicate that the trees of the carboniferous age lacked the seasonal growth rings of modern trees. The absence of annual rings in the trees of the coal forests permits the conclusion that the plants experienced no annual rhythm. Evidently, there was no occasion for seasonal adaptation (such as deciduous plants) in the coal forests, on account of the unusually uniform climate.
There is evidence of wet/dry periods, which appear to be a standard “savanna” environment of the primordial age of the Paleozoic period. But this has more to do with one massive Pangean continent than with seasons and temperature change. This was a consequence of the great continental interior of Pangea. Climate on Pangea worked much like the climate of central Asia today.
Did an Asteroid Kill the Dinosaurs?
Some scientists feel that sea-level changes played a large role in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Those who correlate mass extinctions with marked sea level fluctuations point to a variety of environmental changes that would ensue. Lower water levels and seasonal extremes of temperature would adversely affect terrestrial animals. Marine organisms would suffer from more variable water temperatures and drastic reduction of habitable area. Wiedmann appealed to changes in sea level as the cause for what he considered to have been the gradual decline of large invertebrates, such as ammonites and belemnites, towards the close of the Cretaceous. As sea levels fall it gets colder. Sea level seems a factor in mass extinctions, but no single factor was completely responsible for why the dinosaurs went extinct.
Van Valen of the University of Chicago proposed that it was the shift from subtropical to temperate vegetation, rather than the cold itself that killed the dinosaurs. He suggested that the dinosaurs could not stomach this form of vegetation; furthermore, the increase of deciduous trees which shed their leaves, made less food available in winter.
The great restriction and final disappearance of the continental seas at the end of the era, the rise of highlands from Alaska to Patagonia, a sharp drop in the temperature accompanying the Laramide uplift, the vanishing of the swampy lowlands, and the vastly changed plant world, have all been invoked to account for the dinosaur extinction.
While all these factors played a role, the CALM puts forth that it was seasonality, brought on by the close approach of the moon, that sealed the fate of the dinosaurs. An asteroid impact at the K/T (Cretaceous/Tertiary) boundary may well have been responsible for extinctions and the loss of the marginal species around the world, but the impact theory cannot account for the millions of years of the dinosaurs’ decline prior to the meteorite impact. The rise and fall of the dinosaurs is closely linked to the aftermath of the close approach, tidal heating, and subsequent retreat of the moon.
The Fall and Extinction of the Dinosaurs
As interesting as the rise of the giant dinosaurs was, what’s almost more interesting is that they entered a period of steady shrinking, until they eventually went extinct. The question is why did they shrink?
As the moon retreated the tilting of the earth’s axis increased. With time seasonality became noticeable. The retreating moon also caused tidal heating to wane. This reduced gas emissions and mid-ocean volcanism. The density of the atmosphere lessened and with it so did the size of the dinosaurs. They shrank until their eventual extinction. The three headed monster of a thinning atmosphere, the falling of sea levels, and the increasing seasons from the tilting axis drove the dinosaurs to the brink of extinction.
Thus the so called K/T boundary may have been a time of an asteroid strike, the commonly accepted “nail in the coffin” theory of the demise of the dinosaurs, but the ultimate stroke was the orbital disaster brought on by the moon’s alteration of the earth’s spin dynamics. The close approach of the moon created a transitory environmental Era that was ideal for the development and rise of the dinosaurs, but it was just that, temporary. As the earth adjusted to its new set of circumstances, following the Mesozoic era, the conditions changed, ultimately bringing about the demise of the dinosaurs.
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Teeth 101: A Child's Teeth.
What is a pediatric dentist?
Some of my colleagues in general and family dentistry would say, "A crazy person." The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) defines Pediatric dentistry as an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. That means, we see ALL children and can provide all restorative and preventative care for your child. In doing so, my goal as a dentist for children in Marysville, Monroe, and Lake Stevens, is to create wonderful patients who will have lifelong positive dental experiences.
When should I take my child to the dentist for their first check-up?
We see children from birth to eighteen years of age. The AAPD suggest that children should receive their first dental exam at their first birthday. I would suggest the best time to get the first dental exam is when a child has four upper and lower front teeth, with the initial eruption of the first molars. That is usually between twelve and sixteen months of age; if you have a concern about your child, we suggest an immediate visit to address the issue. Early evaluation can prevent many major costly and painful dental issues.
Is fluoride necessary for kids?
Short answer: YES. The long answer is: fluoride is a safe and effective adjunct in reducing the risk of caries and reversing enamel demineralization. Studies within the last half-century indicate reductions in caries of 55 to 60% and recent data still shows caries reduction of approximately 25%, without significant enamel fluorosis when adequate amount of fluoride is given to children in either public drinking water, toothpaste, or a supplement. The key is adequate, and there is too much of a good thing. We have recently been decreasing the amount of fluoride given to children due to an increase in fluorosis seen in the last 10 years. Only your dentist or health care provider can determine the "adequate" amount of fluoride your child should receive.
When should I start brushing my baby's teeth?
Short Answer: as soon as your child has teeth. Our dentists for children recommend a soft tooth brush with water for the first couple of months. Training toothpaste is fine, but an added expense that will not provide much benefit to cavity prevention. We recommend a gently circular brushing motion of both the teeth and gums when teething begins. This may alleviate some of the pain associated with teething, and will allow for the establishment of a good oral hygiene routine.
That sounds wonderful in theory, but in real life, our children can become very difficult to brush over the first few years of life. Establishing independence, and "fighting" you every step of the way can be so challenging. At Puget Sound Pediatric Dentistry we will give you techniques to win the battle at the sink.
What should I use to clean my baby's teeth?
Initially, parents and caregivers should gently brush the gums with a soft tooth brush. We provide all new patients with a small headed soft toothbrush. I am not a fan of the rubber finger brushes, and find they provide very little mechanical removal of "gunk" from the newly erupting teeth. During teething, I suggest warm water with the tooth brush, removing the plaque that is built up on the brush. At this time, the gums will bleed. That is NORMAL. Brushing will strengthen the gums, and allow for a better teething experience. When you come in for your first visit, we can determine when it is appropriate to start using fluoride toothpaste.
Are baby teeth really important?
Baby teeth are wonderful reminders of our misspent youth, and offer the tooth fairy a means to give our children money and gifts. Additionally, the "baby teeth" or primary dentition serves several important functions. They allow us to eat, speak, give us a winning smile, and most importantly provide space holders for permanent teeth. Many of the back baby teeth are "long term" teeth that will remain until age 12. So, if a child needs teeth removed due to cavities, there is a chance they will need extensive orthodontic treatment in the future due to space loss. Baby teeth are EXTREMELY important and should be maintained to avoid future issues.
When should my child start using toothpaste?
Spitting and opposable thumbs are some of the attributes that separate us from other animals in the wild. We recommend starting this lifelong journey of individualism / spitting by starting to use fluoride toothpaste at one year of age. This can begin with evening brushing with toothpaste, and morning brushing with warm water. As children progress in age, we can determine their needs for additional fluoride exposure. We've noticed that the warnings on the back of these tubes are quite extensive and concerning to parents. At Puget Sound Pediatric Dentistry, we are concerned as well and want to decrease cavity formation without creating other health issues, including something called fluorosis. Please feel free to discuss this with our staff and we can help you decide about fluoride use and administration. I would be happy to give spitting demonstrations upon request.
Is teeth whitening safe for kids?
Once only available to royalty and very rich movie stars, whitening was considered the finishing touch to a complete body makeover. Now, no longer costing your first born child, anyone with a Costco membership or access to the Internet can order prescription strength "bleach" for your teeth. Classic bleaching requires custom made trays that can hold dental whitening agent for minutes to hours. That process is usually completed by a dentist. The over the counter whitening strips provide similar treatment with easy application strips that dissolve or need to be removed at the prescribed time. This is a cost effective and easy process, which can provide excellent results. Whitening relies on chemicals to change the stain patterns in teeth, and these chemicals can be very harsh to developing teeth.
WE NEVER RECOMMEND whitening for baby / primary teeth. The youngest age for adult teeth should be when root development is completed on the treated teeth. Some doctors start kids as early as 10 years old. My personal recommendation is usually 12, but I would wait until orthodontics treatment is completed if that process has not started. Consulting us prior to "self" treatment is advised due to possible harmful reactions that can damage your teeth.
Is my child ready for braces?
A wise instructor once told me, "No one has died from crooked teeth." That has always stuck in my head, especially when parents have questions about their 6 year old and tooth eruption / spacing. A major challenge in our office is determining the appropriate age for an orthodontic consultation, or if one is even needed. Straight teeth are wonderful, but my major concern is how the bite lines up, and if there are any major jaw issues from abnormal growth patterns. As a dentist for children in the Puget Sound area, I will be happy to let you know the best time to seek Orthodontic care, and who is a "quality" orthodontist in your area.
What are dental sealants?
Sealant is exactly what it sounds like, a sealer that goes in the groves of a tooth to protect it from cavities, not a freakish genetic experiment between a marine mammal and an insect (get it, SEAL – ANT). Now people think when a tooth is sealed, it is protected from cavities. Partly true, partly fairy tale. A permanent tooth has deep groves, and when sealer is placed into the groves before a cavity, it can be protected. Like clear coat on a car, wear and tear can cause it to be damaged over time, leaving the tooth vulnerable to cavities.
While patients at Puget Sound Pediatric Dentistry, we will always maintain the sealant at no charge. It is important to come for your six month checkups to make sure your child's sealants are maintained.
Can cavities spread to adult teeth?
A common myth is that cavities can spread from tooth to tooth, like grasshoppers jumping from blade of grass to blade of grass. NOT TRUE. I would consider thinking about the cavity bacteria (aka sugar bugs) as "ever present" in the mouth, like pollen in the air or sand in your car after a trip to the beach. No matter how hard you try, the bugs will remain in the mouth. The only things we can control are: how many bugs live in the mouth, and how often they are fed. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste will lessen the total number of bugs, like vacuuming the car after the trip to the beach. Decreasing your child's sugar intake will lessen the food source for the bugs, like using a pollen filter in your room during allergy season.
If the bugs are in your mouth, there is a chance you can get cavities. It is possible to live CAVITY FREE, but it requires a regular routine of brushing, FLOSSING, and six month visits to our office for a professional cleaning and fluoride treatment. Cavities that are small will not directly spread to permanent teeth that are forming in the jaw, and only the dentist can determine the risk to your child's teeth.
Are oral habits, like thumb sucking or pacifier usage, harmful to my child's teeth?
I am a person who loves to sleep, and once my children go to bed, I will do anything to keep them asleep so I can sleep. Does that sound familiar? We all want to sleep. I will never berate a parent who wants to get a good night sleep. Sometimes, children will have an oral habit that will cause them to fall asleep. Society really wants children to be done with oral habits by age one. As a dad and a dentist, I would really like children to stop an oral habit by three to three and a half. Overall, stopping earlier will decrease the chance for orthodontic correction (aka braces) and has been shown to decrease the number of colds during a flu season.
Are dental x-rays safe?
Making your child glow due to dental x-rays is not the goal of our practice. In fact, children receive more radiation by the breakdown of potassium after eating bananas during the year. Digital x-rays have made the process of getting "pictures" easier. One "old school" film x-ray is equivalent to six digital x-rays. Additionally, we use shielding to protect vital organs and areas of growth from any scattered radiation during an x-ray. On the whole, in moderation, dental x-rays provide a valuable diagnostic tool that is safe for people of all ages. Please ask for more information at your visit if there is a concern.
What Should I Do if My Child Hurts a Tooth?
Tooth pain is never normal. There are many reasons for teeth to hurt, but NONE should be taken lightly and immediate evaluation by the providers at Puget Sound Pediatric Dentistry should be scheduled. To manage most oral pain, we suggest over-the-counter pain relievers like Children's Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Topical anesthetics like benzocaine (active ingredient in orajel) can provide temporary relief to teething pain, but will not be effective on other types of oral infection. Please call immediately if your child is in pain. We will always make time in our schedule for your child if they are in pain.
What foods cause cavities?
Note: All foods in moderation are fine. I am a dad, and often I will give these to my children when driving away from home because they are easy to pack and dispense. If you are able to brush immediately after eating, the chance of cavity formation decreases. If not, at least try to give you children some water to rinse out the sugar and decrease the levels of "sugar bugs" forming after a meal.
We Look Forward To Meeting You
Our front office staff is happy to discuss our services with you. Our dentists are here to serve your children and teens. For more information, contact one of our multiple Seattle area offices.
919 State Ave #104
Marysville, WA 98270
Phone: (360) 659-8100
9421 N Davies Road, Suite A,
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Phone: (425) 367-4149
14090 Fryelands Blvd Suite 348, Monroe, WA 98272
Phone: (360) 863-8700
7104 265th Street NW. #110
Stanwood, WA 98292
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