Denim traces its origins back to France and the development of a kind of twill called ‘serge de Nimes.’ But the cultural icon that blue jeans have become is widely credited to Levi Strauss back in 1870s San Francisco. Back then, “Levi’s” were marketed as “shrink to fit,” meaning just that: you bought them a size or too large and they shrunk to the size you wanted after the first wash.
This, ladies and gentlemen, was unsanforized denim, also known as “loom state” because that’s how it came right off the loom: no washing, no pre-shrinking, just cotton in its original state.
Blue jeans were invented in the 1870s, but sanforization was invented in 1928, with Levi’s adopting it in the 1960s. All of a sudden, jeans were no longer “shrink to fit.” So what happened to them?
And why would so many people prefer still jeans the old fashioned, unsanforized way?
I was grossly under-informed about this process so I enlisted denim historian, consultant, and designer Mohsin Sajid to help untangle the complicated details of sanforization.
Sanforized vs Unsanforized denim explained
- Sanforization is a process that pre-shrinks denim (or any other textile)
- The process uses steam, water, and (less often) chemicals to do so
Sanforized denim has undergone the sanforization process, and it’s more often called “pre-shrunk denim.”
According to Mohsin, “it’s basically a way of treating fabric mostly cotton-based garments or for fabrics that basically kind of shrinks it lines the fabric and it gets rid of most of the shrinkage and it’s still raw”
Denim that hasn’t been through the sanforization process is known as unsanforized, “loom state,” or “shrink to fit,” as that will happen after its first wash.
In reality, very few jeans are completely unsanforized, including the modern-day Levi’s shrink-to-fits, which actually do undergo just a touch of sanforization.
The video, below, is what a sanforizing machine looks like, “they get the fabric and they put it through a massive sanforization machine, this machine is bigger than a football pitch it’s really really large.”
Sometimes, sanforizing is done with chemicals instead of water, and more modern, eco-friendly processes draw water from the air to complete the process, using some 99 percent less water than the traditional, not-especially-environmentally-friendly method.
“[Sanforization] is different chemical processes. There are also machines that other companies have invented that do it with ozone technology. So, you use water from the air to treat to treat the fabric. There are ways of doing it with hardly no water. So now, there are newer types of technologies that don’t use large amounts of water.”
[Related: 7 Reasons People Love Japanese Denim]
Why buy sanforized denim?
Sanforized denim solves a few inherent “problems” with unfinished denim, or at least, what much of the market considers to be problems.
- Sanforizing vastly reduces shrinkage. If your jeans are unsanforized, they’ll shrink anywhere from 2 to 10 percent on the first wash, making figuring out your size extremely difficult.
- Sanforizing smooths out the denim. The unsanforized stuff tends to be rougher and stiffer.
“Nowadays most brands use some sanforized fabric because they want their side seams to remain straight,” Mohsin says, “I know if someone else was buying a pair of jeans they would get very irritated after the first wash it shrinks by three inches. They would actually be annoyed. They’ll think it’s a fault in the fabric. It’s the brand. They’ll probably complain about it.”
Mohsin explained skewing as:
“If you’ve ever had a graphic t-shirt and overtime the graphic kind of moves, that’s skewing, it all relates to how the cotton has been spun. You find it on early denim styles that are unsanforized. And us denim heads we love that, we love skewing. most people don’t it has to be dead straight.”
Why buy unsanforized denim?
So why are so many guys attracted to unsanforized jeans?
- Unsanforized denim is more “traditional.” Many guys, particularly those in the heritage fashion community, simply like wearing clothes made the old fashioned way.
- Unsanforized denim is rougher, stiffer, more coarse, and oftentimes, the “hair” on fuzzier denims is singed off during the process. Guys who like their jeans to have “character” prefer it like this.
- Unsanforized jeans have more “leg twist.” As this kind of jean wears in, the denim tends to “twist” around the leg, making the side seam wrap around your thigh and calf. It’s inconsequential for comfort and durability, but some denimheads absolutely love this.
- Unsanforized jeans might fit better. This is controversial and many people dispute it, but there is a belief that because it’s less processed, unsanforized jeans do a better job of molding to the wearer’s body type. Believers buy them oversized, wear them for a while so that they conform to our individual nooks and crannies, then soak or wash them.
Despite all of these potential advantages, it’s still very difficult to get the right size with the unsanforized stuff and the vast, vast majority of customers have no patience to tend to their shrinking and stretching jeans, so only a tiny percentage of jeans sold are actually unsanforized.
“I personally like it when it’s unsanforized so I love it when it shrinks.” says Mohsin, “I love it when all the skewing happens me personally as a designer I love that.”
The benefits of unsanforized denim are all related to this idea of wanting authentic, unique fabric,
“If you go back to the 30s and 40s everything was made like that. Being a denim designer and a historian who looks at old garments and I go, ‘Oh! I love that garment. Oh! I love that pocket, how it’s warped and everything about it’s twisted. It’s hard to recreate that. Sometimes you have to go back and use fabrics that do [warp and twist] rather than engineering your pattern to twist”
Most consumers don’t want this, but buying raw, unsanforized denim is a hobby. It’s like collecting old cars or old computers. It’s the combination of history, engineering, and style that makes it a fun hobby. Mohsin sums it up as,
I’m one of these people that loves when things shrink. So I love it when you get puckering around the pocket.I love it also — you know this might be frowned upon —I like it when the side seams start to twist and the inseam starts twisting.
Sanforized vs Raw Denim
Many, many people confuse these two terms and while they often overlap, they’re not the same.
We’ve covered what “sanforized” means, but raw denim means that the jeans haven’t been washed. They may have been sanforized, and in all likelihood, they have. Sanforized raw denim exists: it’s skipped the heating/steaming at the factory, but it did get a wash. This would have reduced some of the shrinkage (2 or 3 percent), but they’ll still shrink some more when you wash or soak them.
“Raw, in the denim world, means unwashed. Unwashed is still not washing. One one wash means it’s been rinsed, so they probably added water with it. They probably added softener with it to make it more softer and then they’ve ironed it and they pressed it. That makes it not raw. It’s not raw but you can still break it in. A raw jacket in it’s loom state means it’s directly off the roll.”
Sanforization and Shrinkage
As a general rule, a pair of jeans made from sanforized denim will shrink by around two or three percent on the first wash.
Mohsin recommends, “If you’re doing this whole raw denim journey buy slightly bigger.”
On the other hand, unsanforized denim will shrink by up to ten percent on the first wash. Most of this shrinkage will be in the legs after its first soak, since these are comparatively longer than the waist band. This shrinkage could be as much as one or two sizes’ difference!
If you plan to go with unsanforized denim, be on the lookout for these 5 common rookie mistakes buyers of raw denim jeans make.
[More denim history: Were Jeans Really Banned In the Soviet Union?]
How do they sanforize denim?
While Levi Strauss and his rivals wrestled with denim’s tendency to shrink, the problem was largely solved by the late 1920s. That was when, finally, American inventor and entrepreneur Sanford L Cluett came up with a solution. His sanforization process was effectively a process to compact woven fabrics like denim.
Before his process came along, an unsanforized pair of jeans was all that was on offer to the consumer. Shrink to fit denim was the order of the day, whether you liked it or not, regardless of the brand you picked — and the same applied to other fabrics.
“It does it with heat rollers. It does it with steam. There’s many different processes but the sanforization process has been patented and many people do it now. But it’s mostly through heat rollers. They do slightly dampen the fabric and they stretch and they steam it really quickly and they iron it again.”
This new process involves feeding the fabric between hot rollers. The unsanforized textile is placed on a conveyor belt at the mill and moistened, typically by steam, rather than being given a soak in a bath. The moisture helps to lubricate the fibers of the denim and pump primes shrinkage.
‘Washed’ and stretched
Washing jeans and sanforizing is different. It’s different because when you wash at home, some people do cold washes, some people do 30 degrees 40 degrees. The temperatures completely change the fabric. Every fabric that’s produced is done on a certain loom. It’s done with a certain type of indigo. You don’t know where the cotton has come from there are so many variables in the world of denim”
The fabric is both stretched and compressed during the process.
After the denim is stretched, the sanforization machine returns the denim to its right size and texture as the warp yarns shrink, and the weft yarns are compressed closely together. The sanforized denim is then placed in a dryer for a certain amount of time to ensure the cotton fibers remain locked in their current texture. Most mills will do this on-site, before the jeans hit the stores. It is a fully automated process that only requires humans to press “enter.”
Sanforization leads to more precise sizing compared to unsanforized selvedge denim jeans after their first fabric wash in your washing machine.
In many ways, sanforized jeans and their ready-made shrinkage are what has helped denim become the global success story it has become for generations. However, while this shrinkage has done a lot to popularize jeans, there are fans of unsanforized denim whose preference remains unaltered to this day. Despite new releases from brands all the time, the unsanforized denimhead will continue to prefer sizing their jeans themselves for that exact reason. Even if this means getting soaked in the bath to ensure their jeans fit their body perfectly. To some, the first wash is a rite they have to perform every time they buy new blue denim.
[Related: The History of the Denim Jacket]
The question of sanforized vs unsanforized denim is not easy to answer. There are pros and cons to each camp which, in the end, come down to personal preference. To first wash or not to first wash, that is indeed the question. Do you even have the time or inclination to soak in the bath wearing your denims? Many consumers just want pants that fit and aren’t all that interested in their treatment.
Whether you like DIY finishing is a subjective idea. What is not open for debate, though, is that sanforized denim has made shopping for casual wear clothing a whole lot easier. And if Levi Strauss were still around, we are quietly confident he would think the same.
A big thanks to Mohsin Sajid for patiently explaining this very complex topic. You can get more denim history from Mohsin at his denim history Instagram account. If you want to get into the raw denim scene check out his brand Endrime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is denim the only fabric that gets sanforized?
No, the process is used for a range of fabrics to prevent the material from shrinking when it gets washed.
How can I tell if my denim is sanforized?
If the jeans are labeled 'unsanforized' or 'loomstate,' it's unsanforized. 'Raw' doesn't necessarily mean unsanforized. Other indicators are that unsanforized denim is typically stiffer and rougher, with many considering it to have more 'character.'
Is raw denim sanforized?
Usually. Raw denim refers to denim that is unwashed and untreated, and while it's usually unsanforized, this isn't always the case. You can sanforize raw denim with heat, steam, or chemicals in order to reduce shrinkage, but as it hasn't been washed, it's still considered raw.
What does unsanforized mean?
Sanforization is a process that shrinks material (not just denim) with steam, water, and/or chemicals. Unsanforized denim will shrink 3 to 10% on its first wash, so sanforized denim is easier to size, though some find unsanforized denim to have more character, despite being rougher and stiffer.
How do you shrink unsanforized denim?
One typically submerges the jeans in water for 30 to 60 minutes, which shrinks it from 3 to 10%. The hotter the water, the greater the shrinkage, but don’t use anything hotter than hot tap water. (ie. don’t boil anything.)
Is unsanforized denim better?
It’s entirely subjective. Sanforized denim won’t shrink in the wash so it’s easier to size at the outset, plus it’s typically smoother and softer. Some prefer unsanforized denim because it’s rougher, stiffer, and hairier — it has more character,’ if that’s your thing.
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Types of Nurseries: Vegetable seedlings can be produced in containers (boxes or trays) or on seed beds.
Site Selection: The nursery should be readily accessible, close to a permanent source of clean water for irrigation, not prone to erosion and at least 50m away from vegetable farms to avoid spread of pests and diseases. Avoid sites very close to major roads and factories. For seedbed seedling production, sites with well drained and fertile soils free of soil borne diseases and pests including nuisance weeds are preferred.
Seed Source: Buy certified seeds from reputable seed companies.
Germination Test/ Seed Rate: To avoid seed wastage, conduct a germination test.
- Pick 100 seeds from the lot.
- Sow in a seed box or bed.
- Count number of seeds germinated after 5-7 days.
- 85%-95% means seeds are very good.
- Below 85% increase seed rate to make up for losses.
- Discard seeds with germination rate below 60%.
Seed Bed Preparation: Make beds 1.0m-1.2m wide x2m or more long. Water the beds, cover with 4cm thick dry grass, sawdust or rice straw; leave for 2-3 days to reactivate spores of disease pathogens then burn to sterilize soil or cover the seed bed with transparent plastic sheets for 5-8 weeks to sterilize the soil.
Soils/Media: For container grown seedlings, soils can be sterilized by steaming. For both seed bed and container grown seedlings, allow media to cool for 2-3 days before sowing.
- Treat seeds with recommended seed dressing/hot water before planting.
- Drill thinly in rows 10cm apart and cover with thin layer of soil.
- For seed trays, sow 1 seed per cell and cover with newsprint.
- Cover bed with dry grass (non-seeded), transparent plastic sheet or palm fronds and water.
- Seeds emerge within 5-7 days.
Care after germination:
- Remove cover after emergence and cover seedlings with insect proof lutracil nets.
- Prick out seedlings at first true leaf stage (about 2 weeks after sowing) and thin out weak, malformed and oversized seedlings if seedlings are too overcrowded.
Nutrient Requirement: Fertile soils may not require fertilizer application. Observe seedlings as they grow and if leaves are pale yellow, apply a solution of NPK (5g/L) 1 week after germination. MAP application will promote sturdy root growth.
Irrigation: Water lightly and regularly.
- Good site selection.
- Use of weedicides/herbicides.
- Good seed bed preparation.
- Hand pick weeds as they appear.
Pests and Diseases:
Major pests in the nursery are aphids, grasshoppers, whiteflies, crickets, leaf miners, beetles, mites, caterpillars, rats and mice.
- Practice good sanitation.
- Cover seedlings with insect proof lutracil nets.
- Scout regularly to assess pest and disease incidence.
- Where necessary spray seedlings with potassic soap (alata samina) at 5g/15L and vegetable oil 10ml/15L solution or apply approved insecticides.
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- Use approved rodenticides at recommended rates or traps to control mice and rats.
Damping off: Caused by Pythium. Results in the death of seedlings before or shortly after emergence. This may be controlled by nursing seeds on well- drained soils and regulating irrigation. Solarizing the soil for 6-8 weeks before planting, or applying approved copper based fungicides.
Early blight: Caused by the airborne fungus Botrytis. Control by use of disease free seeds and thin out densely sown seedlings or prick out into individual containers. Avoid overcrowding.
Root Knot Nematode: Nematodes feed on young roots causing wilt. Control by solarization, application of spent neem seed granules or approved nematicides.
Seedling Maturity: Seedlings are ready for transplanting at five leaf stage. Harden seedlings by decreasing shade gradually until full exposure to sunlight and/or reduce irrigation before transplanting.
Packaging: The most suitable packaging materials are waxed cardboard boxes and plastic crates with openings that ensure seedlings are well ventilated and growing points remain intact.
Market Requirement: Seedlings should be sturdy, fresh and come with a ball of soil/medium protecting the roots.
Sample Operational Budget for one Ha test crop (tomato)*
|Total estimated cost||460.00|
*prices will change depending on the crop and variety
Estimated number of seedlings required for one ha = 56,000
Price/seedling (nursery gate) = Ghc 0.25
Income = 56000x Ghc0.25
= Ghc 1,400
Net income = Ghc1400-Ghc460
Note: This budget does not include fixed costs and overheads.
Horticulture Development Unit (HDU-DCS), MOFA
Export Marketing & Quality Awareness project (EMQAP)
For further information contact the nearest MOFA office or HDU.


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Learn More about: Fort Myers Business Interruption Insurances
Hurricane Ian Leaves Massive Destruction in Inland Florida
Inland Florida has experienced severe flooding due to Hurricane Ian, which made landfall on October 6, 2022. The state was saved from the worst impacts of the hurricane until the very end, when the storm's heavy rainfall caused flooding in many areas.
Hurricane Ian was initially forecast to hit Florida's east coast, but it eventually made landfall on the state's west coast, causing significant flooding in inland areas. The heavy rainfall caused rivers and creeks to overflow, leading to widespread flooding.
Many communities in central Florida were affected by the flooding, with some areas experiencing water levels as high as six feet. Emergency responders were deployed to assist with evacuations and rescue operations, and many residents were forced to seek temporary shelter.
Arcadia, which is 50 miles north of Fort Myers and roughly 50 miles east of the Gulf Coast, was initially affected by the Category 4 storm as it moved east, delivering hurricane-force winds and severe rainfall to the state's interior. The Peace River spilling over its banks as it makes its way through Arcadia on its route to the Gulf of Mexico dealt a second blow.
The river, which is typically a slow-moving body of water where kayakers and alligators cohabit, overwhelmed portions of the city and many of the nearby farms and cattle ranches.
While Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, the flooding caused by Hurricane Ian was particularly severe due to the storm's slow-moving nature and heavy rainfall. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, it is likely that Florida and other coastal states will continue to experience significant impacts from hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Efforts are underway to mitigate the impacts of these events, including infrastructure upgrades, disaster preparedness planning, and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it will take a concerted effort from governments, businesses, and individuals to address the challenges posed by climate change and build a more resilient future for all.
In addition to the flooding, Hurricane Ian also brought high winds and storm surges to Florida's coastlines. Coastal communities experienced significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, and many residents were forced to evacuate in advance of the storm.
Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Ian, Florida's emergency responders and local officials were well-prepared to handle the storm's impacts. The state has a comprehensive disaster response system in place, which includes emergency management agencies, local first responders, and volunteer organizations.
In the aftermath of the storm, many residents and businesses in affected areas are working to rebuild and recover. The process of recovering from a natural disaster can be long and difficult, but communities often come together to support one another during these challenging times.
Looking ahead, it is clear that climate change will continue to pose significant challenges for Florida and other coastal states. Rising sea levels, increased hurricane activity, and more frequent and severe heat waves are just a few of the impacts that are expected in the coming years.
If you are fighting with your insurance company to get your claim paid, call us today to advocate on your behalf. We will fight for you!
Florida Advocates – A Private Law Firm
If you need to file a claim with the help of a knowledgeable property insurance claim attorney, give us a call today, toll free at (855) FL-ADVOCATES, or (754) 263-4252.


Cape consisting of bundles of small yellow, red, and black feathers tied in overlapping rows to a netted foundation of plant fiber. Like Object of the Day #14, a long feather cloak, this cape was an item of aristocratic regalia and a signifier of rank in ancient Hawaii. Full length cloaks were worn by the greatest nobles, capes by lesser nobility. This cape consists mostly of yellow feathers, which were the scarcest and most valuable. They were obtained from the ‘o’o and the mamo, both predominantly black birds with tufts or patches of yellow feathers at various places on their bodies. Professional feather hunters caught them just before molting, so they could harvest the yellow feathers and release the birds to grow more.
Penn Museum Object # 29-58-155.
See this and other objects like it on Penn Museum’s Online Collection Database.


You may have noticed our references to PA Forward over the past months in our social media posts. Our Library has achieved Gold Star status! So…
What is PA Forward? It is a campaign created by Pennsylvania Library Association to help Pennsylvanians improve essential literacy skills. These five literacies must be attained in order for Pennsylvanians to succeed as citizens, parents, students, employees, employers and consumers.
The Five Literacies:
Civic and Social Literacy
Palmyra Public Library is using these literacies to develop programs, promote resources and select materials. It is, as always, our goal to provide the Palmyra community with the tools for success!


Israel - online newspapers
About Israel : The people of Israel is also known as 'Jewish People'. They found their origin to Abraham, who created the belief that there is only one God, the creator of the universe. Abraham, his son Yitshak, and grandson Jacob are referred to as the head of the Israelites. All these three patriarchs lived in the Land of Canaan, later it was known as the Land of Israel. The name 'Israel' has been derived from the name given to Jacob.


Budget reductions in police departments
Most police departments in America have to manage budget reductions. Most states have had their budgets reduced in comparison to previous years. A large percentage of law enforcement is now becoming the responsibility of the local government agencies, and not of the state government. Local towns are also facing a decline in revenues, and increasing their financial burden will probably only compound issues and lead to more cuts and losses. People have reducing spending because of which towns are not generating the needed funding. Pay cuts have reduced spending and caused fewer town revenues. Everyone agrees that they will have to do more with less.
This economic crisis has also resulted in an increase in employment. There is a possible relation between unemployment and crime, because inflation basically reduces the real income of unskilled laborers, and increases the demand for cheaper often illegal goods. Many agencies have said that they need additional funding. Of the many sheriffs and police officers interviewed, only 8 percent reported not needing an increase in officers to maintain an effective police force. It is generally understood that larger agencies needed a smaller percent increase in staffing, while smaller agencies a larger increase. One police chief said that they would have to try and do the same job but with less money.
Many agencies are desperately trying to cope with these cuts, because during tough economic times, the demand for law enforcement agencies increases, yet budgets are being mercilessly slashed. It is the average citizen who is the loser in all this. Besides layoffs and pay cuts, overtime has also been significantly reduced. Small sized police departments seemed to be the least affected by overtime reductions. Jails have also been affected by the receding economy. There has been an increase in the jail population but no increase in the funds to maintain the prisoners. The economy has also had adverse affects on the performance of the courts.
Officers cite various problems including the decline in efficiency of the courts due to budget cuts. They have noted an increase in property due to which there are case overloads. Judges were also said to more lenient, and there was less sentencing or charges filed against offenders. In order to help compensate for a reduction in funding, one method some agencies have implemented is increased reliance on less costly civilian staff. Fifty percent of the sheriffs’ offices responding stated they have increased the use of civilians. The economic crisis will have an adverse affect on the court system. It is estimated that by 2013, it could result in the closure of more than half of the courtrooms in many states and the layoff of thousands of employees.


Special & General Relativity Questions and Answers
If I shined a flashlight into the sky, would someone in another galaxy eventually see it?
Not at all. The trillions of photons emitted by your flashlight each second would expand into space and become more dilute according to the inverse square law. By the time they got to the top of the Earth's atmosphere, there would be fewer than one of these photons per square meter. They would get washed out by the local production of optical light by our atmosphere, and then merge into the stream of light emitted by the Sun...which is enormous!
Return to the Special & General Relativity Questions and Answers page.
All answers are provided by Dr. Sten Odenwald (Raytheon STX) for the NASA Astronomy Cafe, part of the NASA Education and Public Outreach program.


09102016 view essay - structure_of_rhetorical_analysis_essay (1) from ap language at coral reef senior high school structure of rhetorical analysis essay important. How do the rhetorical strategies help the put it all together and this is what one paragraph of the body of a rhetorical analysis essay structure suggest. Rhetorical structure theory (rst) was originally formulated by william mann and sandra thompson of the university of southern california's information sciences. 30082015 this resource covers how to write a rhetorical analysis essay of primarily visual texts with a focus on demonstrating the author’s understanding of the. 16012018 a rhetorical analysis is an essay that explores how the parts of a composition, such as word choice a sample rhetorical analysis structure. Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can be tough to write but with our tips a challenging task will become an easy one.
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A rhetorical analysis essay aims to describe the tactics an author or speaker uses to convey his message to a particular audience. In the great influenza, author john m barry used juxtaposition, listing, and structure to characterize scientific research as a challenging and uncertain field that.
A rhetorical essay can be fun to write, especially when you are writing about something you are passionate about here are some guidelines to help you organize your. How to write a rhetorical analysis essay your simplified guide to writing quality and comprehensive rhetorical analysis essay from buyessaysafecom.View


When it comes to skin health, hormones have a much bigger effect than many people realize. Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers which affect many different processes. Indeed fixing hormones can do a lot to boost your health. In this interview, Dr. Sacha Elliott will explain to us the link between hormone imbalance and skin issues…
Dr. Elliott, what role do hormones play in our body?
Hormones are a powerful tool that our bodies use to affect our growth, mood, metabolism and reproduction. They’re essential to everyday function and contribute to almost every aspect of our health including digestion, weight, sleep, menses, skin, and how we manage our stress.
Endocrine glands, such as the thyroid or pancreas, produce hormones in response to the body’s demand; these are released into the bloodstream to act locally or are carried downstream to affect distal tissue.
How do you usually tell if hormones are unbalanced?
It is usually fairly obvious when hormones become imbalanced and one will recognize negative shifts in their health.
For example, a woman’s menstrual cycle may become irregular, her moods more imbalanced, she may complain of fatigue, acne, and hair loss, while a man may complain of gynecomastia (growth of breast tissue), erectile dysfunction, diminished sex drive, or balding.
Menopause is another classic example of hormones changing: women may experience hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, and vaginal dryness.
However, in a healthy body, natural hormone changes over a lifecycle may not create any problems whatsoever: I have many female patients who claim they breezed right through menopause with little or no issues (lucky them!)
It is said that there may be a link between hormone imbalance and skin. Can fluctuating levels of hormones affect our skin?
Absolutely! The main skin conditions I see in practice are eczema, acne, hives, and psoriasis. There tends to be more direct hormone involvement with acne, but if hormones are imbalanced, they may also worsen skin conditions such as eczema.
Vitamin D is technically a hormone in the body – one of its functions is to modulate our immune system, and with many of us in North America having subpar levels of vitamin D, it inadvertently impacts the health of our skin.
What skin problems can be most likely triggered by hormonal changes?
The most common skin condition I see that is directly triggered by hormonal changes is acne.
There are two common presentations that show up in the female population I work with: estrogen dominance and acne associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Estrogen dominance is a term that is used to describe levels of estrogen that are too high in proportion to progesterone levels. This imbalance contributes to facial acne – often presenting along the jawline.
In PCOS, androgen levels (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) are often elevated causing oily skin and deeper, cystic acne.
Other common PCOS complaints are blood sugar swings, weight gain, excessive hair growth (ex. chin hair), and infertility.
If acne begins to develop in a teenager or adult, it’s important to assess nutrition, exercise, and hormone levels.
Are there any effective natural solutions for treating hormone imbalances?
There certainly are many different natural avenues of treatment you can pursue to clear up your skin and reverse common complaints of hormone imbalance such as fatigue and infertility.
Nutrition is a huge component! If you’re not eating well, you won’t be able to make enough hormones (cholesterol is a precursor) or you’ll impede your hormone’s ability to bind to cell receptors and enter the cell.
Also, hormones are extremely sensitive to toxicity, and glands such as the thyroid do not function optimally in a toxic environment. Detoxifying our homes and bodies regularly lends to greater hormone balance.
Lifestyle and exercise are also important to consider. Stress causes immediate cortisol release (an adrenal hormone) which impacts many different systems in the body. It’s important to have strategies such as daily walks in the woods, meditation, or yoga, to deal with the constant bombardment of stress from our environment.
Lastly, when there is a strong foundation of health in place – ie. hydration, restorative sleep, stress management, nutrition, exercise, and social connection – we can add herbs, supplements, acupuncture and homeopathy to support the body in balancing our hormones.


Probability and Statistics for Beginners Free Download
- Statistics and Probability with real life example. Coin, Ball and Card experiment. Also, problem solving based on these experiment
- Tally marks, Measure of central tendency, Mean, Mode, Median of grouped data and some more.
- No prior subject knowledge required
- A keen interest to learn the topic is needed
Probability is a numerical measure of likelihood of an event.Probability tells us how often some event will happen after many repeated trials. Where as Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis that uses quantified models, representations and synopses for a given set of experimental data or real-life studies. Statistics studies methodologies to gather, review, analyze and draw conclusions from data.
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For Immediate Release: Monday, July 26, 2010
Contact: Phoebe Silag or Donte Donald, email@example.com 202-775-8810
A commonly referenced finding from a frequently-cited research paper by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff is deeply flawed, a new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute shows.
In Growth In A Time of Debt, Reinhart and Rogoff claim that when government debt exceeds 90 percent of gross domestic product, economic growth is negatively impacted. EPI’s report outlines the problems with the data and data interpretation that cast severe doubt on the claim that there is a well-defined threshold above which public debt cannot rise without affecting growth, let alone a threshold precisely at 90 percent.
In Government Debt and Economic Growth: Overreaching Claims of Debt “Threshold” Suffer From Theoretical and Empirical Flaws, EPI researchers John Irons and Josh Bivens analyze Growth in A Time of Debt. Their primary findings are:
- The 90 percent level was not determined by the data. Reinhart and Rogoff created four arbitrary debt level categories, which makes the “cliff” effect of the 90 percent even more questionable.
- The United States has exceeded the 90 percent threshold in only 6 of the 218 years that Reinhart and Rogoff analyze. These 6 years were in the 1940s, when economic trends was dominated by the influence of World War II defense spending—particularly the withdrawal of government spending and the resulting economic contractions of postwar demobilization. In short, general notions about the relationship between high debt levels and growth cannot be inferred from this one unique era.
- Reinhart and Rogoff find a correlation between high debt levels and slower growth and infer causality—but economic theory suggests that causality would actually be more likely to run in the opposite direction, as slow growth sees revenue declines and rising safety spending that adds to debt. The data supports this alternate explanation.
- Reinhart and Rogoff look at debt in a given year and growth in that same year— but textbook theory actually argues that borrowing in one year would affect future growth.
- Reinhart and Rogoff measure gross debt, but it is debt held by the public that is economically relevant. In 2009, the difference between gross debt and debt held by the public was more than $2 trillion, or 16% of GDP—and that difference is critical in the determination of a specific threshold.The U.S. economy is currently experiencing the worst recession in 70 years. The recession is marked by persistent unemployment—more than 14 million workers are unemployed, and almost half of those have been unemployed for longer than six months. Influential policymakers and members of the media have cited the work of Reinhart and Rogoff as evidence of a need for immediate debt reduction. However, the 90 percent threshold established by Growth in a Time of Debt simply is not real. It is true that the U.S. faces long-term structural budget deficits—particularly in relation to rising health care costs. However, the immediate economic crisis that the federal government must address remains a severe lack of jobs. The immediate danger is that debt- and deficit-related concerns will paralyze the Obama administration and Congress and prevent them from taking aggressive action on job creation.
# # #


Alprazolam is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It is classified as short-acting, and is used to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia. more...
Alprazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine, that is, a benzodiazepine with a triazolo-ring attached to its structure. Alprazolam binds to the GABAA subtype of the GABA receptor, increasing inhibitory effects of GABA within the central nervous system. The binding site for benzodiazepines is distinct from the binding site for GABA on the GABA receptor.
Unlike other benzodiazepines, alprazolam may also have some antidepressant activity, although clinical evidence of this is lacking.
The mechanism of action is not fully understood; However, Alprazolam is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The peak plasma concentration is achieved in 1-2 hours. Most of the drug is bound to plasma protein, mainly albumin. Alprazolam is hydroxylated in the liver to α-hydroxyalprazolam, which is also pharmacologically active. This and other metabolites are later excreted in urine as glucuronides. Some of the drug is also excreted in unchanged form.
The main medical uses for alprazolam include:
- Treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia.
Alprazolam is very effective in preventing panic attacks. However, despite its efficacy, many psychiatrists are reluctant to use alprazolam for this condition because of the possibility of dependence and interdose anxiety due to its short-acting nature. An extended-release formulation of alprazolam known as Xanax XR® was introduced in 2001 and is often preferred.
- Treatment of panic attacks.
Alprazolam is taken as needed (PRN); 4 to 6 doses per month are the acceptable limit. If dependence seems to develop and/or the limit is exceeded, therapy may be reconsidered and/or discontinued.
- Long-term treatment of severe generalized anxiety disorders.
Alprazolam may be used for long-term treatment of anxiety if other therapies either do not work or are contraindicated. Duration of therapy in this case is often four months or longer. The decision to use alprazolam for this purpose must be carefully made by a specialized psychiatrist, taking into account the individual's suffering, quality of life, loss of social performance and risk of dependence.
- Adjunctive treatment of depression.
Alprazolam is sometimes used together with SSRIs such as paroxetine, sertraline, or fluoxetine to alleviate initial SSRI-induced anxiety while waiting for the antidepressant to begin working. However, clinical experience has shown that SSRIs may actually provoke panic attacks in otherwise healthy individuals, and cause sexual dysfunction. In these cases, a tricyclic antidepressant may be used instead. Buspirone may also be useful in conjunction with alprazolam in cases of generalized anxiety disorder.
- Other uses.
Alprazolam may be used by specialists to treat severe cases of Borderline Personality Disorder. Some studies have shown positive results.
Read more at Wikipedia.org


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"On this first day of a new century we humbly beg forgiveness and dedicate these last forests of our once beautiful nation to the hope that they will one day return and grace our foul earth. Until that day may God bless these gardens and the brave men who care for them." — President Anderson
...the seedling growing in the black pot in Solowey's nursery on this kibbutz in Israel's Arava desert is 2,000 years old -- more than twice as old as the 900-year-old biblical character who lent his name to the young tree. It is the oldest seed ever known to produce a viable young tree.
The seed that produced Methuselah was discovered during archaeological excavations at King Herod's palace on Mount Masada, near the Dead Sea. Its age has been confirmed by carbon dating. Scientists hope that the unique seedling will eventually yield vital clues to the medicinal properties of the fruit of the Judean date tree, which was long thought to be extinct.
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Some Antibiotics Linked to Serious Nerve Damage
WebMD News Archive
Aug. 27, 2013 -- The FDA is strengthening its warning that a popular class of antibiotics, called fluoroquinolones, may cause sudden, serious, and potentially permanent nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy.
Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics that are commonly used to treat a variety of illnesses such as respiratory and urinary tract infections. These medicines include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin). More than 23 million patients received a prescription for one of them in 2011.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves that send information to and from the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Damage interrupts this connection, and the symptoms depend on which nerves are affected. In general, the symptoms are in the arms and legs and include numbness, tingling, burning, or shooting pain.
Peripheral neuropathy has been listed as a side effect of fluoroquinolones since 2004. There have been reports of long-lasting nerve damage and disability in patients taking this type of medication.
A recent FDA review revealed that the existing warnings for fluoroquinolones were inadequate. The FDA's newest alert requires that all drug labels and medication guides for fluoroquinolones be updated to better emphasize the risk for serious and potentially irreversible peripheral neuropathy.
Nerve Damage Risk: What You Need to Know
- Peripheral neuropathy symptoms typically begin rapidly, within a few days of starting the fluoroquinolones.
- Nerve damage symptoms may last for months or even be permanent, despite stopping the drug.
- The risk for peripheral neuropathy appears to affect only those who take fluoroquinolones by mouth or by injection. Fluoroquinolones used in the eyes or ears are not linked to the risk.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you develop numbness, tingling, weakness, burning, shooting pains, or other symptoms while taking a fluoroquinolone.
- Your doctor may tell you to stop taking the medication and prescribe a different type of drug, unless the benefits of fluoroquinolones outweigh the risks. Never stop taking any medication before first talking to your doctor.
This is not the first serious warning for fluoroquinolones. In 2008, the FDA required a boxed warning, the most serious type of warning, to be added to the medications, alerting patients of the risk of tendon damage and rupture.
The FDA encourages patients and doctors to report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program or call 800-332-1088.


Have you heard about that new house that went up down the road? It’s wooden, packed full of tubes, and ready for some eggs and mud walls! Of course, I’m talking about a bee house. These exquisite structures exist to house our urban living, solitary bees. Make your own to help these little pollinators in need!
The bees are buzzing about this one! Just like us humans, solitary bees in the city pack their homes in tight to make room for everyone. Bee houses are magical little places that contain tons of larvae from the bees who don’t live in hive communities.
Bee houses are crucial because habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to native bees. As we clear away native species, mow down the dandelions, and rake up leaves, we’re hurting the little guys that we rely on for pollination.
To help, we need to think about how we can provide flowers and nesting habitats for all the solitary bees out there. Similar to my bug hotel, this bee house is designed just for those wandering bees who can’t find their typical empty cavities to lay their eggs.
Let’s help the bees and get started!
Jump ahead to…
- What is a Bee House?
- How to Make a Bee House
- Nesting Blocks
- How to Use a Bee House
- How to Attract Bees to the House
- How to Maintain a Bee House
- Winter Management
- Spring Management
- Ongoing Management
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Houses
- More Posts About Pollinators
What is a Bee House?
Similar to bird houses, bee houses provide a place for bees to rest and nest. These houses are used by solitary bees such as mason, leafcutter, and mining bees. Honeybees live in colonies and not on their own, so you won’t find them in these houses!
Most mason bee houses look like little wooden houses filled to the brim with nesting tubes. These tubes provide places for the bees to hibernate and nest.
As gardeners, we are constantly changing the wild spaces and habitats of bees. By adding a bee house, we help protect them from our garden work and visitors.
Building a bee house reminds you to welcome these little insects into your space and thank the bees for their hard work. I also love to use mine as a wonderful teaching opportunity anytime someone points to it and wonders what the heck that thing is.
How to Make a Bee House
There are a few ways to make a bee house, but all follow the same rules. Here is everything you need to know about creating your own unique home for solitary bees.
A container can be anything from a coffee can to a milk carton. Often, they are permanent structures made out of wood.
When making your first bee house, think about the size. While a huge bee house may look cool, the reality is that it may house too many bees and be too difficult to maintain for a beginner.
The size of the house should also match the surrounding food supply. Do you have enough flowers to support a bee population?
The container should be open in the front and closed in the back. Ideally, it should have an overhang to protect it from the rain and outer elements.
Paint the structure with a waterproof coating to keep out moisture. You can also have fun and paint your boxes to stand out in your garden.
Bee houses are filled with tubes made from natural and recycled materials. Since not all bees use the same materials, it’s a good idea to provide a range of materials and sizes of tubes.
You can make your tubes using rolled-up paper or cardboard or fill the house with paper straws and hollow reeds. Some people also use bamboo but it can retain moisture and is more likely to develop pests and fungus. I have used bamboo reeds in the past with no problems, but you need to keep a careful eye on them.
To make your own tubes, take some thick paper (such as packing paper) and roll it around a dowel. Tape the paper and gently slide the dowel out. Bend one end of the tube and tape it shut so no light passes through. Tubes should be a minimum of 6 inches deep.
Tape your bundle together and insert it into the container. The tubes should be tightly packed, completely filling the container. Insert them so that the overhang protects the tubes but also so that they still receive direct sunlight.
Another option is to use nesting blocks. This is when you drill holes into small pieces of wood. The holes should have various diameters to make up for all the different kinds and sizes of bees. They should range from 1/16-5/8”.
Only use untreated wood in the creation of your bee house. Pine, spruce, and oak are good bee-friendly options.
How to Use a Bee House
In nature, solitary bees like to seek out empty cavities like hollow stems, rock crevices, fallen logs, and more. With the bee house, they will construct a similar nest. First, they gather mud and other materials and carry them back to the nest to create walls known as partitions. Between each wall, the female bee will leave an egg and pollen.
You want to make sure the female bees can easily find the house and that it’s in a good location for the developing larvae. Place your mason bee house somewhere that receives early morning sun since bees are early risers. It should be 4-10 feet off the ground to protect the bees from predators.
Protect the bee house from moisture and rain. Excess moisture leads to cocoons becoming mouldy and the spread of fungi.
How to Attract Bees to the House
The best way to attract bees to your mason bee house is to make your garden and the surrounding area as bee-friendly as possible. This means planting early-season flowers for those early mason bees as well as flowers that bloom well into the fall. Give them as much nourishment as possible.
The bee house will be most active during early to mid-summer with many bees using the house for nesting. Make sure no vegetation blocks the entrance, that it’s getting enough sun, and consider adding a bee bath to the area.
Bees like natural habitats, so try to make your garden a little less polished. Leave the leaves in the fall, allow the lawn to go longer between cuttings, and embrace a little mess in your garden.
How to Maintain a Bee House
Maintaining a bee house is singlehandedly the most important thing you need to do. If you don’t maintain the bee house after building it, it can become a death trap for the bees you’re trying so hard to help!
Certain predators affect solitary bees. Kleptoparasites steal the pollen that the females leave behind for their offspring, leaving none for the larvae. This includes pollen mites, carpet beetles, and the Houdini fly.
Parasites also can enter the cells and feast on the cocoons of the bees. This includes parasitic wasps and chalkbrood fungus. Without management, bee houses can easily build up these pests.
In nature, these bee cavities tend to be more spread out. Human-made homes hold a much higher number of bees living together. With more bees, they become more susceptible to mites and pests which is why it’s so important to step in rather than leave the bees to themselves like they would in their natural habitat.
All the materials should be cleaned out on an annual basis. Between September and November, take down your hotel as the bees will be fully formed by them.
You’re then going to remove the tubes and carefully inspect them to look for parasites. This is known as harvesting the cocoons. You can learn how to harvest and store bees properly over at the David Suzuki Foundation.
Toss out any used tubes and clean the entire structure using soap and water. Soak and scrub and nesting blocks you intend to reuse.
Take out the house in February to March after the last frost. Ideally, hang it in the same spot every year as some bees like to return to the same nesting spot. Replace any discarded tubes with new materials.
Place your collected cocoons outside somewhere close to your home, protected from the elements, and facing the morning sun. Mason bees emerge first and leaf cutter bees hatch in June.
Check on the house every few weeks to make sure everything is going smoothly. To keep out birds like woodpeckers and blue jays, you can also cover the exterior of the house with metal netting. Do not cover the nesting holes as this can obstruct the bees from entering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Houses
Since solitary bees are excellent pollinators, some companies began selling bees to help with commercial pollination. You can actually buy the cocoons of these bees to put in your yard.
While bee populations are declining, it’s better to look at how we can help the current bee population rather than introduce these purchased bees. By looking after the environment and native species, we can help the health of the whole planet.
Yes! Solitary bees need bee houses in urban settings since their natural nesting habitat becomes more difficult to find. To make bee houses the best place possible, you really need to maintain them. If you leave bee houses to their own devices, they can become pest-infested areas and are bad for the bees you’re trying to help.
You’ll know bees are in there when the tubes slowly fill and become packed with mulch and leaf debris. This means there are bee larvae inside!
Make your own bee house rather than a commercial one. Most aren’t made with the proper materials and can harm the bees.
Bee houses need to be cleaned every year. Discard any used or old tubes and replace them with new ones. Reusing tubes can lead to the spread of diseases throughout generations of bees.
Take the house and scrub it down with biodegradable soap and water. Soak and scrub the nesting blocks. You can use a 5% liquid oxygen bleach to help kill fungi and bacteria.
Allow the house to fully dry before placing new materials in. Ideally, you should clean the house in the fall after removing the hibernating bees and let the house sit inside until February-March
Honey bees do not use bee houses. Honey bees are colony bees who live in hives of thousands of bees. Anyone who wants honey bees will need a bee box/hive which is much larger and meant to host a whole colony.
Bee houses are meant for solitary bees like mason and leafcutter species. These guys are actually much more effective at pollinating than honey bees!
While wasps are beneficial predators that keep away bad bugs, they also feast on bee larvae. Placement of the bee house will help keep them away. Too much shade can attract hole-nesting wasps. While you want to provide some afternoon shade, make sure the bee house gets plenty of early morning sun.
Clean your bee house every fall and look for parasites. Keep your cocoons in a garden shed or unheated garage in the winter to keep them away from any potential predators.


Sarcoidosis of the Thyroid
Granulomatous Lesions and Thyroid Function
By Elaine Moore
Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland usually causes hypothyroidism although it may also cause euthyroid thyroiditis, and it may occur in patients with hyperthyroidism.
What is Sarcoidosis of the Thyroid Gland?
Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland is a rare disorder first reported in 1938 that primarily affects young and middle-aged females although both males and females of all ages may be affected. Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland usually results in hypothyroidism because of fibrosis interfering with thyroid function. However, sarcoidosis of the thyroid may cause a euthyroid (normal thyroid function) form of thyroiditis and goiter. And occasionally sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland occurs in association with Graves’ disease and less commonly in patients with toxic multinodular goiter. In addition sarcoid lesions may occur as cold thyroid nodules and be mistaken for thyroid cancer.
Development of Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis has been found to be associated with T-cell activation. Consequently, sarcoidosis is suspected of developing as an inflammatory response to a single provocation, which can be another disease. For instance, 5 percent of all patients with Hodgkin’s disease are found to have evidence of liver sarcoidosis, which is suspected of arising as a response to the Hodgkin’s neoplasm.
Similarly, sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland may develop in response to an established thyroid disorder including Graves’ disease, nodular goiter, and thyroid cancer. Patients with Graves’ disease may also have concomitant conditions of sarcoidosis affecting the lungs. Patients with systemic sarcoidosis may also develop sarcoid lesions in various organs including the thyroid gland.
Symptoms and Signs
Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland usually results in hypothyroidism due to fibrosis of thyroid tissue or interference with the function of normal thyroid cells. However, when sarcoidosis occurs in patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease or toxic multinodular goiter, the hyperthyroidism is often resistant to treatment with I131 ablation or anti-thyroid drugs. In cases of chronic sarcoidosis, skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes (especially in the chest cavity), enlarged spleen, enlarged liver, uveitis, cardiac symptoms, and arthritis may occur. Although thyroid sarcoidosis is generally painless, there are isolated reports of painful lesions occurring.
Sarcoidosis frequently causes an elevation of calcium levels in both the blood and urine. Sarcoid lesions are also known to cause elevated levels of circulating vitamin D, which may be seasonal. Consequently, conditions of both hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism may occur due to imbalances in calcium metabolism.
In sarcoidosis, the white blood cell count may be low and on occasion the uric acid level and the blood and urine calcium levels may be elevated. Sarcoid granulomas present in the thyroid gland seen on imaging tests may be mistakenly identified as thyroid neoplasms especially when they’re identified as cold nodules.
Proptosis, orbital swelling and other symptoms resembling thyroid eye disease may occur as a result of systemic sarcoidosis affecting the eye rather than as a complication of sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland.
In patients with sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland occurring in patients with hyperthyroidism, resistance to anti-thyroid drugs and irradiation is common. Patients with hyperthyroidism who show a poor response to these treatments should be evaluated for thyroid sarcoidosis. In cases where thyroidectomy surgery was used to treat hyperthyroidism resistant to other treatments, sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland has been reported as an incidental finding.
Corticosteroids are used to reduce symptoms in sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland although symptoms generally resume when corticosteroid treatment is stopped, making surgical removal a better option.
© 2 Jun 2007 Copyrighted by Elaine Moore
N. Porter, H Benonz, and H. Randevai, Endocrine and Reproductive Manifestations of Sarcoidosis, QJ Med 2003; 96:553-561.
Rodriguez MC, Rani D and Faas H, Unusual clinical course of Graves’ thyrotoxicosis and concomitant sarcoidosis: case report and review of literature, Endocrine Practice, Mar-Apr 2007; 13(2); 159-163.
Sarcoidosis, The Merck manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, accessed Sept 22, 2006.
Zimmerman-Besling T, Christensen L, Hansen HS, et al, A case of sarcoidosis and sarcoid granuloma, papillary carcinoma, and Graves’ disease in the thyroid gland, Thyroid 2000 Mar; 10(3): 275-278.


The Real Time Hydrologic Station (RTHS) is an integrated sensor system that acquires, processes and telemetrizes information (wireless transmission of data) collected from a suite of sensors at a fixed location. Based on site-specific characteristics, each RTHS may include a combination of meteorological, precipitation and stage height instruments used to measure wind direction and speed, stream flow and speed, air temperature and barometric pressure; precipitation; and height of the water's surface in relation to the riverbed.
Building on technology of the first generation of REON floating sensor platforms which require removal due to icy water conditions in winter months, researchers have designed these RTHS to be located on river banks enabling year-round environmental monitoring.
The RTHS located at the Grasse River in Massena, NY, is part of a habitat restoration project in collaboration with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT). The goal of the project is to better understand optimal spawning conditions required by the lake sturgeon - currently an endangered species; the lake sturgeon is of particular importance to the culture and traditions of the SRMT.
The Grasse, Raquette and St. Regis Rivers which discharge into the St. Lawrence River, were historically the spawning grounds for the lake sturgeon. The project aim is to characterize the environment to better understand what conditions sturgeon may require for successful spawning seasons. Research resulting from this project may potentially inform the restoration of similar habitats in other locations.


Written primarily by Daisy Phillips, with a few by her husband Jack, to her family in England, these letters describe the creation of a shortlived English home in the Windermere Valley of southwestern British Columbia. Not given to introspection, Daisy registers her immediate and frank reactions to her new environment and startling new way of life. From her letters we learn of the experiences of the Phillips and their neighbours in settling the newly opened land and of their attempts to grow fruit in an area with limited agricultural potential.
Favorable Reports Sixty second Congress First Second and Third Sessions 1911 1912 1913
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Claims
Dr Harry Paddon's memoir is an extensive account of life in Labrador prior to its entry into Confederation. As the Grenfell Mission's principal physician for over twenty-five years, Dr Paddon travelled extensively throughout Labrador by both dog team and boat. Through his journals he fashions a portrait of Labrador society in accord with the traditional rhythms of trapping and fishing, as it was before the onset of industrial development. He also chronicles the demands of northern medicine in response to pervasive threats such as tuberculosis and deficiency diseases, including a moving description of the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-19.
Results of Spirit Leveling in Wyoming 1896 to 1912 Inclusive


Ants are social insects, similar to termites, and live in large colonies where each ant has a specific role. So if you’re only seeing a few ants inside your home, it’s an indication of thousands more nearby. And if you’re supplying them with a steady food and water source, it’s likely you’ll soon have an ant invasion.
Since different types of ants require different treatment methods, you’ll first need to identify your specific ant issue. Here are 4 common ants you’ll see in and around your home, and tips on how to get rid of them:
1. Argentine Ants
Sometimes called a sugar ant, argentine ants are one of the most commonly found ant species inside homes throughout southern states. They’re tiny, as small as 1/8 of an inch, and vary from shiny brown to black in color. While they prefer sweet foods, they will eat almost anything. Argentine ants can easily squeeze through small cracks and holes, and set up quarters in the ground, in concrete walls, in between boards and timbers, or among belongings in your home, and are often seen in higher numbers during dry or hot weather or after heavy rainfall.
Because argentine ants exhibit very strong trailing behavior, exist in large groups, and move quickly, an infestation occurs quickly and can be hard to control. Using spray pesticides can often make the problem worse since this can stimulates egg-laying by the queens in the colony. Instead, it’s best to thoroughly inspect your home to find ant entry points and use sweet baits that the ants will feed on and take back to their colony. This method can take time to eliminate the entire colony, but will ensure that you’re attacking the problem at its source.
2. Odorous House Ants walking on stone walkway
As the name suggests, odorous house ants produce a strong smell when crushed, similar to rotten coconuts, and nest in and around homes. They’re dark-colored and about 1/8 of an inch or smaller. Odorous house ants exist in large numbers when there’s a nearby water source and are one of the hardest ants to get rid of once an infestation is established.
Treatment of odorous house ants can vary but usually include a variety of applications – including granular baits around the perimeter of your home, gel baits inside and in exterior stations, and perimeter sprays with non-repellent products.
3. Fire Ants
Fire ants are one of the easiest ants to identify because of their reddish-brown color and by the distinct dirt mounds they build. They’re also one of the most aggressive ant species and cause painful bites when they attack. Fire ants prefer to build mounds (nests) in open areas including yards, fields, and roadsides.
Fire ants are a common problem for homeowners for many reasons: they pose a threat especially to pets and small children who are likely to be bitten if they come in contact with fire ants, they build unsightly, damaging mounds in your yard, and can cause severe reactions to those who are allergic. Granular baits work well to treat fire ants and can even eliminate entire colonies within 72 hours with a fire ant control service.
4. Carpenter Ants
The various species of carpenter ants are the largest domestic species of ants. They’re larger than sugar ants and odorous house ants – usually 1/4 to 1 inch in size – and black. They’re also different from other ants as they cause structural damage. They like to nest inside the wood your home is constructed of, usually near a source of moisture. They’re nocturnal so you’re most likely to see them in the evenings or at night during summer months, when they leave their nest in search of food and water.
To prevent carpenter ants, eliminate sources of food and moisture, including repairs to any areas around your home where there’s evidence of water damage. Granular baits applied around the perimeter of the house and within the landscape work well to eliminate carpenter ants, in addition to gel baits applied along known trails, and perimeter treatments with non-repellent products.


Ants, Utility Function and The Shan Rebellion
“Ants are social insects that have these amazing societies that are similar to us,” said Dr Yek Sze Huei from the School of Science during her presentation titled ‘Lessons from the Ants Society’. To reasons unknown, the male ants (drones) will die after copulating with the to-be queen ants, who will then build their colonies. A queen will continue to lay eggs for the rest of her life without mating.
The worker ants are all females and daughters of the queen. So why are ants the most invasive species in the world? It is because they have evolved and have a ‘replacement-queen’ strategy. If a queen dies, a worker will take over and start reproducing. Ants interact with plants and most plants have co-diversified with them. “Whenever you see a plant, you will find ants,” she stated.
While ants have been typically thought of as insects that hoard food, Dr Yek referred to some of them as farmer ants. Contrary to what we may believe, leafcutter ants do not eat the leaves that they cut - they harvest plant material for their fungi farm to grow so that they can eat the fungi.
Speaking on the improbable of Cobb-Douglas (CD) utility function, Associate Professor Dr Poon Wai Ching from the School of Business stated that it has been widely used in the discussions of the theory of consumer choice. CD utility function is one of the most commonly used specific forms of the utility function in economics to study how people make a choice.
“A consumer’s total utility (TU) function is derived from the consumer preference ranking over various bundles of goods. In reality, consumers make their decisions based on their preferences, and do not normally apply the rule of max TU before making any decision,” Dr Poon shared.
In conclusion, she stated a consumer can infer not only the preference ordering but also the relative strengths of the preferences in making decision choices. In a choice-based approach, people hardly bother to consider maximising a given TU function of various bundles of goods.
Saving the best for last, Professor Andrew Walker, President and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash Malaysia, reminded everyone of the hit TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when he decided to rap for 6 minutes and 40 seconds during his presentation. The educational and lively rap was about The Shan Rebellion in Siam (1902 -1904): “They staged a rebellion and killed some Siamese. It’s a truly first great story, so pay attention please.”
In 1902, the Siamese and Shans were caught in the middle of the British-French rivalry over North Siam. Siamese officials stopped the Shans from trading and taxed them, making life difficult for them. The Shans stole from the Siamese and got into a skirmish with the Siamese police force - killing a few policemen in the process. They were led by a man named Pakamong.
A body of troops numbering to 2,000 were sent to punish the Shans who attacked and seized the Town of Phrae. The Shan Rebellion is said to be an important episode in the formation of the modern Siamese state.


Therapeutic Effects of Massage TherapySkeletal System
For many of us poor posture causes aches and pains as well as cause damage when bones are not held in correct alignment. This could cause joint deterioration, nerve compression or muscular pain. Massage relaxes and realigns muscles causing release of muscular tension, allowing bones to settle back into correct alignment.
Over or underactivity of muscles disturbs chemical balance within them. When muscles are tight, restricted or carrying excessive tension they may compress their own blood supply which slows down the process of metabolic waste removal. Massage helps to loosen up stagnated metabolic toxic products as well as helps to remove them into the venous system which prevents soreness and allows nutrients to rebuild and strengthen the tissue. Massage reduces muscular tension by stretching and loosening connective tissue and muscles allowing an increase of circulation and nutrition supply to the muscles thereby improving flexibility. Massage relieves muscular stiffness, fatigue, can maintain muscle tone through reflex effect on motor nerves. Massage can help to maintain the muscles in the best possible state of nutrition, flexibility and vitality so they can function at their maximum.
Circulatory & Lymphatic System
Massage increases circulation by assisting venous blood flow return to the heart and allows arterial circulation to carry oxygenate blood throughout the body. It improves flow of nutrients to all parts of the body and acts as a cleanser to eliminate toxins and waste product. Massage can encourage lymphatic flow preventing edema that often occurs with inactivity following inflammatory conditions.
Depending on the technique and rate used, massage can be sedating or stimulating. It stimulates nerves that effect internal processes (secretion, digestion, peristolsis). Massage has a calming effect in case of nervous exhaustion, emotional upset, panic, fear or anxiety. Relieves pain and spasm by soothing the excited nerve endings, producing relaxation. Can break the cycle of pain and spasm by interrupting the transmission of pain impulses.
Specific percussive techniques used during treatment can loosen and dislodge mucus from the bronchi, promoting drainage of secretions from the lungs and stimulating cough reflex. Massage is beneficial in treatment of conditions such as emphysema, asthma, pneumonia and helps to achieve efficient breathing patterns
Although massage is used to treat sport injuries, it is perhaps even more important as a preventative measure. It helps to achieve greater endurance and relaxation. Massage also helps to create balance and efficient movement that promotes speed, power and endurance. Pre and post event massage helps athletes to increase performance skills and prevent injuries.
Soft Tissue Injury
assage can greatly reduce the development of muscular pain if done early enough following traumas or injuries. Massage aids the healing process of soft tissues by loosening or breaking down adhesions and fibrous thickenings between structures allowing collagen fibres to be lied down in their proper direction. Massage helps to eliminate excessive accumulation of fluids in tissue.


Pex is a flexible plastic tubing developed in the late 1960s for water piping. Available in Europe for years, it was first brought to the United States in the 1980s. Pex is easier to install than copper pipe, withstands extremes in temperature and is resistant to chemicals used in today's plumbing environment. Designed for long pipe runs with few fittings, it's durable. Pex has its problems, however, and those should be understood when considering the piping.
- One major problem with Pex pipe is that it's not suitable for use outside. It is strictly designed for indoor and underground use as water piping. It's resistant to freezing temperatures but will not resist a direct and hard freeze. It's also not good for Pex to be exposed to direct sunlight outside for long periods as it will break down the material's strength and lead to full failure.
- One annoying and damaging problem with Pex piping is its apparent attractiveness to mice and rats. These rodents are known to chew on Pex pipe, sometimes breaking through completely and causing water leaks. Possible reasons for this include that they are attracted to the bright colors, that they like the taste of the plastic and that they hear the sound of the water and chew to try to get a drink.
- Pex pipe is known to occasionally aid in the development of some bacteria-forming biofilms when used with non-chlorinated water systems. This is most possible in areas of infrequent use, where the water is able to sit undisturbed in the pipe for long periods before use. Chlorinated water supplies don't have this problem, but for non-chlorinated supplies, the pipe system should be sterilized once per year.
- One of Pex's greatest strengths is also sometimes a problem. Because Pex water lines are often one long, continuous span of pipe, if repair is necessary it can make it more difficult than with copper pipe. Pex fittings are more expensive than standard pipe fittings and so replacing a bad section of pipe may be more costly than expected. Pex pipe fittings also require special tools that are also quite expensive to purchase.
- Pex's flexibility, savings on installation and reliability is its main hallmark. Overall, Pex is a solid alternative to traditional copper pipe. The problems associated with Pex are mostly minor or are easy to correct and avoid. As long as these problems are understood and watched for, Pex will do the job of providing a quality potable home water supply well.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Peter Dutton
Posted by Don Squire - Hawken Energy Outdoor Wood Furnaces


The chemical make up of saturated fats is in such a way that the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen atoms. Their constitution is such that they remain solid in room temperature. Health associations recommend that in our daily diet saturated fats should contain only less than seven per cent of the total calories. This means that if our daily need of calories come to 2000, only 140 in it should be contributed by saturated fats.
The main suppliers of saturated fats include animal products such as cheese, red meat, ice cream and butter. Coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm oil and palm kernel oil are the plant-based providers of saturated fats. It is hard to avoid the plant-based fat content from our diet since it is present in many of our favourite choices. For example, cocoa butter is a main ingredient of chocolate. Coconut oil and palm oil make their presence known in cookies, non-diary cake toppings and coffee creamers.
The easiest way to reduce the consumption of saturated fat in our diet is to substitute full-fat versions of milk and diary products with low–fat or even fat-free food materials. Stripping the poultry of their skin reduces fat to a huge extent. Opting fish instead of meat is also another healthy step. If coconut and palm oils can be substituted with olive and such other liquid vegetable oils, saturated fat content can be considerably reduced. Go for fresh veggies and fruits instead of fried and baked snacks. Instead of fat-rich toppings, creams and sauces, food can be deliciously flavoured with spices and herbs.
Foodstuffs with high saturated fats in it shoot up the level of cholesterol in the blood. Increased blood cholesterol level makes us prone to coronary ailments, apart from heart attack and stoke. So, beware of saturated fat in food for they are silent killers.


NIOSH confirmed that approved FFRs like N95 respirators protect the wearer, filtering particle penetration to less than 5%.
This article was originally published December 15, 2020 on PSQH by Guy Burdick
Filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) with exhalation valves, as well as a surgical mask or an unregulated face covering, can reduce a wearer’s aerosol emissions, according to a report released on December 9 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). With modifications, the respirators can offer the same level of source control as FFRs without exhalation valves.
Compared with other workers and the general public, healthcare workers have faced a greater risk and a longer duration of exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers have used FFRs extensively, when available, during the pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had questions about the effectiveness of FFRs with exhalation valves for source control, such as whether such respirators protect others from the wearers’ respiratory emissions.
NIOSH confirmed that approved FFRs like N95 respirators protect the wearer, filtering particle penetration to less than 5%. The report, “Filtering Facepiece Respirators with an Exhalation Valve: Measurements of Filtration Efficiency to Evaluate Their Potential for Source Control” (NIOSH Publication No. 2021-107), also confirmed that an FFR with an exhalation valve provided the same source control as commonly used measures like surgical masks, procedure masks, and cloth face coverings.
NIOSH researchers determined that modifications to FFRs with exhalation valves can further reduce particle emissions. Using an electrocardiogram (ECG) pad or surgical tape over the valve from the inside of the FFR can provide a source control similar to that of an FFR with no exhalation valve.
Exhalation valves are designed to increase the wearer’s comfort at high work rates and during longer periods of use. The exhalation valve closes during inhalation, only allowing inhaled breath to be pulled through the respirator’s filter media, and the valve opens in order to allow exhaled breath to be expelled from the respirator through the exhalation valve, as well as the filter media. Such models provide the wearer with a level of protection similar to that of an FFR without an exhalation valve.
Respiratory secretions expelled by wearers may exit along with air through the exhalation valve. NIOSH researchers set out to address concerns that FFRs with an exhalation valve could spread disease if unfiltered, virus-laden aerosols passed through the valve.
Current CDC guidance does not recommend using an FFR with an exhalation valve for source control. The CDC advises that if FFRs with exhalation valves are the only options available and source control is necessary, then the valves should be covered with a surgical mask, procedure mask, or cloth face covering that does not interfere with the respirator fit.
NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory developed a study with three goals:
- Measure the filtration efficiency provided by FFRs with an exhalation valve both under conditions of inward airflow (inhalation) and outward airflow (exhalation).
- Evaluate how particle penetration in FFRs with an exhalation valve compares with particle penetration in surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth face coverings, and fabric from cotton t-shirts.
- Determine the filtration efficiency of three modifications to the exhalation valve in FFRs, with the goal of mitigating the emissions of unfiltered particles.
Modifications examined by researchers included covering the valve on the interior of the FFR with commonly available surgical tape, covering it with an ECG pad, and stretching a surgical mask over the outside of the FFR. Covering an FFR with a surgical mask was not the most effective modification. Covering the interior of the valve with either an ECG pad or surgical tape reduced particle emissions to 5%.
The researchers performed a total of 1,125 tests, examining 13 FFR models with exhalation valves. The study produced the first measurements of outward particle penetration through FFRs with an exhalation valve, which have important implications for guidance on source control and disease mitigation.
Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare’s mission is to provide news, science, research, and a forum for opinion for clinicians, healthcare professionals, and everyone interested in improving quality in healthcare. Learn more.


Herbicide Resistance through Engineered Mutation: Which Bean is a Mutant?
- Does a mutation for herbicide resistance help, harm, or have no effect on bean plants?
- Which bean variety carries the EPSPS gene for glyphosate resistance?
- Explain that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) technology alters the genetic material of organisms.
- Describe the basic concepts for producing glyphosate resistant GMOs.
- Develop a hypothesis and test plants for glyphosate resistance.
Related NE Science Standards:
Life Science – Heredity SC12.3.2 Students will describe the molecular basis of reproduction and heredity −− SC12.3.2.cRecognize how mutations could help, harm, or have no effect on individual organism
Anticipated Length: Various - see PDF for details
Mutataion and Herbicide Resistance Lab (pdf)


Professor Lynn McDonald...
- Education Professionals
Twenty-year-old John Simpson, who himself is on the autistic spectrum, guides us through the theory and reality of life for many ASD pupils at secondary school.
John is keen to help raise awareness to ensure future generations of pupils with ASD get more from a mainstream school environment. As well as sharing his own story, he speaks to Autism West Midlands' Sue Hatton about the condition, and Mike Collins from the National Autistic Society, who reveals the terms used to describe people on the spectrum.
We hear from the parents of an autistic child about their day to day life, and we hear ideas from the experts about how teachers can further include ASD pupils.
Part of the series: School Matters


The Three Best Fish for Your Child's Aquarium
You've got your child's fish tank all set up; gravel, plants, filter, etc. But what kind of fish are best for a child's aquarium?
You want fish that will live for more than a month or two, and you want them to be easy to care for while also being interesting to your child. The ideal fish should be friendly to one another, cheaply fed, and able to go the occasional day without feeding, in case your child (and you) forgets to feed them.
The following fish are all hardy fish that are likely to live as you cycle your new tank.
They are also live bearing fish, which means they do not lay eggs but instead bear live babies. Fish are terrible parents for the most part, so these fish will also eat their babies if they are not removed to a safe tank, or a safe part of the tank.
All of these fish are also vegetable eaters, which means that they will eat the cheap and simple flakes available at almost any pet food or big box store. The fish should be purchased in groups of three, or five or more, as they prefer to school in odd numbers and also should be purchased in groups of two to three females to every male fish.
Mollies. Mollies are very friendly fish who grow to 2-4 inches in size. They love to swim together and upon maturity will school to the top of the tank to greet their feeder at feeding time.
Mollies come in several different varieties, from regular mollies which come in colors ranging from black and white to yellow to orange, to sailfin mollies which sport a large fin on top of their bodies. Balloon mollies are another type you might consider, although the distinctive "balloon" shape is considered a birth defect and this type does not live as long as the other mollies, generally.
Mollies are prolific breeders, the females giving birth about every 6 weeks if there is a male in the tank. If there is no male, a female molly may give birth up to six times after contact with a male, as she can store the necessary materials for many weeks.
Platys. Platys are smaller than mollies, growing to 2-2.5 inches by adulthood. They are a shyer fish than mollies, preferring to school and enjoy the tank rather than to interact with their caretaker. They are extremely hardy and can take a variety of tank conditions, but also prefer to school in groups of three or more.
Platys come in many colors, from gold to yellow to a grayish-blue. There is also a variety called the "Mickey Mouse" platy, which sports the easily-recognized ears and head of its namesake on its tail.
This variety of fish may enjoy some personal time. If you place a castle in your tank, you may find a platy hanging out by itself for some time. Don't worry - it's okay!
Guppies. Guppies are perhaps the most prolific live breeders of all - in fact, the pet stores near me keep the males and females in separate tanks!
The females are lovely, in gold and yellow and even reddish colors, but the males are far more beautiful. Many sport big flamboyant tails and come in brilliant primary colors.
Guppies prefer to school in odd numbered groups, and they will also school with platys of the same size. They are a little less shy than platys, but not nearly as forward as mollies!
Whatever fish you choose for your child's fish tank, make sure it is an enjoyable learning experience for them. Stick with these fish and you'll have a good chance of creating a fantastic introduction to the world of aquariums and pets for your child.


Paget Gorman Signed Speech (PGSS) is an unaided augmentative sign system that supports language and communication.
It is used in the UK, Ireland and Australia and enables practitioners to support children’s communication effectively.
It is, and can be, used flexibly at many levels in different settings:
• with children with specific language impairment as a total communication system in language units/bases,
• to support inclusion of children with speech, language and communication needs in mainstream education,
• as a learning tool to support all children to access and understand curriculum vocabulary,
• to support children whose first language is not English,
• it is also taught to parents/carers as well as those working in education.
Strengths of the system
Unlike some other augmentative systems, PGSS:
• supports literacy skills, particularly reading, for children who may not be able to vocalise accurately what they read or write,
• aids conceptual learning, as signs are grouped in categories which link to each other; this in turn supports word retrieval,
• supports the understanding and use of grammar, as the system makes the grammatical rules visual and ‘logical’,
• can follow the patterns of English speech whether simple or complex,
• can be simplified into prompts to be used to ‘cue’ children with their language or behaviour
has an extensive lexicon.