Tarkulha Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located in the city of Deoria in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Tarkulha Devi, who is considered to be a form of Goddess Durga. The temple is situated on the banks of the Tons River and is surrounded by lush green forests. It is believed that the temple was built over 500 years ago by a saint named Baba Balak Nath. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site, especially during the Navratri festival when devotees from all over the country come to offer prayers and seek blessings from the goddess.
The architecture of the temple is unique, with intricate carvings and paintings adorning the walls and ceilings. The main deity of the temple, Tarkulha Devi, is depicted as a fierce warrior goddess riding a lion, holding weapons in her multiple arms. The temple also has other idols of various Hindu gods and goddesses. Visitors to the temple can also take a dip in the Tons River, which is considered to be holy and believed to have healing properties. The temple complex also has a number of small shops selling religious items and souvenirs.
Tarkulha Devi Temple is a must-visit destination for those interested in exploring the rich cultural and religious heritage of India.
History of Tarkulha Devi Temple
The history of Tarkulha Devi Temple is believed to date back to over 500 years. According to legends, the temple was built by a saint named Baba Balak Nath who was a devotee of Goddess Durga. Baba Balak Nath is said to have come to this place while on his spiritual journey and was impressed by the natural beauty of the place. He then decided to build a temple here in honor of Goddess Durga.
Another legend associated with the temple is that during the ancient times, a demon named Tarkasur was causing havoc and terrorizing the people in this region. The people, unable to defeat the demon, prayed to Goddess Durga for help. The goddess appeared before them and battled with the demon for nine days and finally killed him on the tenth day, which is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. It is believed that the temple was built at the spot where the demon was killed.
Over the years, the temple has undergone several renovations and reconstructions. The temple complex has been expanded and new structures have been added to accommodate the growing number of devotees. In recent times, the temple has also been equipped with modern facilities such as guesthouses, canteens, and parking facilities to make it more convenient for visitors.
Today, Tarkulha Devi Temple is a popular pilgrimage destination and is visited by devotees from all over India. The temple has played an important role in preserving the rich cultural and religious heritage of India and continues to be an important center of worship and spirituality.
Architecture of Tarkulha Devi Temple
The architecture of Tarkulha Devi Temple is a blend of different styles that have evolved over the centuries. The temple is built in the North Indian architectural style and is made of red sandstone and marble. The temple has several intricate carvings and paintings adorning the walls and ceilings.
The temple has a rectangular layout with a high central tower called the shikhar. The shikhar is adorned with intricate carvings and is topped with a golden kalash. The entrance to the temple is through a large gateway that has intricate carvings and paintings of various Hindu deities.
Inside the temple, the main deity, Tarkulha Devi, is placed on a high pedestal and is flanked by smaller idols of other Hindu gods and goddesses. The deity is depicted as a fierce warrior goddess riding a lion and holding various weapons in her multiple arms.
The temple complex also has several smaller shrines dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses. The complex has a large courtyard that is surrounded by a pillared arcade. The arcade has several shops selling religious items and souvenirs.
Overall, the architecture of Tarkulha Devi Temple is a beautiful example of North Indian temple architecture and is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of India. The intricate carvings, paintings, and sculptures in the temple are a treat for the eyes and showcase the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans who built the temple.
Festivals of Tarkulha Devi Temple
Tarkulha Devi Temple celebrates several festivals throughout the year, some of which are:
- Navratri: Navratri is a nine-day festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Tarkulha Devi Temple. During Navratri, the temple is decorated with flowers and lights, and devotees perform special pujas and rituals to seek the blessings of the goddess.
- Dussehra: Dussehra is a ten-day festival that culminates in the celebration of Vijayadashami, which marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. At Tarkulha Devi Temple, a special Dussehra procession is held, and an effigy of Ravana is burnt to signify the triumph of good over evil.
- Diwali: Diwali is a five-day festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness. At Tarkulha Devi Temple, the temple is decorated with lights and diyas, and devotees offer prayers to seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.
- Holi: Holi is a colorful festival that celebrates the arrival of spring. At Tarkulha Devi Temple, devotees celebrate Holi by throwing colors and flowers and singing devotional songs.
- Maha Shivratri: Maha Shivratri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. At Tarkulha Devi Temple, devotees offer special prayers and perform pujas to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Apart from these festivals, other important events such as Hanuman Jayanti, Janmashtami, and Ram Navami are also celebrated at Tarkulha Devi Temple with great fervor and enthusiasm.
Attraction Near Tarkulha Devi Temple
Tarkulha Devi Temple is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a popular religious site and there are several attractions near the temple that you can visit. Here are some of the top attractions near Tarkulha Devi Temple:
- Chitrakoot: Chitrakoot is a town located near Tarkulha Devi Temple, known for its religious significance and natural beauty. It is believed to be the place where Lord Rama spent his exile period. There are several temples and ghats in Chitrakoot that you can visit.
- Bharat Milap Temple: The Bharat Milap Temple is located in the Chitrakoot district near Tarkulha Devi Temple. It is a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus and is dedicated to the reunion of Lord Rama and his brother Bharat.
- Gupt Godavari Caves: The Gupt Godavari Caves are a series of caves located near Tarkulha Devi Temple. These caves are believed to be the hiding place of Lord Rama and Lakshmana during their exile period.
- Kamadgiri Temple: The Kamadgiri Temple is located in the heart of Chitrakoot and is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the town. It is believed that a visit to this temple can fulfill all your desires.
- Ramghat: Ramghat is a popular ghat located in Chitrakoot. It is believed to be the place where Lord Rama took a dip in the river to wash away his sins. The ghat is also known for its scenic beauty.
- Hanuman Dhara Temple: The Hanuman Dhara Temple is located on the top of a hill near Tarkulha Devi Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is known for its beautiful waterfall.
- Sati Anusuya Ashram: The Sati Anusuya Ashram is located near Tarkulha Devi Temple and is believed to be the ashram where the sage Atri and his wife Anusuya lived. It is a peaceful place surrounded by natural beauty.
Things To Do In Tarkulha Devi Temple
Tarkulha Devi Temple is a popular Hindu temple located in Tarkulha village, about 20 km from Gorakhpur city in Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali, and is considered a sacred site by the locals. Here are some things to do in Tarkulha Devi Temple:
- Worship at the temple: The main attraction of Tarkulha Devi Temple is the worship of the Goddess Kali. You can offer flowers, coconut, and sweets to the deity as a sign of devotion.
- Participate in the aarti: The aarti is a daily ritual where devotees gather in the temple to sing hymns and offer prayers to the goddess. You can participate in the aarti, which takes place twice a day, at sunrise and sunset.
- Take a dip in the Tarkulha Kund: The temple is situated near the Tarkulha Kund, which is believed to be a holy water body. It is said that taking a dip in the kund can wash away one's sins and purify the soul.
- Explore the surroundings: Tarkulha village is surrounded by lush greenery and scenic views. You can take a walk around the village and enjoy the natural beauty of the place.
- Attend the annual fair: Tarkulha Devi Temple hosts an annual fair during the Navratri festival. The fair attracts a large number of devotees from all over the region and is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and traditions.
- Visit nearby attractions: Gorakhpur city, which is located about 20 km from Tarkulha village, has several other attractions that you can visit. These include the Gorakhnath Temple, Kushmi Forest Reserve, and the Chauri Chaura Memorial.
Best Time To Visit Tarkulha Devi Temple
The best time to visit Tarkulha Devi Temple is during the winter season, which runs from November to February. The weather during this time is pleasant, with cool temperatures and clear skies. This makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as exploring the surroundings and taking a dip in the Tarkulha Kund.
Visiting the temple during the Navratri festival, which usually falls in October, is also a good option as it is a time of great festivity and celebration. The temple hosts an annual fair during this time, which attracts a large number of devotees from all over the region.
It is advisable to avoid visiting the temple during the summer season, which runs from April to June, as the temperatures can soar and make it uncomfortable for outdoor activities. Additionally, the monsoon season, which runs from July to September, can bring heavy rainfall, which may make it difficult to explore the surroundings.


A transtracheal wash in dogs is a way to obtain fluid sample from your dog's lower respiratory tract. Perhaps your vet found a bronchial pattern on X-rays or suspects tracheobronchial disease and he or she feels this warrants further investigation. You may be therefore wondering what happens exactly during a transtracheal wash, whether there are risks for complications and the costs for a transtracheal wash in dogs. As the name implies, a transtracheal wash in dogs is a procedure meant to collect secretions with the help of a "wash" of saline. Learning more about what happens, the possible complications and costs of a transtracheal wash in dogs may help dog owners get better acquainted with this procedure.
An Insight into the Procedure
There are two different ways a tracheal wash procedure may be carried out: transoral tracheal wash (TOTW) and transtracheal wash (TTW). One choice over the other is based on the vet's preference and the characteristics of the dog in need of the procedure. Both procedures share the fact that saline is infused to help the vet retrieve airway secretions.
The transoral tracheal wash (TOTW) is performed on briefly anesthetized dogs who are intubated. As the name implies, "transoral" means through the mouth. An endotracheal tube is inserted through the mouth and a smaller endoscopic tube is thread through the tracheal tube and into the airways.
The scope allows the vet to visualize the trachea up to all the way down to the level of a bronchus. A small volume of saline wash will then be placed into the airway and then the fluid is aspirated back and collected. This fluid will be analyzed.
This procedure is mostly performed on small dogs or brachycephalic dog breeds which are known to have a trachea of decreased diameter and thick necks making it difficult to palpate the trachea and obtain a sample via transtracheal wash.
The main disadvantage of this procedure is the use of anesthesia (typically propofol is used), although the procedure is quick enough to just permit intubation and gain a sample. There are of course other risks associated with this procedure such as infection and damage to the trachea or main bronchi. As the dog recuperates, a slight cough may be present afterward, but this is a just a temporary side effect.
The transtracheal wash (TTW) is instead performed on an awake or lightly sedated dogs (dexdomitor and its reversal agent antisedan). The dog's cough reflex should remain intact despite sedation. As the name implies, "transtracheal" refers to being inserted directly into the trachea. In this procedure, the skin is surgically prepared and a large needle and catheter is inserted directly into the skin and then is directed down the trachea. Saline is injected into the trachea and then some fluid is aspirated back into the syringe. This fluid is then analyzed.
This procedure is commonly performed on medium to large dogs. While no need for anesthesia ia big plus for this procedure, the main disadvantage is the risk for complications such as lacerations and bleeding of the trachea and subcutaneous emphysema (air entering the skin of the chest wall from the neck area). In this latter case, dog owners may notice a crackling sound or a soft bulge in the dog's neck region that will subside within hours or days.
Both procedures carry some risks associated with the use of the saline wash and these include lowered concentration of oxygen and bronchospasm, a spasm of the bronchial smooth muscle leading to narrowed airways. Complications are more likely to occur in compromised dogs such as those with significant pulmonary dysfunction in which the pros and cons of this procedure should be therefore evaluated carefully.
Of course, there are risks associated with the use of both sedation or anesthesia, but with proper care and monitoring, it is unusual to have complications with either type of procedure.
Did you know? A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a another procedure that allows the vet to collect samples from deeper within the lung. It's helpful for cases of chronic airway disease. This procedure may be done should a tracheal wash fail to provide rewarding results.
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Evaluating the Sample
Once the sample is collected, it is evaluated by the vet and then the sample is sent for further evaluation to a pathologist. The goal is to have the sample analyzed for cells, bacteria and fungal organisms.
By looking at the cell types collected from the sample, some conditions can be recognized and potentially diagnosed. Certain types of cells for example may be seen with inflammation, asthma, parasites, cancer, etc.
A culture of the sample can provide important information pertaining what bacteria or fungus are exactly found and therefore can suggest what's the best type of antibiotic or antifungal medication to treat the condition. This can help in cases where, for example, dogs are coughing and after several treatments with antibiotics, there is no improvement.
It's important to consider that sometimes bacteria coming from the GI tract may contaminate the samples collected. For example, E coli is not commonly found in the dog's respiratory tract, but it is usually found in the dog's GI tract.
It may end up on a sample though should the dog end up inhaling vomit. Typically, bacteria commonly found in the lung include mycoplasma or strep, explains veterinarian Dr. Gary.
While a transtracheal wash can provide important insights and even diagnostic findings, the absence of any abnormalities doesn't necessarily rule out cancer and infections. Further specialized diagnostic tests may therefore be needed.
Cost of Transtracheal Wash in Dogs
Vet care costs tend to vary from city to city and even from one state to another. Sometimes, the best way to get accurate costs is by simply calling around vet offices. The receptionist may be willing to give out rough estimates.
The cost of both procedures may also vary considerably. The transoral tracheal wash is preferred because it permits the vet to visually inspect the dog's airway, but it is more expensive because it requires the dog to be anesthetized. Generally, between the anesthesia and procedure dog owner may be expected to pay anywhere between $500 and $1,200.
The transtracheal wash may be cheaper due to the lack of anesthesia and therefore may vary between $300 and $800. Of, course these are just rough estimates. Only by calling around or talking to the vet it is possible to gain more exact figures.
Wikimedia Commons, Slick-o-bot, Ayaks, a military police working dog, is put under general anesthesia before getting preventative surgery on his stomach at the Veterinary Treatment Facility


Welcome to Classical Images!
This original antique lithograph map of the lower Colorado River Valley and San Diego, by Alexander Dallas Bache (great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin) in 1855 - dated - was published by the official chart-maker of the United States, the office of The US Coast Survey.
General Definitions:Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stablePaper color : - off whiteAge of map color: -Colors used: -General color appearance: -Paper size: - 12in x 9in (305mm x 230mm)Plate size: - 12in x 9in (305mm x 230mm)Margins: - Min 1/2in (12mm)
Imperfections:Margins: - NonePlate area: - NoneVerso: - None
Background: The Colorado River is a major river of the western United States and northwest Mexico in North America. Its headwaters are in the Rocky Mountains where La Poudre Pass Lake is its source. Located in north central Colorado it flows southwest through the Colorado Plateau country of western Colorado, southeastern Utah and northwestern Arizona where it flows through the Grand Canyon. It turns south near Las Vegas, Nevada, forming the Arizona–Nevada border in Lake Mead and the Arizona–California border a few miles below Davis Dam between Laughlin, Nevada and Needles, California California before entering Mexico in the Colorado Desert. Most of its waters are diverted into the Imperial Valley of Southern California. In Mexico its course forms the boundary between Sonora and Baja California before entering the Gulf of California.The Colorado forms the border of California to the west and Arizona to the east for most of its course through the desert Lower Colorado River Valley (LCRV), where its character changes significantly from fast-flowing whitewater to a low gradient braided stream with a wide floodplain. Here, the Colorado River ranges in width from 700 to 2,500 ft (200 to 800 m) and from 8 to 100 ft (2 to 30 m) in depth. It becomes a losing stream, with a gradual reduction in volume both due to evaporation in the hot desert climate and massive diversions for irrigation, urban areas, industry and thermo-electric power generation. The average flow rate of 14,180 cubic feet per second (402 m3/s) at Davis Dam diminishes to just 2,060 cubic feet per second (58 m3/s) at the Mexican border.At Needles, California the Colorado is crossed by Interstate 40; shortly downstream it passes the Topock Marsh in Topock Gorge and widens into Lake Havasu, formed by Parker Dam. Lake Havasu provides recreation as well as the home of the retired U.K. London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, now the New London Bridge. Near Parker Dam are the first two major diversions of the lower Colorado: the Colorado River Aqueduct, which travels 240 miles (390 km) west to Los Angeles and San Diego, California; and the Central Arizona Project, which sends water 340 miles (550 km) east towards Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The intermittent Bill Williams River joins the Colorado from the east in Lake Havasu, just above Parker Dam.
U.S. Coast Survey (Office of Coast Survey)The Office of Coast Survey is the official chart-maker of the United States. Set up in 1807, it is one of the U.S. governments oldest scientific organizations. In 1878 it was given the name of Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS). In 1970 it became part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).The agency was established in 1807 when President Thomas Jefferson signed the document entitled An act to provide for surveying the coasts of the United States. While the bills objective was specific—to produce nautical charts—it reflected larger issues of concern to the new nation: national boundaries, commerce, and defence.The early years were difficult. Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, who was eventually to become the agencys first superintendent, went to England to collect scientific instruments but was unable to return through the duration of the War of 1812. After his return, he worked on a survey of the New York Harbor in 1817, but Congress stepped in to suspend the work because of tensions between civilian and military control of the agency. After several years under the control of the U.S. Army, the Survey of the Coast was reestablished in 1832, and President Andrew Jackson appointed Hassler as superintendent.The U.S. Coast Survey was a civilian agency but, from the beginning, members of the Navy and Army were detailed to service with the Survey, and Navy ships were also detailed to its use. In general, army officers worked on topographic surveys on the land and maps based on the surveys, while navy officers worked on hydrographic surveys in coastal waters.Alexander Dallas Bache, great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, was the second Coast Survey superintendent. Bache was a physicist, scientist, and surveyor who established the first magnetic observatory and served as the first president of the National Academy of Sciences. Under Bache, Coast Survey quickly applied its resources to the Union cause during the Civil War. In addition to setting up additional lithographic presses to produce the thousands of charts required by the Navy and other vessels, Bache made a critical decision to send Coast Survey parties to work with blockading squadrons and armies in the field, producing hundreds of maps and charts. Bache detailed these activities in his annual reports to Congress.Coast Survey cartographer Edwin Hergesheimer created the map showing the density of the slave population in the Southern states.Bache was also one of four members of the governments Blockade Strategy Board, planning strategy to essentially strangle the South, economically and militarily. On April 16, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the blockade of ports from South Carolina to Texas. Baches Notes on the Coast provided valuable information for Union naval forces.Maps were of paramount importance in wartime:It is certain that accurate maps must form the basis of well-conducted military operations, and that the best time to procure them is not when an attack is impending, or when the army waits, but when there is no hindrance to, or pressure upon, the surveyors. That no coast can be effectively attacked, defended, or blockaded without accurate maps and charts, has been fully proved by the events of the last two years, if, indeed, such a proposition required practical proof.— Alexander Dallas Bache, 1862 report.Coast Survey attracted some of the best and brightest scientists and naturalists. It commissioned the naturalist Louis Agassiz to conduct the first scientific study of the Florida reef system. James McNeill Whistler, who went on to paint the iconic Whistlers Mother, was a Coast Survey engraver. The naturalist John Muir was a guide and artist on Survey of the 39th Parallel across the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah.The agencys men and women (women professionals were hired as early as 1845) led scientific and engineering activities through the decades. In 1926, they started production of aeronautical charts. During the height of the Great Depression, Coast and Geodetic Survey organized surveying parties and field offices that employed over 10,000 people, including many out-of-work engineers.In World War II, C&GS sent over 1,000 civilian members and more than half of its commissioned officers to serve as hydrographers, artillery surveyors, cartographers, army engineers, intelligence officers, and geophysicists in all theaters of the war. Civilians on the home front produced over 100 million maps and charts for the Allied Forces. Eleven members of the C&GS gave their lives during the war.Alexander Dallas Bache 1806 – 1867 was an American physicist, scientist, and surveyor who erected coastal fortifications and conducted a detailed survey to map the mid-eastern United States coastline. Originally an army engineer, he later became Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, and built it into the foremost scientific institution in the country before the Civil War.Alexander Bache was born in Philadelphia, the son of Richard Bache, Jr., and Sophia Burrell Dallas Bache. He came from a prominent family as he was the nephew of Vice-President George M. Dallas and naval hero Alexander J. Dallas. He was the grandson of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Dallas and was the great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin.Bache was a professor of natural philosophy and chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania from 1828 to 1841 and again from 1842 to 1843. He spent 1836–1838 in Europe on behalf of the trustees of what became Girard College; he was named president of the college after his return. Abroad, he examined European education systems, and on his return he published a valuable report. From 1839 to 1842, he served as the first president of Central High School of Philadelphia, one of the oldest public high schools in the United States.In 1843, on the death of Professor Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, Bache was appointed superintendent of the United States Coast Survey. He convinced the United States Congress of the value of this work and, by means of the liberal aid it granted, he completed the mapping of the whole coast by a skillful division of labor and the erection of numerous observing stations. In addition, magnetic and meteorological data were collected. Bache served as head of the Coast Survey for 24 years (until his death).


If your birthday falls on any day in the month of February, then the alluring amethyst stone has probably graced your presence more than once. Follow us as we dig a little deeper and explore the story behind this month’s gemstone.
Amethyst is purple quartz, the most valued member of the quartz family. The stone can be found in a variety of purple shades, ranging from light violet to a deeper, rosy purple.
Amethyst is most commonly mined in Brazil, although it can be found elsewhere in the world such as in the USA, Mexico and Russia. Many foreign travelers set off to the city of Queretaro, Mexico to shop from an abundance of amethyst stones. Amethyst’s appearance often varies slightly by region and unique stones’ origin can often be identified based on the color, shape and character of formation.
The color purple has widely been associated with royalty throughout history, and many aristocrats and monarchs adorned themselves in the beautiful gemstone to signify their power. In fact, amethyst was once considered the “jewel of the gods.” Though in the past the stones’ value matched those of diamonds, they areactually much more available today At times during history, the stone was considered as valuable as diamonds but today is much more available.
The stone comes from the Greek word meaning “not intoxicated” and, because of a popular legend, was believed for centuries to prevent intoxication, giving the wearer a clear mind. In fact, Ancient Greeks and Romans would embellish their wine goblets with amethyst believing that it would prevent them from becoming intoxicated. Additionally, many travelers and soldiers wore it as a source of defense, believing it could protect them from surprise attacks and harm.
Today, the stone is much more common, making it an affordable option for many, though its beauty definitely transcends its commonness. Due to the harmony with both silver and gold jewelry as well as its tendency to compliment most skin tones, Amethyst is a wonderful choice for almost anyone!
Make sure you protect your amethyst jewelry—and all of your other valuable wearables—with a SIMPLR protection plan.


Are you nervous about going to college? Do you struggle with thoughts of going to school? If you’re finding the possibilities stressful, you aren’t the only one. College can be completely different than the life you were used to, but you can still be successful. These tips can help you have fun and stay productive in college.
One tip that can help you study in college is to make yourself flash cards when you have an exam coming up. Flash cards are easy to make. Your can buy inexpensive index cards and write questions on one side and answers on the other. You and a classmate can then use them to study together.
One of the smartest things that you can do as you enter college is to map out the exact route of your schedule before the first of class. This will give you a great idea of where you need to be at what time, and also will reduce the frequency that you get lost.
If you want to get an education on a limited budget, consider going to a community college for two years before transferring to a different universities. You will find that community colleges are cheaper than other schools and your credits will transfer as long as you complete your general education before transferring.
Use online resources to study at home. Popular study aids include Quizlet and Memrise. You can use these websites to create flashcards for your class. Often, someone else has already made flashcards for your class or subject of study. In this case, you can use what is already available to study.
Get familiar with your daily schedule and the location of your classrooms. Chart how much time is required to get from class to class. Scout out other important locations you’ll need to know, and circle them on a map.
Get as involved as possible with the students on campus and with certain organizations in the school. This is very important as you do not want to be tagged as a social outcast with nothing to do during the day. This will help you to make friends and feel like a part of the university.
Networking is one of the smartest things that you can do while you are in college. This will help you to not only broaden your group of friends, but also expand your possibilities when you are out of college looking for a job. Do not dismiss anyone in college, as they could be valuable to your future.
Always look for second-hand textbooks first. Text books can get very expensive. If you are already paying a fortune for college, you probably need to save all the money you possibly can. There are many great sources for acquiring used books on the Internet, in bookstores and through other students on campus. Buying used books is a surefire way to save money.
You should have fun while in college. The information you gain will affect your career, your personality and your experience and friendships. When you use the advice in this article, you can make sure your college career is all that you want it to be.


What Is Child Grooming?
Posted on January 15, 2020     |     Child Sexual Abuse
Child grooming is one of the earliest red flags for childhood sexual abuse. Child grooming describes the steps a perpetrator may take to gain a child’s trust before initiating sexual abuse. This can reduce the odds that the child will tell his or her parents about the abuse, as well as make stories of abuse less believable. Knowing the signs of child grooming and how to react appropriately could keep your child from ever experiencing the trauma of sexual abuse or assault. If you suspect abuse, reach out to a California child sexual abuse attorney immediately.
Forging a Relationship
Statistics show that most child sexual abusers are people close to the child or the child’s parents. In 90% of cases, child survivors know their offenders. Perpetrators often include babysitters, nannies, teachers, sports coaches, priests, friends and family members. Be wary of adults who try to build special relationships with your child. While the person could have only good intentions, it is worthwhile to watch the developing relationship for signs of something more. Adults that build relationships and forge emotional connections with your child could be guilty of child grooming.
Once the perpetrator creates a relationship with your child, he or she may start to test the boundaries and rules of that relationship. The adult may convince your child they are a couple romantically, for example, or try to become the child’s mentor. In other cases, the adult may start by befriending you, but then get closer to your child. Suddenly offering to bring your child home from school or teach him or her a skill, for instance, could be signs that your friend is trying to sexually groom your child.
Gaining a Position of Power or Trust
Sexual abuse is all about power. Child predators often use positions of power to pressure or intimidate children into complying with their wishes. A sports coach, for example, may use his or her position to convince a child victim to stay quiet (e.g. or else the coach will kick the child off the team). Positions of power can also come with reasons to isolate the target. As a parent, you may be more willing to let your child go alone with someone you think you can trust due to the adult’s position, such as a priest or teacher. Creating frequent opportunities to be alone with your child, however, is a red flag.
Special Attention or Privileges for Your Child
Another sexual grooming behavior is rewarding your child without reason or giving your child more attention than his or her peers. Awards, acknowledgment, gifts, money, compliments, one-on-one time or special privileges frequently from an adult could be a sign of something darker going on. The adult may be more interested in developing a relationship with your child or gaining his or her trust than actually awarding hard work or good behavior. Catering to the needs or desires of a child could encourage the child to initiate future meetings or contact with the perpetrator, with or without a parent’s permission.
Sexualizing the Relationship
Once the perpetrator has established a repertoire with the child, he or she will start to sexualize things. The adult may start subtly, with “accidental” encounters such as walking in on the child changing or going to the bathroom, or excuses to touch the child, such as tickling or wrestling. Also look out for the adult arranging situations that could become sexual, such as giving baths, going swimming, using changing rooms or accompanying young children to the bathroom.
Soon, the adult will progress into more overtly sexual acts, advancing the relationship into sexual abuse or molestation. At this point, the sex offender will focus on keeping the relationship a secret. The abuser may use shame, deceit or threats to secure the child’s silence. Escaping the abuse at this point will take an emotional leap on the child’s part since he or she has become entangled in the offender’s system of sexual grooming. As a parent, learn the signs of sexual abuse in children and keep a careful eye out for potential child grooming behaviors from adults that associate with your child. You could have the power to prevent sexual abuse if you are vigilant.


Feb 16, 2020
How deadly is Covid-19? As of now, we do not know. Yet, with access to accurate case records, we can answer this question with fairly high level of confidence, even at a relatively early stage of the spread of the disease.
What we do know, based on the death toll, is that the coronavirus is deadlier than SARS.
In general, two factors determine the lethality of an infectious disease:
The infection rate according to medRxiv and CIDRAP, varies from 1.3 for the seasonal flu, to 3 for SARS and 15 for measles. For the coronavirus, estimates range from 2.2 to 6.6. Since the pace at which it proliferates in China is far greater than that for SARS, chances are the infection rate is likely to be at the upper end of this range.
The death rate can be determined from the probability distribution curves, such as the one depicted in the above Exhibit. In this illustration, the probability of dying increases over time peaking at 24 days, and declining thereafter.
The death rate is the area under the curve.
Early assessments of the death rate are likely to be gross underestimates if they are based on the simple ratio of deaths over infections. These ratios are very low at the inception and during the phase when the disease is spreading.
Also with heightened awareness, and extensive controls and checks in place, a higher proportion of milder cases are reported. Under normal circumstances some of these cases may not be counted, and their reporting understates the death rate.
To accurately estimate the death rate we need to derive the probability distribution of deaths caused by the disease.
To begin, one might filter out those cases that are so mild that they may not have been counted under normal circumstances. Infected cases should then be split into cohorts based on the date of infection. The cohorts are lined up according to days since infected, combining to form a more reliable sample.
Aligned this way and monitored over time, the cases yield the proportion of deaths on days after the infection occurs. This information can be modelled to determine the structure and parameter of the probability distribution curve, the area under which is the death rate.
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Edited by Marisha, Sharingknowledge, SarMal
There is romance in the rain. The fall of tiny wet drops of precipitation can make even the dullest of evenings magical. There is magic heading home on a summer night in the rain, flip flop rhythms walking with the drops through puddles while the July heat falling off you. An open window with the sound of drops hitting a puddled ground or a rusty roof rattling with raindrops offers comfort while the cool showers of spring are a sign of summer giving hope after a dark cold winter.
But not everything contained in those little droplets of water is pure perfection. High levels of acid in rain has created the term unimaginatively coined in the 1950's: Acid Rain. Although acid rain was first discovered in the 17th century after poor conditions was noted in marble, since the Industrial Revolution high levels of acid has been documented by scientists in rain.
1 Acid Rain
- 1.1 Cause of Acid Rain
- 1.2 Acid Deposition
- 1.3 Composition of Acid Rain
- 1.4 Sources
- 1.5 Adverse Effects
- 1.6 Measurement of Acid Rain
- 1.7 Prevention Methods
- 1.8 Substitution of Fossil Fuels
- 1.9 Reduction of SO2
- 1.10 Reduction of (NO)x
- 2 Referencing this Article
- 3 Comments
Distilled or pure rain normally has a pH of 7, and is considered neutral. The rain or precipitation that has a pH lower than 5.6 is referred to as Acid rain. The literary meaning of acid rain is rain with an excess of salts.
Acid rain has an extremely harmful effect on plants, aquatic life, buildings and architecture due to the deposition of salts.
Cause of Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the atmosphere. These are then transferred by wind or air and react with water, oxygen and other atmospheric chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids mix with the molecules in water before raining to the ground.
Although a very small portion of the offending acids in acid rain are naturally present (i.e. volcanic eruptions), the major sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are derived from the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, run machines, automobiles, heavy equipment and in manufacturing, industry and oil refinery.
Acid rain is the deposition of acids in the air. Acid deposition falls into two categories.
- Wet Deposition
Wet deposition of acid occurs when any form of precipitation (rain, snow, etc.) removes acids from the atmosphere and delivers it to the Earth's surface. This is essentially what we think of when we think of acid rain. Sulfuric and nitric acids are delivered to the Earth's surface through precipitation.
- Dry Deposition
Acid deposition also occurs in the absence of precipitation and is known as a dry deposition. Dry deposition is caused by tiny particles (or particulates) in combustion emissions. This event can be responsible for as much as 20-60% of total acid deposition witnessed. A dry deposition occurs when particles and gases stick to the ground, to plants or other surfaces.
Composition of Acid Rain
The components of acid rain are
Acid rain is usually composed of any of the three above mentioned acids. H2SO4 is the major contributor to acid precipitation with 60-70% while HNO3 contributes about 30-40% to acid rain. HCl is a minor component of acid rain.
The combustion of fossil fuels creates SO2 and NOx. They are converted to sulphuric acid and nitric acid.
Sulphuric acid formation:
SO2 + H2O → H2SO3 H2SO3 + [O] → H2SO4
Nitric Acid Formation Oxides of nitrogen react with H2O and convert it into nitric acid.
2NO + O2 → 2NO2 2NO2 + H2O + O → 2HNO3
A combination of nitric acid and sulphuric acid form acid rain.
There are two types of sources emitting different oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, which react with H2O to form nitric acid and sulphuric acid.
- Anthropogenic sources
- Natural sources
The principal cause of acid rain is sulfur and nitrogen compounds from human sources. Millions of tons of nitrous oxide (NOx) is added by anthropogenic sources into Earth's atmosphere every year.
- Fossil fuels
- Coal power plants: Power generating plants contribute 60% to 70% of Sulphur.
- Automobile exhaust
- Domestic fire or House fuel
- Nuclear explosions
- Wastes of fertilizer plants
- Livestock production
- Industries and factories
The principal natural phenomenon that contributes acid producing gases to the atmosphere are emissions from:
- Volcanic eruptions create extremely high amounts of acid rain and fog with acidity which clears an area of any vegetation and frequently causes irritation to the eyes and lungs of inhabitants in nearby settlements.
- Biological Processes: Acid producing gasses are also created by processes that occur in the oceans, on land, and in wetlands. The major biological source of Sulphur containing compounds is dimethyl sulphide.
- Nitric acid in rainwater is an important source for plant life and is also produced by electric activity in the atmosphere such as lightning.
- Acids are released into water bodies by organisms conducting anaerobic activities.
H2S + H2SO3→ H2SO4
SO2 + H2O →SO2H2O
SO2 + H2O ⇌ H+ HSO-3
HSO-3 ⇌ H+ + SO2-3
Acid rain has the following adverse effects:
- Corrosive action
The corrosive action of these rains with acid content damages buildings, wood, steel as well as cement and concrete structures. It also damages fabric and other fibrous materials.
CaCO3 + H2SO4 ⇌ CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O
- Decomposition of parent rocks
A low pH causes the release of many toxic metals and the elements in excess amounts as the rate of decay and decomposition of parent rocks is enhanced. However, in small traces, these elements do not pose any problems but in higher concentration, many are highly toxic.
- Soil fertility
Soil biology and chemistry can be seriously damaged by acid rain. Some microbes are unable to tolerate changes to low pH and are killed. The enzymes of these microbes are denatured by the acid. The hydronium ions of acid rain mobilize toxins such as aluminum and leach away essential nutrients and minerals such as magnesium.
2H+(aq) + Mg2(clay)+ ⇌ 2H+(clay) + Mg2+(aq)
- Effects on forests and vegetation
Acid rain reduces the rate of photosynthesis due to the destruction of chlorophyll molecules. It also reduces the growth of plants and decreases their sensitivity to diseases while enzymes are disturbed due to the change in pH. Acid rain also damages the roots of trees and weakens them. The permeability of plant membrane for up-taking is also decreased due to acid rain.
- Effects on lichens
Acid rain damages lichens and prevents them from growing. Lichens are sensitive bioindicators of air pollution and have been seen to be completely absent in places with high air pollution.
- Effect on aquatic systems
Acid precipitation affects aquatic life drastically due to low mineral contents. Both, a lower pH and a higher aluminum concentration in surface water due to acid rain can kill fish by clogging its gills and reducing its O2 intake. As lakes and rivers become more acidic, biodiversity is reduced. Many types of bacteria and blue-green algae are killed due to acidified H2O thus disturbing the ecological balance.
- Human health
Heavy metals like cadmium, aluminum, and palladium which enter the blood stream of aquatic animals are then passed on in the food chain to other animals and man. These heavy metals affect the stability of cell membranes, hence prove injurious to health. The presence of heavy metals affects a human's nervous system, digestive system, and respiratory system by causing or exacerbating ailments like asthma and bronchitis.
- Effects on animal health
Amphibian animals have been impacted by high levels of water acidity due to acid rain. Some species of frogs and toads are currently on the verge of extinction due to the inability of their eggs and larvae to survive in a high-acid environment. Acidification of water bodies has affected the food availability for birds that feast on fish. Rabbits that have lived in forests that have witnessed acid rain are being studied as high levels of acidity are causing bile salt induced injury in their digestive systems. High aluminum levels are reportedly responsible for malnutrition and starvation in some forest animals.
Measurement of Acid Rain
Acid rain is measured by using a scale called pH scale. The lower pH scale of substances the more acidic it is.
- Normal rain: 7.0pH
- Slightly acidic: 5.6pH
- Acid rain: less than 5.6pH
- Energy Conservation:
Energy conservation will result in lesser fuel consumption and slow the emission of sulphuric and nitrous oxides.
Desulphurization and Denitrification
Many coal power plants use Fossil Gas Desulphurization (FGD) to remove sulphur containing gases from their stack gases. FGD removes up to 95% of SO2 from fossil gases.
Denitrification is the use of technology that removes or reduces the nitrogen oxide (NO)x emission into the atmosphere.
Substitution of Fossil Fuels
Substitution for fossil fuels by other alternative energy forms may offer future solutions.
Reduction of SO2
The release of sulphur dioxide can be reduced by removing sulphur contents before the fuel is burnt, by a process called coal cleaning gasification. Sulphur can also be removed after combustion by fuel gas desulphurization.
Reduction of (NO)x
Nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere can be reduced by modifying furnace designs and burner designs. Lowering the temperature during combustion by the use of catalytic activity can also help reduce (NO)x.
Referencing this Article
If you need to reference this article in your work, you can copy-paste the following depending on your required format:
APA (American Psychological Association)
Acid Rain. (2017). In ScienceAid. Retrieved Jul 17, 2019, from https://scienceaid.net/Acid_Rain
MLA (Modern Language Association) "Acid Rain." ScienceAid, scienceaid.net/Acid_Rain Accessed 17 Jul 2019.
Chicago / Turabian ScienceAid.net. "Acid Rain." Accessed Jul 17, 2019. https://scienceaid.net/Acid_Rain.
Categories : Earth Sciences
Recent edits by: Sharingknowledge, Marisha


FAO, WFO y la OACI juntos en este Día Mundial de la Alimentación
16 de octubre de 2012, Roma, Italia - El tema de este año para el Día Mundial de la Alimentación se centra en "Las cooperativas agrícolas - para alimentar al mundo" y coincide con el Año Internacional de las Cooperativas. Por lo tanto, la FAO, junto con la Organización Mundial de Agricultores y la Organización Internacional de Cooperativas Agrícolas, una organización sectorial de la Alianza Cooperativa Internacional, han decidido lanzar una declaración conjunta para honrar a esta colaboración y hacer hincapié en la necesidad de trabajar juntos para erradicar el hambre.
Celebrated in more than 150 countries today, World Food Day reminds us of the importance of feeding every member of society, regardless of where he or she lives. Ensuring people have food on the table relies on the work of millions of farmers around the globe and their organisations.
It is particularly fitting that this year’s theme for World Food Day focuses on agricultural cooperatives, both because we are about to conclude the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), and because agricultural co-operatives are key in helping the world’s farmers to earn a decent living and to meet global food needs.
We are convinced that this year has succeeded in promoting renewed interest in the value of farmers´ organizations, cooperatives, and other rural organizations. The result is to give them a greater voice in issues affecting their lives, to help them obtain their rightful share in the economy while also reducing real as well as potential risks to their livelihoods.
We believe that food production challenges each one of us in our own countries, in our own fields. Farmers in our own communities are working every day on our behalf. And it is through agricultural cooperatives and other farmers´ organisations that farmers, especially smallholders - so critical in meeting their communities’ food needs with safe, nutritious food - are able to develop the safeguards and receive the education and support that helps individuals, their families and their local communities.
ICAO and the World Farmers’ Organisation believe that rural organizations enable farmers to realize economic benefits that they could not achieve on their own. They improve their bargaining power in the marketplace, reduce costs and increase benefits. Moreover, in developing countries, farmers´ organizations and cooperatives play an important role in providing farmers, in particular smallholder farmers, a variety of services such as training in natural resource management as well as better access to information, technologies and innovation. In this context the cooperative system represents a fundamental tool for eradicating hunger and reducing poverty, being a catalyst for socially-inclusive development. They also represent a powerful means for supporting marginalized groups, such as youth and women.
Therefore, to better achieve their mission and to assure complete independence, rural organizations should be created and managed by farmers themselves based on their own needs. In order to achieve this, and given their positive role in a national economic and social context, national administrations should enact policies to encourage the creation of independent farmers´ organizations and cooperatives.
On World Food Day, ICAO, ICA and the World Farmers’ Organisation wish to express their strongest support to farmers in the process of establishing rural organizations, such as producer’s organisations and cooperatives, confident that such a process would enable them to improve their position within the food supply chain and increase their competitive position in the markets.
To conclude, the wide range of agricultural cooperatives is a reflection of the strength of this movement in meeting the challenges of sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
Agricultural co-operatives are values-based businesses that are the essence of both “can do” and “must do.”
“Can do” in the sense that farmers who alone could not compete with their limited crop yields or limited capital together can help build a better and more secure world. “Must do” because it is agricultural cooperatives which reflect cooperatives values, helping not just the individual to earn a living but supporting the communities in which those cooperatives reside. Time and again the “can do” and the “must do” signal the best of what World Food Day wants from all of us: respecting the individuals and the groups that toil around the globe to provide our food. They also underscore that working in harmony with a sense of greater purpose enriches all of us.
ICAO promotes the cooperative movement among farmers and in rural communities helping smallholder farmers to obtain badly needed resources for their production, while also assisting them in getting better terms in their markets and in maintaining their businesses in a sustainable way.
ICA has members in over 100 countries. Co-operatives represent approximately one billion individuals worldwide.
The World Farmers’ Organisation is built by farmers for farmers and its mandate is to bring together national agricultural producer organizations and agricultural producer cooperatives organizations to create policies. It also advocates on behalf of farmers all over the world in order to improve the economic environment and livelihood of producers, their families and rural communities.


Steel is a hugely important material both here in the United States as well as on a global scale. After all, the year of 2017 saw more than one and a half billion tons of it produced. And this was even considerably increased from the year prior – and an impressive increase, one of very nearly 4%, it was. In the years that are ahead of us, the overall amount of steel being produced is likely to remain impressive – if not even creep ever higher.
Here in the United States, steel is particularly valued. After all, the United States alone imports more steel than any other country in the rest of the world. In that same year of 2017, more than $25 billion in steel alone was imported. This steel comes from a number of places, including our neighbor to the north, the country of Canada. We get more than 15% of our steel from this country but, to show just how much steel the United States utilizes, that makes up around 88% of the steel that Canada will ultimately end up exporting.
But what, exactly, is all of this steel used for? As a matter of fact, the uses for steel, especially here in the United States, are quite many and varied indeed. For instance, the automotive industry alone uses up around 13% of all steel produced on a yearly basis. This steel is utilized not just in the building of cars, but for the creation and construction of other motor vehicles as well. Steel can help to make cars and other such motor vehicles safe in the event of a crash, something that can keep countless people safe all throughout the country and beyond it as well.
The creation of mechanical equipment for manufacturing as well as robotics makes up around 16% of the world’s total steel usage as well. Manufacturing alone is hugely essential in this country, bolstering the economy and providing jobs to millions in this country as well as even beyond it. Without the industry of manufacturing, we would have far fewer of the modern conveniences that we have come to expect as well. For many people, manufacturing provides them a livelihood, but just about all of us benefit from the manufacturing industry in some way. In fact, the world benefits from it.
And the creation of buildings and various elements of infrastructure rely on steel as well. After all, it is for good reason that up to half of the steel produced globally is utilized for these purposes. Steel has an incredibly high melting point – around 2500 degrees Fahrenheit (1370 degrees Celsius) – and is hugely durable indeed, something that makes it ideal for the creation of everything from bridges to skyscrapers (and, of course, beyond them as well). Without steel, many elements of infrastructure – as well as many different buildings, both commercial and residential alike – would simply not be able to exist or, at the very least, would not be nearly as safe or long lasting.
Therefore, the machinery and tools used to process steel are very important indeed, of this there is just no doubt. Induction hardening is an important point of steel production, as induction hardening allows us to utilize steel in the way that we must. Induction hardening often goes hand in hand with steel melting as well, and the steel melting induction furnace is a critical fixture in the world of steel production. Without induction hardening and steel melting alike, the ways in which we utilize steel would not be nearly as diverse and all encompassing.
But steel melting and induction hardening can both be expensive. For this reason, the use of refurbished equipment for the purposes of induction hardening and steel melting (and all other elements of steel production, for that matter) can be hugely beneficial. From the used induction furnace for sale to used equipment for induction hardening, used equipment is often still very high in quality but often far less expensive indeed than what you’d see being asked for brand new equipment. Ultimately, it is an investment worth making in the United States and beyond.


- Official infection rates across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain relatively low but concerns about an “India scenario” are growing amid a proliferation of variants.
- The region is quickly falling further behind in the global vaccine race, with only about 1% of the population vaccinated across all of Africa to date.
- The US decision to back an Intellectual Property (IP) protection waiver for Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization (WTO) is historic but will have little immediate impact on vaccine production and vaccine availability for poor countries.
Infection rates still low but ‘India concerns’ mounting
Official infection rates across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain relatively low, representing merely 6.5% of global cases. However, due to extremely low levels of testing, and limited hospitalizations and media coverage, the true extent of the pandemic’s spread across the region is most likely grossly underreported and, as such, remains subject to much speculation and debate. One building block of the narrative that SSA may be more resilient to Covid-19 is attributable to the region’s very young population: as of 2019, 42.3% of the region’s estimated 1.1bn population was below the age of 15, compared with India, where merely 26.6% fall into this age bracket.
However, concerns about an “India scenario” playing out across the African continent may intensify in the coming weeks. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director John Nkengasong has described India’s Covid-19 surge as a wake-up call for Africa, and has warned that shortages of healthcare workers, hospital beds, oxygen supplies, and vaccines could turn out to be even more overwhelming than in India. The WHO has reported that the B.1.617.2 Covid-19 variant first identified in India has been detected in a dozen countries, including in travelers from India in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Cases of the B.1.1.7 – first detected in the UK – have also been confirmed. Scientists at the Krisp genomics institute in Durban have warned that new variants – including the B.1.351 variant first sequenced in South Africa, a variant detected in Rwanda and Uganda, two identified in Nigeria, and one highly mutated variant identified in travelers from Tanzania – have proliferated across Southern and Eastern Africa, especially along truck routes. According to the researchers, this “risk[s] that Africa could become a reservoir for variants,” which is arguably a matter of both regional and global concern.
Consequently, Nkengasong has called for fresh pandemic restrictions. Countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda have suspended flights to India, while South Africa has quarantined several travelers arriving by air and sea. An African health ministers’ meeting on 8 May could set the scene for further government announcements in the coming weeks.
Vaccine rollout falling further behind
Compounding concerns about the proliferation of variants is the fact that the region is quickly falling further behind in the global vaccine race. According to Our World in Data, just 14.24mn people across Africa, or 1.06% of the total population, had been vaccinated as of 9 May, compared to a 30% end-year target.
Up until now, as per the chart below, the bulk of vaccine supplies shipped to SSA have been AstraZeneca (AZ) shots manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX). However, Nkengasong fears that India’s suspension of exports in March could impact Africa’s vaccine rollout “for the weeks and perhaps months to come.” In fact, as of 6 May, COVAX had delivered less than 20% of its initial regional delivery schedule through May (see chart). Meanwhile, inoculation using what little supply has arrived in the region is hampered by logistical constraints on the ground. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the suspension of the AZ vaccine over reports of blood clots by several European governments had a lasting effect on the jab’s local acceptance. In an extreme case, DR Congo, following the European example, first halted its AZ vaccination campaign and subsequently decided to pass on its delivery as it proved unable inoculate its population in time before the shots’ expiration date.
Even so, African countries that have received their first COVAX deliveries are expected to experience a supply gap as early as May or June. Regional officials are now hoping that additional vaccine supplies from China could be secured via COVAX. The WHO approved the Covid-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinopharm on 7 May and is expected to consider Sinovac’s shot this week. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is also under assessment. Their inclusion could significantly alter the outlook for COVAX’s vaccine mix and supply timeline.
Whither ‘vaccine apartheid’?
The growing gap in vaccine equity worldwide has galvanized fresh action. Last week’s decision by the US government to back an Intellectual Property (IP) protection waiver for Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was seen as a historic breakthrough in an initiative, spearheaded by South Africa and India, that just a few months ago appeared to be going nowhere. However, European leaders have pushed back by arguing that suspending intellectual property rights will not resolve supply shortages. Instead, they have called for scaling up production via licensing deals, and increased exports of vaccine ingredients and finished shots – a pointed criticism of the US.
However, it is unlikely to have an immediate impact on vaccine production and vaccine access for poor countries, even assuming that consensus at the WTO can be reached quickly and the waiver be brought into effect. Equally important will be timely technology transfer agreements to expand production, production capacity, supply chains, and skills, and a decision on whether the waiver will apply only to Covid-19 vaccines or also to treatment and diagnostics. On the production side, even South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare, which will produce up to 400mn doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine at its Gqeberha plant, will only “fill and finish” the shots, illustrating how far away the region stands from being able to produce vaccines from start to finish.
The pandemic has certainly galvanized calls for vaccine production in the region. The African Union (AU) has recently announced an ambitious new partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) – one of the COVAX partners – to manufacture vaccines at five research centers to be developed on the continent over the next 15 years. The target is to increase production of all vaccines used on the continent from the current 1% to 60% within 20 years, though at best this will be a long game, rather than a short-term fix.


The freshness of an egg is not only determined by the date when the egg was laid, but also by the way the egg has been stored. Proper handling and storage is perhaps the most important factor in determining freshness.
If a freshly laid egg is left at room temperature for a full day, it will not be as fresh as a week old egg that has been refrigerated between 33° and 40°F. from the time it was laid.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA):
Many eggs reach stores only a few days after the hen lays them. Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield on them, indicating they came from a USDA-inspected plant, must display the ‘pack date’ (the day that the eggs were washed, graded, and placed in the carton). The number is a three-digit code that represents the consecutive day of the year (the ‘Julian Date’) starting with January 1 as 001 and ending with December 31 as 365.
Though not required, most egg cartons also contain a “sell by” date beyond which they should not be sold. In USDA-inspected plants (indicated by the USDA shield on the package), this date can’t exceed 30 days beyond the pack date which is within USDA regulations. Always purchase eggs before their “sell by” date.
How long are eggs good after the sell date?
Refrigerated raw shell eggs will keep without significant quality loss for about 4 to 5 weeks beyond the pack date or about 3 weeks after you bring them home.
A general rule to follow is that any egg that looks or smells odd should not be used. If an egg is bad you will know it. Just smell the egg! Just crack each egg in a small bowl, smell it – your nose will tell you!
How to test if an egg is fresh
Fill a deep bowl with water and carefully lower the egg into the water. A very fresh egg will immediately sink to the bottom and lie flat on its side. This is because the air cell within the egg is very small. The egg should also fee quite heavy.
As the egg starts to lose it freshness and more air enters the egg, it will begin to float and stand upright. The smaller end will lie on the bottom of the bowl, while the broader end will point towards the surface. The egg will still be good enough to consume.
However, if the egg fully floats in the water and does not touch the bottom of the bowl at all, it should be discarded, as it will most likely be bad.
Test the eggs freshness by breaking the egg onto a flat plate, not into a bowl. The yolk of a very fresh egg will have a round and compact appearance and it will sit positioned quite high up in the middle of the egg. The white that surrounds it will be thick and stays close to the yolk.
A less fresh egg will contain a flatter yolk, that may bread easily and a thinner white that spreads quite far over the plate.
How to store eggs?
Buy refrigerated eggs and store them in the refrigerator as soon as your get home. However, even under refrigeration, eggs slowly lose carbon dioxide, which enlarges the size of the air cell and causes the yolk to flatten and the white to spread.


Arthur J. Villasanta – Fourth Estate Contributor
Berlin, Germany (4E) – After years of dithering, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have agreed to jointly develop their own stealth fighter, but still aren’t certain if they want a fifth-generation or a sixth-generation jet fighter.
This agreement, however, is an important step in advancing this long-stalled joint program. Since this program called the “Future Combat Air System (FCAS)” is expected to enter service with the Luftwaffe (German Air Force); the Armée de l’Air Française (French Air Force) and the Royal Air Force by 2040, the likelihood is this aircraft will be a sixth-generation fighter. The first test flights of a demonstrator aircraft is expected around 2025 and entry into service by 2040.
Fifth-generation fighters such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are distinguished by their stealth capabilities that hide them from radar detection. On the other hand, sixth-generation fighters combine stealth with hypersonic speed (speeds in excess of Mach 5 or 6,000 km/h).
The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy are expected to deploy their first operational sixth-generation fighters from 2025 to 2030.
Sixth-generation concepts put forward by the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force also envision their sixth-generation jets serving as “mother ships” controlling small squadrons of autonomous armed aerial drones. These stealthy drones act as wingmen protecting the mother ship while expanding the latter’s capability to strike at different targets or engage multiple aerial foes. These concepts envision two crewmen: the pilot and a co-pilot controlling the drones.
An idea of what Europe’s FCAS might look like can be gleaned from Germany’s sixth-generation fighter concept, also called FCAS. In March 2017, Germany and Airbus Defense and Space were in the initial stages of a new program to build the Luftwaffe’s sixth generation fighter, which they named FCAS.
FCAS will replace the Luftwaffe’s aging fleet of Panavia Tornado fighter bombers and complement the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter Typhoon air superiority fighters. FCAS will likely be a twin-engine, twin-tail aircraft piloted by two crewmen. The Luftwaffe intends FCAS to be operational between 2030 to 2040.
FCAS will be a “system of systems” that combines manned and unmanned aircraft into one operational unit. “In principle, it could be a system of systems — either a manned and unmanned combination,” said Alberto Gutierrez, head of the Eurofighter program.
“(We have determined that unmanned combat air vehicles) UCAVs will not be at technology state ready by 2030-40 to support Eurofighters. It could be optionally manned, with two crew — one for command and control (and one pilot).”
A second crewmember is key for the FCAS concept of operations, which will have the fighter operate in a wider battle network, potentially as a command and control asset or UCAV/UAV mission commander. FCAS will also operate as a “networked node” controlling “missile truck UCAVs” and drone swarms in contested airspace.
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World Tsunami Awareness Day Is Commemorated On 5 November
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♦ The day is observed to raise awareness about the hazards of tsunamis among people all around the world.
♦ World Tsunami Awareness Day in 2021 promotes the “Sendai Seven Campaign,”
♦ It aims to “significantly expand international cooperation to developing nations through suitable and sustainable support to complement their national measures for the implementation of the current Framework by 2030.”
♦ After the proclamation of the UN General Assembly on December 22, 2015, World Tsunami Day was first formally marked on November 5, 2016.
♦ The United Nations General Assembly urged all countries in international organizations to increase awareness of the crisis and share product ideas.


Most people don’t know the clothes hanging in their closets likely contain trees — some from forests that are thousands of years old. Every year over 150 million trees are cut down and disappear into the fashion supply chain that makes rayon and viscose fabrics. Many of those trees are from the world’s most vital Ancient and Endangered (A&E) forests. It doesn’t have to be that way.
International not-for-profit organisation Canopy has been working to change that, to shift the viscose supply chain so that it is free of fibre from these sacred and high-value forests – forests that are essential to biodiversity, fresh water access, and global climate stability.
Canopy has partnered with over 320 fashion brands, designers, and retailers – from Stella McCartney to H&M – through the CanopyStyle initiative, which sees these companies commit, through timelined and publicly posted sourcing policies, to keep Ancient and Endangered Forests out of their supply chain. After policies are complete, Canopy collaborates with brands by providing sourcing tools and expert advice, and implementation support to help bring Next Generation, A&E forest-free solutions to the market place.
Canopy works in many ways to conserve forests, like switching fibre sourcing from these areas through the use of recycled textiles, as well as fibres made from Next Generation Solutions such as agricultural waste. However, Canopy also recognises that virgin wood fibre does – and will continue to – play a role in the textile sector. For this reason, Canopy requires that its partners adopt a preference for FSC for the forest fibre they use. FSC provides the best assurance that forests outside of Ancient and Endangered Forests are managed in an ecologically responsible way, and that safeguards are in place to protect workers’ rights, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and the rights of traditional communities. FSC continues to be an important tool for fashion brands and man-made cellulosic producers participating in the CanopyStyle initiative.
Canopy also works with companies that use forest products from a variety of sectors – printers, book and magazine publishers, and with the launch of Pack4Good in 2019, the ever-growing packaging market. The Pack4Good initiative now has over 100 brands committed to eliminating Ancient and Endangered forests from their paper packaging, increasing their use of recycled and alternative fibres. When virgin wood fibre does continue to be used in their packaging, they require FSC.
Canopy is showing that fashion can be Ancient and Endangered Forest free — from the fabrics the clothes are made from, to the boxes they’re shipped in, and FSC’s support is vital in making that transition.


Bioenergy from plants with oil-producing seeds or wood that can be converted to biomass energy has the potential to produce clean energy, secure rural livelihoods and restore degraded lands, helping countries achieve their Paris Agreement targets. Bioenergy can also strengthen the economic incentive for private sector and community groups to undertake restoration efforts. But if not carefully managed, it could displace food crops or promote land-clearing.
CIFOR-ICRAF has been working on biofuels, particularly woodfuel such as charcoal and firewood production in Africa, as well as bioenergy species for landscape restoration in Southeast Asia. In collaboration with partners in research, capacity development and policy development, we have developed integrative technologies and synthesized information to support the policy and practice of bioenergy development in developing countries. We are analyzing the climate benefits and disadvantages of bioenergy policies and practices under current and plausible future scenarios.
We see bioenergy as part of a comprehensive approach that considers energy poverty, health, climate change, and food and nutritional security through diverse production systems involving forest landscapes. We are also studying social and gender dynamics and outcomes along woodfuel value chains, from production through to consumption.


Q: It’s spring and I can hear the peepers once again, which raises a question. Where on earth did the words “tadpole” and “pollywog” come from? They seem to mean the same thing, but they don’t seem to have anything in common linguistically, except perhaps for “pole” and “poll.”
A: You’re onto something there.
The larvae of frogs and toads—known popularly as “tadpoles” and “pollywogs”—have big round heads. And the old noggin sense of the word “poll” is very likely the key to the etymologies of those common names.
“Poll” probably came into English from the Middle Dutch word pol (top, summit), and there are similar words in other Germanic languages. Beyond this, the word’s etymology is uncertain, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
The term has been in English in one form or another since around 1300, and it has various meanings relating to the head.
Among other things, it can mean the crown, the scalp, the area where hair grows, and, in the words of the OED, “the prominent or visible part of a head in a crowd.”
That last sense of “poll” has given us many extended meanings related to counting, voting, taxing (“poll tax”), surveying (“opinion poll”), and so on.
But back at the pond, those wiggly big-headed larvae got the name “tadpole” sometime in the Middle Ages. The word is a compound of the Middle English tade or tadde (toad) and, apparently, the noun “poll” (head or roundhead), Oxford says.
The word was first recorded in writing—as “taddepol”—in the 1400s, and its spelling took several centuries to settle down.
Shakespeare, for example, spelled it “tod pole” in King Lear (1608): “Poore Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the tode, the tod pole.”
The modern spelling had become established by the time Oliver Goldsmith wrote An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature (1774): “The egg, or little black globe, which produces a tadpole.”
(An aside: as we wrote in a blog entry earlier this year, the word “tad” for something small, as in “a tad bit,” may be derived from “tadpole.”)
The word “pollywog” came along at roughly the same time as “tadpole” but it took longer to develop its modern spelling.
Its earliest appearance in writing—spelled “polwygle”—is from 1440, the OED says. That very odd-looking word was originally derived, Oxford says, from “poll” plus “wiggle.” In other words, the creature looked like a wiggly head!
It wasn’t until the late 18th century, the OED explains, that a vowel sound crept in between the first two elements of the word, which became “pollywig.” The modern form, “pollywog” followed in the 19th century.
Check out our books about the English language


Hazards addressed by the Vermont Healthy Homes program
Our homes may contain a variety of health and safety hazards that can cause harm in the form of minor to very serious injuries, asthma and allergies, or even death. Most of these hazards are entirely preventable.
|Hazards like fire and carbon monoxide exposure can be fatal||Some household chemicals can cause illness or injury if improperly stored or used||Vulnerable populations are at greater risk for certain hazards||Proactive repairs, such as the installation of a railing, can prevent injuries||
More information about the hazards in our homes can be found in this video by the Center for Disease Control's Healthy Homes program
This HH Hazards chart
lists the kinds of hazards the Vermont Healthy Homes program is able to address in homes.


Complement component 5a
|complement component 5|
Schematic representation of three-dimensional structure of complement 5a
|Locus||Chr. 9 q34.1|
C5a is a protein fragment released from cleavage of complement component C5 by protease C5-convertase into C5a and C5b fragments. C5b is important in late events of the complement cascade, an orderly series of reactions which coordinates several basic defense mechanisms, including formation of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC), one of the most basic weapons of the innate immune system, formed as an automatic response to intrusions from foreign particles and microbial invaders. It essentially pokes microscopic pinholes in these foreign objects, causing loss of water and sometimes death. C5a, the other cleavage product of C5, acts as a highly inflammatory peptide, encouraging complement activation, formation of the MAC, attraction of innate immune cells, and histamine release involved in allergic responses. The origin of C5 is in the hepatocyte, but its synthesis can also be found in macrophages, where it may cause local increase of C5a. C5a is a chemotactic agent and an anaphylatoxin; it is essential in the innate immunity but it is also linked with the adaptive immunity. The increased production of C5a is connected with a number of inflammatory diseases.
Human polypeptide C5a contains 74 amino acids and has 11kDa. NMR spectroscopy proved that the molecule is composed of four helices and connected by peptide loops with three disulphide bonds between helix IV and II, III. There is a short 1.5 turn helix on N terminus but all agonist activity take place in the C terminus. C5a is rapidly metabolised by a serum enzyme carboxypeptidase B to a 72 amino acid form C5a des-Arg without C terminal arginine.
C5a is an anaphylatoxin, causing increased expression of adhesion molecules on endothelium, contraction of smooth muscle, and increased vascular permeability. C5a des-Arg is a much less potent anaphylatoxin. Both C5a and C5a des-Arg can trigger mast cell degranulation, releasing proinflammatory molecules histamine and TNF-α. C5a is also an effective chemoattractant, initiating accumulation of complement and phagocytic cells at sites of infection or recruitment of antigen-presenting cells to lymph nodes. C5a plays a key role in increasing migration and adherence of neutrophils and monocytes to vessel walls. White blood cells are activated by upregulation of integrin avidity, the lipoxygenase pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism. C5a also modulates the balance between activating versus inhibitory IgG Fc receptors on leukocytes, thereby enhancing the autoimmune response.
C5a interact with receptor protein C5aR (CD88) on the surface of target cells such as macrophages, neutrophils and endothelial cells. C5aR is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily of proteins, predicted to have seven transmembrane helical domains of largely hydrophobic amino acid residues, forming three intra- and three extra-cellular loops, with an extracellular N-terminus and an intracellular C-terminus.
C5a binding to the receptor is a two-stage process: an interaction between basic residues in the helical core of C5a and acidic residues in the extracellular N-terminal domain allows the C-terminus of C5a to bind to residues in the receptor transmembrane domains. The latter interaction leads to receptor activation, and the transduction of the ligand binding signal across the cell plasma membrane to the cytoplasmic G protein Gi type GNAI2.
Sensitivity of C5aR to C5a stimulation is enhanced by Lipopolysaccharides exposure, yet this is not due to C5aR upregulation. C5L2 is another C5a receptor that is thought to regulate the C5a-C5aR effects. There is apparently contradictory evidence showing decoy receptor activity conferring anti-inflammatory properties and also signalling activity conferring pro-inflammatory properties.
C5a is a powerful inflammatory mediator, and seems to be a key factor in the development of pathology of many inflammatory diseases involving the complement system such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythemotosis, psoriasis. The inhibitor of C5a that can block its effects would be helpful in medical applications. Another candidate is PMX53 or PMX205 that is highly specific for CD88 and effectively reduces inflammatory response. C5a has been identified as a key mediator of neutrophil dysfunction in sepsis, with antibody blockade of C5a improving outcomes in experimental models. This has also been shown in humans, with C5a-mediated neutrophil dysfunction predicting subsequent nosocomial infection and death from sepsis.
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- PROW and IWHLDA present the GUIDE on: CD88 Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
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