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Making healthy food choices is often difficult and confusing,but there are a number of specific foods to avoid in almost every circumstance because they provide virtually no health benefits while posing plenty of health risks. Here are nine foods you should never eat again if you care about preserving your long-term health… White bread, refined flour These are generally toxic for the body because they have been stripped of virtually all vitamins, minerals, fibre, and other important nutrients. They are not properly digestable and assimilated. Refined white flour has also been bleached with chlorine and brominated with bromide, two poisonous chemicals that have been linked to causing thyroid and organ damage. Tip: Choose brown bread or whole wheat bread over white bread. Reduce consumption of patries made from white flour. Conventional frozen meals With the exception of a few truly healthy frozen meal brands, most conventionally-prepared frozen meals are loaded with preservatives, processed salt, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients, not to mention the fact that most frozen meals have been heavily pre-cooked, rendering their nutrient content minimal. Tip: As much as possible, eat meals in their fresh, unpreserved state. Like white bread, white rice has been stripped of most of its nutrients, and separated from the bran and germ, two natural components that make up rice in its brown form. Even so-called “fortified” white rice is nutritionally deficient, as the body still processes this refined food much differently than brown rice, which is absorbed more slowly, and does not cause the same spike in blood sugar that white rice does. Tip: Eat “unpolished” rice as much as possible in place of the “parboiled” or “polished” variety. This processed food which is a favourite among moviegoers and regular snackers is one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat. Practically, every component of microwaveable popcorn is unhealthy and disease-promoting. It contains a chemical known as diacetyl that can actually destroy the lungs. Cured meat products Deli meats, sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and many other meats are often loaded with sodium nitrite and other chemical preservatives linked to causing heart disease and cancer. Tip: Have preference only for fresh, uncured meats. Conventional protein, energy bars. These are meal replacements containing processed soy protein, refined sugar, hydrogenated fat, and other harmful additives that contribute to chronic illness. Hidden in all sorts of processed foods, margarine, a hydrogenated trans-fat oil, is something you will want to avoid at all costs for your health. Contrary to popular belief, butter and saturated fats in general are not unhealthy, especially when they are derived from pastured animals that feed on grass rather than corn and soy. Tip: Extra-virgin coconut oil or olive oil are much better than margarine. Soy milk and soy-based meat substitutes Nearly all non-organic soy ingredients are of genetically modified origin, most soy additives are processed using a toxic chemical known as hexane, which is linked to causing birth defects, reproductive problems, and cancer. Unfermented soy is also highly estrogenic, which can distort hormone balance. Many so-called “diet” products on the market today contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, both of which are linked to causing neurological damage, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine disruption. Many diet products also contain added chemical flavoring agents to take the place of fat and other natural components that have been removed to artificially reduce calorie content. Tip: Stick with whole foods that are as close to nature as possible, including high-fat foods grown the way nature intended, and your body will respond surprisingly well. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/12/bread-rice-popcorn-and-6-others-you-should-not-eat/

Food

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The World Health Organization voiced alarm Thursday at the growing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, who face an “extraordinarily high” mortality rate. “This remains I think an enormous concern,” the UN health agency’s chief scientist Jeremy Farrar told reporters in Geneva. The current bird flu outbreak began in 2020 and has led to the deaths of tens of millions of poultry, with wild birds also infected as well as land and marine mammals. Cows and goats joined the list last month — a surprising development for experts because they were not thought susceptible to this type of influenza. The A (H5N1) strain has become “a global zoonotic animal pandemic”, Farrar said. “The great concern of course is that in… infecting ducks and chickens and then increasingly mammals, that virus now evolves and develops the ability to infect humans and then critically the ability to go from human to human.” So far, there is no evidence that the influenza A(H5N1) virus is spreading between humans. But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals, “the mortality rate is extraordinarily high”, Farrar said. From the start of 2023 to April 1 this year, the WHO said it had recorded 463 deaths from 889 human cases across 23 countries, putting the case fatality rate at 52 percent. In a worrying development, US authorities earlier this month said a person in Texas was recovering from bird flu after being exposed to dairy cattle. It was only the second case of a human testing positive for bird flu in the country, and came after the virus sickened herds that were apparently exposed to wild birds in Texas, Kansas and other states. It also appears to have been the first human infection with the influenza A(H5N1) virus strain through contact with an infected mammal, WHO said. When “you come into the mammalian population, then you’re getting closer to humans,” Farrar said, warning that “this virus is just looking for new, novel hosts”. “It’s a real concern.” Farrar called for beefing up monitoring, insisting it was “very important understanding how many human infections are happening… because that’s where adaptation (of the virus) will happen”. “It’s a tragic thing to say, but if I get infected with H5N1 and I die, that’s the end of it. If I go around the community and I spread it to somebody else then you start the cycle.” He said efforts were under way towards the development of vaccines and therapeutics for H5N1, and stressed the need to ensure that regional and national health authorities around the world have the capacity to diagnose the virus. This was being done so that “if H5N1 did come across to humans, with human-to-human transmission”, the world would be “in a position to immediately respond”, Farrar said, urging equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

http://www.channelstv.com/2015/03/02/fuel-scarcity-spreads-across-lagos/Human

Politics

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Medical doctors attending to an Ebola virus disease victim It is a sweltering morning in the over-stretched Ebola clinic in the Liberian capital Monrovia, and Kendell Kauffeldt scowls in frustration as a jeep pulls up with a new patient. “It’s dangerous to bring cases in private vehicles like this,” he chides as he watches the Toyota disgorge its five passengers at the main gate. “The ministry of health has established protocols. There are hotline numbers that people have to call. And when you call there are ambulances, with trained people on board who are protected, to take the patient to hospital.” Kauffeldt, the director in Liberia of Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse, is at the forefront of the country’s battle with the worst outbreak of Ebola that the world has ever seen. More than 300 Liberians have been infected by the tropical virus, which has been raging in west Africa’s forests since the start of the year. More than half of those who have caught the disease have died. But Kauffeldt and other aid workers warn that it is ignorance over Ebola, rather than the virus itself, that is pushing up the death toll. Ebola is a terrifying spectre for the people of Liberia’s remote forests, who have seen relatives die in agonising pain. The virus can fell its victims within days, delivering severe muscle pain, headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in most cases, unstoppable bleeding as the patient’s organs break down and seep out of their bodies. – Damaging myths – Yet the pathogen itself is not particularly robust, and can be seen off with soap and hot water. Epidemiologists point out that Ebola is relatively difficult to catch and isn’t even airborne. The virus requires contact with the bodily fluids of a victim — their blood, urine, faeces, vomit, saliva or sweat — to leap into a new host. For those unlucky enough to catch Ebola, the disease it brings about is also treatable, say experts. Patients who are kept hydrated, given paracetamol to keep their temperature in check and treated with antibiotics for secondary infections have a fighting chance of recovery. But in a country where remote communities are deeply superstitious of western medicine and often rely on the wisdom of witch doctors, a variety of damaging myths have built up around Ebola. Among the most worrisome is the widespread belief that Ebola is a western conspiracy or doesn’t exist at all. Another is that entering an Ebola treatment centre is accepting a death sentence. In the new clinic set up by the charity Samaritan’s Purse in Monrovia’s ELWA hospital, up to 10 new cases are registered every day. “With communication and education not robust as they should be, we see this happening where Ebola cases are brought in taxis or private cars,” Kauffeldt tells AFP. “This is very worrisome because everybody in that car has had contact with the patient. We need to watch them for 21 days to know whether they have been infected.” – Admitting Ebola is real – It’s not just taxi drivers who have to worry. Ebola patients, ignorant of the risks, are putting their own family members in grave danger. Ten-year-old William Benadict, one of the clinic’s success stories, has made a full recovery against the odds after catching the virus from his dying mother. “I was near mama when she was sick. When she died, I got sick,” William says as he prepares to leave the centre and return to his village. James Kollie, the clinic’s ambulance driver, explains that the boy’s mother summoned her son to lie beside her as she was dying in bed, coughing, vomiting and generally presenting a grave risk to anyone nearby. “I drove the vehicle that carried the team to pick him up. That day everybody was running from him. I shed tears for him,” Kollie tells AFP. On Friday the leaders of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea agreed a $100 million emergency action plan to beef the response to Ebola. Much of the cash will go on deploying medical workers. But the plan also includes provision to improve education throughout the Ebola zone straddling the three countries. Lawmaker Peter Coleman, the head of Liberia’s Senate Committee on Health, says the poverty endemic across the country has been a major obstacle to spreading reliable information. “The majority of Liberians don’t have access to radio. In our villages only few people can get radio messages,” he told AFP. “There should be a campaign from village to village, from community to community, from town to town, even from door to door.” Samaritan’s Purse, which runs all three of Liberia’s treatment centres with help from other aid agencies and the government, believes education is as important as medicine in saving lives. “We have to admit, Ebola is real. People are dying of Ebola and they don’t have to die of Ebola,” Kauffeldt said. “If they come and seek treatment early they will survive.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ebola-liberians-dying-ignorance-say-aid-workers/

Health

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By Sola Ogundipe Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have demonstrated for the first time how Toxoplasma, a common “cat parasite” parasite enters the human brain to influence its host. The parasite has previously been in the spotlight owing to its observed effect on risk-taking and other human behaviours. To some extent, it has also been associated with mental illness. “We believe that this knowledge may be important for the further understanding of complex interactions in some major public health issues, that modern science still hasn’t been able to explain fully,” says Antonio Barragan, researcher at the Center for Infectious Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control. “At the same time, it’s important to emphasize that humans have lived with this parasite for many millennia, so today’s carriers of Toxoplasma need not be particularly worried.” The current study, which is published in the scientific journal PLoS Pathogens, was led by Dr Barragan and conducted together with researchers at Uppsala University. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the extremely common Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Between 30 and 50 per cent of the global population is thought to be infected, and an estimated twenty per cent or so of people in Sweden. The infection is also found in animals, especially domestic cats. People contract the parasite mostly by eating the poorly cooked flesh of infected animals or through contact with cat faeces. The infection causes mild flu-like symptoms in adults and otherwise healthy people before entering a chronic and dormant phase, which has previously been regarded as symptom-free. It is, however, known that toxoplasmosis in the brain can be fatal in people with depleted immune defence and in fetuses, which can be infected through the mother. Because of this risk, pregnant women are recommended to avoid contact with cat litter trays. A number of studies have been presented in recent years showing that the toxoplasmosis parasite affects its host even during the dormant phase. It has, for example, already been observed that rats become unafraid of cats and even attracted by their scent, which makes them easy prey. This has been interpreted as the parasite assuring its survival and propagation, since the consumed rat then infects the cat, which through its faces can infect the food that other rats might then proceed to eat. Studies also confirm that mental diseases like schizophrenia, depression and anxiety syndrome are more common in people with toxoplasmosis, while others suggest that toxoplasmosis can influence how extroverted, aggressive or risk-inclined an individual’s behaviour is. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/obi-datti-campaign-raises-alarm-over-attempts-to-doctor-fct-results/amp/Common

Politics

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Researchers taping calls of the putty-nosed monkey in the forests of Nigeria may have come a small step closer to understanding the origins of human language. The researchers have heard the monkeys string two alarm calls into a combined sound with a different meaning, as if forming a word, Kate Arnold and Klaus Zuberbühler report in the current issue of Nature. Monkeys are known to have specific alarm calls for different predators. Vervet monkeys have one call for eagles, another for snakes and a third for leopards. But this seems a far cry from language because the vervets do not combine the calls into anything resembling words or sentences. The putty-nosed monkeys have a "pyow" call meaning there are leopards about and a hacklike sound to warn of the crowned eagle. The "pyow" calls attention to a leopard on the ground. When hearing the "hack" sound, a monkey tends to freeze because movement would betray its position to an eagle. Dr. Arnold and Dr. Zuberbühler, zoologists at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, noticed that adult male monkeys in each troupe were combining the "pyow" and "hack" calls. Playing back a "pyow-hack" call to see how the monkeys interpreted it, the zoologists found it made the troop leave the area. Language is a surprising faculty because it seems to pop up almost out of nowhere in the human lineage, instead of evolving in steady stages. Researchers studying monkeys and apes have learned that they possess all the basic apparatus needed to make and analyze sounds. But the nonhuman primates did not seem to possess either of the two combinatorial features of language, those of combining discrete sounds into compound words, and of stringing words together under rules of syntax. Dr. Zuberbühler said that he and Dr. Arnold had not observed anything resembling syntax, but the putty-nosed monkeys, Cercopithecus nictitans, "combined two types of utterances according to a rule and the combination takes on a novel meaning," a procedure perhaps analogous to forming a word from two sounds. Marc Hauser, an expert on animal communication at Harvard, said that the observation was very interesting but that stricter criteria should be applied before assuming the combination of alarm calls was similar to the way people combined sounds into words. "Because there is no evidence that the calls are words or even wordlike, the connection to language is tenuous." he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/23/science/23lang.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Education

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Bakassi peninsula residents protesting the ceding of the territory By NOWA OMOIGUI Nowa Omoigui undertakes an historical excursion into the agreements on Bakassi dispute and asserts that the Obong of Calabar voluntary signed a treaty of protection with the British in 1884 who eventually ceded it to Germany ORIGINS of the Dispute: When the Obong of Calabar signed a “Treaty of Protection” with Britain on September 10, 1884, Britain agreed to “extend its protection” to the Obong and his Chiefs. The Obong agreed and promised to refrain from entering into any agreements or treaties with foreign nations or Powers without the prior approval of the British Government. That is, he signed away his Kingdom as a British protectorate. This type of subterfuge was carried out with many of our ancestors. All of this was before “Nigeria” was created. Note too that unlike agreements between metropolitan powers these so called protectorate agreements with African Kingdoms did not have precise definitions of boundaries. On November 15, 1893, Britain and Germany defined their boundaries in Africa, supplemented by another agreement on March 19, 1906. These covered British and German Territories from Yola to Lake Chad. In 1900, 1903 and 1906, key declarations made – and militarily enforced – which created the colonies of ‘Northern Nigeria’ and ‘Southern Nigeria’ (inclusive of the Colony of Lagos). the Obong of Calabar was neither consulted nor did he resist. This was all conducted between metropolitan powers and they understood what they were doing. “Protectorates” became “Colonies”. Note the difference. In 1913, Britain – for the colonies of “Southern” and “Northern” Nigeria – and Germany – for “Kamerun” – reached an agreement on their border from Yola to the Sea. Agreement on their border The first of these agreements was signed in London on March 11, 1913 titled: “(1) The Settlement of the Frontier between Nigeria and the Cameroons, from Yola to the Sea and (2) The Regulation of Navigation on the Cross River”. The second was signed at Obokum on April 12, 1913 by Hans Detzner, representing Germany, and W. V. Nugent, representing Britain. It addressed the precise demarcation of the Anglo-German Boundary between Nigeria and Kamerun from Yola to the Cross River. There were eight accompanying maps. For Bakassi (also spelled Bakasi) peninsula in particular, the Germans were interested in shrimps and an undertaking that Britain would not seek to expand eastwards. The British were interested in uninterrupted and secure sea lane access to Calabar, a key trading post. Since the Germans already had the option of using Douala environs as a port, they conceded the “navigable portion” of the offshore border to Britain. In exchange, Britain conceded the Bakassi peninsula proper to Germany. In other words, to get Germany’s cooperation not to threaten access to Calabar, Bakassi peninsula was conceded by Britain. The Obong did not resist. Note that “Nigeria” did not yet exist. This was long before General Gowon was born. In January 1914, “Nigeria” was created by amalgamation. Neither the Obong nor any other traditional ruler, Emir, or Chief anywhere in “Nigeria” was consulted about it let alone its borders. As was the practice then, it was done for British economic reasons – to extend the railway system of “Northern Nigeria” to the sea and to use excess tax revenues – derived from spirits – from “Southern Nigeria” to correct a budget deficit in “Northern Nigeria”. British and German maps of “Nigeria” from January 1914 clearly show Bakassi peninsula in Kamerun. There was no resistance from the Obong of Calabar or his people or any other native “Nigerians” for that matter. The First World War broke out in 1914. In 1916, Britain invaded German Kamerun. Among the Nigerian troops and carriers fighting for Britain were natives of Nigeria, including some from present Cross- River State. At the end of the war, all German territories were divided between France and Britain by the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations placed them under British or French mandate. The boundaries between British and French mandated Kamerun was defined by the Franco-British Declaration of July 10, 1919 by Viscount Milner, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Henry Simon, the French Minister for the Colonies. In this agreement Bakassi and the rest of what became known as “British Cameroons” were placed under British mandate and administered coterminous with “Nigeria” but not actually merged. The old 1913 border was retained. To codify this further, another agreement was signed December 29, 1929 and January 31, 1930 between Sir Graeme Thomson, Governor of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, and Paul Marchand, Commissaire de la République Française au Cameroun. This Declaration was ratified and incorporated in an Exchange of Notes on January 9, 1931 between the French Ambassador in London and the British Foreign Minister. Again, maps from that period show the Bakassi peninsula within “British Cameroons”, not the “Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria”. Neither the Obong nor his people, nor any other “native Nigerians” protested. General Gowon was born a few years later. The Second World War broke out in 1939. Native Nigerians also fought for Britain. After the war, the British and French League of Nations mandates over the Southern and Northern Cameroons and Cameroun were replaced by trusteeship agreements under the new United Nations – approved by the General Assembly on December 13, 1946. These UN agreements re-ratified the prior borders as codified by the previous Anglo-German and Anglo-French agreements. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in the Cameroons, not the real Nigeria. On August 2, 1946 Britain divided the Cameroons into two, called “Northern Cameroons” and “Southern Cameroons”. The 1946 ‘Order in Council’ contained detailed provisions describing the border separating these two regions, now conveniently administered from colonial Nigeria – but not part of it. In 1954, the Secretary of State for the Colonies issued a legal order defining the border between Nigeria’s “Eastern region” and the “Southern Cameroons.” Bakassi Peninsula was in the “Southern Cameroons”, distinct from the Eastern region and the Calabar province and maps from that period show this very clearly. General Gowon had not yet joined the Nigerian Army. Neither the Obong nor his people nor any other native Nigerians protested. In March 1959, the UN asked Britain to clarify the wishes of the people living in Northern and Southern Cameroons trusteeship territories in the run up to the “independence” of Nigeria and Cameroun. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in the Cameroons, not the real Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/the-story-of-bakassi-peninsula/

Politics

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How to discipline your child the smart and healthy way Positive discipline for better mental and physical health and a happy childhood. There comes a time when every parent struggles with how best to discipline their child. Whether dealing with a screaming toddler or an angry teen, it can be hard to control your temper. No parent wants to find themselves in such a situation and the bottom line is that shouting and physical violence never help. Thankfully, there are other, more effective ways and one of them is positive discipline. We consulted Lucie Cluver, Oxford University professor of Child and Family Social Work and mother of two young boys, to explore how the approach can help parents build positive relationships with their children and teach skills like responsibility, cooperation and self-discipline. There are no bad children, only bad behaviour. Why positive discipline? “Parents don't want to shout or hit their kids. We do it because we're stressed and don't see another way,” says Professor Cluver. The evidence is clear: shouting and hitting simply do not work and can do more harm than good in the long run. Repeated shouting and hitting can even adversely impact a child’s entire life. The continued “toxic stress” it creates can lead to a host of negative outcomes like higher chances of school dropout, depression, drug use, suicide and heart disease. “It’s like saying: here's this medicine, it's not going to help you and it's going to make you sick,” says Professor Cluver. “When we know something doesn't work, that's a pretty good reason to look for a different approach.” Rather than punishment and what not to do, the positive discipline approach puts an emphasis on developing a healthy relationship with your child and setting expectations around behaviour. The good news for every parent is it works and here’s how you can start putting it into practice: 1. Plan 1-on-1 time One-on-one time is important for building any good relationship and even more so with your children. “It can be 20 minutes a day. Or even 5 minutes. You can combine it with something like washing dishes together while you sing a song or chatting while you're hanging out the washing,” says Professor Cluver. “What's really important is that you focus on your child. So, you turn your TV off, you turn your phone off, you get to their level and it's you and them.” 2. Praise the positives As parents we often focus on our children’s bad behaviour and call it out. Children may read this as a way to get your attention, perpetuating poor conduct rather than putting a stop to it. Children thrive on praise. It makes them feel loved and special. “Watch out for when they're doing something good and praise them, even if that thing is just playing for five minutes with their sibling,” recommends Professor Cluver. “This can encourage good behaviour and reduce the need for discipline.” 3. Set clear expectations “Telling your child exactly what you want them to do is much more effective than telling them what not to do,” says Professor Cluver. “When you ask a child to not make a mess, or to be good, they don't necessarily understand what they're required to do.” Clear instructions like “Please pick up all of your toys and put them in the box” set a clear expectation and increase the likelihood that they'll do what you’re asking. “But it's important to set realistic expectations. Asking them to stay quiet for a whole day may not be as manageable as asking for 10 minutes of quiet time while you have a phone call,” says Professor Cluver. “You know what your child is capable of. But if you ask for the impossible, they are going to fail.” 4. Distract creatively When your child is being difficult, distracting them with a more positive activity can be a useful strategy says Professor Cluver. “When you distract them towards something else – by changing the topic, introducing a game, leading them into another room, or going for a walk, you can successfully divert their energy towards positive behaviour.” Timing is also crucial. Distraction is also about spotting when things are about to go wrong and taking action. Being mindful of when your child is starting to become fidgety, irritable or annoyed, or when two siblings are eyeing the same toy, can help diffuse a potential situation before it becomes one. 5. Use calm consequences Part of growing up is learning that if you do something, something can happen as a result. Defining this for your child is a simple process that encourages better behaviour while teaching them about responsibility. Give your child a chance to do the right thing by explaining the consequences of their bad behaviour. As an example, if you want your child to stop scribbling on the walls, you can tell them to stop or else you will end their play time. This provides them with a warning and an opportunity to change their behaviour. If they don’t stop, follow through with the consequences calmly and without showing anger, “and give yourself credit for that – it’s not easy!” adds Professor Cluver. If they do stop, give them lots of praise for it, recommends Professor Cluver. “What you are doing is creating a positive feedback loop for your child. Calm consequences have been shown to be effective for kids to learn about what happens when they behave badly.” Being consistent is a key factor in positive parenting, which is why following through with the consequences is important. And so is making them realistic. “You can take a teenager's phone away for an hour but taking it away for a week might be difficult to follow through on.” Engaging with younger children One-on-one time can be fun – and it’s completely free! “You can copy their expressions, bang spoons against pots, or sing together,” adds Professor Cluver. “There’s amazing research showing that playing with your children boosts their brain development.” Engaging with older children Like younger children, teenagers seek praise and want to be thought of as good. One-on-one time is still important to them. “They love it if you dance around the room with them or engage in a conversation about their favourite singer,” says Professor Cluver. “They may not always show it, but they do. And, it's an effective way of building a relationship on their terms.” While setting expectations, “ask them to help make some of the rules,” suggests Professor Cluver. “Sit them down and try to agree on the household dos and don'ts. They can also help decide what the consequences for unacceptable behaviour will be. Being involved in the process helps them know that you understand they're becoming their own independent beings.” What you can do in stressful situations Every family goes through stressful times together. Here are some tips that can help parents get through such times: We all know the stress when we feel our child is being difficult. At moments like these, being present and stepping back is a simple and useful tactic. Hit the “pause button”, as Professor Cluver calls it. “Take five deep breaths, slowly and carefully and you'll notice you are able to respond in a calmer, more considered way. Parents across the world say that just taking that pause is enormously helpful.” 2. Step back Parents often forget to care for themselves, says Professor Cluver. “Take some time for yourself, such as when the kids are asleep, to do something that makes you feel happy and calm. It's really hard to do all the things right as a parent, when you haven't given yourself a break.” 3. Praise yourself It’s easy to forget the astonishing job you do as a parent every day and you should give yourself the credit, advises Professor Cluver. “Each day, maybe while brushing your teeth, take a moment to ask: ‘What was one thing I did really well with my kids today?’ And, just know that you did something great.” And know that you are not alone. “Millions of parents across the world are all trying and we're all failing sometimes,” she says. The important thing is we try again.

https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-care/how-discipline-your-child-smart-and-healthy-way

Family

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By Charles Kumolu Since the end of First World War , there have been many peace plans and many negotiations among warring camps globally.Some of these have been successful, while others failed to achieve peace. Here are some peace proposals and what happened to them. Known as the Christmas Truce. World War One had raged for four months but German and Allied soldiers stepped out of their trenches, shook hands and agreed a truce so the dead could be buried. The soldiers also used that truce to chat with one another and even played a football match. UN Security Council Resolution 242. -It was passed on 22 November 1967 and embodies the principle that has guided most of the subsequent peace plans, especially the exchange of land for peace. With past peace deals, failing to ensure lasting peace, it became imparative for then United States President, Jimmy Carter to convene a peace talk in Camp David. This was known as the Camp David Accords. He capitalised on the new mood and invited President Sadat and the Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, for talks at the presidential retreat at Camp David near Washington. The talks lasted for 12 days and resulted in two agreements. Known as the Madrid Conference. The forum was co-sponsored by the US and the Soviet Union, was designed to follow up the Egypt-Israel treaty by encouraging other Arab countries to sign their own agreements with Israel. The international pressure on the Hutu-led government of Juvénal Habyarimana in Rwanda, resulted in a cease-fire with a roadmap to implement the Arusha Accords that would create a power-sharing government. 1993 Oslo Agreement Backed by then US President, Bill Clinton, the dialogue tried to tackle the missing element of all previous talks – a direct agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, represented by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation ,PLO. Its importance was that there was finally mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. Israel signed a historic peace deal with Jordan. The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement‘ attempted to end the Second Congo War through a ceasefire, release of prisoners of war, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force under the auspices of the United Nations. The Dayton Accords, resulted to the deployment of IFOR consisting of American, British, and French troops to police a cease-fire agreement according to which Bosnia remained essentially intact. The warring factions in Liberia signed the Abuja peace agreement and concurred to hold elections, which Charles Taylor won. Between 1997 and 2000, Liberia experienced a flawed and fragile peace The continuous failure of previous initiatives, resulted to this which was also held in Camp David. Like others, it failed leading to another Palestinian uprising known as intifada. Colombia’s left-wing Farc rebels announced a unilateral Christmas ceasefire, on the first day of peace talks in Cuba. The truce will ran from Tuesday to 20 January. The Afghan government reportedly commenced negotiating a “peace deal” with the Taliban in Sangin, which was overrun by the jihadist group. Negotiations between Taliban militants and Afghan officials continue in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan in a bid to end violence. Pakistan Taliban agreed to ceasefire to help Afghan allies. Pakistani militants said the ceasefire with their government was to preserve militant bases used to stage cross-border attacks Colombia’s rebel group FARC declared a cease-fire during Colombia’s presidential runoff. This came amid peace negotiations between Bogota and the rebels. The cease-fire was announced in a letter addressed to right-wing presidential challenger Oscar Ivan Zuluaga. The Myanmar government and the ethnic armed groups agreed on a fourth draft nationwide ceasefire accord after five days of talks at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/ceasefires-shaped-global-conflicts/

Politics

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TWO ignored factors that emphasise governments’ insensitive to Nigerians – overwhelmingly unacceptable sanitary conditions and the abysmally low levels of access to medical services – have helped in the ricocheting cholera outbreaks. Contaminated water, unhygienic handling and poor food preparations are among factors that aid rapid spread of cholera. Its high mortality rate is evidenced by the number of States reporting deaths. Access to hygienic drinking water in Nigeria is limited by low investment in the sector, drought, and poor plan that have seen demand for water outstrip supply for years. Cholera benefits from these, and Nigeria’s public health system that is totally reactive.The health authorities pay minimal attention to preventive medicine. Even when they have advance notice of epidemics, they ignore them. Cholera is not a tropical disease. Low standards of hygiene and quality of drinking water makes it prevalent in the tropics, parts of Asia and the Americas. In the 19th century, cholera outbreaks were common in the United States of America and Britain.Improvements in health standards, particularly drinking water and the availability of flushing toilets have distanced human waste – a great source of the disease – from water sources and made cholera a rarity in those regions Areas where flooding destroys toilet facilities and inject their contents into public water sources are prone to cholera. It is little wonder that the disease has facility to spread in Nigeria. In many places, water for domestic use is contaminated by poorly disposed human wastes.Yet cholera, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, “is an easily treatable disease. The prompt administration of oral rehydration salts to replace lost fluids nearly always results in cure. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of fluids may be required to save the patient’s life. Left untreated, however, cholera can kill quickly following the onset of symptoms. ” Water management is critical. While routine preaching about use of safe water persists, the reality is that millions of Nigerians lack access to clean water. It is advisable that they boil their water, and avoid ice blocks that could have been made with water from doubtful sources. The cholera bacteria are known to survive the freezing process. Food needs to be cooked properly and human waste disposed in ways that would not contaminate water sources. The good, old benefits of washing hands after using toilets are still important to curtail the spread of cholera and other diseases. Governments, however, must ask themselves how they spend the billions of Naira they budget for health annually. It is a shame that in the 21st Century, hundreds of our people die from preventable causes while governments tally the numbers and gleefully announce the statistics. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/cholera-countrys-shame/

Politics

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John W. Backus, who assembled and led the I.B.M. team that created Fortran, the first widely used programming language, which helped open the door to modern computing, died on Saturday at his home in Ashland, Ore. He was 82. His daughter Karen Backus announced the death, saying the family did not know the cause, other than age. Fortran, released in 1957, was “the turning point” in computer software, much as the microprocessor was a giant step forward in hardware, according to J. A. N. Lee, a leading computer historian. Fortran changed the terms of communication between humans and computers, moving up a level to a language that was more comprehensible by humans. So Fortran, in computing vernacular, is considered the first successful higher-level language. Mr. Backus and his youthful team, then all in their 20s and 30s, devised a programming language that resembled a combination of English shorthand and algebra. Fortran, short for Formula Translator, was very similar to the algebraic formulas that scientists and engineers used in their daily work. With some training, they were no longer dependent on a programming priesthood to translate their science and engineering problems into a language a computer would understand. In an interview several years ago, Ken Thompson, who developed the Unix operating system at Bell Labs in 1969, observed that “95 percent of the people who programmed in the early years would never have done it without Fortran.” He added: “It was a massive step.” Fortran was also extremely efficient, running as fast as programs painstakingly hand-coded by the programming elite, who worked in arcane machine languages. This was a feat considered impossible before Fortran. It was achieved by the masterful design of the Fortran compiler, a program that captures the human intent of a program and recasts it in a way that a computer can process. In the Fortran project, Mr. Backus tackled two fundamental problems in computing — how to make programming easier for humans, and how to structure the underlying code to make that possible. Mr. Backus continued to work on those challenges for much of his career, and he encouraged others as well. “His contribution was immense, and it influenced the work of many, including me,” Frances Allen, a retired research fellow at I.B.M., said yesterday. Mr. Backus was a bit of a maverick even as a teenager. He grew up in an affluent family in Wilmington, Del., the son of a stockbroker. He had a complicated, difficult relationship with his family, and he was a wayward student. In a series of interviews in 2000 and 2001 in San Francisco, where he lived at the time, Mr. Backus recalled that his family had sent him to an exclusive private high school, the Hill School in Pennsylvania. “The delight of that place was all the rules you could break,” he recalled. After flunking out of the University of Virginia, Mr. Backus was drafted in 1943. But his scores on Army aptitude tests were so high that he was dispatched on government-financed programs to three universities, with his studies ranging from engineering to medicine. After the war, Mr. Backus found his footing as a student at Columbia University and pursued an interest in mathematics, receiving his master’s degree in 1950. Shortly before he graduated, Mr. Backus wandered by the I.B.M. headquarters on Madison Avenue in New York, where one of its room-size electronic calculators was on display. When a tour guide inquired, Mr. Backus mentioned that he was a graduate student in math; he was whisked upstairs and asked a series of questions Mr. Backus described as math “brain teasers.” It was an informal oral exam, with no recorded score. He was hired on the spot. As what? “As a programmer,” Mr. Backus replied, shrugging. “That was the way it was done in those days.” Back then, there was no field of computer science, no courses or schools. The first written reference to “software” as a computer term, as something distinct from hardware, did not come until 1958. In 1953, frustrated by his experience of “hand-to-hand combat with the machine,” Mr. Backus was eager to somehow simplify programming. He wrote a brief note to his superior, asking to be allowed to head a research project with that goal. “I figured there had to be a better way,” he said. Mr. Backus got approval and began hiring, one by one, until the team reached 10. It was an eclectic bunch that included a crystallographer, a cryptographer, a chess wizard, an employee on loan from United Aircraft, a researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a young woman who joined the project straight out of Vassar College. “They took anyone who seemed to have an aptitude for problem-solving skills — bridge players, chess players, even women,” Lois Haibt, the Vassar graduate, recalled in an interview in 2000. Mr. Backus, colleagues said, managed the research team with a light hand. The hours were long but informal. Snowball fights relieved lengthy days of work in winter. I.B.M. had a system of rigid yearly performance reviews, which Mr. Backus deemed ill-suited for his programmers, so he ignored it. “We were the hackers of those days,” Richard Goldberg, a member of the Fortran team, recalled in an interview in 2000. After Fortran, Mr. Backus developed, with Peter Naur, a Danish computer scientist, a notation for describing the structure of programming languages, much like grammar for natural languages. It became known as Backus-Naur form. Later, Mr. Backus worked for years with a group at I.B.M. in an area called functional programming. The notion, Mr. Backus said, was to develop a system of programming that would focus more on describing the problem a person wanted the computer to solve and less on giving the computer step-by-step instructions. “That field owes a lot to John Backus and his early efforts to promote it,” said Alex Aiken, a former researcher at I.B.M. who is now a professor at Stanford University. In addition to his daughter Karen, of New York, Mr. Backus is survived by another daughter, Paula Backus, of Ashland, Ore.; and a brother, Cecil Backus, of Easton, Md. His second wife, Barbara Stannard, died in 2004. His first marriage, to Marjorie Jamison, ended in divorce. It was Mr. Backus who set the tone for the Fortran team. Yet if the style was informal, the work was intense, a four-year venture with no guarantee of success and many small setbacks along the way. Innovation, Mr. Backus said, was a constant process of trial and error. “You need the willingness to fail all the time,” he said. “You have to generate many ideas and then you have to work very hard only to discover that they don’t work. And you keep doing that over and over until you find one that does work.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/obituaries/20cnd-backus.html?ex=1332043200&en=adde3ee5a1875330&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Programming

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Madam Tinubu: Inside the political and business empire of a 19th century heroine She was the wealthiest woman in Yorubaland in the 19th century, controlling 360 slaves and trade routes with European merchants. She was a Queen who helped to instal kings. She fought against European domination of her people. And centuries after her death, Madam Efunporoye Tinubu remains a heroine as Correspondent, SEUN AKIOYE discovers There are many variations of what happened that afternoon sometime in 1805 in Gbagura, when Efunporoye Osuntinubu Lumosa was born on the bank of Ogun River, then known as Odo ose. But historians agree that Nijede (her mother) gave birth to a baby girl around the river and on the eighth day, she was named Osun-ti-inu-ibu-wa (the child was given by Osun, goddess of the river). Olumosa, the father of the new baby, was Nijeede’s second husband; the first Degolu had died early, leaving Nijede with a child named Sobowale. Olumosa, a wealthy Gbagura man from Ido, homestead had two other wives. So, Osuntinubu had two half-brothers, Okukan and Akinwumi and a brother, Sobowale. Osuntinubu’s grandmother, Osunsola, an Owu woman was an affluent trader in her days. She traded in herbs, roots and animal skins; she did not however, pass the mantle of trade to her daughter Nijeede, that distinction went to her granddaughter Osuntinubu, otherwise known as Tinubu. Tinubu grew up in the vast Lumosa compound in Ijokodo area of Gbagura in the midst of affluence and prosperity. At the age of 20, she married an Owu man and had two children for him. According to history, Tinubu was a woman of radiant beauty. She had an oval-shaped face – as depicted in her statues in Lagos and Abeokuta – she grew up a very fashionable woman. Her charming existence came crashing during the war of dispersals in Yorubaland. By 1830, she was forced to move along with her young family from Gbagura to Ake (both in present day Abeokuta) under the leadership of Sodeke, thousands of Egba speaking people found refuge under the Olumo rock, which still stands in the city today. Tinubu’s husband died at this time just few months after the death of her mother Nijede. Now, a widow with two sons, she immersed herself in the trade of her grandmother, Osunsola. She was supported financially by her father, Olumosa, who was a man of considerable means and she was making profit. In 1833, a member of the royal family in Lagos, Prince Adele, who had recently lost out in the fight over the Obaship of Lagos came to Abeokuta on a goodwill visit to thank the people for their support and got attracted to Tinubu, proposing to make her his wife. The young widow accepted and moved to Agbadarigi (original name for Badagry), with her new husband, where she lost her two sons to malaria. In Badagry, Tinubu expanded her business activities to include arms and ammunition and slaves. That same year, Prince Adele won the right to the throne and returned to Lagos with his new queen, Efunroye Tinubu. Her marriage to the Prince did not bear any children however, but the stage was set for one of the greatest amazons to grace Western Nigeria to flourish. Tinubu’s extra-ordinary life had begun. Love for nation or lust for gold? Was Tinubu a nationalist, who propelled by love for her country, fought against European domination of trade in Lagos and the hinterland? Or a self motivated individual driven by her lust for gold and land or merely an aggressive money maker? European accounts of Madam Tinubu’s political and commercial influence in the 19th century, Nigeria had painted a horrid picture, describing her as an unrepentant slave trader who practiced extreme cruelty towards her slaves and domestic servants. The European sentiments may be justified when considered in the light of Tinubu’s opposition to foreign domination of trade and politics in Lagos. When she returned with Prince Adele to Lagos, she continued her trade in arms, slaves and began to exert her influence as the queen. Adele died early in 1837 and Tinubu married a war captain named Yesufu Bada. Fortune smiled on them and Tinubu began to expand her trading activities and her political profile began to rise during the reign of Oba Oluwole, who succeeded her husband, Adele. This continued during the reign of Akintoye, who succeeded Oluwole and when war broke out between the Oba and his nephew, Kosoko, Tinubu and her husband had to go into exile in Badagry. That was 1845. Merchants didn’t come bigger than Tinubu. She bought slaves from the hinterland and sold to the Europeans at the coast at exorbitant prices, using her shrewd business acumen, she managed to monopolise the trade, preventing Europeans from dealing directly with the hinterland. Her slaves also ran her trade in palm-oil, cotton, elephant tusk, alcoholic drinks etc. When Oba Akintoye sought refuge in Badagry, he became the personal responsibility of Tinubu and her husband. This hospitality paid off in 1852, when the couple returned with Akintoye to Lagos where Tinubu’s influence took on a new pedestal. She began to dabble into politics exerting tremendous influence over the affairs of Lagos, especially concerning trade with the British and the West Indians. She also began to buy up properties in Lagos, apart from the land given to her in the heart of Lagos by Adele, she also used her wealth and position to buy up a considerable real estate all over Lagos. These properties became subject of bitter litigation after her death by her slaves and domestic servants. “Give me more land” In the middle of 19th century, Madam Tinubu’s trading empire extended beyond Lagos to other parts of Yorubaland. Aside her trading activities, she was reputed to have 360 slaves – a sizeable number in those days – who carried out her businesses on her behalf. But one of her favourite acquisitions was land. In 1834, she bought a large expanse of land in Lagos mainland, some of which she used as her farm and warehouse. According to historical accounts, in 1834, Tinubu purchased a large expanse of land from the Oloto family. According to history, Oloto Pawu, who died in 1627, was the first and original settler on a piece of land which included Ewe Agbigbo and Iwaya farmlands around 1592. It was the 6th Oloto, Baalo Oriagbaya, who reigned between 1816 to 1859, who ceded to Madam Tinubu with the aid of Prince Akintoye, Ewe Agbigbo and Iwaya farmland, on behalf of the Oloto Chieftaincy family under Native Law and Customs. Tinubu paid 200 bags of cowries, 200 pieces of kola nuts, ten slaves and a ram to the Oloto family. The land from Oto, all the way to present day, Maryland once belonged to the Oloto Chieftaincy Family and these were granted to Madam Tinubu. According to documents made available to The Nation, the land so ceded measured about four and half miles radius from Abule Tinubu. In modern landmarks, the land extended from Otto/Iddo to include the areas of Ikorodu road, Ilupeju, Iwaya, Yaba, Maryland, Magodo, Ojodu Berger. It also includes Gbagada, Apapa, Ijesha, Ketu, Isolo (originally Aso-Olo), etc. Many areas had Madam Tinubu’s impact, for instance, Odi-Olowo was said to have come into existence after the abolition of slave trade. It means fence of the rich person, literarily referring to the fence around Madam Tinubu’s property. Olowogbowo quarters in Lagos Island also reportedly came into existence through the trade exploits of the Amazon. Mushin was said to have been coined by Tinubu herself. On the Lagos Island, she occupied the best land inside the town. Reported to have been granted her by Oba Akintoye. The area was known as Tinubu square and it extended to areas of Iga Kakawa, Tinubu Street, Tinubu Methodist Church and all the adjoining areas. After securing for herself vast estates in Lagos to cater for her numerous business activities, Tinubu devoted her time to politics. In 1855, she led a revolt against powerful Brazilians and Sierra-Leoneans immigrant traders. She paid heavily for this insurgency by banishment from Lagos to Abeokuta, her homeland. From that time, her business interests in Lagos became the responsibility of the head of her domestic servants called Eyisha. She granted her servants the authority to collect rents on her landed properties and look after her other business interest. She, however, gave orders that none of her properties must be sold without her express approval. In Abeokuta, her trading and political influence continued and she used her vast resources to help prosecute several wars the Egbas were engaged in. She was honoured as the first Iyalode of Egbaland and was a strong pillar behind the enthronement of Alake of Egbaland. On December 1, 1887, Tinubu fell ill and on the afternoon of the following day she died. She was buried at her maternal compound in Ojokodo, Gbagura, according to her orders. But she remained childless throughout her lifetime. After her death, relatives, friends, slaves and domestics scrambled for a share of her considerable properties, both in Abeokuta and Lagos. But the locations of her choice estates were known only to her domestic servants, who had been collecting rents on the land. By 1912, Tinubu’s estate had become a matter of legal disputation between sections of the Eyisha family, who were her servants mandated to collect rents on her properties. The first and the most significant of these suits was Suit 124 of 1912, between Fafunmi and Osu Apena, Brima Misa, Sunmonu Ladejo (alias Oridedi), joined by order before Judge A. Willoughby Osborne. The plaintiff, Fafunmi was a great grandson of Eyisha. In a Certified True Copy of the judgment seen by The Nation, Fafunmi confirmed that the land of Ewe Agbigbo cannot be sold without the consent of Tinubu or the Eyisha family. The judgment affirmed Tinubu’s ownership of the Ewe Agbigbo/Iwaya farmlands. Another significant evidence thrown up by the Fafunmi vs. Osu Apena Suit was the emergence of a Plan Survey of the land prepared by Surveyor Herbert Macaulay in 1910 and admitted in evidence in the suit. This fact has also been affirmed by various court judgments including: Suit No. IKJ/1999/65 between Fagoyimbo’s family and Kolawole James and Suit LD/183/66 between C. O. Dosunmu and Umo-Epe and others. In search of Tinubu’s descendants It was Friday and the Gbagura Central Mosque was filled to capacity. Located on Iddo hill, in Ojokodo, in Abeokuta North Local Government, it was a vintage location to view the rest of Gbagura homestead. Soon the service was over and thousands of faithful trooped into the narrow streets. Among them was Alhaji Adio Kassim, the head of the Lumosa family. His living room at the Lumosa quarters, was sparsely furnished. A three-storey building which in the past had been a symbol of affluent and wealth. Prominent on the wall was a large picture of late business mogul, Chief Moshood M. K. O. Abiola. Strewn all over the room were documents relating to Madam Tinubu. “Yes, Abiola was part of the Lumosa family. This is our father’s compound and Madam Tinubu was our daughter, she was born here and grew up here,” Kassim said. Around the building were several mud houses in different stages of collapse. The remnant of the building showed that Lumosa was a wealthy man, though that wealth has since passed into proverbs. “If Madam Tinubu had any surviving children, what is happening to her properties now would not have happened. After her death, her estate was bastardised with many people claiming to be her family, that is why we have all these protracted litigation everywhere,” he said. Apart from the Lumosa family members, descendants of Olumosa, the father of Madam Tinubu, the other family members of the icon are descendants of her half brother Sobowale. Many of them can be found in Tinubu compound (which originally belonged to Nijede), in Ojokodo, a few miles from her father’s compound, all in Gbagura. Unlike Lumosa compound, Sobowale’s compound had fewer buildings still standing even though the foundations of the wrecks were well preserved. It was here that Tinubu’s mother Nijede was buried; it was here also that Madam Tinubu has her eternal resting place. The main building in the compound is an uncompleted storey house, in front of it is a well which contains the water from Osun goddess. In the days of Tinubu, the water was said to be very powerful with healing powers. Today, most of the members of the family are Muslims but there are still those who are adherents of the Osun goddess. Every December 3, (the anniversary of Tinubu’s death), they gather to worship at the tomb of Tinubu and invoke the spirits of the well. Nijede and Tinubu’s tomb were built besides the main building. Recently, the state government refurbished the building, housing the tomb. Inside the tomb itself, a magnificent temple has been built to the Osun goddess, a white clothe covered the deity while articles of sacrifice lay in front of it. In the extreme corner of the room was the tomb, separated by a small fence. It was a humble resting place for such a magnificent woman, without the building it would have passed unnoticed. “We are very proud to be descendants of Madam Tinubu, she was a great woman who deserve national honours for what she did for this country,” Waliu Bakare, a member of the Sobowale family said. Sulaiman Sanni echoed this sentiment. He mentioned the fact that the tomb should be a tourist attraction where people can come and pay their respects. But, this may be a far-fetched idea until the government rightly declared the tomb a national monument. Presently, there are no motorable roads to the tomb making access difficult for tourists. Since 1965, the descendants of Madam Tinubu had tried to form a common front in order to reposes her vast estates in Lagos and Abeokuta. This was no mean task as most of the properties then were considered lost, others being sold by the Eyisha family. That year, a High Court in Lagos mandated a Trustee of 20 members, comprising members of Sobowale and Lumosa families to superintend over the estate. Over the years, the family affairs were conducted by the Trustee headed by the eldest family member. That Trustee, however, soon ran into troubled waters and in 1999, the family approached the High Court of Lagos State, in Ikeja, before Justice S. A. Adebajo in Suit ID/920M/2000 and a new Trustee, this time reduced to four members was constituted. The new members are: Alhaji Adio Kassim, Chief Shafiu Kassim, Chief G. O. Fasetire and Chief Adams Bilade Lahan. But hardly was this Trustee constituted that another ‘member of the family’ began a series of litigations challenging the legitimacy of the new Trustee. The new challengers came from Sobowale side of the family, but Sulaiman Sanni said they are not real members of the family but domestics who have been integrated into the family over the years. At the centre of this epic battle, however, is the fight for the control of Madam Tinubu’s estates. Litigation became the order of the day as one injunction was being vacated, another was restored. There are also bitter disputes as who are the real family members of Madam Tinubu and those who are descendants of domestics integrated in to the family. The Nation was able to trace the key members of both families and all the current members of Trustee in charge of the Tinubu family affairs. Many of them looked pained at the turn of events in the family and said they would rather have peace than war. Some other family members who spoke in confidence to The Nation blamed the situation on Madam Tinubu’s childlessness. “A lot of people are saying they are also members of her family but if they are really members they should show us their family compound in Ojokodo. Even, if the house has been destroyed, we can still see the foundation (Alapa), as we have seen the others. These people are not from our family, they were integrated into our family,” one member said. But Chief Shafiu Kassim said there are no debates about who represents the Tinubu family. “We will not be deterred by any trouble maker. We have the legal backings of the court as a Trustee and our job is to steer the affairs of this family and that is what we are doing,” he said. Currently, the family has engaged the services of consultants to help manage the vast estates left by Tinubu. A spokesperson of the consulting firm, Adamakin Investments and Works Limited told The Nation in Lagos that its mandate is to create awareness about the Tinubu estate. Understandably, he chose to remain anonymous. In the heart of Lagos Island, Tinubu square lay prominent with its newly renovated park and water fountain. It was a befitting memorial to the industry of the woman, who gave her all to the cause of Lagos. In Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta, her homeland, a similar park has been constructed to her memorial. Donated by the Rotary Club in 1989, it was less glamorous than the square in Lagos. The statue too was remarkably different, whereas the Lagos statue had given Tinubu a formidable look, in the one in Abeokuta, she had a faraway look in those deep seated eyes and looked much younger. The Iyalode staff in her hand had a gold colour in contrast to the soot black statue. Apart from the Europeans whom she fought for the control of trade in Lagos and Abeokuta, many Nigerians viewed Madam Tinubu as a strong and courageous woman, kind and accommodating. This was evident in the fanfare that accompanied her burial in Ojokodo, on Saturday December 3, 1887. Markets were shut and a mass rally was held to celebrate the woman, her burial ceremony lasted seven days. Only the Alake of Egbaland had that distinguished burial. Tinubu was kind. This was evident around 1832, during the war of dispersal; she offered her child’s food to an old herbalist, who begged for food. The herbalist later gave her a portion that propelled her wealth, she was also very industrious. Despite being the wife of Prince Adele, she began to trade in the articles of the day in Badagry. Yes, she traded in slaves and kept many for her use, but in her days, slavery was regarded as a legitimate business which had no impact on the moral consciousness of the practitioners. Her approach to treating slaves was different, unlike some of her contemporaries – Efunsetan Aniwura (Iyalode of Ibadan) – she treated her slaves well. They were in charge of many of her businesses; this is why her estate was despoiled after her death because her slaves were the only ones who knew the details of it. She was the first Iyalode of Egba and occupied the position for 23 years and after her death no other woman of equal status was found to fill the post. Her successor, Madam Miniya Jojolola, was appointed only in the next century. She also championed the cause of the oppressed, irrespective of the status of the victim. To her, justice must be served. When Oba Akint-oye was in exile, she supported him with all her material wealth until he was finally restored to the throne in Lagos. She was also the pillar behind Oba Dosunmu, guarding the Oba against the imposition of the British traders at the time. But her greatest genius was in her political and commercial activities. She dealt shrewdly with the European and Jamaican merchants cutting off supply when necessary and blocking political support from the king. Her opposition to European interference in the affairs of Yorubaland set her on a collision course with them and it eventually led to her expulsion from Lagos. In one of his dispatches to London, Benjamin Campbell, one of the representatives of the British government said of Madam Tinubu: “There is another mischievous person in Lagos, whose removal is very desirable but I fear difficult to effect. The woman (is) Tinaboo (Tinubu), the late Akintoye’s niece. She is heavily indebted to some merchants here and she will not pay them. Application by the King (Akintoye), on behalf of the merchants she treats with contempt, setting his authority at defiance; yet this woman is a protégé of Mr. Gollmer, because she is an Egba woman.” Her opposition to the Westerners also had its effect. Because they were the only ones in possession of cameras, she refused to pose for many pictures, therefore, Madam Tinubu’s pictures are very rare. The only one that has been found and which The Nation possessed showed a remarkable feature of the Amazon. She was rather sad looking, black as soot; she appeared to be a tall and big woman. She had a large shawl on her head, which went all the way to her back, she had enormous wrapper up to her chest and a single necklace hung on her neck. In her right hand she held a white handkerchief and had a sullen and sad look on her face. It is incontrovertible that Madam Tinubu played an active role in the affairs of Yorubaland in 19th century and her place may not have been properly accorded in the historical annals of Western Nigeria. But her legacy stands and in the words of historian, Oladipo Yemitan, Tinubu was “an able politician, tactician, business woman, king-maker, philanthropist, a good manager of men and materials, arms and ammunition supplier, a slave dealer, war leader and a nationalist.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/madam-tinubu-inside-political-business-empire-19th-century-heroine/

Politics

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A newly published journal says more than two billion people are currently living in parts of the world where the Zika virus can spread. The latest research showed that mapping Zika was more complex than simply defining where the mosquito can survive. By learning where the Zika virus could thrive, the researchers are now able to predict where else may be affected. One of the researchers, Dr. Oliver Brady, disclosed the first maps to come out that really used the data they had for the virus, stressing that earlier maps were based on Zika virus being like dengue or chikungunya. “We are the first to add the very precise geographic and environmental conditions data we have on Zika,” Dr. Brady told BBC. For now, the researchers confirmed that large areas of South America are vulnerable while 2.2 billion people live in areas defined as being “at risk”. This comes barely a week after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the virus causes severe birth defects.

http://www.channelstv.com/2016/04/21/two-billion-people-zika-prone-areas/

Health

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Taller women may face a higher risk of many cancers than their shorter counterparts, according to a US study released Thursday. Researchers looked at a sample of nearly 145,000 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 for the analysis published in the US journal Cancer Epidemiology. They found that each additional 10 centimeters (four inches) of height was linked to a 13 percent higher risk of getting cancer. “Ultimately, cancer is a result of processes having to do with growth, so it makes sense that hormones or other growth factors that influence height may also influence cancer risk,” said lead author Geoffrey Kabat, senior epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York. After 12 years of following women who entered the study without cancer, researchers found links between greater height and higher likelihood of developing cancers of the breast, colon, endometrium, kidney, ovary, rectum, thyroid, as well as multiple myeloma and melanoma. The height association remained even after scientists adjusted for factors that might influence these cancers, such as age, weight, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and hormone therapy. “We were surprised at the number of cancer sites that were positively associated with height. In this data set, more cancers are associated with height than were associated with body mass index (BMI),” added Kabat. Some cancers saw an even higher risk among taller women, such as a 23 to 29 percent increase in the risk of developing cancers of the kidney, rectum, thyroid, and blood for each additional 10 centimeters of height. None of the 19 cancers studied showed a lower risk with greater height. The study did not establish a certain height level at which cancer risk begins to rise, and Kabat said it is important to remember that the increased risk researchers found was small. “It needs to be kept in mind that factors such as age, smoking, body mass index, and certain other risk factors have considerably larger effects,” he said. “The association of height with a number of cancer sites suggests that exposures in early life, including nutrition, play a role in influencing a person’s risk of cancer.” AFP Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/tall-women-face-higher-cancer-risk-study/

Health

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In the night that followed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, as St. Mark tells the story in the New Testament, Jesus further astonished his disciples by walking on water. It was a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee and the disciples were out in a boat, battling a contrary wind, when they saw Jesus approaching, as if a spirit. "And he went up to them into the ship; and the wind ceased," it is written in Mark 6:51. "And they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." Doron Nof also wondered, in a measured, scientific way. A professor of oceanography at Florida State University, he conducted an inquiry and found what might be a natural explanation: ice. Writing in The Journal of Paleolimnology, Dr. Nof and his colleagues point out that unusual freezing processes probably occurred in the region in the last 12,000 years, icing over parts of freshwater Galilee. This has not happened in recent history, but there were much colder stretches 1,500 to 2,500 years ago. The scientists note that Galilee has warm, salty springs along the western shore, an area Jesus frequented. The water above the springs does not convect when it is cold. If air temperatures dipped below freezing, as sometimes happened then, surface ice could have formed thick enough to support human weight and inspire the biblical story. From a distance, the scientists suggested, a person on the ice might appear to be walking on water, particularly if it had just rained and left a smoothed-out watery coating on the ice. In a bow to biblical literalists and other skeptics, Dr. Nof's group concluded, "Whether this happened or not is an issue for religion scholars, archaeologists, anthropologists and believers to decide on." JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/science/04find.html

Religion

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By Sola Ogundipe & Gabriel Olawale THE end to malaria infection is in sight as the first malaria vaccine candidate to reach phase-3 of clinical testing, and found to partially protect children against the disease up to four years after vaccination, is set to be available by October this year, scientists have reported. Giving the hint about this development yesterday, Brian Greenwood, corresponding author and Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK, explained that results of the tests suggested that the vaccine candidate known as RTS, S/AS01 could prevent a substantial number of cases of clinical malaria, especially in areas of high transmission. Greenwood noted that the European Medicines Agency, EMA, will “assess the quality, safety, and efficacy of the vaccine based on these final data. There is currently no licensed vaccine against malaria anywhere in the world.” If the EMA gives a favourable opinion, the World Health Organisation could recommend the use of RTS,S/AS01 as early as October this year. If licensed, RTS,S/AS01 would be the first licensed human vaccine against a parasitic disease,” Greenwood added. The findings, published in the journal, The Lancet, revealed that vaccine efficacy against clinical and severe malaria was better in children than in young infants, but waned over time in both groups. However, protection was prolonged by a booster dose, increasing the average number of cases prevented in both children and young infants. Further, Greenwood argued that despite the falling efficacy over time, there is still a clear benefit from RTS,S/AS01. “An average of 1,363 cases of clinical malaria were prevented over four years of follow-up for every 1,000 children vaccinated, and 1,774 cases in those who also received a booster shot. Over three years of follow-up, an average 558 cases were averted for every 1,000 infants vaccinated, and 983 cases in those also given a booster dose. “Given that there were an estimated 198 million malaria cases in 2013, this level of efficacy potentially translates into millions of cases of malaria in children being prevented,” he said. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine was developed for use in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria still kills around 1,300 children every day. The phase-3 randomised trial enrolled 15,459 young infants (aged six to 12 weeks at first vaccination) and children (five to 17 months at first vaccination) from 11 sites across seven sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and United Republic of Tanzania) with varying levels of malaria transmission. In 2014, initial phase-3 results at 18 months showed vaccine efficacy of about 46 per cent against clinical malaria in children and around 27 per cent among young infants. In this study, members of the RTS, S/AS01 Clinical Trials Partnership followed up the infants and children for a further 20 to 30 months, respectively, and assessed the impact of a fourth booster dose. Participants were each vaccinated three times with RTS,S/AS01 with or without a booster dose 18 months later, or given four doses of a comparator vaccine (control group). Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/malaria-end-in-sight-as-who-sets-to-approve-1st-human-vaccine/

Health

en

The thrilling account of Oba Adeyemi, deposed after his words saw a man bark till he died and Olateru Olagbegi, the Oba with over 120 university graduates as his children. In Yoruba land, the Oba is an unquestionable monarch. He is not primus inter parels(first among equals),he is revered and widely known as being second only to the gods- “Igbakeji Orisa”. But despite this near infallible status, an Oba can be dethroned, deposed or sent on exile. In modern political terminology, an Oba can be impeached, either by conduct, intrigues, power play, rebellions or governmental intervention. OBA OF LAGOS FALLS FIRST VICTIM The gale of exiles, started with Oba Akitoye in Lagos. He ascended the throne as Oba of Lagos in 1841 and tried to ban slave trading. Local merchants, who were prominent slave traders, opposed the move and Oba Akitoye was eventually deposed and sent to exile. Akitoye was eventually succeeded by his brother, Kosoko, as Oba of Lagos. At exile in Great Britain, Akitoye met with British authorities and some anti-slave traders who had banned slave trading in 1807. The British authorities, resolved to assist Akitoye, back to the stool as Oba of Lagos in 1851. Oba Kosoko was immediately deposed and sent on exile to Badagry and later Epe, where he also founded kingdoms. This British involvement and meddlesomeness in the affairs of the throne of Lagos, in practical terms, finally established British influence on the throne Of Lagos and this authority became absolute, when Lagos or “Eko” was later annexed 10 years later in 1861 as a territory of British colony. Shortly after the British annexation of Lagos, their next point of call was Benin kingdom. Benin, before the expedition was a very prosperous kingdom, noted for its rich resources in palm oil, rubber and ivory and was largely independent of British control. Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, was Oba of Benin in 1888, until the British punitive expedition of 1897, which forced him out of the throne. He was sent on exile to Calabar with his two wives and died in exile in 1914. FELA’S MOTHER LEADS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ALAKE OF EGBA LAND The Alake of Egba land is the paramount ruler of the Egbas, comprising of Egba Alake, the Owu kingdom ,Oke Ona and Gbagura. Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola II, ascended the throne of the Alake of Egba land in 1920 after the demise of Oba Gbadebo I, on the 28th May 1920. Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola 11, was an educated Oba, with a deep sense of business acumen. His son, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola became indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1960. Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola II, ruled for 42 years, but he was on exile for two years, between 1948 to December 1950, as a result of a protest against native authorities, especially against the Alake of Egba land, by the Women’s Union, led by Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (the mother of Afro beat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti) ably supported by Eniola Soyinka-her sister-in law and mother of the Nobel Laureate-Wole Soyinka .This organization with a membership of over 20000 women campaigned vigorously against taxes and price control. The Abeokuta Women’s Union was a well orgarnised and disciplined organization. The Egba women’s refusal to pay abnormal tax, combined with enormous protests, orgarnised under the guise of picnics and festivals, was a guise to beat the security of the British colonizers, who teamed up with the local lackeys, to subdue the women. At one protest, the “Oro” stick was brought out- a symbolic artifact of the secretive male cult of the Ogbonis, supposedly imbibed with great powers, and the women were instructed to go home, before evil spirits overcame them. When the women shrank back in fear, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, grabbed the stick, waved it around, that women now had the power before taking it with her, displaying it prominently in her home. This action gave her, a reputation of fearlessness and courage, which led 20,000 women to follow her to the home of Alake of Egba land (Alake Ademola). As the women protested outside the King’s Palace, they sang in Yoruba; “Alake, for a long time you have used your penis as mark of authority that you are our husband, today we shall reverse the order and use our vagina to play the role of husband”. With this unified action and song, they chased him out of the Palace, condemning him to exile on the threat of castration and this resulted in the king’s abdication. Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a teacher, a political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat, who was described by the West African Pilot Newspaper as the “Lioness of Lisabi”. She was the first woman in Nigeria to ride a car. Later in life, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was sadly thrown out, from an upstair (2nd floor precisely), when a battalion soldiers invaded Fela Anikulapo Kalakuta Republic in 1978. She died as a result of injury sustained on 13th April, 1978. She was married to Rev. Israel Oludotun Kuti and she begat four children- Olikoye- a Professor of Medicine and former Minister of Health, Dolapo, Fela- a musical icon and legend and Bekola- a medical doctor and human rights activist and also many grandchildren- Brig-Gen. Enitan Ransome Kuti- a recently convicted and reprieved military officer, Frances Kuboye- a dental surgeon and jazz exponent, Femi and Seun Kuti- Afrobeat musical exponents. Her coffin was sent to Dodan Barracks in Lagos- General Olusegun Obasanjo’s residence as Head of State, together with a newly written song- “Coffin for a Head of State- They kill my mama, 78 years old mama, influential mama, political mama…” Alaafin of Oyo accompanies Oba Ademola to exile Oba Oladapo Ademola II, was sent to exile in Oshogbo, where he lived for two years, before he was recalled back to the throne. It is interesting to note, that Oba Oladapo Ademola II, was accompanied to exile by the current Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who was then living with Oba Oladapo Ademola II. Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s father, Adeniran Adeyemi II, who was the Alaafin of Oyo for 10 years- 1945 to 1955, had seen in the young Lamidi Olayiwola, a future Alaafin and had nurtured him along the paths of royalty. He had trained him as an Islamic cleric in Iseyin, he had lived under the tutelage of Pa Olatoregun- an Anglican school teacher and disciplinarian, in Oyo, all in an effort for young Lamidi, to learn the rope of traditional kingship, statesmanship and dignifying royalty. Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, in the quest of this preparation for Royalty, was at an early age, sent to Abeokuta to live with Oba Adedapo Ademola and had some part of his early education in Ake Palace Elementary School and he is today still fluent in Egba dialect. Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, at a later date in his adolescence, also lived with a Lagos Aristocrat-his father’s friend-Sir Kofo Abayomi and his wife, Lady Oyinkan Abayomi. He also attended St Gregory’s College, Lagos- a Catholic School. Perhaps, this early preparation for royalty, has no doubt made Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, a quintessential monarch, not only with wit, but also with class, candour, panache and indeed, a deep sense of wisdom. Amongst Oba Adeniran’s children, Lamidi Adeyemi was his favourite. He had seen at birth, the lacerations on his left breast and the spots on his leg, at the same spot on Lamidi Olayiwola, as tell tale signs of future royalty. ADETOYESE LAOYE RETURNS AS TIMI OF EDE AFTER FLEEING TO LAGOS Oba John Adetoyese Laoye born on the 21st of February 1899. He was Timi of Ede, between 1946 and May 1975. On 23rd of January 1946, the stool of the Timi of Ede became vacant, as a result of the passage of Timi Oyebamiji Akangbe. The stool was fiercely contested by Prince Memudu Lagunju, who had also previously contested the stool with Timi Sanusi Akangbe In 1933. Adetoyese and 32 other contestants, vied for the vacant stool for about 11 months and he was eventually crowned on the 9th of December 1946. Despite Adetoyese’s victory, his arch rival-Prince Memudu Lagunju fiercely fought for the throne through a protracted litigation. Memudu Lagunju, won at the lower court and Adetoyese was on the 8th of January 1948 asked to abdicate the throne and was on exile in Lagos until 1952, when the West African Court of Appeal (WACA) dismissed Memudu Lagunju’s case and recorded its verdict in John Adetoyese Laoye’s favour, in a verdict which was later upheld by the Privy Council, England. BETWEEN BODE THOMAS AND OBA ADENIRAN ADEYEMI: WHEN A MAN BARKS TO DEATH Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, was Alaafin of Oyo, between 1945 and 1954, until he was forced into exile by the Action Group led government of the Western region, as a result of the death of the Deputy leader of the Action Group, Chief Bode Thomas and also for having sympathy, for the rival NCNC of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Chief Bode Thomas (1918-1953) became the deputy leader of the Action Group, he later formed Nigeria’s first indigenous law firm called- Thomas, Willams, Kayode and co. i.e. the trio of Bode Thomas, Chief Rotimi Williams and Chief Remilekun Fani Kayode. Bode was a brilliant lawyer, but also very haughty and arrogant. He was made the Divisional Council Chairman in 1953, while the Alaafin of Oyo was a mere member. On his first appearance in council, after being appointed chairman, all the council members stood up for him in deference, to welcome him except Oba Adeyemi II, who for cultural reasons, could not show deference to anyone in public. Bode Thomas rudely shouted at the king, for having the temerity and audacity to disrespect him. “Why are you sitting when I walked in, you don’t know how to show respect?”At that time, Bode Thomas was 35 years old and Oba Adeniran was in his 60’s. The Alaafin felt very insulted and nonplussed; he said “se emi lon gbomo baun?” (Is it me you are barking at like that?). Oba Adeniran just told him “Ma gbo lo baun” (continue barking).Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, was father of the incumbent Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. The confrontation happened on November 22nd 1953. Bode Thomas got home and started barking! He barked and barked like a dog all night until he died in the early morning of November 23rd 1953. He cut short his promising career. Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, was thereafter deposed and sent on exile in 1954 for sympathizing with opposition NCNC, because he had come in conflict with Bode Thomas who was Deputy Leader of the Action Group, before his untimely death. In fact at a session in the parliament, Sardauna Ahmadu Bello had described Thomas as “Arrogant and ungracious”. Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, was sent on exile to Ilesha and later relocated to Egerton Street on Lagos Island where he lived and died in 1960. His death truncated the ambition of Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, to proceed to the United Kingdom to study law. He later became an Insurance Executive with the Royal Exchange Assurance, where he worked until he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as the Alaafin of Oyo in 1971. OLATERU OLAGBEGI, FALLS VICTIM OF AWOLOWO/AKINTOLA FEUD, BOUNCES BACK AFTER 25 YEARS Sir Olateru Olagbegi II, (Olowo of Owo) August 1910- 1998, was appointed the Olowo, in the ancient city of Owo in 1941 and ruled for 25 years before he was deposed. His dethronement from power and exile, was as a result of the fall out of the Western Regional crisis which fractionalized the Action Group into- Awolowo and Akintola camps in 1962 as a fall out of the Action Group Conference of February 1962 in Jos. Members of the Akintola group, were virtually expelled from the party. The Action Group, which was launched in Olagbegi’s palace in 1951, was led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A battle of wits, between the two gladiators- Akintola and Awolowo, saw Oba Olateru pitching his tent with Akintola. Another prominent Owo citizen and acolyte of Oba Olateru Olagbegi, pitched his tent with the Awolowo group. Michael Adekunle Ajasin and Olateru Olagbegi were initial colleagues, friends, soul mates and pathfinders in the growth and development of the ancient city of Owo. Michael Ajasin was born 28th November, 1908. He was a teacher and school headmaster for sometime in Sapele, present day Delta State, before he was admitted to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone in 1943, where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in History and Economics in 1946. After successful completion of his university degree, he went to London where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education 1947. Olateru Olagbegi was instrumental to the community scholarship granted Michael Ajasin to pursue his educational feat. On 12th September 1947, Ajasin was appointed Principal of Imade College, founded by his friend, Oba Olateru Olagbegi and was Principal till December 1962, when he left to become founder, Proprietor and Principal of Owo High School, from 1963- 1975. As Principal of Imade College, Michael Ajasin was still very active and prominent in the community politics of Owo and the Regional and National politics of Western Region and Nigeria respectively. Through the support and encouragement of his friend, the Olowo Olagbegi, he was elected, Member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Owo Federal Constituency, between August 1954 and 1966, when the military overthrew the civilian government of the first republic. Olagbegi and Ajasin, as a result of the political feud, became sworn enemies. Olagbegi was a prominent member and leader of Akintola’s NNDP (Demo) and Minister without portfolio, whilst Ajasin was a Federal Legislator. The Military putsch of January 1966, encouraged the Owo Community to organize persistent revolts, riots, against Oba Olateru Olagbegi and this forced the Adekunle Fajuyi government to suspend him from the throne in June 1966. Olateru’s attempt, to return to the throne of Olowo on the 8th February 1968, was fiercely resisted by the Owo community. About 60 houses were burnt and 40 houses damaged. The military government of Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo had no choice, than to depose Olateru Olagbegi, that day and send him on exile to Okitipupa. Less than a month after, Oba Adekola Ogunoye ably supported by Adekunle Ajasin, emerged the new Olowo of Owo. Olagbegi’s effort in 1977, to reclaim the stool, when Ondo State was created, out of Western State, was also fiercely resisted by his protagonists. The military government of Wing Commander Ita David Ikpeme set up a Commission of Inquiry, known as Ondo Chieftaincy Review Commission, headed by Justice Adeyinka Morgan, to undertake review of Chieftaincy Laws of Ondo State. Other members of the commission were-Dr. Femi Anjorin- Department of History, University of Ife, Chief J.O. Akindolire from Ile-Oluji and Bode Kumapayi- Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of the State. The commission could not conclude its assignment, due to the ill health of the chairman- Justice Adeyinka Morgan. Olowo Adekola Ogunoye (described as a man of supernatural and magical powers) died on 22nd March, 1993 and was buried 1st April, 1993. In 1993, Sir Olateru Olagbegi was reappointed to his title of Olowo of Owo, after the death of the reigning monarch, by the Civilian government of Michael Bamidele Olomilua. Oba Olagbegi was father to over 140 children, of which over 121 are university graduates. He was a business colossus and lover of lawn tennis. Olateru Olagbegi died in October 1998 and the crown passed to his son, Oba Folagbade Olagbegi III, a lawyer and former Special Adviser to Dr Alex Ekwueme, as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and later as Director General of the Nigerian Law School. The phoenix of factional vendetta, between Olateru and Ajasin polarized the Owo community for over 3 decades. OBA GOES ON EXILE FOR BEATING HIS WIFE IN THE PUBLIC In recent time, a Deji of Akure was deposed and sent on exile for committing a Royal suicide, by beating his wife in public. Oba Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina was Deji of Akure, until deposed by the Ondo State Government in June 2010, for beating his wife-Olori Bolanle Adepoju Adesina. After pouring an unknown substance on her skin, the deposed Oba, ordered his guards to whip her. The kingmakers of Akure, subsequently declared Deji Adepoju Adesina, unworthy of the throne and his seat, was declared vacant by the kingmakers. The unguarded act was viewed as complete desecration of the Royal Stool of the Deji of Akure. He was subsequently succeeded by Deji Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida-Afunbiowu III. He reigned between 13th August, 2010 until his death on 30th November, 2013. On the 8th July, 2015, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladewusi- Odundun II, formally ascended the throne as the 47th Deji of Akure. He was crowned alongside the Regent to be- his first daughter, Princess Adesina Aladelusi as it is customary of the Dejis. The all time essence of power, whether traditional, constitutional or spiritual, is its transient and ephemeral nature. Like all mortals, an oba dies and is equally capable of the follies and foibles of lesser mortals. Power, a great aphrodisiac, should be used to dignify humanity. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/obas-go-exile/

Politics

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By SOLA OGUNDIPE THE Ebola Virus is essentially transmitted from human-to-human through direct contact with infected patients, or through contact with body fluids of a victim. However, scientists are not ruling out the possibility of transmission by air through aerosolised particles. Previously, Canadian scientists have shown that the deadliest form of the Ebola virus (the Zaire Ebola) could be transmitted by air between species. Although no human over-ther-air transmission of the lethal viral disorder has been recorded, but the Patrick Sawyer incidence in Lagos, Nigeria, has reopened worries over the implications of the possibility of its transmission in an enclosed environment such as an aircraft cabin. Transmissible from pigs to monkeys by air Studies show that the Ebola virus is transmissible to monkeys from infected pigs without them coming into direct contact. The Ebola virus survives for days outside infected hosts and can “ride” on aerosolised droplets to spread to potential victims. In a demonstration of the infectious dose of the Ebola virus, the Public Health Agency of Canada says 1 – 10 aerosolised organisms are sufficient to cause infection in humans. In demonstrating the transmission from pigs to monkeys without any direct contact between them, the scientists housed the pigs carrying the virus in pens with the monkeys in close proximity but separated by a wire barrier. After eight days, some of the macaques (monkeys) were showing clinical signs typical of ebola and were euthanised. According to the Canadian Public Health Agency: “The virus can survive in liquid or dried material for a number of days. Infectivity is found to be stable at room temperature or at 4 degrees celsius for several days, and indefinitely stable at -70 degrees celsius . Infectivity can be preserved by lyophilisation. Hence, it is implied that Ebola viruses can survive for several days on common objects such as door knobs or household surfaces. If an infected Ebola victim runs around touching such common objects after cleaning blood or mucous from his nose, another innocent victim can easily infect himself by touching the same objects and then eating some food that places the virus in his mouth. Level 4 biohazard Ebola, considered a level-4 biohazard, is very infectious, requiring special protective biohazard suits, containment Level 4 facilities, equipment, and operational practices for work involving infectious or potentially infectious materials, animals, and cultures. To date, according to the World Health Organisation, the Ebola virus has caused 1,323 cases of the disease and 729 deaths–a mortality rate of 55% Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/experts-say-transmission-ebola-virus-air-possible/

Health

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Sweden is one of the countries where bed-sharing between parents and infants is most widespread. "It's important that children under three months sleep in their own beds," Kerstin Nordstrand at the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) told AFP. She said the recommendation was "new", since the institution had previously only advised against new-borns sleeping in the same room as a smoker or in the same bed with a parent under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The information was first published by Swedish medical newspaper Dagens Medicin, which cited a paediatrics professor at Gothenburg University. "It has been clear in the research in recent years that co-sleeping is a risk factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," professor Göran Wennergren told the paper. The practice is reportedly widespread in Sweden. A 2001 study published in the paediatric journal Early Human Development showed that 65 percent of three-month-old Swedish babies slept with their parents, the highest rate in the Western world. A report published by the British Medical Journal which analyzed nearly 1,500 sudden infant deaths revealed that 22 percent took place while the baby slept in the parental bed. According to professor of medical statistics, Bob Carpenter, who was responsible for the study, the risk of cot death for babies sleeping with their parents was multiplied by five compared to those who slept alone. Other countries including France and the United States recommend sleeping in the same room as the new-born, but not in the same bed. Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected]. Please log in here to leave a comment.

http://www.thelocal.se/20131204/sweden-tells-parents-not-to-share-beds-with-newborns-due-to-risk-of-sids

Family

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Hooded penitents walk towards crosses during Good Friday rituals to atone for sins in Philippines (AP) What is the difference between a Jew, a Semite and a Zionist? With such terms are often confused or misused, here is a guide to what each word means. – Jew – Originally a Jew was an inhabitant of the ancient kingdom of Judah that existed in the Middle East, centred on Jerusalem, from around 940 to 586 BC. The term Jew originates in the Biblical Hebrew word “yehudi”, which means “from the Kingdom of Judah”. The word passed into Latin as “judaeus”; the “d” was dropped as it evolved into “giu” in Old French, later moving into early English in various forms from the year 1,000. It also is the root of Judaism, the Jewish religion which is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and established more than 3,500 years ago. Its principle tenet is that there is only one God, who is the creator of the universe and with whom Jewish people have a special relationship. Jews can be atheist, being Jewish by heritage but not believing in the God of the Bible. Jewish law says the faith is transmitted through the mother, even if in the Bible people are identified by their paternal ascendants. Israel’s 1970 “Law of Return”, which gives Jews the right to live in the country, defines a Jew as a “person who was born of a Jewish mother or has become converted to Judaism and is not a member of another religion.” – Semite – Jews are not the only Semites: this term refers to people linked through related languages including Hebrew but also Amharic, Arabic and Aramaic. Created by German historian August Ludwig Schloezer (1735-1809), the word is drawn from the name of one of the sons of the Bible’s Noah, Shem, who is considered the ancestor of all Semites. His descendants are said to have migrated from the Arabian peninsula to Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine around 3,000 years ago, and then into the Horn of Africa around 700 BC. Today Semitic languages are spoken by hundreds of millions of people in the Middle East and North Africa. The term anti-Semitic, however, refers to a person who is specifically hostile towards Jews. – Zionist – The term comes from “Zion” which is a synonym for Jerusalem but also for the land of Israel. It also has a spiritual meaning. It takes its name from Mount Zion, which was first used to describe the site of the ancient Jebusite city which became Jerusalem, but today refers to a hill just outside the walls of the Old City, on its southwestern edge. The terms Zionist and Zionism developed in the late 19th century to refer to the aspirations of Jewish people — who were exiled, dispersed and persecuted — to have their own independent homeland. It had its first political expression in the 1896 pamphlet “The State of the Jews” by Austro-Hungarian journalist and writer Theodor Herzl. A year later, the first Zionist congress was held in Basel, Switzerland, where it was stated the aim of Zionism was to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine. Jews had already begun moving there and establishing agricultural communities in the 19th century, their flow accelerated by the rise of pogroms and anti-Semitism. After the Nazi Holocaust during World War II, when six million Jews were killed, Jewish people fled to Palestine in increasing numbers and the aspirations of Zionism became real with the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. An anti-Zionist is someone who opposes the concept of the state of Israel as a Jewish state. Some ultra-Orthodox Jews are also anti-Zionist, believing that only God can bring about Jewish sovereignty and refusing to recognise the authority of the man-made Israeli state. Jews who advocate assimilation into the region can also be considered anti-Zionist. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/what-is-a-jew-a-semite-a-zionist-key-terms-explained/

Religion

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A typical challenge those learning driving face relates to braking: should they first use clutch or the brake. In our braking tips we will simply the issue in context of situations you are likely to face but first, you would need to know what does a clutch do. Clutch simply disengages the gearbox from the wheels which helps the wheels to move freely and independently of the engine. If you want to stop and do not use your clutch, then your car will eventually stall and come to a halt. This will cause damage to your engine, clutch and transmission. The car stalls because the brakes are trying to stop the car while the engine is trying to propel the car ahead. As you are not accelerating, the revs of the engine keep falling and eventually the engine dies and the car stalls. So, how do you properly brake? Here are four ‘braking situations’ and tips to handle them: At low speeds: First clutch then brake You have to press the clutch before the brake pedal if your speed is less than the lowest speed of the gear you are in. You can find the lowest speed of the gear by simple releasing the clutch and not using the accelerator. The speed that you can achieve without the use of the accelerator is the lowest speed of the gear. This is usually done in bumper to bumper traffic as your speed is usually less than the lowest speed of the 1st gear. For instance, you know that the lowest speed of your car’s first gear is 10 kmph and you are going at 8 kmph. As your speed is already less than the lowest speed of the gear, your car will struggle and stall, when you brake. To avoid this, you would first need to press the clutch so that the engine is not dependent on the transmission and then start braking. Sudden Braking: Clutch and brake together Clutch and brake together are usually used in emergencies as it is the most effective way to brake without damaging the mechanical parts of the car. If someone or something comes in front of your car you would have to press the clutch and brake together, this will ensure that you do not accelerate by accident as your gearbox will be disengaged from the wheels. And you will be able to stop with the full braking power of your car. At High Speeds: First brake then clutch Brake is first used when you are travelling at decent speed and you need to slow down a bit. Now, if you decide to stop or the speed of your car reaches the lowest speed of the gear then you would need to use the brakes so that your car does not stall. When you will start braking, your speed will start falling and once it goes below 15kmph, your start will start struggling and eventually stall. To avoid this, you would need to press the clutch once you hit the lower speed of the gear or when you feel the engine is about to struggle. Temporary slowdown: Only Brake You only need to use the brake if you want to slow down or if there is an obstacle in your way and you want to turn slightly away from it. As you are above the lowest speed of the gear, you can just decrease your speed slightly and the continue. For instance, this is mostly done on highways when there is a car in front of you. If you are going at 100kmph, in fifth gear and you need to slow down. You would just press the brake, your speed will decrease but you will not hit the lowest speed of the gear so you do not need to use the clutch. So there you are. Just remember the lowest speed of the gear varies from car to car. This would help you understand in which circumstance you should use your brake first or your clutch first. Remember to keep practicing and slowly you would not need to think about it and would be able to brake perfectly.

https://www.cartoq.com/braking-tips-clutch-brake/

Car Talk

en

The New World Translation (the Bible produced and used by Jehovah’s Witnesses) contains the name Jehovah in the New Testament although not a single Greek manuscript nor even an early translation contains it.1 Regarding this practice, they explain: “In deciding to do this, the translators took into consideration two important factors: (1) The Greek manuscripts we possess today are not the originals. Of the thousands of copies in existence today, most were made at least two centuries after the originals were composed. (2) By that time, those copying the manuscripts either replaced the Tetragrammaton with Kyʹri·os, the Greek word for “Lord,” or they copied from manuscripts where this had already been done.”2 These claims, however, are either misleading or do not hold up to scrutiny: - We don’t have the originals of the New Testament, and most of our copies come from more than two centuries after the New Testament was written: While this statement is technically true, it doesn’t actually say anything useful to the discussion. In fact, it barely says anything meaningful at all! The New Testament has been copied non-stop for almost 2,000 years. We’re still copying it today. Of course, most of our copies come from after the first 200 years. How could they possibly have made more copies in just the first two centuries than people would be able to make over the next eighteen centuries? It’s just common sense that most copies would come later. The fact is, however, that the New Testament was written in the mid-to-late first century AD, and by the end of the third century AD (or within just over 200 years of the time of the New Testament writers), we have surviving manuscripts from almost every book in the New Testament.3 For many New Testament books we have quite a few! For example, we have 16 manuscripts of the Gospel of John within that timeframe, and for Matthew, we have 12!4 When dealing with literature so ancient, this is a vast wealth of early testimony. There are also a fairly large number of other Christian writings whose earliest manuscripts date back that far.5 Many of these manuscripts contain quotes from the New Testament, adding even more confirmation of what the original text said. The truth is that we have diverse examples of the New Testament text from very early on, and they all use the Greek word “Kurios” rather than the proper name YHWH. We never once find Jehovah in the New Testament. - Those copying the manuscripts changed the name YHWH into the Greek word “Kurios” or “Lord”: Let’s consider what this claim would require. Remember that each of the New Testament books was written at a different time and place and sent to different people. They were not all being copied by the same people at the same time. Our various copies were produced by a variety of people in a variety of places. We even have very early translations into other languages. The same is true for the other Christian documents that quote the New Testament and that display the same practice of using the title Lord rather than the name YHWH. It is entirely beyond credulity that all of these various scribes in various places (and even speaking various languages) coordinated to systematically remove the name of God from all of these books wherever they were being copied, and successfully did so in such a way that no evidence was left behind. Not even a single Christian writer remembered what any of these books used to say nor managed to keep and reproduce an older copy. Those would have to be some powerful scribes!But there’s more. These scribes would also have to convince every Christian everywhere to stop using the name YHWH and to replace it with the word “Lord” in all their own writings. Not only that, they would have to have changed the documents, practices, and memories of all of the heretical offshoots of Christianity as well, like the Gnostics whose early manuscripts also survive. This apparently universally powerful network of scribes would have to do this everywhere and leave no evidence behind. Their power would have to transcend political boundaries, reaching lands under Roman rule, the Persian Empire, and into smaller, independent kingdoms. This would require a literal miracle! What’s more, if one does accept such a grand conspiracy theory, they have to give up the reliability of the New Testament entirely. It doesn’t prove the accuracy of putting the word Jehovah in the New Testament. Instead, it undermines the New Testament entirely! If all the writings and memories of all the Christians throughout the ancient world could be so completely altered without leaving a shred of evidence behind, who knows what else such an authoritarian scribal network changed! No word or phrase is safe. The whole New Testament tradition is potentially compromised. Fortunately, such a conspiracy theory is utterly impossible. The evidence is too early and too numerous. In conclusion, the New Testament documents are quite reliably preserved and are attested by extremely early manuscripts and quotations in multiple languages and locations. There is no reason to doubt the manner in which they have come down to us, even regarding the names and titles used for God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the New World Translation are simply wrong on this point. 1↑ | The earliest translations to contain the divine name were medieval Jewish translations of the New Testament into Hebrew, though even these do not universally use it. The same Hebrew translation may use “YHWH” in some places, “Lord” in others, and the Hebrew title “HaShem” or “The Name” in still others. The translators were plainly interpreting these conventions into their work, and they give us no reason to think that their inventive Hebrew versions better reflect the original than do the oldest Greek manuscripts or the earlier translations | 2↑ | New World Translation: 2013 Revision, Appendix A5 | 3↑ | Larry Hurtado, The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins (William B. Eerdmans, 2006) 20-21 | 4↑ | Ibid, 20 | 5↑ | Ibid, 22-24 |

http://ow.ly/nZ6b50M7U23

Religion

en

Other forms: cities A city is an area in which a large number of people live fairly close together. Cities usually have their own separate governments and systems for maintaining and providing utilities and transportation. A city is basically a big town — the population is large in relation to the amount of land, since people often live in apartments or multi-family housing. The largest city in the world today is Shanghai, China. You can also call the residents of a city as a whole a city: "The city voted to increase recycling." City comes from the Latin civitatem, "citizenship," or "community of citizens," from the root civis, "citizen."

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/city

Religion

en

New eyes for blind cave fish? A remarkable experiment leads to much evolutionary misinterpretation 9 August 2000 Fish living in caves, in permanent darkness, are blind, with apparent ‘scars’ where their eyes should be. In the quarter of a century in which I have written and spoken on creation issues, I have often raised the matter of eyeless fish to argue against evolution, despite the fact that I believe that these fish arose from ones that originally had eyes. I also agree with evolutionists about the fairly obvious mechanism by which they think this happened. Nevertheless, I hope it will be clear from what follows that I find it exceedingly strange that some evolutionists would gloat about this as a ‘classic proof’ of evolution.1 Note that such fish often are, in all other respects, identical to the same species of fish living at the surface and having eyes. Imagine a situation in which a group of such ‘normal’ fish swim into a stream which enters an underground cave, and become trapped in this pitch-dark environment. Their eyes are completely useless here. But eyes do not ‘disappear’ just because they are no longer needed. The fish’s DNA would have programmed into it the instructions on constructing eyes, and the code on the DNA does not ‘know’ that the eye is no longer needed, so it will keep on manufacturing eyes, generation after generation. However, due to the effects of the Curse on all creation (Genesis 3:19, Romans 8:20–22), genetic copying errors (mutations) arise in all living things. In fact, in a moderate-sized population, many of these errors occur in each generation. It is not hard to see how one of these could result in a gene that usually ‘switches on’ eye development being corrupted, or somehow ‘switched off’, via mutation. In a normal above-ground situation, such eyeless fish would probably never survive much past early infancy, because they would be so handicapped both in locating food and escaping predators. So for all practical purposes, we never see eyeless fish in the wild where there is sunlight. However, in the cave, it is a different matter. The eyeless type no longer suffers this disadvantage compared to its compatriots. Not only that, the eyeless ones even have an advantage over the others. This is because, as fish bumped into rocks and cave walls in the darkness, the eyed ones would be likely to injure their eyes. The delicate tissue of eyes is prone to injury, which would allow harmful bacteria to enter, leading to infection and often death. The eyed fish would thus have a lesser chance of surviving to produce offspring. Those fish carrying the ‘eyeless’ genetic defect would have a greater chance of passing it on to the next generation, so it would not take many generations under such circumstances for all the fish to be of the ‘eyeless’ type. But this classic example of mutation/selection causing adaptation to a new environment is also a classic example of a mutation causing a downhill change. It is not showing us how the first stages of a new, complex adaptation could arise, it is merely showing us how complex information coding for great engineering design is being corrupted or lost. The grand-scale theory of evolution—that microbes have become millipedes, magnolias, and microbiologists—demands that huge amounts of new information, of true genetic novelty, have arisen over millions of years. To show such information arising from natural processes is the real challenge for evolution. It is a challenge which the renowned Darwinist Richard Dawkins was unable to answer, as shown in the video From a Frog to a Prince (as well as refutation of Skeptic’s attack and refutation of Dawkins’ later response). Time and chance can’t explain life’ amazing design—get your answers here! | Not By Chance! | Even if one tiny example could be found where information had arisen by chance mutation, Dr Lee Spetner’s classic book Not By Chance (see right; as well as this review) shows that neo-Darwinian theory requires literally hundreds to be observable today. So far, all the examples studied (including the handful of ‘helpful defects’, like the loss of eyes in cave fish, or wingless beetles on windy islands [see Beetle bloopers]) show a loss of information. The fascinating experiment (by researchers from the University of Maryland, USA) that has brought blind cave fish back into the news was one in which young eyeless fish had lenses implanted in them from the same species of fish (Astyanax mexicanus) living at the surface. Eight days later, the blind fish seemed to be regrowing eyes. After two months, they had a ‘large restored eye with a distinct pupil, cornea and iris. In addition, the retina of the restored eye showed rod photoreceptor cells …’.2 The researchers are not saying that the fish developed sight, which would require regrowth of nerve connections to the brain and more. This experiment is of great interest in helping us understand more about the pathways by which genes express the development of certain structures in the embryo. The following may be helpful in understanding what has taken place: It has long been known that during the development of certain frog embryos, for instance, the lens not only appears first, it acts as an ‘inducer’ of the development of most of the rest of the eye. Thus, if the lens from one embryo is surgically embedded into another embryo at a spot different from where the eye normally develops, an eye will start to form at that location. Both in the above example, and that of the cave fish, the development of the eye structures can only take place if the organism into which the lens is transplanted has the genetic instructions present in its DNA to manufacture such structures. This indicates that the mutation by which the fish initially became ‘eyeless’ did not somehow ‘delete’ all of the ‘eye information’, but just interfered with the process leading to the eye’s development. An analogy with computers would be deleting files on a computer—the information is not deleted, just the record of its location on the hard disk. If the data as such were not still there, ‘undelete’ programs would not be possible. In the example here, the mutation most probably just blocked the proper formation of the lens. Without the lens to induce the rest of the eye to form, it won’t. This is supported by the fact that in the embryos of eyeless cave fish, eyes start to form, but the lens that has started to form deteriorates, and the other structures remain undeveloped. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that such optic induction experiments have been successful on any organism in a post-embryonic stage. As such it is important in future embryological research into the immensely ingenious, complex, and still very poorly understood, processes by which an adult organism develops from a tiny fertilized egg. Sadly, though not surprisingly, this has been described in such a way as to promote the ‘evolution is fact’ idea—even though it has nothing to do with demonstrating that microbes could turn into man (and as shown, the change is in the opposite direction required). It has been described as ‘Eye parts lost during millions of years of evolution were restored in just a matter of days’.3 We have already seen that it is misleading to describe the loss of the ability to produce eyes as ‘evolution’, because it gives rise to the impression that it has something to do with how there came to be such things as fish with eyes in the first place. In addition, there is not the slightest bit of evidence that the process of losing them took millions of years. In fact, it would be surprising if it took more than a few dozen generations, or just a few short years, given the scenario described earlier. Indeed, considering the supposed creative power of ‘evolution’, it is remarkable that these fish, allegedly separated for millions of years, are so near-identical to those living at the surface that even evolution’s most hardened ‘true believers’ concede that they should be given the same species name. The notion that they have not been cut off from each other for anywhere near as long, directly fits the facts. - A recent example is Jerry Coyne, an evolutionist from the University of Chicago, who reviewed Niles Eldredge’s anti-creationist book The Triumph of Evolution in the Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2000 Sunday, Books; pg. 4. Among other things, Coyne berated Eldredge for not mentioning ‘some of the classic and most powerful arguments for evolution [including] the nonfunctional eyes of cave organisms, which evolved from sighted creatures.’ Return to text. - www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/07/000728082041.htm, accessed 9 August 2000, 17 January 2017; www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/hotnews/stories/28/fish.dtl&type=science, accessed 9 August 2000; www.sfgate.com/news/article/Science-gives-eyes-to-blind-subterranean-fish-3052068.php, accessed 17 January 2017. Return to text. - Ref. 2. Return to text. Comments are automatically closed 14 days after publication.

http://creation.com/new-eyes-for-blind-cave-fish

Religion

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Neanderthal children’ fossils Huge problems have been uncovered in evolutionary reconstructions of Neanderthal children’ fossils. Trust is an important concept in science. Most people believe that scientists strive for truth. But if scientists make sensitive and not-explicitly-mentioned initial assumptions, how much can you trust their conclusions? Human palaeontology is a part of science that deals with the discovery, reconstruction and interpretation of fossil man. If men really descended from ape-like ancestors, there should be many fossils of transitional creatures that are intermediate between these ancestors and men. Two major assumptions insisted upon by evolutionists are important to this subject. The first is that the descendants of the ape-like ancestors all had faces that gradually became less projecting as they evolved towards modern man. Neanderthals were somewhere in the midst of this facial evolution and still had projecting noses, cheek bones and jaws. It has been generally believed by the evolutionary community that this facial projection started at an early age.1 The second is that the ages at which eruption of the teeth occurred in so-called transitional groups such as Neanderthals were exactly the same as they are in children today (that is, the ages of these children at death can be determined from their teeth by comparing them with children today). As we shall see, it is never allowed that children in ancient times may have developed more slowly. This might be too close to the account in Genesis which would suggest longer life-spans in the early centuries after the Flood. (Such delayed maturation and longer life-spans might also readily lead to a non-ape explanation for many of the bony features of adult Neanderthals.) In my research, I’ve been privileged to study four fossils of Neanderthal children. Neanderthals are a grouping of fossils that often have been used as transitional fossils by palaeoanthropologists in the past,2 and presented to the public as drawings of reconstructions, photographs of isolated parts, and reconstructions made of either plaster or combinations of bone and plastic-like material. Were their faces reconstructed accurately? Or, were they reconstructed with the abovementioned evolutionary beliefs in mind? Pech de l’Aze The first Neanderthal child we shall examine is the supposedly 2-year-old Pech de l’Aze from southern France. In his original description, E. Patte in 1958 said that when the teeth are placed in a normal bite, the end of the lower jaw doesn’t contact the concave socket in the head.3 (Figure 1) He said it was a projecting jaw. Ivanhoe exaggerated the same features in 1970.4 Figure 2 shows how wrong they were, because when I studied it, the teeth fitted perfectly together and the lower jaw fitted into the socket. There was no projecting face as in Figure 1. In fact, a detailed study of measurable X-rays found Pech’s face didn’t project as far forward as a modern 2-year-old, but was further back in relation to the forehead than even the modern 1-year-old.5 Here is a ‘custom-built’ transitional fossil with a projecting lower jaw, so made because of the evolutionary belief that men descended from apes, and it is used to support that same belief. This is circular reasoning! The second Neanderthal child is the supposedly 5-year-old from Gibraltar. British anthropologist Dorothy Garrod in 1928 commented that the small jaws looked as if they didn’t belong with the large head.6 This discrepancy allows two possibilities of interpretation. Either the child was an older one in which the teeth/jaws were delayed (in relation to the way humans develop today) or it was a 5-year-old with an accelerated head. Since the face, teeth and head of the ape develop in an accelerated way compared to a modern human, one can see the reluctance of evolutionists to admit that the ages of tooth development might have been delayed in these ‘prehistoric’ children. Garrod enumerated 10 features, including remarkable jaw-muscle development, well-worn teeth, infant-like forehead, and infant-like bones around the ear. The first two she should have recognized would indicate an older child based on studies of teeth throughout scientific history, the latter two a less mature child. So how old was he? I don’t think she really knew. Nevertheless, she concluded, ‘the most important evidence is necessarily provided by the teeth. It may be accepted as a good rule that the 1st permanent molars erupt in the sixth year.’6 Based on her unwillingness to depart from the standard evolutionary belief that the ages of tooth eruption in the past were the same as in her own day, the teeth of the Gibraltar child meant that it had to be assigned an age of five years. However, the original shape of the jaw was much too infantile even for a five-year-old. This uncomfortable fact would have highlighted still further the discrepancies between the stages of maturity of various parts of the skull, adding another reason for calling the teeth and jaws delayed. This would have contradicted the second assumption of the ancient tooth eruption ages being the same as today. Examining the lower jaw shows that when Garrod or a colleague put the pieces together, they fixed them so it no longer looked infant-like (see Figure 3). The teeth of the Gibraltar child were remarkably worn, a fact which suggests (along with the size of the braincase, for example) that this individual had lived much more than five years. This again would support the creationist/delayed maturation view, and cause problems for the ‘ape-affinity/accelerated head’ viewpoint, as explained. When confronted by this evidence of greater age in juvenile Neanderthals, evolutionists commonly respond by saying that young Neanderthals had a tough, gritty diet. This ignores the fact that the baby molars of the Gibraltar child (indeed all Neanderthal children I have examined) were very durable taurodont (bull-like) molars. These could outwear and out-perform the modern child’s baby molars—comparing the two is like comparing radial tyres with old-fashioned tyres. However, this inconvenient fact does not seem to worry palaeoanthropologists today. The third fossil, the Engis child from Belgium, was determined to be six or seven years of age by Charles Fraipont in 1936.7 This age was stretching things a bit, as he saw loose first permanent molar teeth that hadn’t erupted yet, with almost no root formation. Our children today reach this stage in about three years, but in 1936 it was closer to five years of age.8 Fraipont also ran into the same problems that Garrod did with the Gibraltar child. He found some infant-like features in the head, especially a very infantile bony ring around the ear opening, that reminded him of a human fetus. He described this ring very carefully. He also found taurodont baby molars, many other baby teeth, and a small upper jaw that didn’t seem to match a forehead that looked older than five years of age. The bony forehead showed the beginning of a brow ridge over each eye and a slight elevation above the bridge of the nose. When faced with this mature and older look in the forehead, and the youthfulness of the teeth and ear, he had a dilemma! He couldn’t figure out how old the child was. The forehead looked as old as 11–12 years, which would have made the teeth really late, because children of his day formed teeth like that in five years.8 This would mean the teeth were delayed. He said that a delay in tooth eruption would be unthinkable. So, he called the teeth normal, meaning very close to the 1936 schedule of appearance in the mouth. He therefore had to call the head accelerated (relative to modern children of six or seven years of age). This would be in line with his theories of ape affinity. However, it was too small in length to call it really accelerated. It actually was only 164 millimetres (Figure 5). So in his article, he said it was 188 millimetres.7 How did he arrive at this figure? I do not know. Most evolutionists hate miracles, except when it comes to their own fossils. The fourth Neanderthal child is Le Moustier, a French Neanderthal of supposedly 15 to 18 years of age which is in a German museum. Figure 6 is Le Moustier’s museum replica. The flat forehead and projecting jaws are meant to be convincing examples of our ape heritage. Figure 7 is a diagram of Le Moustier’s souvenir slide bought at the museum counter. Both jaws are approximately 30 millimetres forward of their true position. Figure 8 is a composite of my X-ray of the actual forehead and my X-ray of the top and back of the head, and Figure 9 is my composite drawing from these measurable X-rays. The large arrow in Figure 8 shows the concave socket where the lower jaw fits into the head. There is a tremendous difference between these X-rays with real measurements and real parts as compared to the ape-like reconstructions in Figures 6 and 7. To their credit, the German museum people are now trying to put the parts together again, accurately this time, and they have requested my X-rays for this purpose. (For those interested in greater detail and more illustrations please see Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal, Vol.8 (Part 2), 1994.) What are we to make of all this? These examples of fossil manipulations really show that the expression in Proverbs 23:7 is true, ‘For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he’. As a man thinks, so he acts. If your faith is based on the evolutionary scheme of life, all your actions will flow from that base and you will naturally support it with your whole being. So, too, were these palaeoanthropologists carrying out their evolutionary assumptions in their reconstruction and interpretation of the Neanderthal children’s fossils. Using such erroneous methods it’s possible to come up with alleged transitional fossils every time. The amazing thing about this is that these fossils are being used to ‘prove’ that Neo-Darwinian evolution is a ‘fact’. Again, let me emphasize that this is circular reasoning. And this may be only the tip of the iceberg. When very few people get to closely examine the real fossils, anything is possible. It would be refreshing to see the museums, especially the one in Nairobi, Kenya, where I’ve had an application rejected year after year, open their doors to scientists who might not look at these reconstructions from an evolutionary perspective. - F.C. Howell, ’The evolutionary significance of variation and varieties of Neanderthal Man’, Quar. Rev. Biol. Vol.32 No.4, 1957, pp. 330–347. - I. Tattersall, ‘Species Recognition in Human Paleontology’, J. of Human Evolution, Vol.15, 1986, pp. 165–175. - E. Patte, L’enfant du Pech de l’Aze, Neanderthal Centenary, Wenner-Gren Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands, 1958, pp. 270–276. - F. Ivanhoe, ‘Was Virchow right about Neanderthal?’, Nature, Vol.227, 1970, pp. 577–579. - J.W. Cuozzo, ‘Earlier Orthodontic Intervention: A View From Prehistory’, J. N.J. Dental Association, Autumn, 1987, pp. 33–40. - D. Garrod, et al., ‘Excavation of a Mousterian Rock-Shelter at Devil’s Tower, Gibraltar’, J. of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 58, 1928, pp. 33–91. - Charles Fraipont, ‘Les Hommes Fossiles D’Engis’, Archives De L’Institut De Paléontology Humaine, Memoire 16, Masson et Cie Editeurs, Paris, June 1936. - A.D. Black, G. V. Black’s Work on Operative Dentistry, Vol. I, Pathology of the Hard Tissues of the Teeth, Oral Diagnosis, 7th edition, Medico-Dental, Chicago, 1936. Figure 2 taken with permission of the Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France, August, 1979. Figures 3, 4, taken with permission of the British Museum, London, England, August, 1981. Figure 5 taken with permission of the University of Liège, Liège, Belgium, August, 1982. Figures 6, 8, taken with permission of the Museum für Vor-und Frühgeschichte, Berlin, Germany, August, 1991. Comments are automatically closed 14 days after publication.

http://creation.mobi/neanderthal-childrens-fossils

Religion

en

China has confirmed the first known human case of the H3N8 strain of avian flu, but health authorities say there is a low risk of widespread transmission among people. H3N8 is known to have been circulating since 2002 after first emerging in North American waterfowl. It is known to infect horses, dogs, and seals, but has not previously been detected in humans. China’s National Health Commission on Tuesday said a four-year-old boy living in central Henan province tested positive for the strain after being hospitalised earlier this month with a fever and other symptoms. The boy’s family raised chickens at home and lived in an area populated by wild ducks, the NHC said in a statement. The boy was infected directly by birds and the strain was not found to have “the ability to effectively infect humans”, the commission said. READ ALSO: US Vice President Kamala Harris Tests Positive For COVID-19 It added that tests of the boy’s close human contacts found “no abnormalities”. The NHC said the boy’s case was a “one-off cross-species transmission, and the risk of large-scale transmission is low”. It warned the public to nevertheless stay away from dead or sick birds and seek immediate treatment for fever or respiratory symptoms. Avian influenza occurs mainly in wild birds and poultry. Cases of transmission between humans are extremely rare. The H5N1 and H7N9 strains of bird flu, detected in 1997 and 2013, respectively, have been responsible for most cases of human illness from avian influenza, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. Human infections of zoonotic, or animal-borne, influenzas are “primarily acquired through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, but do not result in efficient transmission of these viruses between people”, according to the World Health Organisation. In 2012, H3N8 was blamed for the deaths of more than 160 seals off the northeastern coast of the United States after it caused deadly pneumonia in the animals.

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/04/27/china-detects-first-human-case-of-h3n8-bird-flu/

Health

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Ancient Africans had artists that were prolific writers on almost everything they could get their hands on including human bodies, slate, rock, caves, potteries, trees, mud and sand. Though the knowledge was confined to some classes and royal houses passed down along those lines, enough record and evidence remain that survived unstable nature of the rain forest until today. Many African scholars find it hypocritical that while some colleagues and Africanists have been forced to acknowledge Iwo Eleru 10,000 B.C, ancient iron, terracotta, 8000-year-old ancient boat of Dafuna and black Pharaohs of ancient Egypt, they still hold on to the misconception that the ancient black Africans were not “sophisticated” enough or even meet their criteria to put down their civilization in writing. It is one thing to be ignorant of what you cannot read, another to deny it completely. Is it logical that ancient Yoruba counted in thousands but could not read! While Africanists diffidently accept Meroe writing most cannot read or understand, there are many more writings on the staff of Oranmiyan, Idi, Ifa in Ile-Ife Western Nigeria and Nsipidi among the Efik of Eastern Nigeria. We see some of the most striking African writings on arms, bellies, backs and faces to relating back to the place of origin or to identify classes of the nobles and warriors. They are derided as less than hieroglyphs or expression of thought and process. Differences are made between pictures, signs and writings. If they stand alone as structures they pass as pictures but when crowded together, they can pass as writing. Anyone ignorant of Arab or Chinese writing may wonder if they are pictures when separated. The same is true of musical writing or other writings some are unaware of. A writer of these letters or languages may put them together easily while others may see them as pictures, individually. What many call tattoos on the bodies are scarification to others and if they convey thoughts and processes, they are writings many cultures used to communicate. Over the centuries, many of these different forms of writings have been simplified on materials that do not fade or are not easily destructible. The ease of writing numbers in Roman figures or Arabic figure is a case in point. Indeed, living language are still being shortened to make it easier and faster to write. It is interesting that archeologists and anthropologists interpret African artifacts into modern form of writing but missed the interpretation of its original writings, no matter how crude they find them to translate. It is much easier if these are found in signs and pictures than to interpret some musical or Greek alphabet they cannot understand when scribbled together. This is why it is surprising that in the year 2000, we are not devoting enough research to African writings. Senegalese-born Cheikh Anta Diop (1923 – 1986) is an exceptional scholar without whom many African cultures could have been lost forever. The blame must start with African scholars. Some spend their whole academic life studying other cultures and languages except theirs. While it is true that funds and research grants are harder to get for Africa’s study, we must remember scholars like Diop that used his foreign training to advance African cultures and languages. Professor Babatunde Fafunwa (23 September 1923 – 11 October 2010). A Nigerian advocated that school children should be educated in their native language first in order to facilitate their thought processes making it easier to learn other languages and subjects. Their thinking and logic become easier to adapt for invention and discoveries locally. This is how children that cannot speak a word of English or French become great scientists and Nobel prize winners. Most of the mineral or oil rich countries in Africa, export foreign currencies they do not print or mint. Whatever is paid to them in foreign currency for their crude diamond, gold, oil or uranium is exported back to those paying countries to acquire gadgets, cars and mansions they hardly live in but kept for their families and friends while foreign taxes are paid to maintain schools they ignore in their home countries. More foreign currencies legally leave Africa than come in. These are funds that could benefit research, discoveries, inventions and infrastructure at home. Funds that could be used to improve schools so that gifted children with God-given talents that lack the opportunities children of the rich have, could use to benefit their communities. African politicians would rather donate U.S dollars to foreign universities in return for award they could showcase. This is how we stifle our culture and deny future generation of their place in history. African children today can hardly speak their native languages. The rich, famous and politicians train their children outside Africa. Actually, many of the children at home speak English, French or Portuguese as their first language and communicate with their parents in those languages. It shows class and prestige in Africa. Those that do their best to make sure their kids speak their languages have a daunting task. Many of their children answer them in foreign languages. If we are losing a whole generation of African speakers and many of them are highly educated, who are going to interpret ancient Africa writings? Indeed, many Nigerian colleges do not teach history anymore despite the plea of informed Africans that the repercussion on our life, culture and language will be devastating. Aiyelala, Chi and Nemesis will catch up with us. Let us face it, some African countries have been lucky and blessed. It is not enough. What we do with what we have, no matter how small or great in that limited time will dictate the future of the next generation. As we squander their future endeavors, Aiyelala is watching. This is why we always say that until Africans clean up their act and help themselves, nobody will help us. Indeed, no African will be respected anywhere until Africans make their own progress at home. Oil, diamond, gold or uranium may be located in certain part of a country, within one or more ethnic groups, it will not matter much to the next generation of African children. The country, group or people that squander our resources will be held responsible for shaming African children around the world. After all creation of boundaries and countries were made for the benefit of colonial masters not for the benefit of the local African people. Yoruba of the Western Nigeria lead the world in civilized co-existence among people regardless of their religion by the old definition of civilization and they do have ancient writings. Some will continue to deny ancient Africa writings until more scholars like Diop rise up everywhere.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/729523/ancient-africans-were-writers.html#

Culture

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Scientists from Australia and Britain have discovered a new method which may help to target the HIV virus as it makes its way to infecting cells. Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, led by Associate professor Till Bocking, described on Tuesday how the HIV virus forms a protein shell called a capsid, to protect itself from the hosts defence mechanism as it infects the nucleus of a cell. Using a new microscope technique developed at UNSW, the team discovered that the HIV virus uses a molecule from the host cell to strengthen its capsid. “It’s like a switch, when you bind this molecule, you stabilise the capsid, and release the molecule to open it up,” Bocking said. The molecule, called inositol hexakisphosphate, is abundantly present in mammals and has been seen to make the HIV capsid much stronger, stabilising it for 10 to 20 hours. Because the infection process takes hours, it was crucial for scientists to find out how the virus was keeping stable within the cell. “The HIV capsid has been intensively studied,” leader of the British research team at Cambridge, Dr Leo James said. “But the question of how it can simultaneously be both stable and poised to ‘uncoat’ has been one of the great unanswered questions in HIV biology.” To assist in their study, the team engineered viruses with fluorescent tags to monitor the viral capsid using “We can now see the effect of different molecules on the capsid, and pinpoint precisely when it cracks open and begins to collapse,” Bocking said. In the team’s findings, they identify a new target for antiviral therapy against HIV and provide a method for testing and measuring new drugs designed to target the capsid. While there currently no HIV therapies targeted at the HIV capsid, it is hoped that new therapies could improve treatment with reduced toxic effects. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/scientists-find-method-to-help-target-hiv-virus-in-human-cells/

Health

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Why has Ebola epidemic overwhelmed Doctors-Without-Borders? There is a contradiction even with the best of intention that food and water must be sourced from donors. The United States Military deployed to Liberia with its capacity for humanitarian aid can learn from it. Local food production and water (ORS) must be freely available in health centers to encourage and attract people to stay before Ebola epidemic is contained. It is one of the reasons Nigeria succeeded. How can any government or organization quarantine suspected Ebola cases without adequate supply of food, clean water and shelter even schools converted to clinics and hospital in an epidemic? People that are supposed to be in quarantine are fleeing to look for food and water in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Those infected and hungry, with some energy left, not adequately provided for deserted in search of food and water elsewhere. No force can hold them back. African countries that could hardly feed their hungry before Ebola have the audacity to pack poor people like sardines in an area without basic food for sustenance and beds and we expect those coming to help not to get frustrated and leave as infections increased. Their skill is public health and specialty in infectious diseases. Some have experience since the Ebola outbreak in 1976 in East Africa. This time we are facing greater populations that defy normal control. Experience always shows that no matter how prepared the international organizations are, there are little inconveniences and surprises they were not prepared for even when they are trained to expect them. Medical teams do not usually bring local food and water. Temporarily, their military may need to supply humanitarian supplies just as if they are in the war zones. This is where the help of African countries, with Nigeria in the lead, comes in. It means enough food and clean water must be prioritized for those suspected of Ebola infection. It becomes a policy decision to feed those quarantined first so that they can remain where they are and not escape to infect others. The focus must be on prevention to reduce the amount of people that need treatment. Even vaccines are for prevention not a cure, population control is needed. Nigeria was lucky that the zero infection happened in Lagos State where the medical team and others in contact with Ebola virus were skillfully managed without experimental drugs but with old fashioned established treatment by volunteer local and international experts in virology and public health. Shelters available were upgraded or replaced with better ones with adequate supply of food for those that could eat and freely available oral rehydration salts (ORS). Yes, we may say if food becomes the attraction, those that are not suspected of Ebola infection would line up just to get food. Sure, the cost of feeding one hungry person must be weighed against the cost of one that was not fed infecting many others. Policy in this case may not be taught in medical schools but physicians can learn administrative and financial skills. In the case of epidemic one has to balance many factors, Africans are not short of the administrative skills. Nobody needs to lecture us on the importance of balanced diet to keep up our immune system strong, and help during the period we cannot eat very well while sick. During sickness especially when accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting as in cholera and Ebola, six teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in one liter of water can be a miracle saver. Oral rehydration therapy or salt are commonly sold in corner store pharmacies as they contain other ingredients like zinc. Nigeria's survivals praised the medical treatment they received, the kindness of attending staff and medical colleagues but also their own faith in whatever God they worship. Even when the body is diseased (weak) and the spirit is strong, the immune system is boosted from positive thinking. We may rely on our Incantations, Psalms from Bible or Koran. Each of them strengthens belief in Orisha, Ogun, Mohamed or Jesus, whichever works for individuals. United States has rightly decided to launch the fight against Ebola in Liberia before it gets near. There are different organizations from Africa and outside that are already making it to Liberia and Sierra Leone. No matter what their good intensions are, they must learn from Doctors-Without-Borders. No one can build public health or medical treatment on empty stomach and unclean water. Just as these are basic to life so are they basic to public health and treatment. We have a problem if Doctors-Without-Borders are overwhelmed in Africa. It boils down to the subtle difference to us between Public Health practitioners and medical practitioners. While public health treats a community; physicians, pharmacists and nurses treat individuals. Diseases that are beyond community health workers fall on the shoulders of physicians. In short public health is prevention. We cannot get enough physicians to cure overwhelming Ebola infections. Many of these organizations are aware that some of these logistics are not readily available in the countries they are going. But a few of them are surprised that basic necessities taken for granted, are needed where they want to provide medical services. The further they are to the cities, the greater their needs for essential commodities. One of the examples is the conversion of schools to clinics and hospitals, when it gets to the point where schools cannot remain open. Logistics are very critical. It is very important to make available a secure area for medical and social team to stay. In cases where they have to travel long distances, some of them bring ambulances and Sport Utility vehicles with them. Whatever the case, people cannot be dying in a country where vehicles needed by medical staff can be temporarily loaned from ministers with two or three cars. Those rich enough must also lend their cars or donate it for medical use. Ebonyi @ 28: The Dove's Prophecy On Nwifuru Is Upon Ebonyi S Loyalty To European Languages Should Not Influence Pan-afric All Nigerians Are Equal, But Some Nigerians Are More Equal T Police Fire Teargas At Protesters In Abuja #fearlessinoctober: Heavy Security As Protesters Storm Lagos Our 64 Years Of Confusion At 64th Independence, Nigerians Groan In Hunger, Economic Ha President Tinubu Confers National Honours On Akpabio, Justic President Tinubu Announces 30-day National Youth Conference Full Text Speech Of President Tinubu’s National Address On N All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. 2005-2024, © Copyright thenigerianvoice.com

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/157514/1/usa-encourage-local-food-water-to-stop-the-spread-.html

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By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor The history of Benin people, like the history of man, is the history of change. When we sift out fables about men like the first son of Osanobua and Oduduwa dropping from heaven and of the Benin or Ile-Ife being the centre and cradles of the world, what we have left are factual stories of ancient men who migrated from other places, settled down in the rain forests around the land known today as Benin, and established small pockets of settlements called villages. The man had led a wandering life in search of food until he was compelled by agriculture to settle down at one place. Those splinter settlements, after existing for a long time without any central ruler like a king, either voluntarily agreed to surrender their independence to one powerful warrior or group of warriors in exchange for protection, or were forced to do so. The result was the emergence of the Ogiso dynasty established around AD 500 beginning with King Ogiso Igodo which saw the reign of 31 Kings before the collapse of that dynasty after King Ogiso Owodo was banished and a period of interregnum followed. At this point, some sequence of events occurred which became, up to this day, subjects of controversy between Benin and the Yoruba people. The Benin people believe that Oduduwa, called Prince Ekaladerhan, was the only son of the exiled King Ogiso Owodo. They believe that Ekaladerhan (or Oduduwa) exiled himself from Benin even before his father, King Ogiso Owodo was banished from Benin. Ekaladerhan or Oduduwa went to and founded Ile-Ife where he became King. After King Ogiso Owodo was deposed and banished, the Benin people went in search of the only son of the King, Prince Ekaladerhan (Oduduwa) with the aim of persuading him to return to Benin to succeed his banished father. Instead, Ekaladerhan (Oduduwa) sent his son, Prince Oranmiyan, to Benin. But there was an administrator named Ogiamien, appointed by the people of Benin to administer Benin during that period of interregnum. Like what the late Gen. Sani Abacha did during Ernest Shonekan’s interim government, Ogiamien was nursing his own ambition – to create his own dynasty. He appointed his son to succeed him. Even though he was resisted by Benin people, Ogiamien and other warlords who contested the throne troubled Oranmiyan and made his stay uncomfortable so much that Oranmiyan decided to return to Ile-Ife, describing Benin as Ile-Ibinu (the land of vexation). The Benin account has it that Oranmiyan reigned as Benin King from AD 1,170, although his palace was at Usama, an outskirt of the city, due to the crisis. When he eventually left, he left behind his Benin queen, Erinmwinde who gave birth to a son, who later became Oba Eweka the First in the year AD 1,200. Historians regard the beginning of the reign of Oranmiyan as the beginning of the second dynasty of kings in Benin kingdom. One implication of the Benin line of history is that Oduduwa, whom the Yoruba claim as their father, did not fall down from heaven after all as they claim. Nobody has ever fallen down from heaven. Even Jesus who is believed to have come from heaven had to be born into the world by a woman. Yoruba people believe that Oduduwa who fell down from heaven had a son who went on a military campaign and founded the Benin Kingdom. But from the Benin perspective, we know that before the return of Oranmiyan to Benin, the Ogiso dynasty in Benin, which saw the reign of 31 kings, had already come to pass. Of these two conflicting historical accounts of the Benin and Yoruba Kingdoms, the Benin version appears to be more tenable. Between AD 1440 and 1606, was the era of warrior kings. This corresponded to the period of Oba Ewuare the Great and Oba Ehengbuda. Apart from the brief reigns of Oba Ezoti and Oba Olua, the rest of the kings that fell within this period were all warrior kings who led their military forces to battle. These fierce warrior kings went on military campaigns, conquering other peoples and expanding Benin’s territories and influences which resulted in empire-building. The Benin’s capacity to successfully overrun other people’s lands has been attributed to their trade with Europeans at Ughoton, the Benin port, which bequeathed them with guns and ammunition. The Benin Empire at its zenith was said to have extended to River Niger in the east and south, into Yoruba lands (Oyo) and what came to be known as Dahomey. A larger implication of this account, if it is true, is that the entire Yoruba land, not just Lagos as presently being argued, was founded by a Benin Prince. The basis for this assertion is that since the Yoruba people regard Ile-Ife as the beginning of Yorubaland from where it spread, if Prince Oranmiyan, whom the Yorubas regard as the 4th Ooni of Ife, was the son of exiled Benin Prince, Ekaladerhan (known as Oduduwa in Yoruba), then the entire Yorubaland, not just Lagos, was founded by a Benin Prince! “The Benin Monarchy, one of the world’s most ancient royal dynasties: An anthology of Benin history” (Edited by Oriiz U. Onuwaje; published October 20, 2018). Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/the-benin-prince-who-founded-ile-ife/

Culture

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An innovative business model combining solar power and cellphones is electrifying parts of rural Africa that are far from the grid. It’s called M-KOPA. The “M” stands for “mobile,” and “kopa” means “to borrow.” The company’s customers make an initial deposit, roughly $30, toward a solar panel, a few ceiling lights, and charging outlets for cellphones — a system that would cost about $200. Then they pay the balance owed in installments through a widely used mobile banking service, based on how much energy they use. The solar units are cheaper and cleaner than kerosene, the typical lighting source, and once they’re fully paid for after about a year the electricity is completely free. More than 200,000 homes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda use M-KOPA’s solar systems. Creative, bottom-up solutions like M-KOPA are emerging across Africa and the developing world. Scaling them, and quickly, is the challenge. Around 1.3 billion people worldwide still lack access to electricity, including two out of three sub-Saharan Africans. An enormous divide exists between the global rich and the global poor, from energy access and technology to wealth and infrastructure. But the divide is not immutable, and momentum for solutions to bridge it are emerging from all over the world. Later this month, the United Nations will aim to take another important step to close that gap by agreeing on Sustainable Development Goals, including goals on ending extreme poverty and ensuring adequate access to energy. It is important that the word “sustainable” has been given a prominent place in the agenda, because while many global trends are going in the right direction, one is certainly not: the climate. Without acting on climate change, we risk undermining the development gains that we have achieved so far and widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The economic growth we have seen to date will be unsustainable in the face of increasing climate disasters. Climate change hits the poorest people the hardest. The poor are more likely than the rich to live in places vulnerable to climate-related weather events and more frequently suffer from diseases that can be exacerbated by climate change. The World Health Organization predicted last year that in 2030 climate change will lead to 48,000 additional deaths due to diarrhea, 60,000 from malaria, and 95,000 from childhood undernutrition. The vast majority of these will take place in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It is clear that we cannot tackle poverty successfully without also tackling climate change. That’s why enterprises like M-KOPA are so important: They help to bridge the divide between the global rich and global poor in a low-carbon way. Small-scale solar is only a start. Africa attracted $8 billion of investment in renewables last year, and the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that its potential for wind and solar power amounts to more than 1.5 trillion gigawatt hours per year. There’s plenty of room for both bottom-up innovation and top-down support for green energy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/opinion/green-energy-for-the-poor.html?_r=1

Politics

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Nigeria is officially known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is located in the western part of Africa. One of the most interesting parts of the Nigerian history is the fact that the most populous country in Africa was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914. This article sheds more light on some of the most memorable events that had transpired in the Nigerian history before and after the country was formed. History and events shape the future of any great nation, so read and discover the memorable incidences that have occurred since the inception of the largest country in Africa. Notable Facts About Nigerian History 1. The Yoruba and the Kingdom of Nri Even though the Yoruba was the first major tribal group in the nation, the kingdom of Nri was the first established monarchy in the history of Nigeria. Nri was the originator of the Igbo culture which was a major influential group in the region after its establishment in 948 AD. At this time, the kingdom of Nri was unique because the rulers governed the people through the use of political, economic and religious authority and didn’t need to use force to control their subjects. The Nri was also a safe haven for people who had been ostracized from their communities and for people escaping from slavery. 2. Benin Empire The Benin Empire began in the 15th century when it was founded by the Edo people who resided in western Africa. Benin was an important empire in the history of Nigeria because it rose to international fame for its artworks which were exported to different parts of Europe and the rest of the world. The Empire of Benin was a trading one that was highly organized and efficient. Benin was the first Nigerian territory that rivalled any contemporary European power in terms of governance and function. This empire was intact when the British arrived in Benin during the 19th century. 3. The Establishment of Hausa Kingdom The Islamic Hausa Empire was established by a group of old city states that lay between the Niger River and Lake Chad. The Hausa people were influenced by the Islamic religion and it was also a powerful centre for trade and commerce. The Hausa had considerable influence over many people within the central Nigerian area. They even posed an economic and cultural challenge to other major empires of that time such as Mali. This empire fell apart in 1808 and when the British arrived in 1880 they helped the Hausa to reclaim the influence and position they lost in the past. 4. British Began to Conquer Nigeria One of the most notable events in the Nigerian history occurred in 1901 when the British formally made Nigeria a protectorate. The British had first entered into the area during the 1880’s in order to trade with Nigerians. Once the British took over Nigeria they began to dictate the affairs of the territory and enslaved parts of the population. They enforced the colonial rule and ran the country for almost 50 years. The British modernized the country at this point and introduced its society to western influence. 5. Christian Missionaries began Activity in Southern Nigeria Christian missionaries closely followed the British as they were coming to Nigeria to start off their missionary work. It made the most influence on the religious lives of Nigerians especially those in the southern parts of the nation making this moment a remarkable one in the Nigerian history. At this time, many Nigerians were introduced to the Christian religion which has continued to wax stronger since that time. Religious beliefs among Nigerians have sometimes gone to a matter of life and death resulting in conflicts especially between the Muslims in the North and the Christians in the South. 6. Lord Lugard’s Ruthless Government in Nigeria Fredrick Lugard was an ex-British soldier who was given the responsibility of running Nigeria in 1912. When Lord Lugard was in charge of the country, he spent half of his time running Nigeria from England. Lugard didn’t like the Nigerians. During his reign, he permitted slavery in some parts of the colony and used the military to keep control. He is remembered as one of the worst colonial rulers in Nigerian history and this motivated some Nigerian people to begin the process of having their freedom from the British Empire. 7. Nigeria’s Decolonization and Independence Shortly after World War II was over, many nations within Africa began to want their independence from European powers that colonized most of the continent. The British Empire was the primary colonizer of Africa and nationalism began to grow all throughout the continent. Many Nigerians were fed up with the British and had been indirectly seeking to be free from them for years. Eventually, Nigerian nationals were able to have their independence in 1960 aided by the fact that Britain was a beaten and devastated nation that could no longer hold onto their overseas territories. 8. Nigeria’s First Republic In the year 1963, all of the British power had pulled out of the country and the nation was finally free to govern its own affairs. Even though the British no longer remained in power they still had considerable influence on the society and culture of Nigeria. English still remains a part of this country and many British people still conduct business and live in the nation. 9. The First National Elections Shortly after Nigeria gained its independence, the country held its first national elections which were done to establish the country’s first independent government. The elections took place in the month of December 1964. 10. Transition of Power The year 2007 was a notable one in Nigerian history as the year marks the first time that ruling government parties had a peaceful transition of power since Nigeria became a peaceful state. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua took control of the government from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who ruled the nation for 8 years.

http://answersafrica.com/nigerian-history.html

Politics

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Washington – Among people at high risk of diabetes are people who get very little exercise, according to U.S study. The study also showed that those who manage to walk more throughout the day are less likely to actually develop the blood sugar disorder. Earlier studies have shown that walking more is tied to a lower risk of diabetes, but few studies have looked into precise measures of how many steps people take each day, said Amanda Fretts, lead author of the study and a researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Our finding wasn’t surprising given that other studies have shown that even light activity is associated with a lower risk of diabetes,”Fretts wrote in an email to Reuters Health. To get a better sense of the potential benefits of walking, Fretts and her colleagues asked more than 1,800 people to wear a pedometer for a week to tally the number of steps they typically took each day. All of them came from native American communities in Arizona, Oklahoma and North and South Dakota that are known to have low physical activity levels and high rates of diabetes. About a quarter of the group were considered to have very low activity, taking fewer than 3,500 steps a day, while half took fewer than 7,800 steps a day. One mile is around 2,000 steps and daily walking recommendations typically point to a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. At the beginning of the study, none of the participants had diabetes. But after five years of follow-up, 243 people had the condition. About 17 per cent of the people in the lowest activity group developed diabetes, compared to 12 per cent of the people who took more than 3,500 steps a day. After taking into account people’s age, whether they smoked and other diabetes risk factors, Fretts’s team determined that people who walked the most were 29 per cent less likely to develop diabetes than those who walked the least. The findings don’t prove that walking more is responsible for the lower diabetes risk, but Fretts offered some possible explanations for how walking might help. “Increased physical activity may prevent weight gain and promote weight loss, a major determinant of diabetes risk,”she said. Physical activity also has effects on inflammation, glucose and other molecules in the body that could help lower diabetes risk. But she added that the potential benefits of moderate levels of walking are “only for those who are really inactive to begin with.” (Reuters/NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/people-who-walk-a-lot-have-lower-diabetes-risk-study/

Health

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There are literally thousands of diseases that affect humans, and most of us pick up some kind of ailment once or twice a year. Childhood diseases like measles, mumps and chicken pox are common, as is the odd cold or bout of flu. These conditions are generally accepted as part of life as they are seldom deadly. However, other diseases like cancer, heart disease, TB and malaria are a different story and cause millions of deaths all over the world. 8 leading causes of death According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the eight leading causes of death globally in 2008 were: 1. Ischaemic heart disease 2. Cerebrovascular disease 3. Lower respiratory infections 4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5. Diarrhoeal diseases 7. Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers The above diseases and conditions are potentially deadly, but with the possible exception of lower respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases, take their time. Fast and furious There are however diseases with a very rapid progression from the appearance of symptoms to death, and some have the potential to kill you within 24 hours. Here are seven examples. Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection and is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia), and according to First Aid for Life can kill within four hours. 2. Flesh eating bug Also known as necrotising fasciitis, this bacterial skin infection quickly spreads through the body’s soft tissue. It is fatal in 30 to 40% of cases. Amputation of affected body parts is often necessary to stop the infection from spreading. A stroke is when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, resulting in oxygen deprivation to brain tissue. It usually happens because of a burst blood vessel or blockage by a clot. Depending on the severity of the stroke, recovery is possible, but a massive stroke can kill you within two hours. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. It is caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and causes an estimate 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide every year. 5. Pneumonic plague All forms of the plague are caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and are transmitted from rats to humans by fleas. Pneumonic plague can kill quickly, within 18–24 hours of infection, if left untreated, but common antibiotics can cure it if they are given early on. Symptoms of pneumonic plague include respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing‚ often with blood-tainted sputum. Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a disease that causes bleeding from internal organs and body orifices in most cases. Ebola outbreaks have occurred in a number of African countries. Reported fatality rates for Ebola range from 50-90%. Victims can die within hours of their symptoms appearing. 7. Dengue haemorrhagic fever Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, which causes a relatively harmless flu-like illness. It can however develop into a potentially lethal form. This haemorrhagic version can destroy blood platelets, and without platelets to coagulate the blood, internal bleeding causes the body to go into shock, leading to death within hours. Image credit: iStock

https://m.health24.com/Medical/infectious-diseases/News/7-diseases-that-can-kill-you-within-24-hours-20171113

Health

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Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. The world’s land and water resources are being exploited at “unprecedented rates,” a new United Nations report warns, which combined with climate change is putting dire pressure on the ability of humanity to feed itself. The report, prepared by more than 100 experts from 52 countries and released in summary form in Geneva on Thursday, found that the window to address the threat is closing rapidly. A half-billion people already live in places turning into desert, and soil is being lost between 10 and 100 times faster than it is forming, according to the report. Climate change will make those threats even worse, as floods, drought, storms and other types of extreme weather threaten to disrupt, and over time shrink, the global food supply. Already, more than 10 percent of the world’s population remains undernourished, and some authors of the report warned in interviews that food shortages could lead to an increase in cross-border migration. A particular danger is that food crises could develop on several continents at once, said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a senior research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and one of the lead authors of the report. “The potential risk of multi-breadbasket failure is increasing,” she said. “All of these things are happening at the same time.” The report also offered a measure of hope, laying out pathways to addressing the looming food crisis, though they would require a major re-evaluation of land use and agriculture worldwide as well as consumer behavior. Proposals include increasing the productivity of land, wasting less food and persuading more people to shift their diets away from cattle and other types of meat. “One of the important findings of our work is that there are a lot of actions that we can take now. They’re available to us,” Dr. McElwee said. “What some of these solutions do require is attention, financial support, enabling environments.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/climate/climate-change-food-supply.html?mc=aud_dev&ad-keywords=auddevgate&subid1=TAFI&ad_name=INTER_20_XXXX_XXX_1P_CD_XX_XX_SITEVISITXREM_X_XXXX_COUSA_P_X_X_EN_FBIG_OA_XXXX_00_EN_JP_NFLINKS&adset_name=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2019%2F08%2F08%2Fclimate%2Fclimate-change-food-supply.html&campaign_id=23843696952980063&fbclid=IwAR0sJW5ngwN_ri8bJZIEJS__Q25R4O0eZ0RXpnV2vGE3uafvAim8xX9bvTU

Politics

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“Ere many generations pass, our machinery will be driven by a power obtainable at any point of the universe. This idea is not novel. Men have been led to it long ago by instinct or reason; it has been expressed in many ways, and in many places, in the history of old and new. We find it in the delightful myth of Antheus, who derives power from the earth; we find it among the subtle speculations of one of your splendid mathematicians and in many hints and statements of thinkers of the present time. Throughout space there is energy. Is this energy static or kinetic? If static our hopes are in vain; if kinetic — and this we know it is, for certain — then it is a mere question of time when men will succeed in attaching their machinery to the very wheelwork of nature. ” — Nikola Tesla, 1892 Nikola Tesla is finally beginning to attract real attention and encourage serious debate nearly 70 years after his death. Was he for real? A crackpot? Part of an early experiment in corporate-government control? We know that he was undoubtedly persecuted by the energy power brokers of his day — namely Thomas Edison, whom we are taught in school to revere as a genius. He was also attacked by J.P. Morgan and other “captains of industry.” Upon Tesla’s death on January 7th, 1943, the U.S. government moved into his lab and apartment confiscating all of his scientific research, and to this day none of this research has been made public. Besides his persecution by corporate-government interests (which is practically a certification of authenticity), there is at least one solid indication of Nikola Tesla’s integrity — he tore up a contract with Westinghouse that was worth billions in order to save the company from paying him his huge royalty payments. But, let’s take a look at what Nikola Tesla — a man who died broke and alone — has actually given to the world. For better or worse, with credit or without, he changed the face of the planet in ways that perhaps no man ever has. 1. Alternating Current — This is where it all began, and what ultimately caused such a stir at the 1893 World’s Expo in Chicago. A war was leveled ever-after between the vision of Edison and the vision of Tesla for how electricity would be produced and distributed. The division can be summarized as one of cost and safety: The DC current that Edison (backed by General Electric) had been working on was costly over long distances, and produced dangerous sparking from the required converter (called a commutator). Regardless, Edison and his backers utilized the general “dangers” of electric current to instill fear in Tesla’s alternative: Alternating Current. As proof, Edison sometimes electrocuted animals at demonstrations. Consequently, Edison gave the world the electric chair, while simultaneously maligning Tesla’s attempt to offer safety at a lower cost. Tesla responded by demonstrating that AC was perfectly safe by famously shooting current through his own body to produce light. This Edison-Tesla (GE-Westinghouse) feud in 1893 was the culmination of over a decade of shady business deals, stolen ideas, and patent suppression that Edison and his moneyed interests wielded over Tesla’s inventions. Yet, despite it all, it is Tesla’s system that provides power generation and distribution to North America in our modern era. 2. Light — Of course he didn’t invent light itself, but he did invent how light can be harnessed and distributed. Tesla developed and used flourescent bulbs in his lab some 40 years before industry “invented” them. At the World’s Fair, Tesla took glass tubes and bent them into famous scientists’ names, in effect creating the first neon signs. However, it is his Tesla Coil that might be the most impressive, and controversial. The Tesla Coil is certainly something that big industry would have liked to suppress: the concept that the Earth itself is a magnet that can generate electricity (electromagnetism) utilizing frequencies as a transmitter. All that is needed on the other end is the receiver — much like a radio. 3. X-rays — Electromagnetic and ionizing radiation was heavily researched in the late 1800s, but Tesla researched the entire gamut. Everything from a precursor to Kirlian photography, which has the ability to document life force, to what we now use in medical diagnostics, this was a transformative invention of which Tesla played a central role. X-rays, like so many of Tesla’s contributions, stemmed from his belief that everything we need to understand the universe is virtually around us at all times, but we need to use our minds to develop real-world devices to augment our innate perception of existence. 4. Radio — Guglielmo Marconi was initially credited, and most believe him to be the inventor of radio to this day. However, the Supreme Court overturned Marconi’s patent in 1943, when it was proven that Tesla invented the radio years previous to Marconi. Radio signals are just another frequency that needs a transmitter and receiver, which Tesla also demonstrated in 1893 during a presentation before The National Electric Light Association. In 1897 Tesla applied for two patents US 645576, and US 649621. In 1904, however, The U.S. Patent Office reversed its decision, awarding Marconi a patent for the invention of radio, possibly influenced by Marconi’s financial backers in the States, who included Thomas Edison and Andrew Carnegie. This also allowed the U.S. government (among others) to avoid having to pay the royalties that were being claimed by Tesla. 5. Remote Control — This invention was a natural outcropping of radio. Patent No.613809 was the first remote-controlled model boat, demonstrated in 1898. Utilizing several large batteries; radio signals controlled switches, which then energized the boat’s propeller, rudder, and scaled-down running lights. While this exact technology was not widely used for some time, we now can see the power that was appropriated by the military in its pursuit of remote-controlled war. Radio controlled tanks were introduced by the Germans in WWII, and developments in this realm have since slid quickly away from the direction of human freedom. 6. Electric Motor — Tesla’s invention of the electric motor has finally been popularized by a carbrandishing his name. While the technical specifications are beyond the scope of this summary, suffice to say that Tesla’s invention of a motor with rotating magnetic fields could have freed mankind much sooner from the stranglehold of Big Oil. However, his invention in 1930 succumbed to the economic crisis and the world war that followed. Nevertheless, this invention has fundamentally changed the landscape of what we now take for granted: industrial fans, household appliances, water pumps, machine tools, power tools, disk drives, electric wristwatches and compressors. 7. Robotics — Tesla’s overly enhanced scientific mind led him to the idea that all living beings are merely driven by external impulses. He stated: “I have by every thought and act of mine, demonstrated, and does so daily, to my absolute satisfaction that I am an automaton endowed with power of movement, which merely responds to external stimuli.” Thus, the concept of the robot was born. However, an element of the human remained present, as Tesla asserted that these human replicas should have limitations — namely growth and propagation. Nevertheless, Tesla unabashedly embraced all of what intelligence could produce. His visions for a future filled with intelligent cars, robotic human companions, and the use of sensors, and autonomous systems are detailed in a must-read entry in the Serbian Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2006 (PDF). 8. Laser — Tesla’s invention of the laser may be one of the best examples of the good and evil bound up together within the mind of man. Lasers have transformed surgical applications in an undeniably beneficial way, and they have given rise to much of our current digital media. However, with this leap in innovation we have also crossed into the land of science fiction. From Reagan’s “Star Wars” laser defense system to today’s Orwellian “non-lethal” weapons’ arsenal, which includes laser rifles and directed energy “death rays,” there is great potential for development in both directions. 9 and 10. Wireless Communications and Limitless Free Energy — These two are inextricably linked, as they were the last straw for the power elite — what good is energy if it can’t be metered and controlled? Free? Never. J.P. Morgan backed Tesla with $150,000 to build a tower that would use the natural frequencies of our universe to transmit data, including a wide range of information communicated through images, voice messages, and text. This represented the world’s first wireless communications, but it also meant that aside from the cost of the tower itself, the universe was filled with free energy that could be utilized to form a world wide web connecting all people in all places, as well as allow people to harness the free energy around them. Essentially, the 0’s and 1’s of the universe are embedded in the fabric of existence for each of us to access as needed. Nikola Tesla was dedicated to empowering the individual to receive and transmit this data virtually free of charge. But we know the ending to that story . . . until now? The release of Nikola Tesla’s technical and scientific research — specifically his research into harnessing electricity from the ionosphere at a facility called Wardenclyffe — is a necessary step toward true freedom of information. The petition has a goal of 25,000 signatures and needs your support, but whether or not it is reached please continue to add your voice by sharing this information with as many people as possible. A Facebook event page for the official call on January 7th, the anniversary of Tesla’s death, can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=311216412237332 For additional information about the demand for release, please visit: http://releaseteslasresearch.weebly.com/ As they state: Tell your friends, bring it up and discuss it at your next general assembly, do whatever you can to get the word out, organize locally to make a stand for the release of Nikola Tesla’s research…. America is tired of corrupt corporate greed, supported by The American government, holding us back in a stagnant society in the name of profit . . . The Energy Crisis is a lie. As an aside: there are some who have pointed out that Tesla’s experimentation with the ionosphere very well could have caused the massive explosion over Tunguska, Siberia in 1908, which leveled an estimated 60 million trees over 2,150 square kilometers, and may even have led to the much maligned HAARP technology. I submit that we would do well to remember that technology is never the true enemy; it is the misuse of technology that can enslave rather than free mankind from its animal-level survivalism. Please view the video below, which does an excellent job at personalizing this largely forgotten human being, as well as show the reasons why to this day he is not a household name. And here is a video that offers an essential alternative view of ancient Egypt and other cultures that employed pyramidal structures, which suggests the staggering outer limits of what Tesla was attempting to harness and offer to humanity: by Nicholas West More on “Zero Point Energy” – free 350 pages e-book. Experiments with alternate currents of high potential and high frequency by Nikola Tesla, delivered before the Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, February 1892. I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news. […] Source : https://watchers.news/2012/01/07/the-10-inventions-of-nikola-tesla-that-changed-the-world… Share this:TumblrFacebookRedditStumbleUponTwitterPinterestEmailLinkedInDiggLike this:LikeOne […] […] Email […] This is absolutely amazeing. To think that the greed of man kind held this back and continues to do so by people whom we have placed in a position of trust and yet have betrayed us…God have mercy! If Tesla knew that space is not really a vacuum, a so called void, back in the 19th century and invented the laser, which was deemed impossible by leading theoreticians of quantum physics at the time of its “reinvention” in the maser, then Tesla, Newton, and Einstein are the three most original and breathtaking truth seekers that we have the privilege of knowing about today. Why these 3 mens ways of thinking and viewing the world are not promulgated far and wide as an ideal way of scientifically “thinking” and “perceiving” the universe at large is an absolute travesty. Instead those that follow the crowd, or adore the crowd following them, are held up as the flag bearers of society. Based on that is it really any wonder why their genius is tossed away by most once the supposed morsels of knowledge fall out, the ones that can be used by those greedy for profits or power, that is. Anyway, each of them will one day be further proven to be right, to one degree or another, and when that day does come maybe, hopefully, it will be because sanity, real originality and logic, all pointed at the ends of truth, are given a central spot in society instead of the current guests of group-think, obfuscation and emotional reactivity, causing them to be even more celebrated then they already are. Not so much for what they did but because of what their doing necessarily represents in both their characters and, the flip side, their views of both humanity and the amazing and fascinating universe we live in.

https://watchers.news/2021/09/23/m2-8-solar-flare-september-23-2021/https://www.spaceweather.com/The

Politics

en

The purpose and message of the Bible (Greek biblia) is to reveal who God is, his will for mankind, and to document the prophecies about, the arrival of, and ministry of Jesus. Overall, the Bible is a history book, divided into Old and New Testaments, that conveys the account of God’s work from the beginning of creation in Genesis to the end of the world in Revelation. Though it is comprised of 66 books, it has a unified message throughout. Jesus said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me.” So, we can say that the focus of the Bible is about Jesus since he said that the entire Scriptures bear witness of who he is. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that he is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9). Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross (1 Timothy 2:24). He died and rose from the dead (1Corinthians 15:1-4). Therefore, it can be said that the history of the Bible is the background that supports and testifies to who Jesus is and what he did. A very brief outline of the Bible The Bible documents the origins of mankind as described in the first book: Genesis. In it, God recounts the creation of the world and how he placed Adam and Eve into the Garden of Eden. He gave them the Dominion Mandate, to multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). After The Fall, and their expulsion from the Garden, God promised a Messiah who eventually would undo the damage caused by Adam’s rebellion (Romans 5:12). He would bring redemption to the word (John 3:16). The Old Testament is the account of God working through the chosen nation, Israel, through whom the Messiah would be born. The New Testament is the account of God, in Christ, who brought redemption through his sacrifice on the cross. Therefore, Jesus is the culmination of history and the promise of God to work through Israel and bring light to a fallen world and He is, ultimately, the purpose and message of the Bible’s record. Following are some of the major themes that help demonstrate the purpose of the Bible - God created the heavens and the earth and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. - When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, sin, suffering, and death entered the world. - God chose a people, the Jews, through whom the Messiah would come and deliver people from sin and death. - God sent Jesus, the son, to bear our sins on the cross, die, and rise from the dead. - Deliverance from God’s righteous judgment is through faith alone in Christ alone - There will be a new heavens and new earth

http://ow.ly/z6z750JXLNj

Religion

en

It turns out that older men chasing younger women contributes to human longevity and the survival of the species, according to new findings by researchers at Stanford and the University of California-Santa Barbara. Evolutionary theory says that individuals should die of old age when their reproductive lives are complete, generally by age 55 in humans, according to demographer Cedric Puleston, a doctoral candidate in biological sciences at Stanford. But the fatherhood of a small number of older men is enough to postpone the date with death because natural selection fights life-shortening mutations until the species is finished reproducing. “Rod Stewart and David Letterman having babies in their 50s and 60s provide no benefit for their personal survival, but the pattern [of reproducing at a later age] has an effect on the population as a whole,” Puleston said. “It’s advantageous to the species if these people stick around. By increasing the survival of men you have a spillover effect on women because men pass their genes to children of both sexes.” “Why Men Matter: Mating Patterns Drive Evolution of Human Lifespan,” was published Aug. 29 in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE. Shripad Tuljapurkar, the Morrison Professor of Population Studies at Stanford; Puleston; and Michael Gurven, an assistant professor of anthropology at UCSB, co-authored the study in an effort to understand why humans don’t die when female reproduction ends. Human ability to scale the so-called “wall of death”—surviving beyond the reproductive years—has been a center of scientific controversy for more than 50 years, Puleston said. “The central question is: Why should a species that stops reproducing by some age stick around afterward?” he said. “Evolutionary theory predicts that, over time, harmful mutations that decrease survival will arise in the population and will remain invisible to natural selection after reproduction ends.” However, in hunter-gatherer societies, which likely represent early human demographic conditions and mating patterns, one-third of people live beyond 55 years, past the reproductive lifespan for women. Furthermore, life expectancy in today’s industrialized countries is 75 to 85 years, with mortality increasing gradually, not abruptly, following female menopause. In 1966, William Hamilton, a British evolutionary biologist, worked out the mathematics describing the “wall of death.” Since then, the most popular explanation for why humans don’t die by age 55 has been termed the “grandmother hypothesis,” which suggests that women enhance the survival of their children and grandchildren by living long enough to care for them and “increasing the success of their genes,” Puleston said. However, Hamilton’s work has been difficult to express as a mathematical and genetic argument explaining why people live into old age. Unlike previous research on human reproduction, this study—for the first time—includes data on males, a tweak that allowed the researchers to begin answering the “wall of death” question by matching it to human mortality patterns. According to Puleston, earlier studies looked only at women, because scientists can reproduce good datasets for humans entirely based on information related to female fertility and survival rates. “Men’s fertility is contingent on women’s fertility—you have to figure out how they match up. We care about reproduction because that is a currency by which force of selection is counted. If we have not accounted for the entire pattern of reproduction, we may be missing something that’s important to evolution.” Men and longevity In the paper, the researchers analyzed “a general two-sex model to show that selection favors survival for as long as men reproduce.” The scientists presented a “range of data showing that males much older than 50 years have substantial realized fertility through matings with younger females, a pattern that was likely typical among early humans.” As a result, Puleston said, older male fertility helps to select against damaging cell mutations in humans who have passed the age of female menopause, consequently eliminating the “wall of death.” “Our analysis shows that old-age male fertility allows evolution to breach Hamilton’s wall of death and predicts a gradual rise in mortality after the age of female menopause without relying on ‘grandmother’ effects or economic optimality,” the researchers say in the paper. The scientists compiled longevity and fertility data from two hunter-gatherer groups, the Dobe !Kung of the Kalahari and the Ache of Paraguay, one of the most isolated populations in the world. They also looked at the forager-farmer Yanomamo of Brazil and Venezuela, and the Tsimane, an indigenous group in Bolivia. “They’re living a lifestyle that our ancestors lived and their fertility patterns are probably most consistent with our ancestors,” Puleston said about the four groups. The study also looked at several farming villages in Gambia and, for comparison, a group of modern Canadians. In the less developed, traditional societies, males were as much as 5-to-15 years older than their female partners. In the United States and Europe, the age spread was about two years. “It’s a universal pattern that in typical marriages men are older than women,” Puleston said. “The age gaps vary by culture, but in every group we looked at men start [being reproductive] later. At the end of reproduction, male fertility rates taper off gradually, as opposed to the fairly sharp decline in female fertility by menopause.” Despite small differences based on marriage traditions, all women and most men in the six groups stopped having children by their 50s, the researchers found. But some men, particularly high-status males, continued to reproduce into their 70s. The paper noted that the age gap is most pronounced in societies that favor polygyny, where a man takes several wives, and in gerontocracies, where older men monopolize access to reproductive women. The authors also cite genetic and anthropological evidence that early humans were probably polygynous as well. Older male fertility also exists in societies supporting serial monogamy, because men are more likely to remarry than women. “For these reasons, we argue that realized male fertility was substantial at ages well past female menopause for much of human history and the result is reflected in the mortality patterns of modern populations,” the authors say. “We conclude that deleterious mutations acting after the age of female menopause are selected against … solely as a result of the matings between older males and younger females.” According to Puleston, the “grandmother hypothesis” may be true, but the real pattern of male fertility extends beyond this explanation. “The key question is: Does the population have a greater growth rate if men are reproducing at a later age? The answer is ‘yes.’ The age of last reproduction gets pushed into the 60s and 70s if you add men to the analysis. Hamilton’s approach was right, but in a species where males and females have different reproductive patterns, you need a two-sex model. You can’t correctly estimate the force of selection if you leave men out of the picture. As a man myself, it’s gratifying to know that men do matter.” Grants from the U.S. National Institute on Aging supported this study. Old men over 55, PLEASE leave women under 40 alone. In some cases you must have money and something special to attract a younger woman. Most stable and financially independent young women are not interested in old men. There is nothing wrong with older women. You old men are NO PRIZE. Get over yourselves and keep it moving. Good Day! You date them then young and fun Young and fun , I date who I want, and do what I want But best of all it really is none of your business any way There are actually quite a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice point to convey up. I offer the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up where a very powerful factor might be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around issues like that, but I am positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls feel the impression of just a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives. Great writing style in this. Easy to understand. I’ am 59 and I have a thing for a 20 year old woman at work, she’s an all around nice person to everyone as well as me but I like how she respects me and how she is so polite with me. Not to mention she’s naturally beautiful. But it seems like she’s still seeing here on again off again ex boyfriend who’s her age but doesn’t really seem to be established either. I still think they might live together at his grandpa’s house. She likes me but says she’s not interested romantically because were co-workers. But I’m still trying to figure out why she’s still with this you punk who really isn’t going anywhere in life from what I see. She on the other hand is going to be or she is manager in training. Do I still might have a chance with her? Or shall I get over her and move on, but how? My feelings are pretty deep for her. I actually think there’s a little more on her part as well themn just liking me as a fellow co-worker. What do you all think? Many women nowadays like older men that have a lot of money even if they’re ugly or not since most women are very money hungry today no matter what the man looks like, especially if the man treats them like a queen. Then again which Golddiggers are everywhere these days unfortunately. It’s the survival of the fittest. Defense against inevitability is useless for this part. I’m a 55 year old male haven’t felt in love with my wife in awhile of 17 years. Now I found a young lady that is almost half my age and we are in love and he wands kids with me. I have no kids with my current wife. The current wife doesn’t want me to leave her but I’m thinking if I don’t leave I may regret not having to have mixed in with someone I feel real feelings for. It scares me to start anew life and to have kids at my age but I on the other hand feel excited hmmm I have a 32 yr old wife , I am 48 , we have a child on the way and I am loving every min of it I’ve got a 60+ bitch at home that’s all saggy and floppy, sort of the beached whale look. I’m saggy also but I still appreciate a young lady who is built and beautiful. I also tell her that she is beautiful. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates. That’s not absolutely true. Spem count is less conceivable than ovulation for many young men. A lot of young women find it harder to conceive these days too. I’m male, my girlfriend is 30 years older than me, and we have great love life. I have no children exept hers. She had one after the other until there was over eight of them. Her lesson changed my life, not natural selection. Only children are subject to “primitivism” , as I call this subject. You wont see me start another family of my own sometime in the near future. Look what they do to their parents when they get old. I hope you can see how our roles get reversed occasionally? The only thing that’s leading our growth is the learning of love and care for the family. That doesn’t mean men should go around rush breeding before they die. The bigger picture is, where most women have respect for our bodies, most men degrade them. Sperm is a rush until we reach 41. A strong man is able to hold back from sexual desire. Weak men show off until they are bad examples of fatherhood and natural selection. Strong men always come out on top in the end. The older the better the alpha male. How to tell a gay when a girl is 100% not interested? Listen men, women are giving signals that they don’t want any thing to do with either because you are too old, ugly, too short, poor, rich, bold, too tall. There is a reason why woman is not interested in you and she is giving signals that she doesn’t want to you, so follwing her around, using triks every thing to get to her is not helping. So you better leave her alone. She knows what she want. She doesn’t want to spend any time on you, so you better not to waste your time specially if you are older than 40 or 50, you don’t have a time to spend your time on someone doesn’t want to you. Why would an attractive, sexy, beautiful, smart, intellegent, emotional stable girl will want to be with you. What makes you to be better than the other men who wants her make you differnt. you should know you don’t have any chance. The attractive girl doesn’t want you because you are rich even if you are rich. the attractive girl doesn’t want to you if you are poor either. which is there is more to it than what you have what you don’t have, so you should know when she say, she has a h usband, boyfriend, doesn’t call you back ot text you back or stop emailing you back also ignoring you any time you try to talk to her because you are going after where she goes. Those reasons what she is doing must be enough to make you understand that she is not interested in you but you must to be dump that you don’t understand what she is trying to tell you but she doesn’t want to be rude. So just give up there no any reason for her that will make her to have any feeling for you. There is many reasong she doesn’t like about you but she can’t say it to your face so get over it . going every where where she goes and pretending is not making you any favor. you should know she doesn’t want you because she is not the one following you around. She is not the one calling or texting you. That makes you just damp ass who do not understand about people. Sorry, but that is the true, so live your life and don’t hope for that peoutiful attractive gire to be your girefriend or a wife because she she will not. She knows what she want she doesn’t need any dumb ass people following her around specially when she is not even interested. I am sure there are other girls every where they want a man like you. You can check to where she works or school, you will find there. They are very nice girls there they will be happy to be with you and your money. Just spend time on these ladies, they will be happy to be with you., don’t spend your time and your energy on some one who not interested in you…………………… There is a reason why she is not answering or texting even not even using her phone and having a private phone number and she only used. by now you should understand. There is no way that attractive women will sleep with you specially if she was with someone attractive handsome man than you. some times you should figure out the girls previous relashionship she had. SORRY AND have FUN with time you have left and enjoy your life don’t wast it. I am SURE you will find one that will much with you. I am sure after you read this you will understand what to do next so you don’t have to follow some one is not interested in you. In case Is I don’t comeback to this post, I have to say: Sound like you are very lonely to busy worrying about things that aren’t your business to start with as long as young hotties want me they can catch me, I will let them. I want what I want, and i guess it must be what they want as well

http://scienceblog.com/14203/old-men-chasing-

Romance

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By Ebele Orakpo Most students run away from science and technology classes because they find it difficult to use some of the complex devices during practicals. To help this set of students, three students of St Luke’s College Jos, Plateau State, Ishaku Yohanna, Shutt Noro and Olawuyi Toyin have come up with a transistor tester which they say is very easy to use and does not require a lot of technical know-how. They spoke with Vanguard Learning in Lagos. Excerpts: “A transistor tester is an instrument used for testing the electrical behaviour of transistors and solid-state diodes. This device which is powered by 12-volts battery, gives the precise and accurate reading of an electronic component,” said the students. Components: “The components are diodes, resistor and transformer. The resistor limits the flow of current in the circuit. Most students find it very difficult to use digital multi-metre to test the resistor, most especially the transistor because the transistor has three terminals – emitter, collector and base,” said Shutt Noro. Explaining how the transistor tester was made, Olawuyi Toyin said; “We first smoothened the surface of the plywood with glass-paper (sandpaper) so that when you are drawing your schematic diagram, you will find it very easy. After drawing your schematic diagram, you shade the points where you are going to drive in your nails. You use these nails because they are conductors, so passing your wires will be easy. When you are driving the nails in, you must ensure that they do not touch each other.” On why they embarked on the project, Ishaku Yohanna said that most students find it very difficult to determine whether a transistor is PNP or NPN “but with this transistor tester, there is no need for you to start exchanging terminals, you just pick your transistor and place it on one of the terminals and when you do that, it will indicate the green light if it is PNP but if it is NPN, it will indicate the red light. The diode shows you the direction of the flow of current because diode moves in only one direction and it rectifies signals.” “With this, we believe that students who have lost much interest in technology, will do more than we have done because this is just a stepping stone. Most students run away from technology because they find it difficult to use complex devices but with this, it becomes easier for them and they will have more interest in technology. We believe we have written some students’ happiness and have erased their sorrows. If we cannot be the pencil to write people’s happiness, we should at least be the eraser to erase their sorrows,” said Noro. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/students-produce-transistor-tester

Education

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new advice on which antibiotics to use for common infections and which to preserve for the most serious circumstances. The advice is among the additions to the WHO Model list of essential medicines for 2017, which includes medicines for HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and leukaemia. The updated list added 30 medicines for adults and 25 for children, and specifies new uses for nine already-listed products, bringing the total to 433 drugs deemed essential for addressing the most important public health needs. The WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) is used by many countries to increase access to medicines and guide decisions about which products they ensure are available for their populations. Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation, said: “Safe and effective medicines are essential parts of any health system. “Making sure all people can access the medicines they need, when and where they need them, is vital to countries’ progress towards universal health coverage.” In the biggest revision of the antibiotics section in the EML’s 40-year history, WHO experts have grouped antibiotics into three categories – ACCESS, WATCH and RESERVE – with recommendations on when each category should be used. Initially, the new categories applied only to antibiotics used to treat 21 of the most common general infections. If shown to be useful, it could be broadened in future versions of the EML to apply to drugs to treat other infections. The change aimed to ensure that antibiotics were available when needed and that the right antibiotics are prescribed for the right infections. “It should enhance treatment outcomes, reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria, and preserve the effectiveness of ‘last resort’ antibiotics that are needed when all others fail. “These changes support WHO’s Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance, which aims to fight the development of drug resistance by ensuring the best use of antibiotics.” WHO recommended that antibiotics in the ACCESS group be available at all times as treatments for a wide range of common infections. “For example, it includes amoxicillin, a widely-used antibiotic to treat infections such as pneumonia,” the UN health agency said. The WATCH group includes antibiotics that are recommended as first- or second-choice treatments for a small number of infections. “For example, the use of ciprofloxacin used to treat cystitis (a type of urinary tract infection) and upper respiratory tract infections (such as bacterial sinusitis and bacterial bronchitis), should be dramatically reduced to avoid further development of resistance.” The third group, RESERVE, includes antibiotics such as colistin and some cephalosporins that should be considered last-resort options and used only in the most severe circumstances when all other alternatives have failed, such as for life-threatening infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Dr Suzanne Hill, Director of Essential Medicines and Health Products, said: “WHO experts have added 10 antibiotics to the list for adults, and 12 for children. “The rise in antibiotic resistance stems from how we are using – and misusing – these medicines. “The new WHO list should help health system planners and prescribers ensure people who need antibiotics have access to them and ensure they get the right one so that the problem of resistance doesn’t get worse”.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/12/06/bayelsadecides-announcement-of-polls-results-about-to-commence/Updates

Politics

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By Joseph Stover, Gonzaga University As of April 2023, about 1% of people who contracted COVID-19 ended up dying. Does that mean you have a 1% chance of dying from COVID-19? That 1% is what epidemiologists call the case fatality rate, calculated by dividing the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths by the number of confirmed cases. The case fatality rate is a statistic, or something that is calculated from a data set. Specifically, it is a type of statistic called a sample proportion, which measures the proportion of data that satisfies some criteria – in this case, the proportion of COVID-19 cases that ended with death. The goal of calculating a statistic like case fatality rate is normally to estimate an unknown proportion. In this case, if every person in the world were infected with COVID-19, what proportion would die? However, some people also use this statistic as a guide to estimate personal risk as well. It is natural to think of such a statistic as a probability. For example, popular statements that you are more likely to get struck by lightning than die in a terrorist attack, or die driving to work than get killed in a plane crash, are based on statistics. But is it accurate to take these statements literally? I’m a mathematician who studies probability theory. During the pandemic, I watched health statistics become a national conversation. The public was inundated with ever-changing data as research unfolded in real time, calling attention to specific risk factors such as preexisting conditions or age. However, using these statistics to accurately determine your own personal risk is nearly impossible since it varies so much from person to person and depends on intricate physical and biological processes. The mathematics of probability In probability theory, a process is considered random if it has an unpredictable outcome. This unpredictability could simply be due to difficulty in getting the necessary information to accurately predict the outcome. Random processes have observable events that can each be assigned a probability, or the tendency for that process to give that particular result. A typical example of a random process is flipping a coin. A coin flip has two possible outcomes, each assigned a probability of 50%. Even though most people might think of this process as random, knowing the precise force applied to the coin can allow an observer to predict the outcome. But a coin flip is still considered random since measuring this force is not practical in real-life settings. A slight change can result in a different outcome for the coin flip. A common way to think about the probability of heads being 50% is that, when a coin is flipped several times, you would expect 50% of those flips to be heads. For a large number of flips, in fact, very close to 50% of the flips will be heads. A mathematical theorem called the law of large numbers guarantees this, stating that running proportion of outcomes will get closer and closer to the actual probability when the process is repeated many times. The more you flip the coin, the running percentage of flips that are heads will get closer and closer to 50%, essentially with certainty. This depends on each repeated coin flip happening in essentially identical conditions, though. The 1% case fatality rate of COVID-19 can be thought of as the running percentage of COVID-19 cases that have resulted in death. It doesn’t represent the true average probability of death, though, since the virus, and the global population’s immunity and behavior, have changed so much over time. The conditions are not constant. Only if the virus stopped evolving, everyone’s immunity and risk of death were identical and unchanging over time, and there were always people available to become infected, then, by the law of large numbers, would the case fatality rate get closer to the true average probability of death over time. A 1% chance of dying? The biological process of a disease leading to death is complex and uncertain. It is unpredictable and therefore random. Each person has a real physical risk of dying from COVID-19, though this risk varies over time and place and between individuals. So, at best, 1% could be the average probability of death within the population. Health risks vary among demographic groups, too. For example, elderly individuals have a much higher risk of death than younger individuals. Tracking COVID-19 infections and how they end for a large number of people that are demographically similar to you would give a better estimate of personal risk. Case fatality rate is a probability, but only when you look at the specific data set it was directly calculated from. If you were to write the outcome of every COVID-19 case in that data set on a strip of paper and randomly select one from a hat, you have a 1% chance of selecting a case that ended in death. Doing this only for cases from a particular group, such as a group of older adults with a higher risk or young children with a lower risk, would cause the percentage to be higher or lower. This is why 1% may not be a great estimate of personal risk for every person across all demographic groups. We can apply this logic to car accidents. The chance of getting into a car crash on a 1,000-mile road trip is about 1 in 366. But if you are never anywhere near roads or cars, then you would have a 0% chance. This is really a probability only in the sense of drawing names from a hat. It also applies unevenly across the population – say, due to differences in driving behavior and local road conditions. Although a population statistic is not the same thing as a probability, it might be a good estimate of it. But only if everyone in the population is demographically similar enough so that the statistic doesn’t change much when calculated for different subgroups. The next time you’re confronted with such a population statistic, recognize what it actually is: It’s just the percent of a particular population that satisfies some criteria. Chances are, you’re not average for that population. Your own personal probability could be higher or lower. Joseph Stover, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Gonzaga University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project and want a deeper connection with our community, please join us as a Premium Member today. Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. Photo credit: iStockPhoto.com

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/what-your-ex-wants-you-to-know-about-your-cheating-jnky/If

Family

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The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has presented new developments on radiommunotherapy to find cures for HIV, at an annually held meeting, for the Radiological Society of North America. Researchers have found that radiommunotheraphy (RIT), holds the potential to remove lingering HIV infections. Globally, millions of adults are affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). All patients receive antiretroviral therapy to try and combat the infection. This works to keep the virus from duplicating. However, it does not provide a cure for people with the disease, as some of the HIV-infected cells remain in the body. Reports have stated that they are still looking for a cure to completely eliminate all the HIV-infected cells, rather than just slowing their progression. However, the difficulty comes with attempting to find a way to do this, without damaging healthy cells. RIT, which became famous for treating cancer, is where radioactive isotopes attach themselves to antibodies. They then select a target, and destroy cells. After these antibodies have transported the radioisotope to their target, the radioisotope projects a lethal dose of radiation. Targeted cells are such that are infected with cancer, or disease-causing microbes. The research presented by Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has developed radiommunotherapy to find a cure for HIV, by looking at Dr. Dadachova’s previous work, which showed that RIT could successfully target without harming healthy cells. It proves that RIT could successfully target and eliminate human immune cells infected with HIV. During the experiment, blood samples were gathered from 15 HIV patients, who had been treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The results showed that RIT was able to selectively kill HAART-treated lymphocytes. This enabled the HIV infection to be reduced to untraceable levels in most samples. Dr. Dadachova stated that radioimmunotherapy could not only destroy HIV-infected cells in blood samples, but also within the central nervous system. This, she explained, offers a real potential for the advancement of finding a cure for HIV. As the Albert Einstein research team try to find cures for HIV, they also investigated whether RIT could reach infected cells within the brain and central nervous system. The anti-retroviral drugs that are currently used, do not sufficiently penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is an arrangement of blood vessels that prevent detrimental substances passing into the brain, which is the reason many victims of HIV, treated by HAART, experience cognitive impairment. The team exhibited how the same radiolabeled antibodies used in previous investigations, could eliminate HIV-infected cells in the brain, without injuring the barrier. Radioimmunotherapy can therefore, kill HIV-infected blood cells that have received antiretroviral treatment, and cells within the central nervous system. This shows that RIT offers real potential for being developed into a cure for HIV. It is a worldwide problem, and is commonly caught by having sex without a condom. It can be passed on by sharing needles or other injecting equipment, and can also be spread through a mother to her child during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. The virus violates the immune system, and weakens the capacity to fight infections and disease. The final stage is Aids, where the body is unable to fight off life-threatening infections. However, with early diagnosis and effective treatment, many people escape this development. As the Albert Einstein College of Medicine make developments on Radiommunotherapy, a cure for the HIV epidemic may soon be provided. By Melissa McDonald

http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/albert-einstein-college-of-medicine-cures-hiv/

Health

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By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor Across the globe, many countries have a measure of immunity for the legislature to ensure stability of the polity and sustenance of democracy. In the United Kingdom, lawmakers enjoy Parliamentary privilege, which is a legal immunity enjoyed by Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. It is designed to ensure that Parliamentarians are able to carry out their duties free from interference. The privileges are freedom of speech, freedom from arrest on civil matters, freedom of access to the sovereign and that ‘the most favourable construction should be placed on all the Houses’s proceedings.’ Turkey is one of the countries where lawmakers enjoy immunity. However, last May, Turkey’s parliament ratified a bill that stripped some legislators of immunity from prosecution. Championed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the bill amended the constitution, adding a temporary clause to remove immunity from a total of 138 deputies – the exact number who are facing criminal investigations. The bill allowing criminal charges to be brought against legislators was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 7. The Indian Parliament also has “privilege and immunity” that signify certain special or exceptional rights of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha or its individual members which are generally accepted as necessary for the exercise of their constitutional functions. There are privileges that are enjoyed by members individually and these include: Freedom of speech, Freedom from arrest and Exemption from attendance as jurors and witnesses. Under Freedom from Arrest: no member shall be arrested in a civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the House (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha) and also when the House is in session. It also means that no member can be arrested within the precincts of the Parliament without the permission of the House to which he/she belongs. When a member of the House is arrested or detained, the authority concerned should immediately inform the speaker or the Chairman regarding the reasons for such arrest. A member can be arrested outside the four walls of the House on criminal cases under the Preventive Detention, ESMA, NSA, POTA or any other such Act. In Philippines, Article VI, Section II of the Constitution grants lawmakers immunity. It provides: “A Senator or Member of the House of Representative shall, in all offences punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.” The principal parliamentary immunity in Australia is the immunity from civil or criminal action, and examination in legal proceedings, of members of the houses and of witnesses and others taking part in proceedings in Parliament. This immunity is known as the right of freedom of speech in Parliament, because it has the effect of ensuring that members, witnesses and others cannot be sued or prosecuted for anything they say or do in the course of parliamentary proceedings. This freedom of speech has always been regarded as essential to allow the houses to debate and inquire into matters without fear of interference. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/immunity-legislature-countries/

Politics

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The human brain is disproportionately large. And while abundant grey matter confers certain intellectual advantages, sustaining a big brain is costly — consuming a fifth of energy in the human body. It is an oddity that has long flummoxed scientists: while most organisms thrive with small brains, or none at all, the human species opted to sacrifice a degree of body growth for more cerebral capacity. On Wednesday, researchers said they can finally reveal how and why this happened. The human brain, they suggested, expanded mainly in response to environmental stresses that forced our species to come up with innovative solutions for food and shelter, and pass the lessons on to our offspring. The finding challenges a popular theory that the thinking organ grew as social interactions between humans became more and more complex, a research duo wrote in the science journal Nature. In fact, the inverse may be true. “The findings are intriguing because they suggest that some aspects of social complexity are more likely to be consequences rather than causes of our large brain size,” said paper co-author Mauricio Gonzalez-Forero of the University of St Andrews in Scotland. “The large human brain is more likely to stem from ecological problem-solving and cumulative culture than it is from social manoeuvering.” From our ape-like Australopithecus ancestors to modern Homo sapiens, the human brain has tripled in size. But feeding such a big brain has been suggested to come at the cost of slow body growth in childhood — leaving our young dependent and vulnerable for longer than other animals. – Brain over brawn? – Previous research found correlations between large brain size in species and complex social structures, living in challenging environments, and an ability to learn lessons from peers — also described as “culture”. But no studies have been able to conclude whether these factors are the cause of brain expansion, or the result of it. With colleague Andy Gardner, Gonzalez-Forero developed a mathematical model to measure whether being confronted with ecological and social problems has a measurable impact on brain growth, and if yes, how much. Model “brains” were presented with ecological challenges — finding prey in bad weather or in tough terrain, for example, preserving food to protect it against mold or heat spoilage, or storing water amid drought. Social challenges were introduced too, to test the influence on brain growth of cooperation and competition between individuals and groups. Interestingly, cooperation was associated with a decrease in brain size, the researchers said — probably because it allows individuals to rely on each other’s resources and to save energy by growing smaller brains themselves. “We find that increasingly difficult ecological problems expand brains, but social demands fail to lead to human sized brains,” Gonzalez-Forero told AFP. But why did human brains grow more than those of other animals living in challenging environments? Probably because of culture — the ability to learn skills from others rather than having to figure everything out for ourselves. “So, our results suggest that it is the interaction of hard ecology and culture that produced the human brain size,” said Gonzalez-Forero.

https:////thenewsguru.com//news//breaking-gov-okowas-commissioner-fires-aide-for-supporting-peter-obi//Human

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A battery can hold a lot of energy, but it takes a long time to charge it. A capacitor can be charged very quickly, but doesn't hold a comparable amount of energy. A graphene supercharger is the best of both: it takes just seconds to charge, yet stores a lot of energy. Imagine being able to charge your spent laptop or phone battery in 30 seconds, and your electric car in a few minutes. Also, unlike batteries, Graphene supercapacitors are non-toxic. The Nobel Prize was awarded to the inventors of Graphene in 2010. Wikipedia defines Graphene as a "substance composed of pure carbon, with atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern similar to graphite, but in a one-atom thick sheet. It is very light, with a 1-square-meter sheet weighing only 0.77 milligrams." (via Tony Moore at the Boing Boing G+ community)

http:////boingboing.net//2013//02//21//graphene-supercapacitors-could.html

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WASHINGTON (AFP) – US scientists seeking to unravel the mysteries of HIV have made an important breakthrough after capturing the clearest image yet of a protein which allows the deadly virus to attack human immune cells, new research showed Tuesday. Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Weill Cornell Medical College have managed to obtain a detailed view of the atomic structure of the protein which envelops HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. The development could potentially pave the way for a vaccine, according to the findings published in the US journal Science. “In order to develop a vaccine, you have to understand what bits on that very important trimeric protein can be recognizes by broadly neutralizing antibodies,” said Scripps Institute cell biologist Bridget Carragher. “And in order to understand that, you need to understand what the structure of the thing looks like. “Then once you do, you can start designing a vaccine that will mimic that thing and elicit an antibody response and get the human being to fight the real virus when it comes along.” Although sophisticated antiviral drugs have been used to manage HIV infections in many developed countries, a vaccine against infection has proved elusive. The failure to find a vaccine is often attributed to the complex nature of HIV’s envelope protein, known as Env. The delicate structure of Env has hampered efforts to obtain the protein in a form that allows for the atomic-resolution imaging necessary to fully understand it. “It tends to fall apart, for example, even when it’s on the surface of the virus, so to study it we have to engineer it to be more stable,” said TSRI biologist Andrew Ward. However the researchers were able to engineer a version of the Env trimer, or three-component structure, that has the stability required for atomic-resolution imaging. The scientists were then able to study the Env trimer using cutting-edge imaging and electron microscopy. The use of X-ray crystallography allowed researchers to examine the Env trimer in more detail than previous attempts. The data also shed light on the process by which Env assembles and later shifts shape during infection, and also allowed researchers to make comparisons with protein envelopes from other deadly viruses such as flu and Ebola. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http:////www.vanguardngr.com//2013//11//breakthrough-hunt-hiv-vaccine//?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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One continent, many nations Africa is a vast and varied continent – North Africa is a different world from sub-Saharan Africa, and ethnicities in the many countries are diverse. In addition to the myriad black tribes and Arabic peoples of North Africa, there are European, Asian and Indian people born in Africa. Over 40 African nationalities in New Zealand form a kaleidoscope of culture, religion, language and ethnicity. Often the only common element among Africans is their continent of origin. Colonialism dominated early links between Africa and New Zealand as white settlers moved freely between colonies of the British Empire. As early as 1871, the New Zealand census recorded 34 people born in ‘British African Possessions’ and 31 from other African countries. And it is likely that most of the 92 African-born people in the 1911 census were white. By 1986 there were 3,939 African-born residents in New Zealand – 90% of them from Africa’s Commonwealth countries. The vast majority were white. The first black African to reach New Zealand was a servant of Captain Furneaux, travelling aboard the Adventure on James Cook’s second voyage. He was slain by Māori in Queen Charlotte Sound in December 1773. Most early black arrivals were African Americans. The 1916 census list of ‘Race Aliens’ comprises 95 ‘Negroes’ (African Americans) and just six people born in Africa – four Abyssinians (Ethiopians) and two Egyptians. From the 1960s black Africans came as assisted students on the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme. By 1972, 266 had completed courses. They were required to return home under the terms of their scholarships, even though some had married and had children while in New Zealand. Before the 1990s there was little opportunity for black Africans to emigrate to New Zealand because the ‘traditional source country’ immigration policy favoured people from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

http:////www.teara.govt.nz//en//africans//page-1

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Around 1640 BCE, some 70 Canaan (Black), Hebrews under the leadership of Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, entered Egypt from Canaan, fleeing from another great drought. Doris Darkwah in (The Role of Africa in the rise of Judaism) tells us that: “They were welcomed and given food and shelter by the hospitable Egyptians. They enjoyed the rights and privileges of Egyptian citizenship, some becoming high officials in the government giving up Semitic names for Egyptian ones. Joseph was in Pharaoh Kamoses cabinet as Prime Minister and took the Egyptian name of Zaphnathpaaneah. Yanhamu was a leading General under Amenophis IV (Akhnaton.) “The Great Pyramids and the Obelisk had already been completed before any Hebrew set foot in Egypt; hence the idea of their being used as slave labour on those constructions is false. Pictures found on tombs show the Hebrews to be foreigners from their clothes and beards, but also that they were not in captivity. Of course, many of them laboured side by side with the Egyptians in making bricks for the outer enclosures of temples or cities, the main building effort of the day.” Towards the end of the Hebrew's 400 years sojourn in Egypt in 1230 BCE, when they had grown in number to be a sizable percentage of the population, Moses was already over 70 years old. The Egyptologist, James Breasted in (Dawn of Conscience) points out that his name was not Hebrew as conventionally accepted, “but an Egyptian word 'Mose,' or 'Maose,' meaning child or boy-son, to which a prefix of a god's name may have been attached and lost over the years.” Ernest Jones (Birth & Death of Moses) confirms that Moses was the son of Bathia, daughter of Pharaoh Seti I, and the Pharaoh himself. In other words, Moses was an incestuous child. Doris Darkwah in (The Role of Africa in the rise of Judaism) tells us that the circumstances of Moses' birth as portrayed by the Old Testament were pure fantasy. “African myths about finding a baby in water were quite common, especially in honouring national heroes,” at the time. Obviously, Pharaoh Seti and his daughter contrived the abandoned baby in basket scenario to avoid incestuous stigma and create the opportunity to look after Moses in the palace. Sale in his book (Al Koran, P257, 1784) tells us that: “Moses was a very swarthy man.” Sir T.W. Arnold in his book (Preaching Islam, Westminster 1896) says: “According to Mohammedan tradition, Moses was a Black man.” The Bible confirms this in Exodus IV.6. Roger in (100 Amazing Facts about the Negro) tells us that Moses was a Black African. Moses received his theological education at Heliopolis. He went into the Lodge (the Mystery System) at age 7 and could not have come out until aged 47 because it required 40 years to train as a priest in all the disciplines. In fact, Moses was trained for the role of Pharaoh with all the magic and spiritual powers entailed in this. Moses then spent a few years in Ethiopia in continuation of his education as a prince of Egypt. He did not conquer Ethiopia as some Jewish film makers would want the world to believe. No king of Ethiopia accompanied Moses to Egypt as portrayed by the film. An emissary of the king accompanied Moses from the land of his ancestors back to Egypt because he was a prince and that was the tradition of the era. According to Doris Darkwah, Moses became the spokesman for the Hebrews and introduced them to “a monotheistic type of religion, which he had learned as an Egyptian from the teachings of Akhnaton as a prince and pharaoh in training for 40 years, in the Mystery System. It appears Moses first preached his adaptation of Akhnaton's religion to his people, the Egyptians, and found few followers.” He then turned to the Hebrews who were more receptive especially after Moses had killed one of his own (an Egyptian) in defence of a Hebrew. Moses became the spokesperson for the Hebrews. Moses, at about the age of 47, ran away from his father, Pharaoh Seti I, for committing murder. His brother Aaron ran away with him because he was charged with stealing from the Pharaoh's treasury. Moses met Deborah while on the run and it seems Deborah said confidently, pointing to Moses: 'that Egyptian.' There was nothing in Moses' make up to suggest he was a Hebrew. He was not wearing any special clothes nor did he have a beard. He looked like any other African Egyptian brother, Deborah was familiar with. Moses escaped to the Midianites on one of the Sanai hills for succour, protection, and witchcraft powers, against his imaginary pursuers. Midianites were Africans from Ethiopia worshipping a number of Deities or Gods, the principal one being El Elyon or what the Bible claims to be Lucifer. The Midianites' chief priest was called Jethro, a renowned spiritualist, considered to be a father of witchcraft because of his spiritual prowess and awesome cult. Moses ended up spending some 30 years in the desert with Jethro, who initiated Moses into his cult and gave Moses one of his daughters in marriage. The marriage was blessed with two children. All three, (wife, two sons) are lost to Jewish history because they did not fit into later Jewish religious politics. Some religious historians' argument that Aaron and Mariam's objection to Moses' Ethiopian wife was one of colour is wrong. There was no colour prejudice as a culture until the White man invented it at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, to launch their selfish, deceitful religion, and eventually justify their slave trade and colonization of Africans. Besides, the Jews at that time were Africans. Mariam's objection was obviously a national or tribal one, the same as exists today among some West African ethnic groups. Moses' spiritual skills, which he first learnt as a Pharaoh in training (or Prince of Egypt) was reinforced by the teachings of his father-in-law. Jethro honed Moses' witchcraft skills. Moses saw a chance to use the Midianites' cult as a political and spiritual rallying point to build his religious followership and take his revenge on Egypt for deriding his earlier religious teachings and turning him into a refugee and murder outcast on the run. Moses adopted or was adopted by one of the junior deities of the Midianites. Moses himself claimed that his Midianite deity gave his name as YHWH pronounced as Yahweh, and that El Elyon, the chief of the Midianites (Canaanites) deities was superior to Yahweh. Moses said it was El Elyon (God Most High) who divided nations (of the world) and shared them among the gods (or sons of God.) That the nation allotted by El Elyon to Yahweh (a god or junior deity or son of God) was Israel. Give ear O heavens, and I will speak and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations, ask your father and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. When El Elyon (the Most High) gave to the nations their inheritance. When he separated the sons of men he fixed the bounds of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God. For Yahweh's portion is his people, Jacob (Israel) his allotted heritage. Moses said Yahweh introduced himself as the god of (his followers) the Hebrews. Moses could not have used capital letter 'God' for Yahweh because he knew that that was reserved for El Elyon. Seventy Jewish scholars introduced the fraud in 200 BCE while translating Hebrew into Greek. Yahweh proudly called himself a tribal god. Moses claimed that Yahweh said: “I'm the god of your fathers, the god of Abraham, the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob,” Exodus 3:6,15. Notice that god Yahweh did not say he was the 'God' of mankind or even of the Africans who in the guise of the Midianites first brought his cult into being. The Jewish scholars claimed that Yahweh regretted creating man and that He decided to wipe 'man' off the face of the earth because 'man' turned out to be wicked. A bogus claim by the Jewish scholars because Moses himself claimed that El Elyon was Yahweh's superior. Yahweh saw that the wickedness of 'man' was great on earth, and that the thought of his heart fashioned nothing but wickedness all day long. “I will rid the earth's face of man, my own creation (Gen. 6: 5-7.) I wonder who taught 'man' to be wicked. Yahweh killed Uzzah for trying to prevent the 'Ark of God' from falling down when the oxen carrying it stumbled. No sane person would kill for such a reason but gods are probably not governed by mere rationalism. “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and 'God' smote him there because he put forth his hand to the Ark and he died there besides the Ark of God,” (2 Sam 6:6-7.) Yahweh was not only prepared to dispossess others of their properties for the Hebrews, he encouraged his adopted children to indulge in stealing and other immoral acts. On the eve of the Hebrews' departure from Egypt, after failing to overwhelm the Pharaoh with a series of plagues, including the killing of every first born of men and animals, (Exodus Chapters 7-11) he ordered the Hebrews to slaughter innocent babies, old men and women, found in the captured city. Do not “spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling,” (I Sam, 15:3.) Yahweh, 'the Jewish fake creator of man,' had no fore-knowledge of things that would happen in future, nor could he foresee the consequences of his action. Often he was sorry after the event turned out to be contrary to his expectation. Yahweh could not foresee Saul disobeying him after making Saul king of Israel. “I regret having made Saul king for he has turned away from me and has not carried out my order,” (I Sam 15: 10.11.) Saul's problem was his refusal to go to the city of Amalek to destroy everybody and everything he found there, adult humans, babies, animals, etc. Yahweh was capable of all human emotions: jealousy, anger, sympathy, love, hate, mercy, but was more easily provoked than anything else even by his professed children. Yahweh was extraterrestrial humanoid. All Gods whether spelt with the capital letter 'G' or small letter 'g' are ex-humans. They are dead humans or ancestors and Africans created all of them. The Midianites created Yahweh and Yahweh's physical, spiritual, or mythical interaction with Moses is supposed to have happened well before 1230 BCE. Moses saw Yahweh's back because Yahweh covered Moses' face with his hand while passing. “I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by, then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen,“ (Exodus 33: 22-23.) But Moses had seen Yahweh's face earlier on in (Exodus 33: 11) ….And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend. The Lord came to visit Abraham and ate in his house. Isaiah saw the Lord in his temple. Gideon, Ezekiel, Samson's parents, Daniel, all saw the Lord. Yahweh wrestled with Jacob (Gen. 32: 21) and Jacob nearly defeated him until he managed to remove a bone to wrench Jacob's hip. Some God? Yahweh himself said: “if there is a prophet among you, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in dark speech, and he beholds the form of Yahweh….” (Numbers 12:5-8 RSV.) Even with prophets, I Yahweh communicate by visions and dreams. But that is not how I communicate with my servant Moses. He is entrusted with my entire house. I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees Yahweh as he is….. (New Living Translation.) It is this Moses who spoke to Yahweh face to face and saw Yahweh as he is, that revealed that El Elyon, the chief of the Canaanite's gods, was God Most High and Yahweh's superior. Moses was visiting Yahweh in a space craft. The Bible tells us: “God descended on the Mount Sanai with thunders and lightings, the mountain quaked.” One time when Moses stayed away for too long, Hebrews equated Yahweh's idol to a Golden Calf. Hebrews gave Satan (Yahweh) to the world to worship. According to Yemi Ogunsola in the Guardian newspaper, Nigeria, January 4, 2009, the Jewish god Yahweh is not God Almighty but a deity inferior to God El Elyon. “It was not God who chose the Jews as his own people; it was god Yahweh, a deity. It was not God who unjustly promised other peoples lands (Palestine//Canaan) to the Israelites; it was Yahweh. It was not God who led the Israelites in the invasion and occupation of those 'promised' lands; it was Yahweh. It was not God who ordered the wholesale slaughter of men, women and children of Palestine, Canaan; it was Yahweh.” Moses invoked the energy of Yahweh (i) to fight his father, (ii) to help his followers get out of Egypt and (iii) to craft kabbalism. (i) Moses fought his father, Pharaoh Seti I of Egypt, with witchcraft. Moses' kabbalism (or witchcraft skill) was put into effect in the name of Yahweh. Yahweh sent Black Egypt a plague of blood. “…He struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt,” Exodus 7:20,21. Then he sent plagues of frogs, Exodus 8:6; gnats, Exodus 8:16; swarms of flies… 'I will make a distinction between my people and your people,' Yahweh said, Exodus 8:22,24; '…. livestock on the field……….your horses and donkeys and camels and cattle, sheep and goat' (whatever the animals did to upset this tribal God) 'I will make a distinction……..so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.' Exodus 9:4. Yahweh plagued Africans with boils … that were on them and on all the Egyptians, Exodus 9:10. “………by now I could have struck you with a plague that would wipe you off the earth……to show you my power… (I wonder if the 'Universal' God needed to boost about showing his power.) …….by this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt.” Exodus 9:13-19. So Yahweh sent the plagues of locust, Exodus 10:13; of darkness, Exodus 10:21 and finally of firstborn, Exodus 11:5. The true 'Universal' God of Creation would not have been so vindictive and merciless against his own creation. (ii) Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt to another land taken from Africans. The myth about the parting of waters to facilitate a groups' escape is distorted from some ancient African myths and writing. The African Sun god Bacchus had a magic rod, which could change into a snake and could be used to draw water from a rock as well. He crossed the Red Sea without getting wet, and divided the waters of the rivers Orontes and Hydaspus by the touch of his rod and crossed both dry-footed. According to Raphael Petal in his book, Tents of Jacob: “The Biblical myth served two basic functions: to validate the idea of the Hebrews having the right to possess the land of Israel. The other was to show that whatever adversities (i.e. famine, quarrels between brothers, involuntary servitude) forced them to leave the land of Canaan or Palestine to live in a land of dispersion, such as Egypt or Babylon, they longed to return to the 'Promised land' and usually did.'' Yahweh loves his adopters. He claimed to hate the Amorites, Philistines, Canaanites, Jebusites, (all Blacks) and Hittites (Whites) and the rest of mankind and threatened to wipe them off the face of the earth so as to give their land to his children, the Israelites. Yahweh hated all of mankind but the Israelites. The Jews were not a tribe. They were only held together by the promise of inheriting their own land and an adapted Egyptian religion. To be an Israelite, you have to be a Jew. It is a religion and until Hitler's pogrom against them, Israelites were not an ethnic or political group. Hitler turned them into a tribe. The Exodus story is, therefore, not about race. The curse by the Hebrew god Yahweh arose principally from Noah and his three sons' fictional myth. Africans are the ancestors of mankind. Human origin is Black; therefore, the White mythical Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, could only have been Black. Ham turned White, as did all the cursed in the Bible: Gahazi, Eljahas, Greedy servants: Kings 11: 5, 27) when he uncovered and sodomized his father (Genesis 9: 22, 24.) Hams' White children still revel in homosexuality today. By the way, Noah's flood did not disrupt civilization, and the walls of Jerico fell long before the Israelites got there. In any case, Israelites were Black at the time. Tacitus the Roman historian of 90 CE says that the Romans of his day popularly believed that the Jews who then abounded in Europe, came from Egypt, the land of the Blacks. The Bible classes the Ethiopians and the Jews together: “Are ye not as the children of Ethiopia unto me, O children of Israel, saith the Lord.” Chaldea, the land in which the Jews originated, was also Black land. Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11, 31.) Godfrey Higgins confirms in his book that the Chaldees at that point in history were Negroes. The Israelites were running away from African Egypt to an African fringe country, Palestine, and imagined that the Egyptians they were wishing dead were pursuing them. Such stories are pure fantasies, which all disadvantaged people indulge in to try to overcome, bear, minimize psychological trauma, or ameliorate sufferings and pains of the moment. It is a temporary mental blocking out of experience or experiences mechanism. They are mere escape valves or transient mental respite. Indulging in daydream is the harmless opium of the weak and oppressed against the strong. Several future myths are being spawned right now, around the world, by for example, the victims of racism wishing God to come down a ladder from heaven to intervene on their behalf by dealing ruthlessly with the architects and perpetrators of racism. Then transport them (the victims) to some make-believe world of bliss or paradise without racism or pains. In other words, to the 'Promised Land.' This is what prayers are about. Moses being an Egyptian priest, who rebelled against the established religion of his people, was not missed when he finally emigrated with his followers from Egypt through the Sanai desert in 1230 BCE. The period experienced a great deal of migrations in and out of Egypt anyway. The Bible says that 600,000 men left with Moses, which according to Haushoffer meant a total of 3,154,000 men, women and children, all Black, from being Canaanites and crossbreeding with African Egyptians. To an offence by the Hebrews in the wilderness, Yahweh threatened: “Let me alone that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, (Exodus 32:10.) Moses begged him not to because Egypt would use it to mock him. He changed his mind and allowed peace to reign until his children were discouraged by the report of the spies sent to survey the land promised them. Yahweh threatened again to kill all the Hebrews in the wilderness. Moses again persuaded him against the action, like one would do to a five-year-old child. “Now if thou does kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard thy name will say, because the Lord was unable to bring this people into the land he swore to give to them, therefore, he has slain them in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:15.) When Moses himself annoyed Yahweh by striking the rock two times rather than speak to get water as Yahweh had instructed, there was no one to intervene for Moses this time. Yahweh vowed he would only allow Moses to see the 'Promised Land' with his eyes from a distance and not to enter it. People saw him die but could not account for his body. After Yahweh killed Moses and apparently appropriated his body for his extraterrestrial race experiments, General Joshua took charge and led the Exodus from about 1220 BCE. Only 2 original Egyptian Jews out of the over 3 million that left Egypt with Moses arrived in 1190 BCE, with the Jews born en-route, to the 'Promised land,' Palestine. Joshua divided the land among the 12 tribes of Israel. Palestine was named after the former conquerors of the land, Philistines. Chiekh Anta Diop argues in (The African origin of Civilization) that the cynical, mercantile spirit, which constitutes the foundation of (Genesis Exodus) of the Bible, “is due to the conditions in which the Jewish people were placed from the start. Forming clusters of stateless persons since their dispersion, they have constantly experienced a double anxiety, that of assuring their material existence, often in hostile surroundings and the fear resulting from obsession with periodic pogroms. In the relatively recent past, in the Eurasian steppes, physical conditions had allowed for no illusion, no lethargy, and if man failed to create a marvelous civilization there, it was because the environment was too hostile. It was a political and social condition that allowed the Jews no intellectual let-up. They did not begin to count in history, however, until David and Solomon, or the beginning of the first millennium, the epoch of the Queen of Sheba. Egyptian civilization was already several millennia old, a fortiori Nubian-Sudanese civilization.” Jerusalem became capital of Israel in 1000 BCE, and David emerged as king. Where Moses was a giant, larger than life and beyond lust, David was ruthless. He was lust itself, who whored, raped, lied and cheated. Songs of Solomon, Chapter 1, Verses 5 and 6, reads: “Ye daughters of Canaan look not upon me because I am Black, because I'm beautiful. My mother put me in the vineyard, but my sister, she kept indoors.” Whatever forced the above confession, of course, Canaanites were Black. Solomon began building his temple called (Tempum Dei) in Jerusalem in 961 BCE. Solomon divided the Hebrews into ten tribes of Israel and 13 tribes of Judas. He was a good but minor leader with a big heart and robust talents for business. He collaborated with the merchants of Tyre to build merchant marines that brought Palestine a great deal of prosperity from their foreign market exploits. His reign was the most significant in Hebrew's history until recent times. He never ruled the world as the Jews would want us believe. He was just a successful businessman who ruled a small strip of desert land. Queen of Sheba married Solomon, from which union sprang Prince Menelik, the Lion of Judah and the forebear of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. The Assyrians over ran the Hebrew nation in 721 BCE. Ten tribes of Israel were heard no more, giving rise to the saying, the lost tribes of Israel. Taharqa, the youngest son of Pharaoh Piankhi, at the head of the Egyptian army, marched into Palestine and Asia and triumphed against the Assyrian forces of Sennacherib. Babylonian Emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, captured Jerusalem in 586 BCE, and transferred the Jewish population to Babylon. This is known in Jewish history as the period of captivity and it lasted for 70 years. Cyrus the Persian leader, sacked Babylon in 538 BCE, and expanded his empire rapidly over most of the Middle East. Cyrus permitted the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem, but instead they spread largely into countries of the Middle East and North Africa. (iii) Crafting of the Jewish Kabbalah. Like all the other manipulations in the Bible, Moses skillfully modified Akhnaton's monotheism to fit the Hebrew people by pledging the Hebrews to one deity or god alone. According to Doris Darkwah, “after Moses gave the Hebrew people an African religion; he then created a history of his followers in retrospect, drawing more on Egyptian and Babylonian myths than from any sort of fact. He had Abraham predicting events he could not have possibly known, such as the 400-years stay in Egypt… Finally, Moses gave the Hebrews credit for African customs, some quite ancient. One classic example was the adoption of the rite of circumcision, an Egyptian custom, thousands of years old by Moses' day. Bodies of Egyptian mummies found in recent times in what were prehistoric cemeteries gave evidence of such a custom. In addition, the actual operation was depicted in a drawing found on an Egyptian tomb, which existed between 2700-2800 BCE at Memphis.” Some of the many laws that the indigenous Africans had written and obeyed thousands of years before Abraham entered Egypt became the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5.) Moses adopted his Ten Commandments from the ancient 147 Egyptian laws called the “Negative Confessions,” and lied that God handed the laws down to him on Mount Sanai after the Exodus, (Exodus XX: 1-17.) Why has God stopped handing down Commandments since Moses? Or is his God, like our Osiris who was human, dead too? Other African customs borrowed by the Hebrews include, according to Doris Darkwah: “transference of sins to a scapegoat, usually an animal; not eating pig, considering it unclean, but on the other hand using it in religious rites, implying some sanctity of the animal; the Passover Feast which was really an old African custom, connected with the celebration of the Spring Equinox, and passing over of the Sun from South to North of the equator; libations or sacrificial drinking such as in the Sabbath Evening Service by the Rabbi, which is a traditional African practice dating back, thousands of years. In African ceremonies, it marks the start and completion of certain rituals; the sacrifice of the 'first male lamb' was an ancient African ceremonial tradition (particularly in Egypt) for 'cleansing the soul,' thousands of years before Moses was born.” The Romans lied against the Jews Between 64–66 CE, the Romans terrorized the Jews to no end, apparently because of their mercantilist skills. The Romans accused them of killing Jesus Christ, to launch anti-Semitism sentiments and hatred against the Jews globally. The Jews, under the name of 'zealots,' revolted over what they described as the tyranny of the Romans. The Jews could not have killed Jesus Christ whom they have no record of his existence. Besides, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator and his boss Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, where the Roman Imperial officials in Judea, during the confused dates of between 26 CE and 36 CE, of the crucifixion. No one was sure when or how it took place, and it could not have happened without the sanction of the Roman Imperial Guard. If the Roman Guards ordered the supposed crucifixion, why were they holding the Jews responsible? It was obviously a hoax to create the excuse to give the Jews a bad name. In 70 CE, Emperor Titus (39 -81 CE) crushed the zealots and destroyed their sacred Mount Moriah, triggering the second Exodus of the Jews from their homeland. In 135 CE, the Romans suppressed the Jewish Bar-Cochba's revolt, causing another Jewish dispersion, and the beginning of what is known as Diaspora Jews. The Jews entered Europe in appreciable numbers, particularly Spain and Portugal, in the first century CE. They were expelled from England in 1290 CE for anti-Semitic reasons. Spain expelled them for the same reasons on August 2, 1492, and Portugal did likewise in 1497 CE. After their expulsion from Spain and Portugal, they immigrated in large numbers to Holland. Michael Bradley (Echoes of Ancient Truth) provides considerable evidence about the Jewish and, therefore, religious links with Columbus' 'discovery' of the 'New World.' Prof. Alvin Boyd Kuhn in (Who is this King of Glory?) argues that: Columbus was very likely born of a heretical family. To start with, Bradley suspects that there were two Columbus,' one a master pirate of French extraction (which probably explains the paucity of information about Columbus' early life) who transformed into the one we know in history. Bradley says that the Columbus we know very likely had Jewish background. Bradley tells us that the purpose of Columbus' voyage to the 'New World' was not just in pursuit of gold but also to found a New Jerusalem. That, European Jews financed Columbus' voyage to the 'New World,' to allow their persecuted Jewish population in Europe, disguising as Catholics, find a new home where they could practice their true religion. Bradley names the sponsors of Columbus: “as things turned out, Columbus didn't need Isabella's jewels because he'd already obtained the backing of four Spanish financial moguls: Luis de Santangel, Alonso de Harana, Alonso de Carvajal and Diego de Harang. All of these men were “Conversos,” former Jews, who had supposedly and voluntarily accepted the Roman Catholic faith.” Bradley also tells us about the roots of religious conflicts in medieval Europe, the confusing personality of Jesus Christ, and says: “Godfroi de Bouillon wanted to create a New Jerusalem in the Holy Land where the three great faiths of the West could be reconciled. He failed, but this sort of crusade is what apparently motivated Christopher Columbus and his supporters and financial backers. His voyage may have been a crusade to establish a 'New Jerusalem,' in a 'New World' and, I think, this is the light in which we should view his motivations. It is also a perspective and a light that will permit some insight into the anomalous facts and unlikely coincidences of his life. He seems to have been a part of an ancient… conspiracy to create a world of religious toleration between Jew, Christian and Moslem. A New Jerusalem. That I think was Columbus' concept of a crusade, and the only worth while kind of crusade.” In the last chapter of Michael Bradley's book he says: “In 1506 CE, the Bishop of Puerto Rico complained to their Majesties and the Vatican that ships were bringing “mostly Jews” as colonists. Four years later, in 1510 CE, the Bishop of Cuba made exactly the same complaint to the same authorities; the ships brought mostly Jews and he adds, “secret heretics.” The official Royal census for 1545 CE, noted that twenty-five percent of Mexico City's population was admitted and openly practicing Jews; and this figure did not include “secret Jews,” heretics, converses, or secret Muslims. If this was truly the case, then the majority of Mexico City's population must have been non-Catholic. This seems to have been true because, in 1527 CE, Francisco Fernandez de Castillo wrote: “there are more Jews than Catholics in Mexico City.” Apart from the large importation of Jews, Europe dumped a massive portion of its undesirable elements in the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. A significant number of the crew of the three vessels of Christopher Columbus, for instance, were criminals let out of jails because it was difficult to recruit others for the dangerous journey. Most colonizers of the 'New World' and Africa were, in fact, failures in Europe, i.e., convicts, criminals, the unemployed, unemployable, and the unproductive, let loose as explorers, missionaries, slave traders and catchers. It is the character and nature of these invaders, more than anything else that heightened their vicious and criminal impact on the unsuspecting 'New World' and Africa. In Holland, many Jews joined with others to form the Dutch West Indies Company on June 3, 1621, to exploit the “New World,” to establish their first settlement in New Amsterdam, in 1654 CE. Other settlements followed rapidly to expand the frontiers of capitalism to their benefit and that of the West. Developing at the same time with their thrusts into the New World was their search for African slaves and land to exploit. They acquired the Dutch East Indian Company just as its first ship was to sail to South Africa, and constituted a large proportion of that first and later groups of settlers that occupied the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 CE. They formed small Jewish settlements in Capetown and other parts of South Africa in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries CE. In 1828 CE, Chaka the king of Zulu granted Nathaniel Isaacs the use of a large track of land for himself and the Jewish people. Then along with some Dutch settlers, calling themselves Afrikaners, they forcefully took over the rest of South Africa and imposed apartheid, another name for Zionism, on the Black owners of South Africa. With the discovery of gold and diamond in the territory, a business they absolutely controlled along with two or three other Western owned companies, they became very prosperous. Today, although only about a quarter of a million strong in South Africa, they control the economy through their gold and diamond cartels, and use the military know how and clout of Israel, as agents of the West, to continue to protect subtle apartheid and their investments. The Jews themselves have been through hell in the hands of the Europeans. Devil's incarnate, Adolf Hitler, as the German leader, exterminated six million Jews in cold blood in his gas chambers in Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Dachau, between 1933-35 CE, in attempt to preserve his Aryan race purity. Zionism was an idea touted by a comedian called Theodore Hertzl in his acts in Central Europe. In 1896 CE, Theodore Herzl published “Judenstaat,” in Vienna, advocating the establishment of a Jewish national homeland. Hertzl first suggested a homeland for the Jews in Guyana, but the British were not impressed, so he toyed with Kenya or Uganda, which were also under British control at the time. Then Hertzl wrote to Jan Christian Smits, requesting for a Jewish homeland in South Africa so that they can help civilize Africans. Although the Zionist movement had a choice of settling in Uganda or the Sanai Peninsula from Chamberlain, the British Colonial Secretary, on April 23, 1903, Uganda did not really count. The Jews were after the opportunity South Africa or the Peninsula offered them, to control at least one of the two major navigational routes of international trade around Africa, the Suez and the Cape, and if they got the first, to enslave their second set of people. The Balfour Agreement signed by Chaim Weitzman, an English Jew living in England, Jonah B. Wise, Stephen Wise, and others from the USA, provided an opportunity for the Jews to pull a fast one on the Arabs. The agreement formed the basis of the action of President Harry S. Truman of the USA, in 1947, which resulted in the creation of the State of Israel in Palestine. The Jewish State rapidly went into decline until it surfaced under Ben-Gurion in modern times. The Jews seem to have been taking out their pains on Africans who are, in fact, their closest relatives and ought to have been treated as their closest allies. The Jews from the beginning have had their hands in all the misfortunes of the African world. It started with the concealment of the African identity of Moses and theirs. The lies about meeting God of the universe on Mount Sanai and being the chosen people. Their fictitious curse that launched their notion of superior, inferior people; their usurpation of African beliefs and myths without giving due credit; the distortions of early history and African religion, and the fake history of their plight as a people in Egypt. They were neck-deep in the Black slavery holocaust from which they amassed huge fortunes to set themselves apart as the shrewd and wealthy Jews we know today. Despite all we have been through in the hands of the Jews, I admire them a great deal for the way they have overcome their difficulties to become masters of the world in every respect. Their religion and kabbalism helped them and Africans want to learn from them, what was lost to them, and end their own pains that have come from all quarters, and have gone on for too long. NAIWU OSAHON Hon. Khu Mkuu (Leader) World Pan-African Movement); Ameer Spiritual (Spiritual Prince) of the African race; MSc. (Salford); Dip.M.S; G.I.P.M; Dip.I.A (Liv.); D. Inst. M; G. Inst. M; G.I.W.M; A.M.N.I.M. Poet, Author of the magnum opus: 'The end of knowledge'. One of the world's leading authors of children's books; Awarded; key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honourary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council; Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honourary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee; and a silver shield trophy by Morehouse College, USA, for activities to unite and uplift the African race. Naiwu Osahon renowned author, philosopher of science, mystique, leader of the world Pan-African Movement. I respect you for the volume of knowledge that you possess.Most part of your article is absolutely true and I respect you for that.But I would like to say that there is quite a lot you dont know about Islam.It is one religion which gave the black man pride.The man Bilal who was honoured by the Prophet of Islam to be the first to call (Azam) people to prayer was a black man.In the Holy Quran Allah-"subhanawataalla" (which I think sounds like your superior God) talks of his reason for creating us ...

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Olympics Where Merits Beat Violent Acts That Secured Good Old Days Privilege Are we going backwards into World Wars or moving to a more civilized atmosphere of solving our differences? The Olympics has taught us that the world can come together in the spirit of universal goodwill and compete successfully without privileged class or volatile behaviors leading to war to secure advantageous relationships. As usual, the spirit of the just concluded Olympics demonstrated that man can still compete worldwide peacefully based on an equal playing field. Though African countries did not do as well as expected, our brothers and sisters that had the opportunity of an enabling environment excelled in each of the countries they represented. Someone quipped that if corruption was included in the 2020 Olympics, more Africans could have come home with Gold medals. By building and encouraging sport, culture and education, the Olympics create a peaceful atmosphere where a better world can prevail. The Olympics movement promotes the values of excellence, friendship and respect. If these were what men devoted their energy into, there would be more space for everyone to compete equally and fairly. The youths would have abundant avenues open to them to pursue and make gainful use of their exuberant energy. The Olympics may take a week but it takes many years of preparation and devotion. The financial rewards during those years are too little to motivate dedicated and committed youths. If we can encourage our Youths so early in their lives, the community gains because discipline and patience discourage crimes and immorality. Discipline creates devotion for discovery and invention in Arts, Science and Culture that propel a nation into progressive growth. If those that preached and aspired to a more ideal society failed to lead, regressive ideas would take hold. This leaves some of us wondering if humans have actually leaped beyond Stone age of survival of the fittest, slavery and injustice. As long as violence can be used to gain upper hand and enshrine privilege, it can be labeled as the most "civilized" community. It is surprising that in many countries that see themselves as the most civilized, the poor are still fighting for Freedom, Equal Protection and Civil Rights that are passed every five or ten years and could not be made permanent because small but loud powerful voices do everything to dismantle every progress accomplished. These are the same descendants of those that never gave up on slavery. Even after these leaders have achieved their positions by democratic votes. They replaced slavery with cheap labor, pay under the table or hire those without voices into camps diluting their wages with usury "boarding" and grocery stores within. Workers end up paying more than they earn. Western democracy is not perfect as long as we admit that and strive for reachable and higher equitable goals. Vote is a conditional choice based on probation, until the next election. Western democracy makes room for tolerance that is absent in other democratic or dictatorial governments. The choice of the people where they have a voice and participate in how they are ruled is different from those of the leaders that seize every opportunity to conjure votes. Ironically, some of the worst dictators came in through democratic votes. They manipulate their mandate for the power most of their voters did not bargain for. By the time voters realized they had elected a lunatic, the power to make amends in the following elections had been forfeited. Many times, emotional issues are raised to overwhelm most of the voters' fears that have no intellectual benefits or in terms of bread and butter issues. But emotional issues are powerful to raise distrust of others, even within the same group of people or country. The liberals have tried to walk the middle ground. They preach and try to implement progressive ideas while bridging the gap with moderate and social conservatives. A tight rope that can alienate social liberals in their own party. Indeed, conservatives have watched liberals go against one another so that they can capture the confused electorates. On the other hand, when conservatives get elected and they gain power at the top, they force arcade ideology to bring back the "good old days privileges". If they do not get their ways, they resort to violence to enforce their views in broad daylight. For the same offence like drugs or violent behavior, the poor are over represented in the correctional institutions while the privileged class are committed to the medical and mental processes. Most forms of governments want us to forget that their foundations were based on violence. They condemn violence in other countries but are almost helpless to violence if it is perpetrated by the privileged class in their communities. Violence that can never be tolerated from peaceful protesters. They use judicial and religious doctrines to justify the convoluted process for their double standard. The same process that allows swift punishment to the poor. Take a place like Afghanistan where wars and violence are waged to deprive others the basic freedom to learn like others based on gender and class. In Roots, a little girl asked the father why they do not want the slaves to learn if they were that stupid anyway. He answered that education is a double edged sword. It can cut both ways. No wonder, whenever women and Blacks have equal opportunities with the privileged class, they excel. Nobody is asking the privileged to give up anything, just demanding the opportunity to compete fairly and equally. It has always been the fear of the privileged that their children may not be able to compete. This is why they would do anything, including violence to prevent others from competing in an equal playing field. When privileged children claim it is not their fault or their generation that put them at advantage over others, it means they are not going to play by the rules in an equal playing field. Any system of government, no matter how successful by the use of violence and repression that stifled or killed competition of talented individuals, is a rigged form of market in favor of cronies. It is another form of communism for party members, certainly not capitalism.

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World Book Day and its Significance in the 21st Century Books can be best described as one of the greatest reservoir of history where knowledge is acquired and information is transferred from one generation to another and its significance in the 21st century cannot be overlooked. The history of book dated back to the 16th century where the first ever book titled: “The Book of the Dead” was produced in Egypt before the emergence of the digital form in the 21st century. Ever since the first publication, there have been a renaissance and crave for information and trends which were predominantly found in books. Hence, people started to get themselves acquainted with trends in the world of books, as there has been vast development in the mass production of books as a result of advancements in technology in recent times. Based on the fore going, World Book Day was introduced on 23 April 1995 by UNESCO. It is a one-day festival, which is celebrated in over 100 countries all over the globe. The idea of celebrating books at the end of April originally came from booksellers in Catalonia, Spain, in 1923. This was when writer Vicente Clavel Andres wanted to honour fellow Author Miguel de Cervantes who died on this date. It is also coincidentally the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. It is quite imperative to acknowledge that books have now translated from the awkward way it was centuries back to what we have it to be today; as digital books have taken over the conventional ones. Today, readers can get easy access to books of their choice online once they have aided internet facilities at their disposal. Based on observation, readers get bored easily while reading the conventional books (analogue) but get fascinated to the digital books due to its numerous features that the former fails to give its readers. In contemporary times, PDFs, Adobe readers, Ebooks among other electronic means are some of the facilities that readers employ to get access to digitalised books. World book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and reading around the world. It is a great day devoted for all book lovers all over the globe to come together to celebrate the significance of books as tool for national development and agents of change. Also, World Book Day is for schoolchildren of all ages, with the primary aim of encouraging children to explore books and the joy of reading. It is a means to influence students and get them acquainted with the world of books especially in the 21st century where books have now become the commonest tool for advocating for change in all sphere of life. Subsequently, educationists like Prof. Theodora Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, former Head, Department of English, University of Lagos and Rev. Father John Damian Adizie lending their voices on this historic day affirmed that reading culture among school children can be said to have improved a little, but mostly with international schools. According to the former, “I should say the culture is still improving but mainly in private schools. Reading culture has not really permeated in local or state schools. “We need to do more work in the local and state schools. International and private schools are trying by providing books and learning materials to help the children, but schools in the rural areas suffers some sort of neglects. “There is a need to make books available to primary and secondary public schools. “Although economic situation in the country are not really helping matters as some parents cannot afford books for their ward after paying school fees. Government has to come in to make reading materials available. “As an individual, I have made effort to donate some of my books to some schools which of course may not go around.” Speaking further, she said; “If there are libraries, people can go there and borrow books free. Government should not buy books individually for people but with libraries in the schools and cities, then such can go a long way to help. In the absence of that, government can make book available to schools free.” In his words, Rev Fr. John Damian Adizie, author of Many Youth inspirational books opined that a neglect of book or reading culture in the foundational stage of a child is an unforeseen doom and bleak future for such child. “A book is a powerful and influential weapon of knowledge acquisition. Books have influenced and inspired the lives of people. Children cannot do without books which forms their fundamental platform during developmental stage for knowledge acquisition, entertainment, imaginative and creative thinking.” Fr. Adizie said. While lamenting on the declining of reading culture among youths in Nigeria, Fr. Adizie noted that certain factors militate against that. He said: “Unfortunately, here in Nigeria and some parts of Africa our reading culture has not improved as expected, especially now that the media has taken the best part of our children. Most of them spend endless time watching movies, football matches or chatting on facebook, whatsapp and other social media network. The idea of reading book, especially literature as a hobby, is gradually fading.” Also lending her voice on the occasion of the World Book Day and Copyright Day, Ms Rina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO asserted that: “World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity to highlight the power of books to promote our vision of knowledge societies that are inclusive, pluralistic, equitable, open and participatory for all citizens.” “It is said that how a society treats its most vulnerable is a measure of its humanity. When we apply this measure to the availability of books to those with visual impairments and those with learning or physical disabilities (with different causes), we are confronted with what can only be described as a ‘book famine’. Ms Rina Bokova said. “According to the World Blind Union approximately one in every 200 people on earth- 39 million of us− cannot see. Another 246 million have severely reduced vision. These ‘visually impaired persons’ or ‘persons with print disability’ can access an estimated 10% of all written information and literary works that sighted people can read.” She said. Based on the aforementioned, it is deemed necessary to dedicate a day for the celebration of book across the globe in order to aid reading culture and in turn inculcate a sense of development in the minds of the people, the youths particularly. This shows the significant role books play in the 21st century where technology has now taken over all human endeavours. Thus, books serve as weapon for changing the world and making it the best place to live in. Going forward, World Book Day is celebrated to promote reading, publishing and copyright. It is an occasion to celebrate the contribution of books and authors to our global culture and connection between copyright and books. World Book Day is an occasion to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors. On this Day, many activities are held to promote reading and cultural aspects of books all over the world. It is an International Day that is celebrated by buying and reading some exciting and funny books from the market or popular book stores where all the favourite books based on brands, characters or authors are available. At this day, some young people including children are awarded for their better performance for novels, short stories or picture books promoting peace, tolerance, understanding and respect among each other for other cultures and traditions. A different poster is designed every year based on the particular theme of the year and distributed among people around the world. Posters are designed in such a way to encourage people and children to read more books. This year theme is “Share A Story” and adults, parents and older siblings are encouraged to participate by reading and sharing stories. The organisers will be encouraging the nation to ‘Take 10’ and recognise the positive impact that reading together for only 10 minutes a day can have on a child. As you celebrate this year theme, ensure you save a life by sharing a story. Happy World Book Day.

https:////thenationonlineng.net//world-book-day//

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By SOLA OGUNDIPE A “smart bra” known as First Warning Systems could help women discover if they have breast cancer. Lifeline Biotechnologies, the medical technology company licensing the bra, says it is capable not only of identifying breast tissue abnormalities at their earliest stages, but can also identify the general location of such abnormalities in three dimensions to each of the four quadrants of each breast. The bra is based on a novel breast health screening device and method and could become available in Europe in 2013 and then in the United States of America in 2014, at US$ 1,000 (N160,000) for a pair. Preliminary studies with the novel bra conducted in more than 650 women, resulted in an average detection of at least 90 percent. Compared with the standard mammogram, the tests averaged 70 percent accuracy. Experts say while the bra is not intended as an additional step in the breast cancer screening process, it could be an accurate identifier of early breast abnormalities which generate heat via the presence of new blood vessels that nourish the area in question,” they noted. The bra, which would be worn at a physician’s office, has 16 colour-coded sensors that are taped to the patient’s breast. The sensors would then measure temperatures at programmed times over a predetermined testing period. The data is then stored in a recording device worn by the patient. Once the test period is over, the patient then submits the device to their doctor. The sensors are removed; the data is downloaded and then analysed. Once a report is returned to the physician, the patient will be called in to discuss any clinical recommendations. Based on what is described as “disruptive technology” and tissue health science, the new breast cancer detector could become a major breakthrough in making testing easier for women, however, medical experts say more studies are required before being actively used. “Most investigational medicines and medical devices, even those based on sound scientific and technical principles are not always adopted into clinical practice. He adds that once new products are rigorously tested in clinical trials, findings show they are less effective than current practices,” noted Dr. Ted Gansler, Director of Medical Content for the American Cancer Society. Gansler states that disregarding mammography would have harmful, serious effects. “A woman who chooses any breast cancer screening test based on thermography instead of mammography would be making a serious mistake that could have fatal consequences. Major medical and public health organizations all recommend mammography and none recommend thermography or any other tests based on temperature measurements for early detection of breast cancer.” Experts believe the bra could be used as part of an overall test without replacing mammography. However they stress need for more research and studies on long-term effects of the bra. “Mammograms and the bra just screen for breast cancer. The only way to actually detect breast cancer is through a biopsy where the specimen is found in the lab” they counsel. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

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The West African lion is on the verge of extinction, according to experts after a marked decline in recent years. It is estimated that there are just 645 genetically distinct wild lions left in western and central Africa, with as few as 34 remaining in the whole of Nigeria. Now experts from conservation group LionAid say they are ‘in real danger of extinction’. According to the group, there are no lions left in 25 African countries and populations are barely surviving in ten. Clusters of lions remain in Burkina Faso, Niger, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad but are already extinct in countries such as Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Togo. Thirty years ago there were 200,000 lions roaming wild across the continent – but now there are only between 15,000 and 32,000 left. West African lions have been largely forgotten due to political apathy to conservation. Dr Pieter Kat, trustee of LionAid, told The Guardian: ‘There has been a catastrophic decline in the populations of lions in Africa, and particularly west Africa. ‘These lions have been neglected for a very long time and do not have adequate protection programs.’ He said the west of the continent is often ignored in favour of eastern Africa, leading to a decline in species. The lion is threatened by a range of factors, including loss of habitat, loss of natural prey due to poaching, ‘unsustainable levels of trophy hunting’ and human conflict. A new threat is also on the rise as lion bones are being used to supply the demands of Asian traditional medicine and tiger bones become scarce. In Nigeria, a government wildlife official told The Guardian that the number of lions in the country had dropped from 44 in 2009 to a meager of 34. Yohanna Saidu from Nigeria’s interior ministry told the newspaper, they are trying to protect the lions but admitted to being ‘very concerned’. Dr Kat said it would now be impossible to build up a population of lions in Nigeria and therefore the species should be classed as extinct as well. The picture is similar in other countries. In Senegal, the LionAid said there are just 40 lions left. The charity said there are only five ‘viable’ populations – those of 1,000 or more – lions left in the continent. Three of those are found in Tanzania and Kenya, with the remaining populations surviving in South Africa and Botswana and Zimbabwe. Recent studies on African lion populations’ show that about three-quarters of Africa’s savannah has disappeared over the past 50 years. Conservationists say it is not possible to individually count every lion in the continent, so estimates on remaining population numbers vary. However experts do agree the plight of the African lion is ‘very serious’ and want the animal to be included on the convention on international trade in endangered species list. Inclusion would mean tight protection on hunting and trade, especially important as more than 5,600 wild African lions were hunted and exported as trophies between 1999 and 2008. However, conservationists say they face strong opposition from the pro-hunting lobby. Dr Kat said: ‘We are currently paying lip service to the conservation needs of a specie which is so greatly important to our cultures, history, and indeed the health of wildlife biodiversity in Africa. ‘Lions are not only an iconic species important to very many people all over the world, but they are also a vital component of African ecosystems.’ Culled from Dailymail.co.uk

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Australia and Canada flags together relations textile cloth, fabric texture In this article, we take a look at five countries around the world that have recently altered their national anthems By Efosa Taiwo National anthems are more than just melodies and lyrics; they symbolise the history, culture, and values of a nation. In recent years, several countries have taken the bold step of revising their anthems to better reflect contemporary values and inclusivity. On Wednesday, May 29, Nigeria reinstated their old anthem as the official national anthem of the country. In that light, here is a rundown of five countries around the world that have recently altered their national anthems: Countries that have changed their national anthem Australia’s national anthem, “Advance Australia Fair,” underwent a significant change on January 1, 2021. The second line of the anthem was altered from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free.” This change aimed to acknowledge the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognizing that Australia’s history spans tens of thousands of years, far preceding European settlement. This small yet significant modification reflects Australia’s commitment to unity and reconciliation with its Indigenous population. In 2012, Austria modified its national anthem, “Land der Berge, Land am Strome” (Land of Mountains, Land by the River), to promote gender inclusivity. The original lyrics, which exclusively referenced “great sons,” were changed to “great daughters and sons.” This alteration aimed to ensure that the anthem represents all Austrians, regardless of gender, fostering a sense of equality and inclusiveness in the national narrative. Canada made a notable change to its national anthem, “O Canada,” in 2018. The line “in all thy sons command” was changed to “in all of us command.” This modification was part of an ongoing effort to make the anthem more inclusive and reflective of all Canadians, regardless of gender. The move was widely seen as a positive step towards gender neutrality and inclusivity, aligning with contemporary Canadian values. South Africa’s national anthem is unique, combining excerpts from several different languages and songs, including the hymn “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” and the former anthem “Die Stem van Suid-Afrika.” In recent years, minor changes have been made to the anthem to ensure proper pronunciation and inclusivity of all languages represented. These revisions reflect South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape and its commitment to honoring the linguistic heritage of all its people. In 1977, the Government announced (in a supplement to the New Zealand Gazette issue of 17 November) that the national anthems of New Zealand would be the traditional anthem ‘God Save The Queen’ and the poem ‘God Defend New Zealand’. From this point on the two anthems have had equal status. Following the accession of King Charles III to the throne in September 2022, the words of the first anthem changed to ‘God Save The King’. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

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Conventional lubricants are formulated based on mineral oils derived from petroleum. Mineral oils contain many classes of chemical components including aromatics, paraffins, naphthenes, sulfur and nitrogen species, etc, and its composition is determined primarily by the crude source. Un-additized mineral oils may be good for general purpose use, but are not optimized for any performance feature. However, conventional mineral oils composed of Group II oils, using the latest refining and extraction techniques, offer advantages not seen in oils from the 1940’s through the 1970’s. In order to set the stage, let us first review the basic API Groups of base oils and discuss their basic refining and crude oil processing techniques. Section I: Group I through 3 base oils. [Definition of Wax: Wax is a large hydrocarbon molecule that prevents oil from flowing at colder temperatures; paraffin, a flammable, whitish, translucent, waxy solid consisting of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, and obtained by distillation from petroleum or shale and used in candles, cosmetics, polishes, and sealing and waterproofing compounds; In chemistry, paraffin is used synonymously with alkane, indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2]. [Definition of Catalyst: A substance that participates in chemical reactions by increasing the rate of reaction, yet the catalyst remains intact after the reaction is complete]. In the past, two-thirds of the base oil in North America were manufactured using solvent refining. Solvent refined base oils are commonly called Group I base oils which are characterized as those having less than 90% saturates (>10% aromatics) and more than 300 ppm sulfur. The solvents and hardware used to manufacture solvent-refined base oils have changed over time, but the basic strategy has not changed since 1930. The two main processing steps are: - Remove aromatics by solvent extraction. - Remove wax by chilling and precipitation in the presence of a different solvent. Aromatics are removed by solvent extraction to improve the lubricating quality of the oil. Aromatics make good solvents but they make poor quality base oils because they are among the most reactive components in the natural lube boiling range. Oxidation of aromatics can start a chain reaction that can dramatically shorten the useful life of a base oil. The viscosity of aromatic components in a base oil also responds relatively poorly to changes in temperature. Lubricants are often designed to provide a viscosity that is low enough for good cold weather starting and high enough to provide adequate film thickness and lubricity in hot, high-severity service. Therefore, when hot and cold performance is required, a small response to changes in temperature is desired. The lubricants industry expresses this response as the viscosity index (V.I.). A higher V.I. indicates a smaller, more favorable response to temperature. Correspondingly, many turbine manufacturers have a minimum V.I. specification for their turbine oils. Base oil selection is key for meeting this specification because turbine oil additives do not normally contribute positively to the V.I. in turbine oil formulations. Aromatics are removed by feeding the raw lube distillate (vacuum gas oil) into a solvent extractor where it is contacted countercurrently with a solvent. Popular choices of solvent are furfural, n-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and DUO-SOL™. Phenol was another popular solvent but it is rarely used today due to environmental concerns. Solvent extraction typically removes 50-80% of the impurities (aromatics, polars, sulfur and nitrogen containing species). The resulting product of solvent extraction is usually referred to as a raffinate. The second step is solvent dewaxing. Wax is removed from the oil to keep it from freezing. Wax is removed by first diluting the raffinate with a solvent to lower its viscosity to improve low-temperature filterability. Popular dewaxing solvents are methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK)//toluene, MEK//methyl-isobutyl ketone, or (rarely) propane. The diluted oil is then chilled to -10 to -200C. Wax crystals form, precipitate, and are removed by filtration. Hydrotreating (Predominately Group I) Hydrotreating was developed in the 1950s and first used in base oil manufacturing in the 1960s by Amoco and others. It was used as an additional “cleanup” step added to the end of a conventional solvent refining process. Hydrotreating is a process for adding hydrogen to the base oil at elevated temperatures in the presence of catalyst to stabilize the most reactive components in the base oil, improve color, and increase the useful life of the base oil. This process removed some of the nitrogen and sulfur containing molecules but was not severe enough to remove a significant amount of aromatic molecules. Hydrotreating was a small improvement in base oil technology that would become more important later. Hydrocracking (Predominately Group II) Hydrocracking is a more severe form of hydroprocessing. It is done by adding hydrogen to the base oil feed at even higher temperatures and pressures than simple hydrotreating. Feed molecules are reshaped and often cracked into smaller molecules. A great majority of the sulfur, nitrogen, and aromatics are removed. Molecular reshaping of the remaining saturated species occurs as naphthenic rings are opened and paraffin isomers are redistributed, driven by thermodynamics with reaction rates facilitated by catalysts. Clean fuels are byproducts of this process. Chevron commercialized this technology for fuels production in the late 1950’s. In 1969 the first hydrocracker for Base Oil Manufacturing was commercialized in Idemitsu Kosan Company’s Chiba Refinery using technology licensed by Gulf. This was followed by Sun Oil Company’s Yabucoa Refinery in Puerto Rico in 1971, also using Gulf technology. Group II base oils are differentiated from Group I base oils because they contain significantly lower levels of impurities (<10% aromatics, <300 ppm S). They also look different. Group II oils are so pure that they have almost no color at all. From a performance standpoint, improved purity means that the base oil and the additives in the finished product can last much longer. More specifically, the oil is more inert and forms less oxidation byproducts that increase base oil viscosity and react with additives. Catalytic Dewaxing and Wax Hydroisomerization Group III [Definition: ISODEWAXING™: A patented process developed by Chevron which includes the catalytic hydroprocessing steps of Hydrocracking, Hydroisomerization, and Hydrotreating to produce Group III oils]. [Definition: isomerization; the chemical process by which a compound is transformed into any of its isomeric forms, i.e., forms with the same chemical composition but with different structure or configuration and, hence, generally with different physical and chemical properties; the process by which one molecule is transformed into another molecule which has exactly the same atoms, but the atoms have a different arrangement.The first catalytic dewaxing and wax hydroisomerization technologies were commercialized in the 1970s. Shell used wax hydroisomerization technology coupled with solvent dewaxing to manufacture extra high V.I. base oils in Europe. Exxon and others built similar plants in the 1990s. In the U.S., Mobil used catalytic dewaxing in place of solvent dewaxing, but still coupled it with solvent extraction to manufacture conventional oils. Catalytic dewaxing was a desirable alternative to solvent dewaxing especially for conventional neutral oils, because it removed n-paraffins and waxy side chains from other molecules by catalytically cracking them into smaller molecules. This process lowered the pour point of the base oil so that it flowed at low temperatures, like solvent dewaxed oils. Hydroisomerization also saturated the majority of remaining aromatics and removed the majority of remaining sulfur and nitrogen species. Chevron was the first to combine catalytic dewaxing with hydrocracking and hydrofinishing in their Richmond, California base oil plant in 1984. This was the first commercial demonstration of an all-hydroprocessing route for lube base oil manufacturing. In 1993, the first modern wax hydroisomerization process was commercialized by Chevron. This was an improvement over earlier catalytic dewaxing because the pour point of the base oil was lowered by isomerizing (reshaping) the n-paraffins and other molecules with waxy side chains into very desirable branched compounds with superior lubricating qualities rather than cracking them away. Hydroisomerization was also an improvement over earlier wax hydroisomerization technology, because it eliminated the subsequent solvent dewaxing step, which was a requirement for earlier generation wax isomerization technologies to achieve adequate yield at standard pour points. Modern wax hydroisomerization makes products with exceptional purity and stability due to extremely high degree of saturation. They are very distinctive because, unlike other base oils, they typically have no color. By combining three catalytic hydroprocessing steps (Hydrocracking, Hydroisomerization, Hydrotreating), molecules with poor lubricating qualities are reshaped into higher quality base oil molecules. Pour point, V.I., and oxidation stability are controlled independently. All three steps convert undesirable molecules into desirable ones, rather than have one, two, or all three steps rely on subtraction. Among the many benefits of this combination of processes is greater crude oil flexibility; that is, less reliance on a narrow range of crude oils from which to make high-quality base oils. In addition, the base oil performance is exceptionally favorable and substantially independent of crude source, unlike solvent-refined base oil. So base oils with a “conventional” V.I. (80-119) are Group II. Base oils with an “unconventional” V.I. (120+) are Group III. Group III oils have also been called unconventional base oils (UCBOs) or very high V.I. (VHVI) base oils. Modern Group III oils have greatly improved oxidation stability and low temperature performance. Consequently, many group I or II plants are now being upgraded to enable them to make the modern hydroisomerized Group III oils. Modern Group III oils today can be designed and manufactured so that their performance closely matches PAOs in most commercially finished lube applications. From a processing standpoint, modern Group III base oils are manufactured by essentially the same processing route as modern Group II base oils. Higher V.I. is achieved by increasing the temperature or time in the hydrocracker. This is sometimes collectively referred to as the “severity.” Alternatively, the product V.I. could be increased simply by increasing the feed V.I., which is typically done by selecting the appropriate crude. Summary of Section I: So up to this point, we see that Group I to III base oils (excepting GTL, below) result from a succession of steps defined by the severity of processing and the catalyzation of crude oil. I.e., the “reshaping of molecules via catalytic action.” Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) base oils: The API classifies GTL base oils as Group III or unofficially it has been called, “Group III+.” It is this author’s view that the GTL process results in a “synthesized” oil and should be given a separate API classification as they do PAO, or moved to the Group V classification. A separate, future debate can address this issue and will not be further discussed here in this white paper. Section II: Synthetic Base Oils group IV and V [Definition: Chemical Synthesis; the process of constructing complex chemical compounds from selected, simpler ones; it is applied to all types of chemical compounds, but most syntheses are of organic molecules; chemical synthesis involves the combination of two or more selected atoms (or molecules) to make a finished and predictable product]. [Definition: Synthetic Lubricant; a lubricant made by the process of chemical synthesis in contrast to the successive refinement or extraction of mineral oils]. Since many chemical substances do not occur naturally, or in enough quantity or purity for commercialization, we resort to chemical synthesis to make new products. For example aspirin is made by synthesis using an esterification reaction. Salicylic acid is treated with acetic anhydride, an acid derivative, causing a chemical reaction that turns salicylic acid’s hydroxyl group into an ester group (R-OH → R-OCOCH3). This process yields aspirin and acetic acid, which is considered a byproduct of this reaction. Small amounts of a specific acid are always used as a catalyst. (D. R. Palleros, Experimental Organic Chemistry. New York: John Wiley & Sons. (2000)). During a chemical synthesis, we refer to the starting materials as the reactants. Think of the reactants as your basic building blocks; they are your atoms (or molecules) that are absolutely required to complete any chemical synthesis reaction. The type of product made varies and is dependent on the reactants. When the atoms (or molecules) combine, they will form a product. What drives this ability to make a product, using reactants, is a chemical reaction, a process that is driving the formation of a product using different starting materials, or reactants. With chemical syntheses, these processes generally only go in one direction. A synthetic chemical is then made from the ground up in the laboratory or the chemical processing plant by the process of synthesis, as differentiated from refinement or extraction. A synthetic base oil is produced from well-defined, carefully chosen chemical compounds, and by a specific chain of chemical reactions. A molecularly engineered base stock is optimized for viscosity index, pour point, volatility, oxidative stability, flash point, shear stability, and other desirable properties. Classified as API Group IV and Group V base oils. The use of the word “synthetic” in the lubricants industry has historically been synonymous with polymerized base oils such as poly-alpha olefins (PAOs), Esters, and other synthesized base oils, such as alkylated naphthalenes (AN), which are made from selected starting atoms or molecules. Some authors have stated that the term “synthetic” was given a special meaning by the lubricants industry because these types of oils were the only components available for high-performance lubricants at that time. This is purely an attempt to obfuscate the issue. Since PAO (Group IV) and Ester base oils (Group IV) are synthesized base oils, what better phrase to use than, “Synthetic Lubricant?” Other authors and marketing media have attempted to further obfuscate the issue by using the word, “Performance,” in advertising media, as if ‘performance” somehow equaled “synthetic.” While Group III base oils approach the characteristics of Group IV base oils, “performance” is not a chemistry term, but rather an ambiguous term used by marketing. In an attempt to further clarify the issue, finished engine oils (base oils plus additives) are NOT to be placed into any base group, as has been attempted by our beloved and uneducated marketing folks. In academia and in the chemical industry, the term “synthetic” never meant anything different than the definition given above. The first commercially viable process for making Group IV PAO was pioneered by Gulf Oil in 1951 using an AlCl3 catalyst. Mobil patented an improved process using a BF3//AlCl3 catalyst in the 1960s. [Definition: Polymerization; the process of forming a repeating chain molecule].[Definition: Monomer; A monomer is a molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers; Monomers may bind to other monomers as well. Monomers may be either natural or synthetic in origin and form a repeating chain molecule via a process called polymerization]. [Definition: Oligomers; Oligomers are polymers consisting of a small number (typically under one hundred) of monomer subunits]. [Definition: Oligimerization; a chemical process that converts monomers to macromolecular complexes through a finite degree of polymerization]. [Definition: Olefin; an alkene, or unsaturated hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH2n. The simplest olefin is ethylene (ethene) gas, H2C=CH2 or simply, C2H4]. PAO’s are the workhorses of synthetic and Blend lubricating oils, comprising greater than 45% of the synthetic base oil market. For PAO synthesis, the starting olefins (see above definition) can be is 1-Decene, (C10H20), or 1-Dodecene, or 1-Tetradecene. 1-Decene, or 1-Dodecene, or 1-Tetradecene liquids are produced by the oligomerization of the simpler ethylene gas molecule. It is one of the many Linear Alpha-Olefins (LAOs) used in the growth process to finally yield LAOs. [Note: 1-Decene liquid has a kinematic viscosity of 1.013 cSt@20C, the 1-Dodecene liquid has a kinematic viscosity of 1.6 cSt@20C, and the 1-Tetradecene liquid has a kinematic viscosity of 5.9 cSt@20C! Compare to the viscosity of water which has a kinematic viscosity of 1.0034 cSt@20C].The 1-Decene, or 1-Dodecene, or 1-Tetradecene liquids becomes a PAO liquid by polymerization (the linking together of monomers) using the Friedel-Crafts process. This process uses a catalyst, specific temperature conditions, and specific pressures to give rise to the higher olefin oligomers, such as the C20 through C70 olefins. The degree of polymerization is dependent upon the type of catalyst used. For example, a Boron Triflouride (BF3) catalyst gives low viscosity base stocks from about 2.4 to 8.0 cSt. An Aluminum Trichloride (AlCl3) catalyst will produce higher viscosity PAOs from 10 cSt on up. The final process in the PAO synthesis is to introduce hydrogen at specific temperatures and pressures to create a fully saturated hydrocarbon. This hydrogenation process enhances the oxidation stability of the PAO. So the PAO development process is essentially: ethylene gas >> 1-Decene, or 1-Dodecene, or 1-Tetradecene liquid monomer >> Oligimerization into liquid polymers >> Hydrogenation of polymer >> Finished PAO. PAO’s offer improved viscosimetrics’ (higher Viscosity Indices), lower volativities (decreased oil consumption), higher heat conduction (approximately 10% greater thermal energy transfer), and improved oxidation stability (longer drain intervals) over Group I to III mineral oils. Esters are a class of synthesized products derived from the chemical reactions of selected alcohols and acids. [Definition: Hydrolysis; a chemical reaction that causes a substance, in the presence of water, to split into two parts. In such reactions, one fragment of the target molecule (or parent molecule) gains a hydrogen ion].Esters occur naturally in many plant and animal species. However, unprocessed plant and animal oils also contain other products that tend to increase oxidation and lead to degradation, and therefore are not suitable for lubricants in their unmodified states. Many plant and animal oils are processed such that after pressing and or chemical extraction, the acids are separated from the other products. The resulting acids are then reacted with selected alcohols to produce an ester with characteristics and qualities far superior to unmodified plant and animal oils. Ester starting materials are also made from chemicals derived from petroleum refining processes. (See also, Esters General This forum Post for a review of Esters in synthetic lubricants). For example, a very useful ester in additive chemistry is the ZDDP molecule, whose function is as an Anti-Wear (AW) and Oxidation Inhibitor (OI). Members of the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate category are substances prepared by reacting phosphorous pentasulfide (P2S5) with one or more primary or secondary C3-C10 branched or linear alcohols to form the phosphorodithioic acid ester. The only exception is the alkaryl dithiophosphate where the alcohol moiety is tetrapropenylphenol. The dithiophosphoric acid ester is further diluted with 10-15 wt-% highly refined lubricating base oil (typical CAS #s 64742-54-7 and 64741-88-4) before it is neutralized with zinc oxide. The oil acts as a solvent in the neutralization reaction, manages the viscosity of the final product and improves consistency. The zinc complex that is formed upon neutralization is not a salt in the traditional sense, since the Zn-S bond is more coordinate covalent in character than ionic. (American Chemistry Council Publication 210-144870). There are about 15 versions of ZDDP chemistry. In fact, many other additive chemistries are esters or in an esterified form. Synthetic Group V base oils include (but not limited to), esters (dibasic and polyol), alkylated benzenes (ABs), alkylated napthalenes (ANs), Polyisobutylenes (PIBs), phosphate esters, silicones, PAG’s (especially oil soluble PEGs or OSPs), and other similar synthesized lubricants not including Group IV. Note: Not all oils in the Group V category are synthesized oils. We are limiting our discussion to those Group V oils that are made by the synthesis process. Ester’s and PAO’s are often used in blending stocks to improve the characteristics of Group I through III base oils. Esters offer advantages to base oil mixes such as improved solvency of additives, improved sludge dispersancy, lower friction coefficient, improved bio-degradeability, and improved thermal stability. One of the first companies to successfully market a majority, ester-based finished oil was the Amsoil Corporation. (Remember, I said, “successfully”). This was a di-ester based finished oil that was formulated and packaged by the Hatco Corporation, a pioneer in the production of a wide range of various ester base oils. As the price of esters increased, and reached a certain Return-on-Investment (ROI) point, Amsoil and other companies began formulating finished products containing PAO’s with esters and other Group V base oils such as AN’s. Due to the possibility of hydrolysis in some esters, Group V alykylated naphthalenes (AN’s) are often used alone or in combination with esters in majority Synthetic formulations. Summary of Section II: While Group III base oils have many positive characteristics that approach Group IV and V oils, Groups IV and V are truly synthesized oils using selected starting atoms or molecules, with specific and predictable outcomes. So hopefully, we have at least clarified the issue somewhat regardless of which side of the issue you may tilt. Section III: Discussion, Opinions, and Summary [Definition: Finished lubricant; a lubricant in which a series of selected base oils have been blended with a performance improvement additive package such that the final product shows definitive improvements over the base oils alone]. Hopefully, the above sections have provided the reader with enough background information so that he or she can now make an informed decision as to what is a synthetic oil and what is not. However, it is important to note a number of facts about modern finished lubricants. - todays finished lubricants are composed of various viscosities of base oils and of various Groups of base oils to exhibit targeted characteristics in specific environments and applications, - performance improvement additive packages differ from one specific application to another, - it is the complete, finished overall package and not the specific base oil or oils, that constitute the final quality and performance of that lubricant. Marketing propaganda and media hype will always attempt to persuade you that a certain product has an advantage over another. This is a simply a fact in terms of competition among manufactures. Neither the NAD//BBB decision nor the PQIA stamp will solve this chaos. PQIA is going in the right direction but more needs to be done. However, unless we come to grips with definitive statements and guidelines as to what is a synthetic lubricant is, and what is not, confusion will only continue. Standards’ groups and committees such as the API, SAE, the S.T.L.E., ILMA and others should address the goal of clarification and meet this issue head on. As for labeling, I would suggest the following labeling standards for base oil percentages using only three categories, based on a 75% content for base oils with the rest allowed for additive content: Automotive Full Synthetic Lubricant: 50% Group IV OR 50% GTL WITH the remaining 25% containing any combination of Group V components. Tolerance +, – 10% for improvements in base oil technology. Automotive Synthetic Blend: 40% of Group II WITH the remaining 35% containing any combination of Groups III, GTL, IV and V. Tolerance +, – 15% for improvements in base oil technology. Automotive Conventional: 60% Group II WITH the remaining 15% containing any combination of Groups III, GTL, IV and V. Tolerance +, – 20% for improvements in base oil technology. Thanks to the many BITOG members and colleagues who suggested additional comments and corrections. Many thanks to my “editor,” Mrs. MolaKule, for proofreading and for her help in the “stoichiometrics’” of chemistry. Much of the information in Section I was derived from Reference 1. Much of the information in Section II was derived from References 7 and 8. 1. Kramer, D. C., Lok, B. K., Krug, R. R., “The Evolution of Base Oil Technology,” Turbine Lubrication in the 21st Century, ASTM STP #1407, W. R. Herguth and T. M. Warne, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, West, Conshohocken, PA, 2001. 2. D. R. Palleros, Experimental Organic Chemistry. New York: John Wiley & Sons. (2000). 3. Freidel-Krafts Process, retrieved from, 4. W. Brown, C. Foot, B. Anderson, Organic Chemistry, Thompson, (2005). 5. T. Engel and P. Reid, Physical Chemistry, Pearson, (2006). 6. American Chemistry Council, various Publications 7. Synthetic Lubricant Base Stock Processes and Products, Retrieved from, https:////www.researchgate.net//publication…es_and_Products 8. Journal of Synthetic Lubricants, various issues.

http:////www.bobistheoilguy.com//

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By Femi Aribisala Jesus was born on the Feast of Tabernacles. He was not born on “Christmas Day.” Jesus was not born on December 25. That is the date of a pagan festival of the sun god Tammuz merged with Christianity under Constantine. However, the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles. Coming of Elijah Zachariah, John the Baptist’s father, was ministering in the Temple when an angel told him he would have a son. He belonged to “the priestly group of Abijah.” (Luke 1:5). Abijah was eighth in line according to the Jewish time-table for priests ministering in the Temple: “The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah.” (1 Chronicles 24:7-10). That means Zechariah would have been ministering in the Temple in June, when it was officially the turn of Abijah. If his wife therefore conceived in June, John the Baptist would have been born around March the next year during the Passover. It is the Jewish tradition to reserve a special glass of wine for Elijah during the Passover meal, in expectation of his attendance. So it makes sense for John the Baptist to be born during the Passover. The angel told Zachariah John the Baptist would come “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” (Luke 1:17). Indeed, Jesus confirms that John the Baptist is the expected Elijah. He told the disciples: “‘Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:11-13). Birth of the Messiah If John the Baptist was born during the Passover, then Jesus must have been born during the Feast of Tabernacles. There are six months between both feasts, and we are told Mary became pregnant six months after John’s mother, Elizabeth: “(Zechariah’s) wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, ‘What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.’ One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary.” (Luke 1:24-27). “Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son.” (Luke 1:36). Think about it. Does it not make perfect sense that “the light of the world” should be born during the “Festival of Lights;” when lamps illuminate the entire city of Jerusalem? That is the Feast of Tabernacles. It is also known as “the Season of our Joy;” so it makes sense for the angel to tell the shepherds he brings “good tidings of great joy” concerning Jesus’ birth during the joyful season of the Feast of Tabernacles: The angel said: “Behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11). Quite appropriately, the Feast of Tabernacles is the only Jewish festival which is for “all people,” both Jews and non-Jews. It is for all the families of the earth: “It shall be, everyone who is left of all the nations which came up against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be, whoever will not come up from all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, even on them shall be no rain.” (Zechariah 14:16-19). The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as “the Festival of the Nations;” showing it is not exclusively for the Jewish nation. All the men of Israel are required to come to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles: “Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles.” (Deuteronomy 16:16). This means Jerusalem becomes filled up with visitors during the festival, and they spill over into the surrounding regions including Bethlehem, which is only about five miles away. As a result, there is likely to be a shortage of guest-houses in Bethlehem; accounting for the difficulty of Mary and Joseph in finding suitable accommodation. Tabernacle of God In writing about the incarnation of Jesus, John employs the terminology of tabernacles. He says the Word became flesh and “tabernacled” among us. (John 1:14). Indeed, one of Jesus’ spiritual names means “God with us:” “‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:22-23). It therefore makes sense that God would choose to come down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to tabernacle with men during the Feast of Tabernacles. It is also quite conceivable that the wise men from the east were Jewish rabbis, anticipating the coming of the Messiah according to Daniel’s prophecy. (Daniel 9:24). At the time of Jesus’ birth, the largest Jewish population was not in Palestine but in Babylon, where they had been carried into exile by Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon is east of Palestine; and a “magi” or wise man is another expression for a “rabbi.” Daniel for example, who was named Belteshazzar, was regarded as one of the magi of his time. (Daniel 4:9). Star of Bethlehem During the seven-days of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish families live in booths built with branches of trees. It is customary to leave a hole in the roof so as to be able to look at the stars at night. Therefore, the Feast of Tabernacles is the perfect time for Jewish magi east of Palestine to notice the appearance of the star of Bethlehem. That is why it is important to note that the magi did not get to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth, as erroneously portrayed on Christmas cards. By the time they arrived, Jesus was already a young child: “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” (Matthew 2:9). It must have taken them up to two years to get there, which is why, in the bid to kill Jesus, Herod killed all the children in Bethlehem from two years old and under: “When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16). All this point to one thing. Jesus was born on the Feast of Tabernacles. He was not born on “Christmas Day.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http:////www.vanguardngr.com//2015//12//jesus-was-not-born-on-december-25//

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The Big Bang Theory is the term used to describe a possible model of the evolution of the universe that began with a single, super-dense point that suddenly expanded, approximately 13.7 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since. The theory is an attempt to explain what happened at the beginning of spacetime dealing with the first fraction of a second of creation. Furthermore, the Big Bang theory states that space and time did not exist until the singularity expanded. Origins of the Big Bang Theory The Big Bang theory was first postulated by a Belgian priest named Georges Lemaitre in 1927.1 Soon after, Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) observed in 1929 that the galaxies are moving away in all directions. Logically, if they are moving away from each other, then they had to have a starting place. Evidence of the Big Bang The evidences of the big bang are several.2 - Radio astronomers have observed what they call the cosmic microwave background radiation (1964) which is a way of detecting the leftover heat from the Big Bang expansion. - Redshift of the galaxies. This means that as galaxies move away, the light frequency from them moves towards the red spectrum. This supports the Big Bang expansion model. - since the further out the galaxies are, the further back in time we can observe. These distant galaxies appear to be early in their formation which is consistent with the Big Bang model. - The abundance of hydrogen and helium are also thought to support the Big Bang model. However, it is worth noting that not all scientists agree with the Big Bang theory. It seems to be the held by most, but not all. Alternative theories are the steady-state theory, the cyclical model, and the Ekpyrotic Model. Problems with the Big Bang Model Some of the problems with the Big Bang are as follows.3 - The Horizon Problem deals with the temperature of photons in different parts of the universe. - The Flatness Problem deals with the flatness of the universe as it relates to space-time. - The Monopole problem deals with the big thing event creating a magnetic particle with a single-pole - The Big Bang seems to violate the first law of thermodynamics which says you cannot create or destroy matter or energy. - For a list of 30 problems go to spaceandmotion.com//cosmology//top-30-problems-big-bang-theory.htm What caused the Big Bang? All events have causes. So what caused the Big Bang to happen in the first place? Scientists don’t know. So far, it is beyond the capability of science to ascertain. Mathematicians have sought to provide an answer, but no proof of what occurred has been offered. But, whatever caused the Big Bang, it had to logically precede the beginning of the universe and had to have the capability of initiating the effect. This implies a huge potentiality within the cause which, it would seem, would be greater than the effect. The Big Bang and the Bible Genesis 1:1–3, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” In my opinion, there is nothing in the Big Bang origins theory that contradicts Scripture – unless an adherent would deny that God had a hand in it. We know that God is the creator of the universe. Just as science and archaeology have routinely supported biblical truths, there is nothing problematic with the idea of scientists stating that the universe had a sudden beginning. This is the issue within the Big Bang idea that is consistent with the Bible. However, the age of the universe can be problematic in light of scriptural revelation which speaks of six days of creation. Are those days literal or not? The debate continues within Christianity. Nevertheless, the purpose of this article is not to discuss the age of the universe in relationship to scriptural revelation. But, I can say that I do not affirm that the universe is billions of years old. The Big Bang is the most predominantly held model for the beginning and history of the universe. Of course, it cannot account for the cause. Furthermore, if the Big Bang model posits a sudden beginning of the universe, then that is consistent with the Bible. 1↑ | spaceplace.nasa.gov//big-bang//en and nationalgeographic.com//science//space//universe//origins-of-the-universe// | 2↑ | big-bang-theory.com and schoolsobservatory.org//learn//astro//cosmos//bigbang//bb_evid | 3↑ | realclearscience.com//blog//2016//05//three_problems_with_the_big_bang.html and science.howstuffworks.com//dictionary//astronomy-terms//big-bang-theory7.htm |

https:////carm.org//what-is-the-bibleThe

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Ten daily habits that damage the brain By Fasanmi Abiola The human brain is the most important organ of our body and we all fail to think it also requires exercise or training and nutrition to function well. Thus, forming good habits and avoiding the following bad habits will prevent brain damage and keep it healthy. Here are 10 brain-damaging activities that you must stop doing for better functioning of the brain: 1. Skipping breakfast Our brain needs appropriate nutrients at the appropriate time to function at its best. Due to a fast paced lifestyle, most of us avoid or end up skipping breakfast to save some time. This leads to low sugar supply and poor nutrient supply to the brain. The brain needs pure glucose to function. Poor nutrition can have long term harmful effects on the brain like degeneration of the brain cells. 2. Lack of sleep Sleep deprivation hinders the brain’s ability to perform normally. If you have ever lost your way home or forgotten your keys somewhere and cannot recollect where, then lack of sleep has probably been behind this temporary memory loss. Sleep deprivation leads to cognitive issues. Without enough sleep, certain brain cells die and it then becomes harder for you to remember things. Psychological issues can also crop up due to bad sleep or sleep disturbances. So make sure you get your daily dose of 7 hours of beauty, as well brain-friendly sleep. It’s said that, “too much of anything is bad”. The same applies to our brain too. We tend to overeat, if the brain is not functioning normally and vice versa, over-eating leads to brain damage. Over-eating leads to deposition of cholesterol plaques and thickening of blood vessels of the brain causing reduced blood supply to brain cells. This can cause serious damage to the normal functioning of the brain. It is found that overeating leads to Alzheimer’s disease. Over-eating leads to obesity which in turn damages our self-image and self-confidence and can lead to depression and other psychological problems. Read Also: How to totally eliminate rats in our homes 4. Eating sugary foods Knowingly or sometimes unknowingly, we all consume sugar in most of our food and beverages. High consumption of refined sugar is known to destroy the ability of the brain and body to absorb proteins and nutrients. Poor nutrition will lead to malnourishment and brain disorders like poor memory, learning disorders, hyperactivity and depression. So, the next time you add a large coke to your happy meal, think again because it’s loaded with nearly 20 spoonfuls of sugar! This is probably one of the most harmful habits that we indulge in, as smoking not only causes lung diseases or heart diseases, it also leads to shrinkage of multiple cells in the brain and can lead to problems like dementia, Alzheimer’s and maybe even death. Excessive smoking indirectly causes neuro-inflammation which can cause an autoimmune disorder called Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 6. Covering the head while sleeping Sleeping with the head covered leads to increase in concentration of carbon dioxide and it further reduces the oxygen concentration in the blood. If the oxygen supply is poor, the brain functioning capacity reduces. You may feel suffocated and sleep deprived leading to fatigue and drowsiness. 7. No exercise Exercise makes you more flexible and increases mobility. Without enough exercise the mobility and brain’s power of movement reduces, and decreases stability and motor skills. Studies have shown exercise help to keep us younger by releasing happy hormones called endorphins. Not just the brain, but exercise strengthens your heart and lungs too. Do you need more reason to exercise? 8. Consuming alcohol The greater the percentage of alcohol, higher is the number of cells that die in the brain. Alcohol leads to chemical imbalances when continued for longer durations and large quantities. Brain volume decreases due to chronic alcohol intake. Anything more than 2 units// day for men and 1 unit// day for women is excess alcohol. 9. Playing loud music with earphones or headphones Listening to music at a very high volume with your earphones or headphones might damage your hearing abilities permanently. It can result in some brain problems such as loss of memory and damage to your brain tissue in the coming future. This is because brain is the one, which takes efforts to comprehend what is being said around you. If you apply excess pressure on your brain, it’s sure to get damaged. 10. Premature stress Stress is part of everyone’s life. Certain amount of stress related to work or family is a part and parcel of life. Stress of completing work on time or winning a competition is a healthy expression of stress. But when stress goes beyond your capacity to cope, it hinders the normal functioning of the brain and makes you feel low, depressed, angry, irritable, and sleepless. If you feel one or more of these emotions too often, it is time to seek help with a counselor or move away from things that are causing stress.

https:////thenationonlineng.net//ten-daily-habits-that-damage-the-brain//

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Gossip is something said by one person to another, in a private forum, which cannot easily be substantiated or verified by the message receiver. Kurland and Peled (2000) defined gossip as “informal and evaluative talk in an organization, usually among no more than a few individuals, about another member of that organization who is not present” (p. 429). Gossip is a double edged sword. It has benefits and demerits but the negative side would be examined in this article. The word gossip originates from Old English, where it originally referred to “god-sibbs.” God-sibbs were godparents, often known for engaging in small talk about the children and other distant relatives at christenings and other family events. The term later evolved into “idle talk” and was typically associated with women who engaged in such behavior (Rysman, 1977; Oluwole, 2009). Figure 1. Basic Structure of a Gossip Episode Source: Eder, D and Enke, J.L. (1991). The Structure of Gossip: Opportunities and Constraints on Collective Expression among people. Oluwole (2009) noticed that everyday, scores of people flock internet for web surfing. Mostly, they patronize blogs, emails, messengers and the like for tapping and sharing information on sundry issues. Part of their discussion is on or about someone else. The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of internet based computer is an essential skill for life. Internet capability encompasses not only the mastery of technical skills and techniques, but also the understanding to apply these skills purposefully, safely and responsibly in learning, everyday life and employment. There is no gainsaying that internet use is fundamental to participation and engagement in modern society. The effective use of internet enables rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures, and allows individuals to collaborate and exchange information on a wide scale. The problem however, is the thrills brought by the computer use has also opened the door to various unwholesome and perverse use by people. Gossip is rampant in most workplaces. Sometimes, it seems as if people have nothing better to do than gossip about each other. They talk about the company, their coworkers, and their managers. They frequently take a partial truth and turn it into a whole speculative truth. They speculate about the company’s future, whether coworkers will get fired, and what other employees are doing in their personal lives outside of work. In short, employees are capable of gossiping about anything—and they do—in a workplace that fails to manage gossiping employees. Managers and Gossiping Employees Many managers turn a blind eye to employee gossip (or worse, participate in it). It results in low employee morale and a toxic culture. In one company, employees knew that the minute they shared information with their marketing manager, he would share it in his one-on-one meetings with every other coworker. The department’s morale was low, and the gossip made the employees distrust each other and not share anything with their manager—all of it the manager’s doing. Many employees gossip about the amount of money they make—and often, they don’t tell the truth. So, unhappy coworkers beat a path to the Human Resources’ door asking about their own salary. By law, companies cannot prohibit employees from discussing their salaries, although many companies do have such policies. Their intention is to avoid problems, but they are violating the law in so doing. Employers may not restrict employee discussions about salary. When to Act Expect a certain amount of gossip; people want to know what is going on in their workplace, and they like to discuss work issues. The key is to know when the gossip is out-of-hand. You need to act if the gossip is: - disrupting the workplace and the business of work, - hurting employees’ feelings, - damaging interpersonal relationships, or - injuring employee motivation and morale. If you find yourself having to address gossip frequently, you may want to examine your workplace to understand the consistent themes in the gossip. Consider that you may not be sharing enough information with employees. It is also possible that employees don’t trust you and are afraid to ask about important topics. When employees don’t trust their manager or feel that they lack information, they make up information to fill in the blanks. That information is often false, but people may believe it and make decisions based on that information. Or they speculate which can also damage decision making. The results can be terrible and damaging to employees’ careers and company morale. For instance, if employees hear rumors of layoffs, they may start looking for new jobs and leave when in reality, their jobs were not under threat. Turnover can be very expensive. If gossip has not been managed in the past, gossip tends to become a negative aspect of your work culture. So, don’t let negative gossip go unaddressed. If employees are talking about other employees in a negative manner, it can have serious consequences. Frequently, in a toxic gossip culture, there is a small group of employees who cause problems. They often have power and bully other employees and often can bully the boss. How to Manage Gossip You can manage gossip exactly as you would manage any other negative behavior from an employee in your workplace. Use a coaching approach, when possible, to help the employee improve his or her behavior. Gossip is often a life-long habit and breaking it can take a great deal of effort. Managers who ignore gossip can destroy a department. But, when needed, gossip management starts with a serious talk between the employee and the manager or supervisor. If discussion of the negative impacts of the employee’s gossip does not affect subsequent behavior, begin the process of progressive discipline with a verbal warning, then a formal written, verbal warning for the employee’s personnel file. You absolutely should fire an employee who continues gossiping after participating in coaching. One toxic person can drive your good employees out, especially if they see that the behavior is going unaddressed. If you assertively deal with gossip, you will create a work culture and environment that does not support gossip. You need to answer your employees’ questions directly and honestly to avoid work-related gossip. If the gossip is personal, you must go to the employees in question and make it clear that their coworkers are not an appropriate topic. “Who gossips to you will gossip of you.” -Turkish proverb Heathfield, S.M. 2019. How to Manage Gossip at Work. thebalancecareers.com Oluwole, D.A. (2009). Spirituality, Gender and Age Factors in Cyber-Gossip Among Nigerian Adolescents. Journal of CyberPsychology and Behavior. Vol. 12. No. 3: 323-326pp. doi:10.1089/cpb.2008.0285

https://www.positivepsychology.org.ng/managing-gossip-at-work

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Women may ovulate more than once a month, suggests a Canadian study that overturns conventional views on the human menstrual cycle. The findings may explain why the rhythm method of contraception is so unreliable and could lead to improved, targeted fertility treatments in the future. Ten per cent of the women studied released two eggs in the same month. And all the women examined by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada showed at least two waves of maturing eggs in their ovaries in the same month. Traditionally, it has been thought that ovulation takes place only once in every menstruation cycle. A growth wave of 15 to 20 egg-carrying cells called follicles occurs before ovulation. One follicle will become dominant while the others die off. “It’s been assumed until now that women have just one wave per monthly cycle, leading to one ovulation, but nobody has actually carried out detailed analysis before,” said Roger Pierson, who led the study. “In fact, all the women in our study had at least two waves and 30 per cent of them had three.” The team carried out daily, high resolution trans-vaginal ultrasound examinations on 63 women with normal menstrual cycles who were aged between 18 and 40. Over six weeks, the women’s individual follicles were measured. During the study, 50 of the women ovulated only once, but six ovulated twice and seven not at all. The next stage of the research will be to find out why some waves lead to ovulation while others do not. “We don’t know why some waves lead to ovulation and others don’t. But we want to utilise our new understanding of the menstrual cycle to be able to carry out better timing of in-vitro fertilization,” Pierson told New Scientist. Progesterone secretion from the corpus leuteum – a temporary hormone-producing gland that is formed at ovulation – may cause a surge in a reproductive hormone called luteinizing hormone, he says. This might have an inhibitory effect on further egg release during the menstrual cycle, which could explain why some of the women did not ovulate twice despite having two growth waves in their ovarian tissue. It may be possible in the future to harness some non-ovulating waves into releasing eggs for couples having trouble conceiving, he added. The unexpected findings may also explain why the conception rate for non-identical twins is as high as 10 per cent. “It could be that more than one dominant follicle is produced during a wave or that dual conception arises as a result of two waves in a cycle releasing eggs,” ventured Pierson. Journal reference: Fertility and Sterility(vol 80, p 116)

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3927-women-can-ovulate-more-than-once-a-month.html

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The journey of parenting is an intricate dance, shaping not only the lives of our children but also the future they will inherit. In this exploration, we delve into the profound influence of positive parenting on the holistic development of children, emphasizing the long-lasting impact it has on their emotional, social, and cognitive well-being. The Essence of Positive Parenting Positive parenting is a nurturing approach that focuses on building a strong and supportive parent-child relationship. At its core, it involves fostering a warm and responsive environment where children feel loved, valued, and understood. This approach not only emphasizes discipline but also places significant importance on encouragement, communication, and the celebration of achievements. You may also read 10 Effective Ways to Teach Your Kids the Law of Cause and Effect Emotional Intelligence and Resilience One of the primary impacts of positive parenting is the development of emotional intelligence in children. By providing a safe space for expression and acknowledging their feelings, children learn to navigate and understand their emotions. This foundation of emotional intelligence contributes to increased resilience, enabling children to cope effectively with life’s challenges. Building a Secure Attachment Positive parenting fosters the creation of a secure attachment between parent and child. This bond serves as a foundation for healthy relationships in the future. Children who experience a secure attachment are more likely to form positive relationships, exhibit empathy, and develop a strong sense of self-worth. Effective Communication Skills In a positive parenting environment, effective communication is paramount. Encouraging open dialogue and active listening teaches children the value of expressing themselves and understanding others. These essential communication skills not only enhance relationships within the family but also prepare children for successful interactions in various social settings. You may also like 12 Comprehensive Guides to Cultivating Positive Behavior Cognitive Development and Lifelong Learning Positive parenting actively supports cognitive development by fostering an environment where curiosity is encouraged and questions are welcomed. Children raised in such an atmosphere tend to develop a love for learning, critical thinking skills, and a natural inclination towards exploration. This foundation paves the way for a lifelong commitment to education. Encouraging Independence and Responsibility Positive parenting involves gradually allowing children to take on age-appropriate responsibilities. By encouraging independence, children learn essential life skills and gain confidence in their abilities. This empowerment contributes to the development of a strong sense of responsibility and initiative. Reducing Behavioral Issues Research consistently indicates that positive parenting is associated with a lower incidence of behavioral problems in children. By focusing on positive reinforcement and clear communication, parents create an environment where desirable behaviors are encouraged, and undesirable ones are addressed with empathy and understanding. Fostering a Positive Self-Image Perhaps one of the most significant impacts of positive parenting is the development of a positive self-image in children. Regular encouragement, praise for effort, and unconditional love contribute to a healthy self-esteem. Children who grow up with a positive self-image are more likely to face life’s challenges with resilience and optimism. You may also read Threads of Patience: Elara’s Tapestry of Time In the intricate tapestry of child development, positive parenting stands out as a guiding force, shaping the contours of a child’s future. By fostering emotional intelligence, building secure attachments, and encouraging cognitive growth, positive parenting becomes a transformative influence that extends well beyond childhood. As parents, educators, and caregivers, our commitment to positive parenting echoes in the laughter, achievements, and fulfilled potential of the generations we nurture, sowing the seeds for a brighter and more compassionate tomorrow. Leave a comment

https://healthyparentings.com/2024/03/09/the-transformative-impact-of-positive-parenting-on-child-development/

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Gates Foundation says tested vaccine "has hurdles to overcome" U.S. malaria study finds success with intravenous vaccine NIH official hails test as an "important step forward" Malaria sickens an estimated 200-million plus every year, killing about 1 million U.S. researchers reported a breakthrough Thursday in the search for a vaccine for malaria, the mosquito-borne disease that sickens millions worldwide. More than three dozen volunteers received multiple, intravenous doses of a vaccine produced with a weakened form of the disease, scientists from the National Institutes of Health, the Navy, Army and other organizations reported Thursday. Though the results were promising, more extensive field testing will be required, the researchers wrote. Nevertheless, the it marks the first time any vaccine trial has shown 100% success in protecting subjects from the mosquito-borne tropical disease, which sickens more than 200 million a year and killed about 660,000 in 2010. Dr. William Schaffner, head of the preventive medicine department at Vanderbilt University’s medical school, called the results “a scientific advance” – but cautioned that it’s “not ready yet for prime time.” “This is not a vaccine that’s ready for travelers to the developing world anytime soon,” Schaffner told CNN. “However, from the point of view of science dealing with one of the big-three infectious causes of death around the world, it’s a notable advance. And everybody will be holding their breath, watching to see whether this next trial works and how well it works.” The findings were published Thursday by the peer-reviewed journal Science. The trials involved 57 subjects, including 40 who received the vaccine, from October 2011 to October 2012. The vaccine being tested was produced by Maryland company Sanaria Inc. and tested by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Naval Medical Research Center. Sanaria owns the patent, said Capt. Judith Epstein, the lead researcher for the Naval Medical Research Center. Schaffner said the process of getting the vaccine scientifically proven, approved and distributed could take eight to 10 years. Sanaria and Epstein said they believe the process could be complete within three to four. The vaccine was produced using samples of Plasmodium falciparum, thesingle-celled parasite that causes the disease. The samples were weakened by radiation and then frozen. The vaccine was “safe and well-tolerated” by the volunteers who received it, the study states. Schaffner, who was not part of the study, said previous attempts using injections into skin or muscle didn’t work. Multiple, intravenous injections are “a heck of a way” to administer a vaccine, but “desperate times call for desperate measures,” he said. Researchers reported that the six volunteers who received five intravenous doses of the vaccine did not contract malaria when exposed to the microscopic parasite. Of the nine who received four doses, three contracted the disease. Of 12 who received no vaccine, 11 became infected. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the infectious disease institute, called the results an “important step forward” in preventing malaria. “The global burden of malaria is extraordinary and unacceptable,” Fauci said in a statement issued by the institute. “Scientists and health care providers have made significant gains in characterizing, treating and preventing malaria; however, a vaccine has remained an elusive goal.” Another possible vaccine, backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, cut the number of malaria cases in half during a trial conducted among children in seven African countries. In a statement Thursday afternoon, Jessica Milman, a senior program officer for the foundation, said Thursday’s published results were promising despite the study’s small number of participants. “The results provide further confirmation that a malaria vaccine is feasible, though this specific construct has hurdles to overcome,” Millman said. “More evidence will be required to demonstrate that it could work among people living in malaria-endemic countries. It’s also likely that a number of manufacturing and presentation challenges would need to be addressed to ensure that the vaccine could be produced and delivered at scale.” Currently, available drugs can stave off malaria, but must be combined with other protective measures such as insect repellent or nets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. None are 100% effective, the CDC notes. Schaffner said future studies need to involve larger groups in field conditions and examinations of how long the vaccines stave off infection. Using multiple intravenous doses – a process unlike any other vaccine – “requires a great deal of aseptic practice and good training,” and the risk of infection is a possibility, he said. “We don’t know how long this protection lasts yet. Lots of questions remain. But that should not diminish the fact that this is a scientific advance,” Schaffner said. Malaria causes fever and vomiting and can disrupt the blood supply to vital organs if untreated. Symptoms show up 10 to 15 days after being bitten by a mosquito. It’s endemic to tropical countries, and the microscopic parasite has become resistant to a number of treatments, according to the World Health Organization. With no effective vaccine, efforts to control the disease have focused on mosquito control and distributing pesticide-laced nets. People visiting the tropics from countries where the disease is not endemic are particularly vulnerable, the WHO says. American troops overseas have suffered extensively from malaria in the past. The Army reported 500,000 cases during World War II, with more than 100,000 among the Navy and Marine Corps. CNN’s Barbara Starr contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/malaria-vaccine

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(Written by R.O. AJETUMOBI Ph.D) (Last Update June 18, 2021) Lagos is an essential part of Lagos State which lies between longitude 20 420 and 30220 E and latitude 60220N and 60420N respectively. The land area extends into the interior of the state with district ecological zones. The geographical environment has been conducive to human habitation for as far back oral traditions can remember. The possibility of satisfying the physiological and biogenic needs, such as food, water, made Lagos to be attractive to may immigrants. The Yoruba sub-groups such as the Awori .and coastal Ijebu constitute the bulk of the indigenous inhabitant. these groups could be distinguished from other ethnic groups in the area on the basis of their language with variations of dialects, traditions of migrations whether directly or indirectly from Ife; traditions amongst most of their rulers of descent from Oduduwa (the eponymous hero of Yoruba), affinal relation with Benin, and existence of Yoruba cultural feature such as regal paraphernalia, facial makings, as well as physical outlook. The various practices and socio-political organization. The wide0spread nature of these features is in-part a product of diffusion, and ancestral connection, but largely the result of common imperial experience f groups of Edo invader from Benin. Though, the power of the Benin kingdom was impressive as early as the second half of the fifteenth century during the reign of Oba Ewuare, Benin occupation and subjugation of Lagos and its neighbourhood did not start until the sixteenth century when Benin troops and trades took effective control of the coastal region from the Niger Delta in the East to Porto Novo in the West. Ewuare ascendancy to the throne of Benin in the early fifteenth century put the kingdom into a splendid period of successful and rapid expansion. With a formidable military arsenal, strong, well equipped and battle-ready army, Benin became a terror and lord ;of her neighbouring settlements. She successfully laid the tradition of imperial annexation of coastal Yorubaland. This interest was reinforced in the 1550 as a result of the relative peace at home and the growing European trade on the coast which Benin wanted to control. The need for areas of economic control, security, free flow of coastal trade, as a result of the need to secure the base for harnessing goods from the inland made the control of Lagos a necessity for Benin. By the opening of the sixteenth century a large section of eastern Yoruba land had come under Benin influence and the Ilaje territory on modern Ondo state served a passage to the far western coast in the area of modern Lagos. Thus, the areas beteen Lagos and Porto Novo became the focus of Benin military activities till the seventeenth century. In this century, Mahin, an Ilaje communities founded by immigrants from the neighbourhood of Itsekiri and were sdestroyed, while Isheri Olofin, Lagos, Ido, Ebute Metta, Oto-Olofin and other coastal Yoruba communities in the area fell to superior Benin invading army. After Oba Ehengbuda (C. 1578-1606) who consolidated the imperial achievement of Orhogbua (C. 1550-1578), Benin entered a long period of internal crisis. The Oba stopped being forceful as they no longer led their subjects in battles; rather, they reinforced their mystical attribute, palace rituals and led a secluded life. As a result, the noble men, chiefs and ambitious individual especially the soldiers seized the opportunity to increase their powers and founded their own kingdoms at the expense of the monarchy. Although, the era of warrior kings was terminated in the 17th century with the reign of Oba Ehengbuda who died on his way to Lagos, after him, priests and aristocratic rulers began a prolonged civil war which encouraged the flight of many families and soldiers to different parts f Lagos state. At the western extreme, the situation was such that the colonies were disbanded as a result of ineffective military and personal ambitions. The immediate effect of this was the widespread dispersal of Benin cultural traits. Added to this, the rise of Agaja Trudo of Dahomey (C. 1704-1740) and his coastal military in Porto Novo, coupled with internal disorder in Benin was decisive factors in the emergence of many Yoruba settlements founded by people of Benin origin in Lagos state. Other settlement in the region were founded by warriors, brave hunters, fugitives, refugees and adventurous individuals from other parts of Nigeria but such groups were not shielded from the effects of Benin militarism and cultural imposition. The influence of Benin pervades every sphere of life of the Yoruba of the coast especially Lagos. The name of some of their towns, their folk tales, rituals, dialects, music, regal goods and dances in varying degrees portray evidence of close interaction with Edo. This is a manifestation of the nature of Benin relations with coastal Yoruba land from about 1500 onwards. Benin invasions of the region of Lagos were profound in shaping the socio-political, economic and culture history of the Yoruba settlement in the area that the erroneous impression that Benin kingdom actually founded all the pre-nineteenth century coastal Yoruba settlements was created. Oral traditions and archival source materials show that not all the Yoruba settlement in the area were actually founded by people of Benin origin. Benin Invasions and Lagos and Awori Land A major theme in the historical development of coastal Yoruba land in the sixteenth century was the collapse of many settlements as a result of Benin interests and military incursion into the region. The exact date when the Benin regular expedition began in the region of Lagos and Awori was not known. What is clear is that the region is had long been affected by the events in the interior, thus making Awori land the refuge of those seeking social security. There are many conjectures as to the presence of Benin military personnel in thee region of Lagos in the sixteenth century. A Benin source recorded by the Talbot, says that the first Benin settlers were part of an invading army which was unable to return to Benin and therefore encamped in Lagos at a place called Ogulata which is possibly a corruption of Ebute-Metta. Another tradition posits that it was Oba Orhogbua who, in about 1550 made his camp, Eko, on Lagos Island. What seem incontrovertible is that the Edo had already had camps and satellite states in Ikale and Ilaje areas before the major expedition to the Awori country. The quick response of Benin authorities to demand for military assistance and reinforcement, in the conflict between the party of Ogunfunminire and that of Aina Elewure, and the number of expeditionary wars in Awori land suggests that the invading armies were near to Lagos than to Benin soldiers could have been recruited from Benini Satelite camps from the east of the coastal Yoruba land. The first military encounter between Benin and Lagosians which is well remembered in tradition is associated with prosperous, powerful and influential woman in Lagos who kept a large number of domestic animals on the account of which she was popularly nick-named Aina Elewure (Aina the goat rearer). It is stated on account of her riches she became a victim of communal jealousy and organized conspiracy. Her opponents falsely accused her of witchcraft and she was requested to go on exile since it was for people with witch craft to be sent to exile. Her resistance led to disputes in which her economic base was destroyed. Consequently, she left for Benin where she implored the king’s assistance in avenging the wrong done to her person and belongings. The Oba sent some of his men in canoes to Olofin Ogunfunminire at Ido to make enquiries. The messengers on getting near Iddo Island, observed from the distance, fishing stakes on which were hung fishing baskets and mistakenly took them for men who were ready to fight them. They at once returned to Benin and reported to the Oba that the inhabitant s on the Islands were strongly armed, and ready to attack them. The Oba thus decide to send the imperial army with three war captains named; Aseru, Akigbida and Olorungbiwe. The army attacked Ile-Olofin and his men repulse this attack. In a much futile effort to subjugate the Island, and alliance was made with Ajaye of the wives of Ogunfunminire. The tradition represent a classical of an aggrieved Aina-Elewure’ party, in a state troubled by internal dissension and socio-economic crisis, appealing for outside help against the majority and more powerful party. One observation here is that Aina did appeal to Benin and not to Ife or Oyo which were not only powerful Yoruba kingdoms but also the ancestral homes of the early Yoruba. An immediate suggestion is that the two parties belong to two different political backgrounds. Apart from the view that Aina was aware of the growing power of neighbouring Benin settlements along the coastal corridor, there is the plausible suggestion that she was one of the early Benin traders in the area. This suggestion is reinforce by the fact that the early sixteenth century, the region was regularly visited by fishing folk from the area of the Ilaje, Itsekiri and Benin, and that by the seventeenth century the Benin traders were already on the coast in the Lagos Area. Added to this, the quick military response of Oba of Benin to Aina Elewure’s case would be explained in the terms of the need to control the economy of the area in the age of Benin imperialism and profitable European trade. In spite of the great impact of Benin kingdom on the people and the settlement in the region, there are strong indications that Benin, as powerful as she was could not always have its ways without checks and balances or a competitor. In the military encounter at the battle of Isheri, one of the Benin Military generals, Aseru lost his life. Also, the prolonged nature of the war conquest, the enforced journey of Olofin to Benin and his eventual restoration as indicators that the aboriginal inhabitant of coastal Yorubaland in the Benin invasions were not push-over. Indeed, the return of the Olofin and his restoration as a vassal of Benin is a compromise between the conqueror and the conquered group. With an army of between 20,000 and 100,000, Benin successfully established a firm base and campus on Lagoon of the Lagos Island. Important places like Aromire’s pepper farm (Igaran), Ebute Ero and Enu-Owa became occupied by the people of Benin origin. The resistance to Benin occupation continued till the opening of the seventeenth century. The Benin colonial administrator had to seek foreign support to suppress incessant revolts. It has also been suggested by evidence that activities of the foreigners (Benin) mercenaries precipitated a crisis which led to the death of Ogunfunminire under circumstance which suggests that his children though Ajaye (who had collaborated with Benin traders), were guilty of regicide. The death of Ogunfunmire put-paid on Lagos resistance. The children of Ajaye were consequently incorporated into the dynasty created by Edo in which four classes of chiefs wee created. The Lagosians and indeed the people of Lagos state would continue to remember the incursion of Benin into the territory for long, as a result of emergence of Benin-Awori settlements and influence in the socio-political institutions. The Benin-Awori settlement were founded in the region of Aworiland by Benin imperial troops; Ojo, Iba, Idoluwo, Obanikoro, Ijanikin, Oto-Awori, Gbanko, Osolu, Omore, Ibiku, now Ibiye among others have rich traditions linking the origin of most of them to Benin in spite of recent attempt to link some of them with interior Yorubalands. Until the opening of the twentieth century possession of white caps and Abere (Scepter) as a symbol of authority confirm royal linkage with Benin. Although, the impressive population of Yoruba immigrants from the interior that settled among the groups imposed a distinctive emblem of Yoruba-Awori and Yoruba-Ijebu culture on the groups, most traces of their Benin origin are preserved in tradition, royal costumes and traditional titles. Impact of Benin Invasion The impact of Benin invasion on Lagos state depended largely on the character of each local ruler, the military and economic strength of the area, the degree of political stability in Benin, and the strength of pre-Benin cultural features. In area where traditional rulers remain of Yoruba Origin, minimal influences were exerted on the traditional socio-political institutions. But in the areas ruled by people of Benin origin, greater Benin cultural traits could be noticed. Also, in settlements which overwhelming Yoruba population, Yoruba cultural values played a domineering role and the impact of Benin remained virtually blurred. Lagos like other areas of the state witnessed the impact of army occupation. Independent kingdoms and village settlements were subjugated by Benin military men. Soldiers were stationed at strategic locations where they could easily mount defensive garrisons and overlook the coastal regions. Traditional kingdoms in the state lost their independence as many settlements such as Isheri, Ebute-Metta, Otto-Olofin, Iddo and Lagos were reduced to mere vassalages. In some places apart from the establishment of military garrison, Benin dynasty was forcibly enthroned and the traditional rulers were relegated to second rate political authorities. Lagos, like other parts of coastal Yoruba became a Benin tributary and a recruitment centre for Benin soldiers. Lagos as a vassal state, paid annual tribute to the Oba since the Eleko – provincial ruler of Lagos (Eko) held his office at the mercy of Oba of Benin. In Lagos, whenever there were constituent crisis, appeals were often made to the Oba of Benin for his political and spiritual sanctions. In tradition, dynasty changes and socio-political re-ordering became some of thed legacies of Benin invasions in the region of Lagos State. Obaship institution inLagos was one of the legacies. Egharevba’s account claims that the system of government in Lagos oriented from the role of Ashipa (Esikpa) in returning to Benin the corpse of Aseru, of the Benin military commanders. According to traditions, Asipa wa given a staff of office, Abere, Gbedu drum and recognized as Eleko of Eko. He was followed from Benin by powerful men who assisted who assisted him in the governance of Lagos. These powerful men became the royal and the first class chiefs in Lagos. The Akarigbere headed by the Eletu-Odigbo – the traditional prime minister. Eletu-Odigbo is said to be the corruption of the Benin title Eletu Odibo who was the traditional supervisor of the voters in Benin. One account says he came to Lagos with Asipa from Benin to assist in the collection and payment of taxes. Until the Benin invasion in Lagos, there was no Oba on Lagos Island, hence, Aromire, the owner of the farmland occupied by Benin soldiers was not considered as an Oba but the head of the war chiefs. However, his marriage to an Edo woman who gave birth to his successor, Ado finalized the process of laying the foundation of Benin dynasty in Lagos through conquest and inter-group marriage. Benin-Lagos relations became that of the imperial power and a colony just as happened in other parts of Yorubaland which power and colony just as happened in other parts of Yorubaland which witnessed the invasion of Benin imperialism. Thus, it became almost compulsory in western Yoruba (Ekiti, Owo and Ondo) and among the Ilaje of the coast for heirs to the throne to undergo a period of tutelage in the art of governance in Benin court as Emeda (sword bearer). Ugbo traditions talk of such socio-political and spiritual relations among early Ilaje traditional leaders and Benin court. It is therefore not a surprise that the Benin presence was accompanied by reforms in the traditional setting and adoption of Edo titles and customs. Benin names and titles such as Sasere, Isowa, Ojomo, Lisa (Oliha), Ologbosere, Esoghan (Asogbo) (Eso), Oloton (Olotu), Out and Iyase were adopted in varying degrees by the coastal Yoruba. Ologbosere for instance, belong the class of town chiefs called Eghaevbo, N’ore, Yasere or Sasere is a corruption of Benin’s Iyase. Iyase was the Benin principal Army commander in the seventeenth century until Ezomo (Ojomo) took over in the eighteenth century. The institution of Out in the northeastern part ,of coastal Yorubaland is of Benin origin. In Benin, an Otu is an association of freeborn retainers. It refers to palace chiefs such as Ivebo, Iweguae and Ibiwe. Ojomo and Olotu titles are also found among the Awori of coastal Yorubaland. The title Lisa (Olisa) among the coastal Ijebu is also a corruption of Benin Oliha. In the invasion of Ikorodu, Lisa Eregbuwa who led Benin contingent became the prime minister and chief executive of the town. His Keremesi, a large hat decorated in silk velvet is commonly found among the Benin traditional rulers. The Oba of Lagos also uses Keremesi which shows the Benin origin of Benin dynasty. In addition, the palace of the Awori which is called Owa is a corruption of Benin word for palace – Ogwa. Isheri traditions relate the existence of two Owa – Owa Ile and Owa Oko that is the early administrative centre and the latter palace. The two are significant in the coronation of any Olofin of Isheri. In the coronation of Owa Oko, he is given the flat brass blade, a variant of the Benin model as symbol of Authority, while at Owa Ile, he is given the crtown as a political head. Two conjectures could be made as to the significance of double inheritance the Owa Oko represents the resemblance of relics of the early palace and settlement. The acceptance of the flat brass blade, variant of which is common among the Awori of Benin origin, is an indication of Benin conquest and the acceptance of the flat brass sword by the Awori in the area to rule as vassal of Benin. The need for social security and prosperity led to the dispersal of the group from an earlier settlement which as been impoverished by Benin invasions and exploration. The event in the coronation ceremony shows the assimilation of Benin political authority into the Awori civil community. The Ade given at Owa-Ile shows the reinstatement of Yoruba traditional political structure and royal regalia, while the flat blade received at Owa-Oko shows early Benin political influence, and the two symbolizes the nature of early socio-political history of the people. Owa is characteristically a large hall for administrative purposes. While the use of Owa as name is gradually giving way to Afin Iga or palace, its use among the priestly class is an evidence of the impact of Benin invasions on the socio-cultural values of the people. Also, the use of the name Iga for palace and Idu for house which are of Benin origins are some of the noticeable impact of Benin on Lagos as elsewhere in coastal Yorubaland. Also, the Benin word for settlement Ido (Udo) is commonly found among the Lagosians, Awori, Ilaje and Ikale. Ido has become the name of one of the most important military camps established by Benin warriors along the coastal corridor of Lagos. The Ologun as a set of first class chiefs in the Akarigbere group emerged in Lagos. This include Onilebgbade, Eletu-Odibo, Eletu-Ijebu, Eletu-Iwase, Ologun Igbesodi, Ologun Atebo, Ologun Sogade, Ologun Agbeje and Eletu Awo. A common appellation for this class of chiefs is Alabere the possessor of Abere, a bladed sword as insignia of office. Also, Iyaso, a nonhereditary title in Benin is present among the Awori; Esogbo or Asogbon, Suenu, Bajulaye, Sasore, Basua, Oshorun, Okole has been traced to Benin origin, constitute the fourth class chiefs known as Abagbon with the appellation war chiefs, and with Keremesi or top hat as insignia of office. Benin invasion of coastal Yorubaland set in motion series of demographic revolutions and largely determined the nature of spatial distribution of the groups. For instance, areas with natural fortifications and geographical barriers in form of swamps became the hideout of refugees wars drove many people from the main land areas of Isheri and Ebute-Metta to other areas where refugees’ camps developed. Elegushi of Ikate and Ojomu of Ajiran have traditions starting that they fled Ido to escape Benin raids to settle in Eti-Osa area on the shore of the lagoon east of Lagos. In social parlance, the presence of Benin in parts of Lagos state led to significant cultural and linguistic diffusion. Benin influenced the variety of the language spoken by the coastal Yoruba. The influence of Edo language on Awori dialect was so great that the early 20th century administrator labeled the language spoken in Lagos not as Awori or Yoruba but a Benin Awori for the high degree of Bini loan words. Thus the picture which emerges today in Lagos is a synthesis of many linguistic compositin with significant Benin influence on the Awori, Ijebu, and their neighbours. There was a high degree of flavours of Benin accent on the Yoruba language spoken by the group. For instance, the word Owo-Money is pronounced Ogho, eewo a forbidden thing ios egho, Iku – death is Uku, Isu – Yam is Usu, Ile-house is Ule, Ese- foot is ehe and so on especially among thr Ilaje. Generally, the vowel and tonal forms of the Edo such as gh/gw/u are adopted by some coastal Yoruba – especially the Ilaje. Among the group, Owo –money is Ogwo, skin- Awo is pronounced and spelt as Agho, won or han- dear, costly is ghan. Ise-work as use, idin, and maggot is iden and ose –Sunday ohe. On the noticeable social impacts of Benin invasions of the region of Lagos state was the assumption that most Yoruba of the coast and their settlements have their origin in Benin invasions and occupation of the region. The assumptions developed as a result of the impressive influence on the socio-cultural settings in the region. The early rulers in the coastal Yoruba land as a vassals to Oba of Benin adopted almost all the outfits from the latter. Among the outfit borrowed are white wrapper tied round the waist by members of the place society. The use of white caps sewn with angles to distinguished it from those of Yoruba origin, as well as the tying white cloth round the waist as a royal dress among the various classes of chiefs of Benin origin in Lagos state is one of the enduring legacies of Benin hegemony. Also, in the mode of dressing, especially the royal regalia and symbols of political authority, most traditional Oba in their royal costumes show striking resemblance with Oba of Benin. The Olorogun (Ologun) in Lagos shave their heads and tie white wrapper round their waist just like those of Benin, while the Oba’s wrapper is tied up to the chest. Both the Oba of Benin and those of coastal Yoruba lavishly dress in beads. The Awori like their Ilaje neighbours have abebe – and abere a large flat brass sword, made familiar in the carvings of the Oba of Benin as symbols of authority. This sword symbolizes the power of life and death as well as the authority to rule on behalf of Oba of Benin. The use of Gbedu drum is one of the legacies of Benin invasions. Oral tradition shows that apart from Abebe, Ashipa (Esikpa) returned to Lagos with Gbedu drum from Benin. This drum was used in calling people for the meeting of the royal administrative chiefs- Akarigbere, whenever stately matters were to be discussed, this drum is known by the sound it produces in Edo beating style Edindingben. In different part of coastal Yorubaland, the Gbedu drum has remained a royal prerogative, largely confined to the palace and members of the palace society. Boat regatta- Oko –Aje is one of the important festivals serving as a pointer to the impact of Benin invasions of coastal Yoruba land. This festival runs across Lagos state. One account claims that Oko-Aje was introduced from different parts of coastal Yorubaland especially Lagos in commemorating Benin conquest of the region, thus representing the coming of Oba who allegedly conquered Lagos and other settlements in war boat. Other sources claim that it was in commemoration of Asipa’s carrying of Aseru’s dead body to Benin for burial and his return to Lagos with royal regalia as the Elekoof Eko (provincial ruler of Lagos). The two accounts signifies Benin influence of the Yoruba of the coast. This could be hardly surprising since there was the assimilation of the people of Benin origin and culture into predominantly coastal Yoruba population in the state. The familiar trend is the adulteration of two cultural values. However, what is most important is that Oko-Aje represents a Benin impact on the socio-cultural value of the Yoruba of the coast. Similar festival was held annually in Benin known as Oko-Eze. Oko-Aje appears to be a corruption of Benin Oko-Eze. Yoruba coastal communities such as Epe, Ikorodu and Ilaje have similar festival. The dressing and costumes of the canoe paddles in the Oko-Aje festival is similar to those of Benin people which is one of the enduring impacts of Benin invasions of the area of Lagos state. Also, significant Benin impact features in aspects of religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba. Oju-Olobun shrine is one of the legacies of the Benin invasions. Traditions have it that its location was the early camp of Benin warriors. Though Obun is an Ijebu word for market, it would appear that the spot developed into market settlement controlled by Benin but with impressive population Ijebu traders. The Obun tree which surrounded by religious sacrosanctity is called ihwin in Benin traditions. The importance of this tree lies in the fact that the installation of a new Oba in Lagos is regarded as invalid without the performance of sacred rites at Enu Owa the gate to the palace. The priest of these shrines dress in white robes and shave their head in same manner like the Ologun. This is one of the most important shrines visited during the coronation ceremony. Also, the existence of Ikanse, a form of ancestral worship in part of Yoruba land is one of the traces of Benin hegemony. This form of worship is said to have been introduced by Eleko and his Akarigbere class of chiefs. Ikanse is connected the making of holes in the apartment of chiefs and Oba in the remembrance of the ancestors. These ancestors are often appeased and their spirit invoked in the time of need. This is however similar to Ikanse homage or respect paid to Oju-Egun (ritual spot of Egungun) in parts of coastal Yorubaland. Oju-Egun is observed in the Iga of Akarigbere class of chiefs that claim Benin descent which symbolizes an aspect of Yoruba influence on Benin cultural values. There are also artistic and spiritual influence not only of Benin cultural values. There are also artistic and spiritual influences not only of Benin but of those who had been influenced by them in parts of coastal Yoruba land; fofr instance Igodo types of masks were found in Ibeju near Epe. These masks are said to be similar to those of Ijo people who have a water spirit called “Ekine” The impact of Benin hegemony on coastal Yorubaland varied from group and from period to period. Socio-economic and political impact of Benin was largely dependent on the nature of controlled exercise by Benin conquerors. In places where Benin dynasties were established such as Mahin, Lagos, Idoluwo, Oto et al. higher degree of Benin influence is observed. In places where Benin population was scanty and control was weak, little traces of Benin influence survived as the impressive Yoruba-Awori population and culture, as well as those of Ijebu and Ilaje assimilated Benin cultural values. Also, the payment of annual tributes and reference to Benin for important political decision weakened over time in part of the region. When Lagos became a prosperous kingdom, attempts were made at shaking off the yoke of vassalage through the violation of some of the traditional protocols. The annual payment of tribute became not only intermittent but also a much more intolerable duty perfunctorily carried out. Lagos account says that during the region of Idewu-Ojulari and Oluwole, Benin emissaries sent to Lagos on tribute venture were sent back empy-handed. Also, after ObaEhengbuda, Benin monarchy was considerably weakened by palace chiefs as the kingdom witnessed a succession of weak and feeble rulers. This trend weakened Benin impact and the situation continued until the ascension of Akenzua 1 (1713-1735) who checkmated the influence of Uzama and Eghaevbo and set about rebuilding the monarchy. There was development in the level of socio interaction in the region as a result of influx of Yoruba of the interior and other groups to the region now known as Lagos state especially when the Ondo road was opened. Since communication is one of the essential features of social interaction. One of the major areas largely affected by the immigration of people of different cultures to the region of Lagos state was the language. The influence of Edo language on the linguistic repertoire of the area is as old as most of the communities. On the Awori for instance, the influence was so great that in the 20th century, the language of Lagos was described not as Awori or Yoruba but Benin-Awori. However, the nineteenth century was to add a new dimension to the language of the many parts of the coast as the century witnessed the arrival of the people from Brazil, Siera Leone and Eupropean nations who engaged in commerce and social interactions with the Yoruba of the region. As a result, before the end of the century, a clear distinction had emerged between the dialect of Awori in the hinteland Ota, Ado-Odo and Igbesa, and those of the coast especially in the region of Lagos. This distinction could partly be accounted for the heterogeneous composition of settlements in the area. Thus, before closure of the twentieth century, lagos had evolved as a region of cultural hybridization, and as a melting pot of groups, sub languages and dialects. The linguistic and cultural peculiarities of each group, was gradually watered down and the foundation of influential and almost homogenous Lagos variety of Yoruba language was laid. It could indeed be said that some of the words spoken by Lagos Yoruba are pidgins and have no genetic descent in Yoruba orthography. The fact that by 1900 Lagos had become a complex region with heterogeneous cultures and people. Though the region witnessed the influence of two major conquerors; the Benin and the British, the intermixture of cultures and multiplicity of groups in the area did not result in the evolution of Benin or British culture. Rather, a synthesis of cultures which is peculiar to the Yoruba of the coast particularly the Lagosians is noticeable. Lagos and the entire Awori and Ijebu region owes its development to the interaction between various Yoruba and non-Yoruba speaking groups who related wit one another and after the twentieth century, the uniqueness of the ecosystem and abundant resources had given special attraction to immigrants who were absorbed into the local population before the colonial era. An observation of the region today gives the impression of that of a ‘united group of settlements’. The hitherto seemingly diverse groups and layers of settlement is now a cultural hybrid where people share a number of trait s and values in common. The experience of Lagos building a ‘united’ and culturally ‘homogenous’ group out of diverse groups is a lesson for Nigeria that is made up of several ethnic groups desiring to build a ‘united nation’ as has been the efforts of those who have had to struggle with history since lord Lugard ‘created’ Nigeria in 1914 up to the present time when all sort of political engineering code-named ‘power shift’, Federal Character’, ‘rotational Presidency’ constitutional conference and Quota system are being vigorously pursued. Notes and Refernces <!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->A.A. Abegunde (1987) Aspects of the Physical environment of Lagos in Ade Adefuye et al (ed) History of the People of Lagos State, Lagos, Lantern p.6 <!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Talbolt, P. The Peoples of Southern Nigeria, Vol. IV (Linguistic and Statistics) London, Frank Cass. 1969, p.31 <!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->See, Agiri, A. and Barnes, S.: Lagos before 1603 in Agiri. B. et al (eds) History of the Peoples of Lagos State. Lagos, Lantern. <!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->See Adediran ‘Biodun: Pleasant imperialism : Conjectures on hegemony in Eastern Yorubaland African Notes 1991, pp.83-95: In swarch of identity: The Eastern Yoruba and the Oduduwa tradition ODU: A Journal of West African studies No. 36, July, 1989, p.125. <!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->Ryder, A.F.C. The Benin kingdom in Ikime. O.(ed) Groundwork Nigeria History, Ibadan, Heineman, 1980 p.178 <!--[if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->Oral histories of some Awori Kingdoms such as Ojo, Iba, Oto-Awori, show that the culture heroes of these kingdoms were ambitious individual soldiers of Benin origin. <!--[if !supportLists]-->7. <!--[endif]-->See Intelligence Report on Badagry District of the colony. Province Wormal, National Archive, Ibadan. <!--[if !supportLists]-->8. <!--[endif]-->See J.B. Losi, History of Lagos, Lagos. C.S.S. 914 pp. 1-2 <!--[if !supportLists]-->9. <!--[endif]-->Talbot, P.A. The peoples of Southern Nigeria op. cit Vol. 1 p 926 <!--[if !supportLists]-->10. <!--[endif]-->See Aderibigbe, A.B. Early history of Lagos to about 1850 in A.A. (ed) lagos.: The Development of an African City, Lagos Long. P.4 <!--[if !supportLists]-->11. <!--[endif]-->interview with Chief J.J. Eko, 7, Enuwa Street. The Olorogun Lagos. (Aged 60+) 13/02/1997. <!--[if !supportLists]-->12. <!--[endif]-->Folami, T.A. A History of Lagos. Nigeria, op.cit p.8; Aderibigbe A. (ed), Lagos: op.cit. pp. 4-9 <!--[if !supportLists]-->13. <!--[endif]-->See Adefuye, A. et al (eds) History of the People of Lagos state. “Oba Akinsemoyin and the Emergence of Modern Lagos” Lagos, Lantern 1987, p.34 also Agiri, A. and Barnes, S. “Lagos Before 1603” in Adefuye, et al (eds) ibid.,pp.18-22. <!--[if !supportLists]-->14. <!--[endif]-->See for instance, Losi, J.B. History of Lagos Op.cit pp 9,12 <!--[if !supportLists]-->15. <!--[endif]-->Bajowa, O.: Ikale Nigeria, Newswatch 1993, p.19; Intelligence Report of the Central Awori Group CSO 26.29979, pp 2-3. <!--[if !supportLists]-->16. <!--[endif]--> These titles are found in varying degrees among the Yoruba of the cost. For various Benin chieftaincy titles, See Ryder, A.F.C. The Benin kingdom in Ikime. O. (ed) op.cit pp. 112-119. <!--[if !supportLists]-->17. <!--[endif]-->Egharevba, J.U. A Short History of Benin, Ibadan University Press 1960, Also Ryder A.F.C. Ibid, p.119 <!--[if !supportLists]-->18. <!--[endif]-->Adefuye, A. et al (eds), History of the People of Lagos State op.cit pp.205-206. <!--[if !supportLists]-->19. <!--[endif]-->Intelligence Reports on Ikale District of Okitipupa Division Ondo Province, N.A.I. CSO 26.29797, p.6 <!--[if !supportLists]-->20. <!--[endif]-->Eletu Odibo was the installing officer in the Akarigbere class of chiefs. <!--[if !supportLists]-->21. <!--[endif]-->Eltu-ijebu was the Minister-in-charge of Ijebu Affairs in Lagos. Eletu-Ijebu and Eletu-Iwase were among the traditional kingmakers in Lagos. <!--[if !supportLists]-->22. <!--[endif]-->The titles were noticed among the Awori and the Ilaje with great Benin influence or those founded by people of Benin origin; See also, Losi, J.B History of Lagos op.cit p.5 Keremesi (Keremesi) is said to be origin meaninig white <!--[if !supportLists]-->23. <!--[endif]--> See for instance, Adetugbo, A.: “The Yoruba Language in Yoruba” in Biobaku, S.: Sources of Yoruba History op.cit. 183-186 <!--[if !supportLists]-->24. <!--[endif]-->Lawal, K. Urban Transition in Africa Nigeria, Punmark, 1994.

http://www.edoworld.net/THE_BENIN_FACTOR_IN_THE_HISTORY_OF_LAGOS.html

Politics

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The importance of language is for effective communication and when this is not achieved (maybe by one or both speakers’ inability to speak the language, inability to pronounce some words correctly or inability to understand the language being communicated correctly) there is always a misrepresentation of information. Yoruba as a language has so many words that are closely related; for instance, words that are the written the same way, almost pronounced the same way but different meanings, if such words are not pronounced on the premise of their tone marks (Àmì ohùn) then another meaning would be conveyed to the second person being communicated to, hence, the usefulness of tone marks in Yoruba language. Tone marks otherwise called Àmì ohùn aids our understanding of the Yoruba language better because Yoruba language is one of the most interesting languages in the world, however, without tone marks it would be difficult to comprehend. Yoruba language is tonal, hence meaning of words and conversations are best conveyed using different pitch/tone of sounds while talking. These different tones are called Tone marks (Àmì ohùn). Tone marks (Àmì ohùn) are placed on the vowels (a e ẹ i o ọ u) in every syllable of Yoruba words or phrases, therefore, we can say our placement of tone marks is dependent on our level of knowledge of the Yoruba syllables. There are three types of tone marks (Àmì ohùn) and they show the different types of tone/pitch they accompany. They include; - Do (\) : Low type of tone represented with a graving accent - Re (-): This is the mid flat tone that has no accent. - Mi (/): This high rising type of tone and it is represented with sharp acute accent. An example of this is; - Owó (Re -, mi /) which is money - Òwò (Do \, Do \) which is trade. The knowledge of our Tone marks (Àmì ohùn) cannot be overemphasized as it helps us attain fluency in speaking the Yoruba language; it helps us in reading the language comfortably and also writing the language in a readable fashion. Click https://alawiiyeyoruba.com/learn-yoruba/ to learn more about Tone marks (Àmì ohùn) and Yoruba language in general. 2 thoughts on “IMPORTANCE OF TONE MARKS IN YORUBA” Thanks for sharing. It was helpful.

https://alawiiyeyoruba.com/importance-of-tone-marks-in-yoruba/

Education

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Do you wish to know what is Pannus or are you looking for the causes, symptoms, prevention and how to treat pannus? then this is for you. Pannus is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal growth of granulation tissue over a particular area, often affecting the eyes. It can occur as a result of various underlying factors and can lead to significant visual impairment if left untreated. In this article, we will explore the different aspects of Pannus, including its causes, symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment options, prevention, and management strategies. What is Pannus? Pannus is a type of granulation tissue. Granulation tissue is a type of tissue that forms in response to injury or inflammation. It is made up of blood vessels, fibroblasts, and other cells. Pannus is different from granulation tissue in that it is more vascularized and has a higher content of inflammatory cells. Types of Pannus Pannus can manifest in different forms based on the underlying cause and the affected area. Let’s explore the most common types of Pannus: - Rheumatoid arthritis-associated Pannus One of the most prevalent forms of Pannus is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, primarily affecting the joints. In some cases, the inflammation can extend to the eyes, leading to the development of Pannus. It often affects the sclera and conjunctiva, causing redness, swelling, and visual disturbances. - Ocular Pannus Ocular pannus refers to the growth of abnormal tissue on the surface of the eye, typically involving the cornea or conjunctiva. It can be caused by various factors, including eye infections, trauma, or autoimmune diseases. Ocular pannus can lead to visual impairment and discomfort. - Corneal Pannus Corneal pannus specifically refers to the abnormal growth of tissue on the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye. It can occur due to various reasons, such as chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, inflammation, or eye conditions like pterygium. Corneal pannus may cause blurred vision and require prompt treatment to prevent further complications. Where Does Pannus Form? Pannus can form in a number of different places, but it is most commonly seen in the joints. It can also form on the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. In rare cases, it can form on other organs, such as the heart valves. Pannus refers to the excessive growth of abnormal granulation tissue in a particular area, commonly affecting the eyes. It is often associated with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ocular diseases, or corneal disorders. The development of Pannus can lead to inflammation, scarring, and visual disturbances if not addressed promptly. Causes of Pannus Pannus can be caused by various factors, including: - Rheumatoid arthritis Pannus is commonly seen in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints. The abnormal immune response in rheumatoid arthritis triggers inflammation, which can extend to the eyes and lead to the development of Pannus. - Ocular diseases Certain eye conditions such as keratitis, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis can contribute to the development of Pannus. These diseases often involve inflammation of the ocular tissues, promoting the growth of abnormal tissue over the affected area. - Corneal disorders Pannus can also occur due to corneal disorders like pterygium, where a triangular growth develops on the conjunctiva and extends onto the cornea. This can cause irritation, redness, and visual disturbances. Symptoms and Signs of Pannus The symptoms of Pannus can vary depending on the underlying cause and the location of the abnormal tissue growth. Common signs and symptoms include: - Redness and inflammation of the affected area - Blurred or hazy vision - Sensitivity to light - Foreign body sensation of grittiness in the eyes - Itching or burning sensation - Excessive tearing or dryness of the eyes Diagnostic Procedures for Pannus To diagnose Pannus, an ophthalmologist will conduct a comprehensive eye examination and may perform additional tests, such as: - Slit-lamp examination: This procedure allows the ophthalmologist to examine the eyes under magnification, enabling a detailed evaluation of the affected tissues and any abnormal growth. - Corneal topography: This test helps in mapping the shape and curvature of the cornea, aiding in the diagnosis and evaluation of Pannus. - Fluorescein angiography: In this procedure, a dye is injected into a vein, and photographs are taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in the eyes. This test can help determine the extent of blood vessel growth and the severity of Pannus. Treatment Options for Pannus The treatment of Pannus depends on the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and the affected area. It typically involves a combination of medical interventions, surgical procedures, and lifestyle modifications. Here are some common treatment options: - Anti-inflammatory drugs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms associated with Pannus. - Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): In cases where Pannus is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs may be recommended to suppress the autoimmune response and control inflammation. - Topical medications: Eye drops or ointments containing corticosteroids, antibiotics, or immunosuppressive agents may be prescribed to manage ocular Pannus. - Excision or debridement: In certain cases, surgical removal of the abnormal tissue may be necessary to alleviate symptoms and restore visual function. - Corneal transplantation: If Pannus has severely affected the cornea, a corneal transplant may be performed to replace the damaged tissue with a healthy donor cornea. - Eye protection: Individuals with Pannus should protect their eyes from excessive sunlight and other potential irritants by wearing sunglasses or protective goggles. - Proper hygiene: Regular eye hygiene practices, such as gently cleaning the eyelids and avoiding eye rubbing, can help prevent further irritation and complications. - Managing underlying conditions: For Pannus associated with systemic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, effective management of the underlying condition is essential to control inflammation and minimize the progression of Pannus. Prevention and Management of Pannus While it may not be possible to prevent all cases of Pannus, certain measures can help reduce the risk or manage the condition effectively: - Regular eye examinations Regular eye examinations are crucial for early detection and treatment of Pannus. Routine visits to an ophthalmologist can help identify any signs or symptoms of Pannus and ensure timely intervention. - Proper hygiene and eye care Maintaining good eye hygiene, such as washing hands before touching the eyes, avoiding rubbing or scratching, and keeping contact lenses clean, can minimize the risk of eye infections and subsequent development of Pannus. - Managing underlying conditions For individuals with systemic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diligent management of the underlying disease through medication, lifestyle adjustments, and regular follow-ups with healthcare providers can help reduce the risk and severity of Pannus. Living with Pannus Coping with Pannus can be challenging, but there are strategies that can improve the quality of life for individuals with this condition: 1. Coping Strategies - Seeking support: Connecting with support groups or counseling services can provide emotional support and valuable insights into managing the challenges associated with Pannus. - Adaptive techniques: Individuals with visual impairments caused by Pannus can learn adaptive techniques and use assistive devices to enhance their independence and daily functioning. 2. Supportive Resources There are various resources available to support individuals with Pannus, including: - Low-vision aids: Devices such as magnifiers, screen readers, and voice-activated assistants can help individuals with visual impairments caused by Pannus to perform daily tasks more easily. - Rehabilitation services: Rehabilitation programs, such as vision therapy or occupational therapy, can assist individuals in developing skills and strategies to overcome visual limitations. Frequently Asked Questions About Pannus - Can Pannus cause permanent vision loss? While Pannus can lead to visual disturbances, permanent vision loss is not always inevitable. With early detection, proper treatment, and adherence to management strategies, many individuals can preserve their vision and prevent further deterioration. - Is Pannus a curable condition? Pannus itself may not be curable, but its symptoms can be managed effectively through various treatment options. Timely intervention and ongoing management can help individuals maintain a good quality of life despite the presence of Pannus. - Are there any natural remedies for Pannus? While natural remedies may provide temporary relief from symptoms, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional for a comprehensive treatment plan. Natural remedies alone may not be sufficient to manage Pannus effectively. - Can Pannus affect both eyes? Yes, Pannus can affect one or both eyes, depending on the underlying cause and progression of the condition. It is important to seek medical attention if you experience symptoms in either eye. - What are the long-term complications of untreated Pannus? Untreated Pannus can lead to scarring, corneal damage, and permanent vision impairment. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent long-term complications associated with Pannus. Pannus is a medical condition characterized by abnormal tissue growth, primarily affecting the eyes. Early detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely treatment are crucial in managing Pannus effectively and preventing complications. By understanding the causes, symptoms, treatment options, and preventive measures associated with Pannus, individuals can take proactive steps to preserve their vision and lead a fulfilling life. This is all you need to know about What is Pannus, take advantage of this today and it will help you live a good life while avoiding Pannus.

https://amumandmore.com/sports-for-infants/What

Health

en

The thought of eating beetles, caterpillars and ants may give you the creeps, but the authors of a U.N. report published on Monday said the health benefits of consuming nutritious insects could help fight obesity. More than 1,900 species of insects are eaten around the world, mainly in Africa and Asia, but people in the West generally turn their noses up at the likes of grasshoppers, termites and other crunchy fare. The authors of the study by the Forestry Department, part of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said many insects contained the same amount of protein and minerals as meat and more healthy fats doctors recommend in balanced diets. “In the West we have a cultural bias, and think that because insects come from developing countries, they cannot be good,” said scientist Arnold van Huis from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, one of the authors of the report. Eva Muller of the FAO said restaurants in Europe were starting to offer insect-based dishes, presenting them to diners as exotic delicacies. Danish restaurant Noma, for example, crowned the world’s best for three years running in one poll, is renowned for ingredients including a variety of insects such as ants. As well as helping in the costly battle against obesity, which the World Health Organization estimates has nearly doubled since 1980 and affects around 500 million people, the report said insect farming was likely to be less land-dependent than traditional livestock and produce fewer greenhouse gases. It would also provide business and export opportunities for poor people in developing countries, especially women, who are often responsible for collecting insects in rural communities. Van Huis said barriers to enjoying dishes such as bee larvae yoghurt were psychological – in a blind test carried out by his team, nine out of 10 people preferred meatballs made from roughly half meat and half mealworms to those made from meat.

http://www.informationng.com/2013/05/eating-insects-could-help-fight-obesity-u-n-says.html

Health

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Potatoes are a staple food around the world, celebrated for their versatility and comforting texture. Often associated with hearty meals, these tubers are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. While they may not have the same reputation as leafy greens or brightly colored vegetables, potatoes are a significant source of various vitamins and minerals. In this article, we’ll explore the key vitamins found in potatoes and their health benefits. Nutritional Profile of Potatoes Before diving into the specific vitamins, it’s essential to understand the overall nutritional profile of potatoes. A medium-sized potato (about 150 grams) typically contains: – Approximately 130 calories – 30 grams of carbohydrates – 3 grams of protein – 0 grams of fat – 2 grams of fiber Potatoes are also rich in water, making them a hydrating food choice. They are an excellent source of energy due to their carbohydrate content, which primarily consists of starch. This makes potatoes a staple food in many cultures around the world. The carbohydrates in potatoes are mainly complex carbohydrates, which provide a steady release of energy. This can help maintain stable blood sugar levels, making potatoes a good option for those looking to sustain energy throughout the day. While potatoes are not a significant source of protein compared to animal products or legumes, they do contain about 3 grams per medium-sized potato. This protein can contribute to daily intake and, when combined with other foods, can help in muscle repair and growth. With 2 grams of fiber, potatoes can aid in digestion and promote feelings of fullness. Consuming fiber-rich foods can also help maintain a healthy gut and regulate bowel movements. Vitamins and Minerals Potatoes are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. They are particularly rich in: – Vitamin C: Important for immune function and skin health. – Vitamin B6: Plays a role in metabolism and brain health. – Potassium: Crucial for heart health and muscle function. The high water content in potatoes contributes to hydration, which is vital for overall health. Staying hydrated helps in various bodily functions, including temperature regulation and nutrient transport. Key Vitamins in Potatoes Potatoes are not only versatile and delicious, but they are also packed with essential nutrients, particularly vitamins. Understanding the key vitamins found in potatoes can help you appreciate their role in a balanced diet. Here, we’ll delve into the notable vitamins present in potatoes and their specific health benefits. 1. Vitamin C One of the most notable vitamins in potatoes is Vitamin C, an antioxidant that plays a crucial role in the body. A medium potato can provide about 30% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for several reasons: – Immune Function: Vitamin C helps boost the immune system, making the body more resilient to infections. It enhances the production of white blood cells, which are vital for fighting off pathogens. – Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein that supports skin health and the healing of wounds. Vitamin C is vital for its synthesis, making it crucial for maintaining skin elasticity and reducing signs of aging. – Iron Absorption: This vitamin enhances the absorption of non-heme iron from plant-based foods, which can help prevent anemia. Adequate Vitamin C intake is particularly important for vegetarians and vegans who may rely on plant sources of iron. 2. Vitamin B6 Potatoes are also a good source of Vitamin B6, which is important for several bodily functions. A medium potato can provide around 15% of the daily recommended intake. Vitamin B6 is critical for: – Metabolism: It aids in the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, helping to convert food into energy efficiently. This makes it essential for maintaining energy levels throughout the day. – Brain Health: Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of neurotransmitters, which are crucial for mood regulation and cognitive function. Adequate levels of this vitamin can help improve mood and reduce the risk of depression. – Red Blood Cell Production: It plays a role in creating hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the body. Healthy levels of Vitamin B6 can help prevent anemia and support overall cardiovascular health. 3. Folate (Vitamin B9) Folate, also known as Vitamin B9, is another significant vitamin found in potatoes. A medium potato offers about 6% of the daily recommended intake. Folate is vital for: – Cell Division: It is crucial during periods of rapid growth, such as pregnancy and infancy. Adequate folate intake is essential for fetal development and can help prevent neural tube defects. – DNA Synthesis: Folate helps in the synthesis and repair of DNA, making it essential for overall cellular health. This vitamin plays a key role in preventing mutations that can lead to cancer. – Heart Health: Adequate folate intake can help reduce homocysteine levels, which are linked to heart disease. By maintaining healthy homocysteine levels, folate contributes to cardiovascular health. 4. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Though present in smaller amounts, Vitamin B3, or niacin, is also found in potatoes. This vitamin contributes to: – Energy Production: Niacin helps convert food into energy by aiding the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. This is essential for maintaining energy levels and overall metabolic health. – Skin Health: Niacin supports healthy skin by improving moisture retention and reducing the appearance of fine lines. It has been found to enhance skin barrier function and may help in treating conditions like acne. Potatoes are more than just a comfort food; they are a nutrient-dense source of essential vitamins that can contribute to a healthy diet. With significant amounts of Vitamin C, B6, folate, and niacin, they play various roles in supporting immune function, metabolism, brain health, and more. Incorporating potatoes into your meals can provide not only satisfaction but also a boost to your overall well-being. Whether baked, mashed, or roasted, these humble tubers deserve a spot on your plate, proving that nutrition can indeed come from simple and delicious sources. So the next time you enjoy a potato dish, remember the valuable vitamins it brings to your diet!

https://childbehavior.com.ng/what-are-the-vitamins-in-potato/

Health

en

The way the heart is set up, it turns out that there are a lot of things we eat that are harmful to the heart. That’s why, here at Mamador, we always encourage you to improve your diet so that you can reduce your risk of heart diseases. Consciously working to improve your diet not only helps your heart, but your entire body is better for it. To keep your healthy heart in top shape, these are examples of the kinds of food you will have to avoid or try to eat less and less of. - Refined and processed grains and carbohydrates. The prevalence of processed foods like white bread, white rice, sweets, and sugars, etc, is such that it is almost impossible to avoid them altogether. However, you should strive to consume whole grains and unprocessed carbohydrates more regularly. Highly processed foods are effectively denatured, and they lose a lot of their original, healthy nutrients. The processing adds some new components that are not necessarily healthy, like sugars, trans fats, etc. - Sugary Drinks. Sodas or soft drinks contain high amounts of sugar and sugar substitutes that act as sweeteners that are ultimately unhealthy for you when consumed frequently or in high amounts. They have the same effects on the body – and the heart – as processed foods do. Again, the healthy way to go is to reduce the frequency at which you consume them. - Processed Meats. These are meats preserved with additives like salt, sodium or potassium nitrites, etc. These types of meats are pretty common – hotdogs, bacon, suya, sausage, etc. These preservatives can quickly prove harmful for the body when taken in high doses. - Alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol has been proven to lead to cases of high blood pressure, heart failure and high-calorie intake. While we understand that it is almost impractical to avoid indulging every now and again, it is important to point out that the way to go is to make the conscious effort to reduce the intake of these foods and stick to healthier alternatives.

https://brandspurng.com/foods-to-avoid-for-a-healthy-heart-infograph-mamador/

Health

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So you’ve been studying Python for quite some time. But you’re still considering how you can apply what you’ve learned and improve your Python skills. You know the basics and now you’re ready to apply them. Get started with these 10 beginners ideas suitable for python project. Like any achiever, you want to show off what you’ve created with what you’ve learned thus far. Of course, one of the best ways to improve your programming skills is through hands-on experience. There are also many beginner Python projects you can work on to gain confidence, such as simple games, quizzes, authentication scripts, and more. So, as a beginner, here are some of the best Python project ideas to consider. Table of Contents 1. Login System If you’re interested in web development, one of the most basic but impactful projects you can work on is a login system. A novel approach is to collect user input in a text file (registration) and validate it during login. It’s similar to registering and submitting data to a software’s database in order to gain authenticated access to use it. It also introduces you to conditional statements, exception handling, loops, and file handling in Python. One difficulty you may encounter with this project is determining how to remove duplicates from your data. You will almost always need to modify your code to reject usernames that are already in your text file. Then, during login, match users’ passwords with their usernames. Fortunately, no web framework is required for this project. You can write your code in any text editor and run it through the command line. The popular paper and pencil tic-tac-toe game has been self-coded with Python. So this should be a breeze. Tic-tac-toe is a two-player squared (usually 3 X 3) matrix game. Both are engaged in an attrition battle, attempting to take over three boxes in a row with their marks (usually an “X” for a player and an “O” for the other). The winner is the first person to fill three boxes in a row in any significant direction. Naturally, the other loses. Additionally, you may set up a few neural network iterations so that players can compete against the machine. If you’re interested in creating board games that incorporate some machine learning and artificial intelligence, this is an excellent direction to take. You can even improve the graphical appeal of your tic-tac-toe app with Python libraries like pygame and tkinter. 3. Build a Quiz App With Python You can demonstrate that you can put what you’ve learned to practice by coding and running a multiple-choice app using your command line. Coding a multiple-choice quiz in Python not only introduces you to how a typical quiz app works but also introduces you to some of the fundamental concepts of Python programming. As with the other beginner projects on the list, all you need is a basic understanding of Python loops, functions, conditions, object-oriented programming, and how arrays work in Python. However, some questions should arise in order to simplify the development cycle: - How will you present your inquiries? - How do users enter their answers? - How do you intend to specify the appropriate options when answering questions? - How about adding up the points for each correct answer? You’re ready to go once you’ve answered those questions. 4. Make a Desktop GUI Calculator Starting with a Graphic User Interface (GUI) calculator is a good place to start if you want to build desktop applications with Python. Although this may appear to be a little advanced, the path is straightforward once you begin. Creating a GUI calculator will help you understand Python’s GUI modules such as tkinter, PyQT, Pyforms, and Kivy, among others.You can handle the calculations with separate functions and then code the user interface with any GUI module. The tkinter library, on the other hand, is more user-friendly. Tkinter includes an event button handler that accepts arguments from external functions. To make your calculation functions work with the GUI, you can call them while designing your interface. 5. Automate Excel Operations With Python Using Vlookup and Excel, you may take advantage of Python’s versatility for creativity whether you are an expert in VBA or frequently perform date-to-time conversions. If you want to go into data science or statistical analysis with Python, automating Excel activities is pretty useful. You will learn how to handle data and use data science tools like pandas, numpy, and matplotlib through this project. For instance, you may create a Python program to clean up data that isn’t properly formatted or write some code to automate VBA and charts. 6. Create a Snake Game Game development can be perplexing at times. However, Python has a significant influence on the game industry. And if you want to start making games with Python, getting your hands dirty with a snake game is a good place to start. Although this may be difficult at first, once you get started, you’ll get the hang of it. If you want to go deeper, you can investigate the features of Python game libraries such as pygame, pyglet, pykyra, and kivy, among others. However, you can use the popular turtle or pygame libraries to accomplish this. 7. Use Python to Build a Simple Chatbot Many tech companies are now using artificial intelligence to improve customer satisfaction. They sometimes accomplish this by incorporating a chatbot that converses with you naturally when you visit their website. Natural language processing (NLP) is one of Python’s strengths, and if you’re interested in deep learning with neural networks and AI, this should be of interest to you. When you visit a website, a chatbot responds as if it were a human. While you may not need to publish yours on the web just yet, developing a command-line chatbot opens the door to more creative exploration. To begin, consult the documentation for NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit), a Python library used for intelligent word processing. Additionally, you must be familiar with the fundamentals of Python’s string and dictionary processing. 8. Make a URL Shortener With Python Here’s something for bitly fans. One of the simplest projects you may start with as a beginner in Python is a URL shortener. To carry out your project, you can use Python modules like pyshorteners. Even better, Bitly has an API that enables you to use Python to build a custom URL shortener. That’s a fantastic place to begin with APIs. Additionally, you can create your own algorithm for the URL shortener if you want to test your understanding of how things operate in the background. 9. Build a Web Scraper Web scraping is useful for monitoring market trends or consumer behavior if you want to explore the power of Python in business analytics. Web scraping is a useful business intelligence tool that modern businesses use to obtain decision-making data from various web pages. You can create scripts to collect specific information and save it in a CSV or Excel file. Building a web scraper with Python allows you to learn how web crawlers work in real-world applications. With Python’s beautifulsoup library, you can begin a web scraping project. You can also use the scrapy framework to create a full-fledged web crawler. 10. Unit Converter Do you have a preference for computational programming? If so, a wise course of action would be to build a Python object having functions packed with unit conversion algorithms. It’s simple to write your code if you know the mathematical formula for converting a unit. You may wish to develop criteria for validating user selections if you want your software to work for a wide range of units. Using distinct functions for each conversion is the ideal approach to accomplish this. From a parent function, you can then make conditional calls to each function based on the user’s selection. Of course, you may also use the CMD to execute your conversion code. You May Also Like: - Nigerian SEC Set To Regulate Crypto Trading - AI Impact On Search Engine Optimization In The Future The Benefits of Projects Aside from knowing Python’s regular expressions, devoting time to creating something with it demonstrates how to put what you’ve learned into practice. You can showcase your portfolio by posting projects you’ve completed on GitHub. Projects also help you learn more about the programming development life cycle, from initiation and testing to production and implementation. Pingback: 8 Popular Python Frameworks for Building APIs

https://alabiansolutions.com/blog/10-beginners-ideas-suitable-for-python-project/

Career

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An allegory is a literary work in which the characters and events are symbolic of a deeper moral or spiritual truth. The Pilgrim’s Progress and The Holy War by John Bunyan are famous allegories. The Song of Solomon is often interpreted as an allegory by both Jewish and Christian scholars. Jews have seen it as an allegory of God’s love, while Christians have often viewed the book as an allegory of Christ’s love for the Church. The book is lyric, poetic, and rich in symbolism, but can it properly be called an allegory? Because of the romantic and even sexual nature of the book’s contents, many have sought a different way to understand its message. However, an allegorical approach is unnecessary to understanding the intended meaning of the Song of Solomon. The straightforward approach to the Song of Solomon shows it is a love poem written by Solomon regarding a woman he loves. The book includes many intimate details regarding the love between a man and a woman; those details are cloaked in symbolism, but chapter 4 is obviously a poetic description of the consummation of a marriage on the wedding night. There is no need to allegorize this, since its presentation of connubial love is completely consistent with the Bible’s other teachings regarding marriage. In the poem the wedding takes place prior to the consummation of sexual relations between the lover and his beloved (Song of Solomon 3:6–11). The wedding night is symbolically described in 4:1—5:1, and then 5:2–8:4 addresses the maturing of the marriage relationship. The beloved concludes, “Many waters cannot quench love; / rivers cannot sweep it away” (Song of Solomon 8:7). There is nothing in the book to suggest it’s anything but a lyrical presentation of what actually took place between King Solomon and his true love. There are no supernatural events or apocalyptic beasts; there is nothing that must be understood as allegorical, and there is no need to spiritualize the text. A major concern with an allegorical approach to the Song of Solomon is that the meaning of the allegory is debatable. The lover is usually seen as God or Christ, with the beloved as either God’s people (Israel) or the Church. While the Church is called the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5; Revelation 19:7), this does not mean the bride in the Song of Solomon must be seen from this perspective. The Church did not exist at the time the Song of Solomon was composed. Unless speaking prophetically, the book cannot refer to the Church. Could Solomon have written the book as an allegory of God’s love for the Jewish people? God loves Israel (Hosea 3:1), but this does not require the Song of Solomon to be an allegory about Israel. There may be applications relevant to God’s love for His people, but this is different from interpreting the book as an allegory. The Song of Solomon can be read and interpreted just as it was written, as a love poem. It offers an intimate look of the growth, joy, and maturation of love between a man and woman. It can thus offer much insight for married life today. The Song of Solomon can also be seen as an illustration of God’s love for His people, but it is not an allegory, per se.

https://gotquestions.org/Song-of-Solomon-allegory.html

Religion

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"Melanin is what gives colour to human hair and animal fur," said Professor Mike Benton from the University of Bristol, UK, who led this study. "They are also the most common way that colours are [produced] in feathers." Professor Benton explained that differently shaped melanosomes produced different colours, with blacks or greys produced by "sausage-shaped" melanosomes, and reddish or "russet" shades found in spherical ones. "A ginger-haired person would have more spherical melanosomes, and a black-haired or grey-haired person would have more of the sausage-shaped structures," said Professor Benton. The scientists found both types of melanosome in Confuciusornis and decided to turn their attention to Sinosauropteryx, which is the most primitive feathered dinosaur yet found. The bristles that are visible in the fossils were coloured feathers It was about the size of a turkey and would have fed on lizards and other small prey. "There's a very clear rim of feathers running down the top of its head like a Mohican, all the way along its back," Professor Benton described. Bands of dark and light along the tail can be seen in the fossils. This close examination has shown that the dinosaur's "Mohican" was russet or ginger-coloured, and that these bands were in fact ginger and white stripes. "This is the first time anyone has ever had evidence of original colour of feathers in dinosaurs," said Professor Benton. He said the study has also confirmed that the bristles on this "rather primitive flesh-eating dinosaur... really were feathers". This gives more weight to a very well-supported theory that modern birds evolved from theropods, the group of small carnivorous dinosaurs to which Sinosauropteryx belonged. "Critics have said that these visible spiny structures could be shredded connective tissue," Professor Benton explained. "But the discovery of melanosomes within the bristles finally proves that some early dinosaurs were indeed feathered." The findings also help to resolve a long-standing debate about the evolution and original function of feathers. "We now know that feathers did not originate as flight structures," said Professor Benton. This suggests that they evolved, initially, for insulation and perhaps for display. Feathers could have evolved for insulation or display Dr Richard Butler, a palaeontologist at the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology, in Munich, Germany, said this was a "fascinating and exciting discovery with important implications for understanding dinosaur evolution and biology". Dr Butler, who was not involved in this research, told BBC News: "When people ask how we know what colour dinosaurs were, the answer has always been that we make an educated guess. "This discovery suggests that with more work we may be able to accurately reconstruct colour patterns in some dinosaur species, and begin to understand how those colour patterns may have functioned for camouflage or display." What are these?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8481448.stm

Religion

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Biafra, dominated by the great Igbo race, enjoyed sovereignty before Great Britain commenced exploitive colonial rule over Nigeria under the racist banner of Rudyard Kipling's "the White Man' burden." Britain asserted authority over Biafra based on the tyrannical doctrine that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. The Berlin West Africa Conference, 1884-85, and the Berlin General Act symbolized colonial lawlessness by treating Africa as a carcass to be divided up among European vultures. Restoration of Biafra's sovereignty is justified under international law and practice--especially with the ongoing ethnic-inspired killings and persecutions of Biafans by Nigeria's elected military dictator from the North touting sharia law, President Mohammdu Buhari. Biafra's sovereignty journey will require deft international diplomacy and the marshalling of widespread popular support from Biafrans and their resources. Power is never voluntarily surrendered. Rights ultimately are what you are willing to fight and die for. Prior to British colonization in 1906, the great Igbo people to the East of Niger, numbering some 3 million, and their cognate tribes enjoyed decentralized self-government. They were not living in a state of nature. Their self-rule came by force of arms--not voluntarily. In 1900, the British government assumed responsibility for the Royal Niger Company's territories, and formed the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, the Niger Coast Protectorate and the Lagos Colony Protectorate territories. 1913 witnessed the amalgamation of Nigeria into three administrative areas: the crown colony of Lagos and the Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria. In 1960, Britain ended its colonization of Nigeria without reference to the Igbo or any other peoples of Nigeria entitled to self-determination. The Nigeria Independence Act established Nigerian territorial boundaries not by popular referendum or other reliable manifestations of self-determination of peoples, but according to the Nigeria's Orders in Council, 1954 to 1960. They reflected British selfish maneuvers to dominate Nigeria economically. Britain's failure to offer Biafrans the right to self-determination violated the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples adopted on 14 December 1960. Paragraph 5 of the Declaration required that immediate steps be taken by the colonial power "to transfer all powers to the peoples of those [colonized] territories...in accordance with their freely expressed will and desire...in order to enable them to enjoy complete independence and freedom." The 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations emphasized that, "By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine without external interference their political status...." The people of Biafra--recognized as distinct by British colonial authorities--were never provided an opportunity to vote for complete independence and freedom from the rest of Nigeria according to their freely expressed will and desire. They were never consulted on the subject when Nigeria became independent in 1960. Further, the 1960 Constitution of Nigeria was never approved by the people of Biafra in a referendum or otherwise. And neither has any subsequent Nigerian Constitution, including the current version decreed by a military dictator in 1999. In sum, the British decolonized Nigeria in violation of international law by failing to transfer power to the peoples of Biafra in accordance with their freely expressed will. That violation was not a technicality, but an affront to a fundamental human right. All governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Consent is required to legitimate authority and to forestall external subjugation, oppression, persecution, or even genocide fueled by tribal, sectarian, ethnic, or megalomaniacal ambitions or hatreds. After independence from Britain, Nigeria soon became a charnel house for Biafrans. Deprived of their right to self-determination, they were left to the tender mercies of the Hausa-Fulani of the North and the Yoruba of the South in a unitary state unsuited for its diverse tribal, ethnic, and religious landscape. The gruesome 1967-1970 Biafran War was emblematic. Ethnic-based massacres of Biafrans and countless starving children who died as little more than skeletons was its grim face. The horrors suffered by Biafrans gave birth to the first modern international relief effort to lessen unspeakable misery. At the war's conclusion, Nigeria's General Yakuba Gowon's sloganeered, "No victor, no vanquished." The words proved a cruel hoax. The Igbo were marginalized, persecuted as traitors, and subjected to a Northern political yolk. Under incumbent Nigerian elected military dictator Buhari, the repression of the Igbo have reached new heights featuring indiscriminate killings, torture, and detentions without trial. Last March, for instance, 13 Biafrans were murdered and their corpses burnt to ashes and dumped in a burrow pit located in the area of Aba-Port Harcourt Road in Abia State by suspected Buhari agents. Last February, a team of Buhari's Army, Navy, and Police and gunned down 22 Biafrans protesting Buhari's detention of Biafan leader Prince Nnamdi Kanu. A complete chronicle of Buhari's horrors only would numb by repetition. The point is that there is no political remedy for Biafra's suffering--like an abused wife in a forced marriage--short of self-determination to regain its sovereignty that was illegally extinguished by the British and never surrendered after decolonization. States born from longstanding repression of peoples by ruling authorities are part of the woof and warp of international law or custom. Think of Bangladesh, Namibia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, East Timor, Eritrea, and Kosovo. The case for Biafran sovereignty is as strong or stronger as these precedents. But to succeed, Biafrans will need to organize, unify, and make their case to the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States. If they do not all hang together, they might all come to hang separately.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/biafra-nationhood-unfinis_b_9597456.html

Politics

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There is no doubt that dolphins are one of the most exciting animals in the ocean. They are easy to recognize and you likely know that they are very smart. There is a lot of information that anyone interested in these animals should appreciate. There are plenty of great facts about them that you will learn when you get done reading this! Some are basic, others entertaining and many are simply amazing.1. Dolphins are odontocete cetaceans. The order Cetacea includes a group of mammals fully adapted to life in the ocean, and the suborder Odontoceti includes those with teeth. 2. The closest relatives of dolphins are whales and porpoises. All are members of the order Cetacea. 3. Dolphins are mammals; warm-blooded animals which give birth to live offspring and feed them with breast milk from the mother. 4. They do not have hair on the skin. Only a small accumulation of thin hair near the spiracle and in some other places. Only the Boto, Amazon River Dolphin, has a small amount of hair that they keep as an adult. 5. Dolphins are the only mammals that give birth to its offspring delivering the tail first instead of the head. 6. Like whales, manatees, seals, walruses and porpoises, they are mammals that live permanently in an aquatic environment. 7. Apparently, dolphins sleep resting one side of the brain at a time. Thanks to its bone structure and its ability to hold air in the lungs for a long time, dolphins can rest underwater. However, they need to breathe regularly. Therefore, some degree of awareness is necessary, and one side of the brain remain active, while the other part rests. 8. Dolphins can communicate with each other by emitting a variety of sounds. 9. Dolphins do not have a good sense of smell. 10. Dolphins can swim at a speed of up to 25 miles per hour for a long time; This is about three times faster than the fastest humans in the world. 11. Dolphins inhabit all seas of the world. 12. Most species live in salt water, but some dwell in fresh or brackish waters. 13. All dolphins are carnivores. 14. There are about 100 teeth in the mouth of a dolphin, but the amount varies among species. However, they use the teeth to grab their prey, but they don’t chew it. All food is swallowed whole. 15. Dolphins can hear a frequency range ten times broader than that of a human being. 16. Dolphins are mostly larger than porpoises. However, some species of dolphins are the smallest cetaceans. 17. Mothers breastfeed calves for 2 or 3 years. 18. The lower limbs of dolphins are vestigial legs because millions of years ago they could walk on land. 19. There are about 43 species of dolphins. But the number keeps changing because of new discoveries and new taxonomic classifications. 20. There have been cases of attacks on humans, but they are very rare. Even though dolphins are usually very mild tempered, they can be aggressive. 21. At birth, calves weigh approximately 10 kilos and measure around one meter. This weight increases up to 7 times during the first year of life. 22. Many individuals have been seen making jumps in front of the ships and following the bow waves. 23. The teeth of dolphins work as a kind of antenna to pick up the sounds bounced back during echolocation. 24. Dolphins enjoy socializing and playing. They have been seen playing with small objects and with other dolphins. They play with seaweed or with other members of the pod. Sometimes, they will tease other living creatures in the water. 25. They are social animals and can live in groups called pods that can have hundreds of members or even join with other groups creating superpods with thousands of individuals. 26. The favorite foods of many species of dolphins are fish, octopus, and squid. 27. The gestation period in most species lasts between 10 and 12 months. 28. The Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) is the largest dolphin. It can measure up to 30 feet in length. 29. Dolphins detect prey and objects using their echolocation, that is, by interpreting the echo of sound waves bounced back by the target. 30. They have very delicate skin, which can easily be injured. 31. Dolphins have an organ called melon in the head that emits the sound waves used for echolocation. 32. The dolphin’s brain is similar in size to that of humans. Their brains are 4-5 times larger than those of other animals of similar size. 33. Dolphins can recognize themselves in the mirrors which mean that they are self-aware, an indicator of intelligence. 34. Dolphins’ eyes can move separately from each other. 35. Bycatch is one of the main threats to the survival of dolphins. 36. Their main natural predators are sharks and ironically, orcas. 37. The Amazon River Dolphin or Boto is the largest dolphin that dwells in freshwater. They can be up to 10 feet long. 38. The Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) can swim backward. So far, researchers unknown the exact reason for this behavior, but it is presumed to be related to searching food. 39. Dolphins have two stomachs just like cows. The first one stores the food and the second is where digestion takes place. 40. Some dolphin species can submerge up to 1,000 feet. 41. The dorsal fin on each dolphin is unique, and it can be used to identify them from each other. 42. The average lifespan of dolphins is around 17 years. However, some species in the wild live about 50 years. 43. Some dolphins need to breathe every 20 seconds, but others need to do it every 30 minutes. 44. The bonds between the members of a pod are very tight. They have been observed helping sick, elderly, and injured peers. 45. Dolphins can see well in the water due to the way their retina collects the light. 46. The brain of dolphins is the second largest ratio between size compared to its body size; only behind humans. 47. It is possible for a mature dolphin to eat up to 30 pounds of fish per day. 48. Some dolphins can leap up to twenty feet in the air. 49. Dolphins often use a hunting technique consisting in surrounding a school of fish, so they make a tight group. Then they will take turns going through the center of the accumulation to feed. 50. Global warming continues to be a problem for dolphins as it has reduced their food supply significantly. 51. Dolphins can migrate looking for food and reach parts of the ocean where the temperatures are right for them. Not all species of dolphins migrate. 52. Dolphins perform several feeding strategies to capture prey. Most involve cooperation among the pod members. 53. The smallest dolphins are about 4 feet long with the longest being 30 feet long. They can weigh from 90 pounds to more than 11 tons. 54. The flukes are the two parts of the tail of a dolphin. 55. All dolphins have a blowhole at the top where they breathe. 56. Dolphins have a great healing process even when they have deep wounds such as those that are the result of shark bites. Experts haven’t been able to determine how this is possible for dolphins when other mammals would die from a hemorrhage. 57. Dolphins are incredibly intelligent creatures, known for their ability to recognize themselves in mirrors and communicate with each other using distinct whistles. Learn more about this fascinating fact of the day.

http://www.dolphins-world.com/dolphin-facts/

Education

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Body Composition Exercises Body composition exercises seem to be mistaken to be composed of only exercises intended for losing weight. Even though this general belief doesn't seem far from the truth, it is the fact that even with some exercises, one can gain muscle tissues which instead weighs more than fat. Hence, following this, one is bound to see more weight increase on the scales even when doing body composition exercises. In other words, body composition exercises is not particularly about losing fats and weights but also, decreasing body fat percentage and increasing the lean muscle mass. That's just the truthful idea about body composition exercises. However, if body composition exercises are done the right way, there's no denial that one would definitely see a beautiful result that will translate to lean body mass and low body fat percentage. In all truth, body composition exercises are not as complicated as they are made to appear. It is a combination of body composition activities with a diet full of lean protein that ensures weight loss and a stronger body shape. With body composition exercises combine several activities that helps to burn fat and build muscle, you would be able to replace fat with lean, tight and strong muscles. To learn more about what body composition exercises is really all about, we'll be considering some interesting topics under the concept. This features the meaning of body composition, body composition exercises examples that are common and some home exercises you an easily tap into to keep those daily exercises within your routine—these includes body composition exercises without equipment. Lastly, the benefits of body composition exercises that could serve as an encouragements and motivation during your exercises. What Is Body Composition Body composition is the the percentage of fat, water, bone, muscle, skin, fats and other lean tissues that make up the human body. This is usually broken down into two categories which are fats and lean mass. The lean mass is called the fat free component as it measures everything else in thr human body aside the body fats. Simply, Body composition is the ratio of the body's fat compared to lean mass. This also includes muscle, bones and other organs of the body. With this, you can ascertain what percentage of your body is composed of fats, which on the other hand also indicates how fit you are. Body composition is evaluated by using the body fat percentage. For instance, A fit woman's body fat generally falls between 21% and 24% while a man's body fat generally falls between 14% and 17%. Hence, understanding what body composition is helps to put measure on certain things and to maintain your body. What Is Body Composition Exercises Body composition exercises are several types of exercises that are recommended in order to maintain the body composition. Such exercises may compose of cardio exercises which works so well in burning fats or some other strength or simple bodyweight exercises that can be performed without adding unnecessary weights. What Impact Body Composition Exercises These days, it's quite unpopular for people to relate their physicality to genetics or inability to take absolute control of their body composition. While, it's true that genetics is one of the considerable factors, nowadays, facts and results have endlessly shown that body composition is impacted by what you eat and the exercises you do— and not merely genetic factor Hence, you can be in control of your body composition if these are managed. However, the same way exercises are not created equal or effect the same way, the same logic applies to the type of food you consume and their effects in your body. For instance, eating real foods and consuming less of sugar and fats contribute to the better management of your calories. This in fact, affect your body composition. Similarly, running and strength training effects and impacts the body composition in different ways. They should be done together to get the desired results. Noteworthy, taking all these into note can impacts your body composition. Body Composition Exercises Examples As stated earlier, there are several body composition exercises examples available to maintain your body. Such body composition exercises examples are Pull-ups, Planks, Push-ups, Squats Jump etc. They are classified into cardoi body composition exercises and strength building body composition exercises. 1. Cardio Body Composition Exercises Generally, all forms of exercises burn fats. However, aerobic activities, also referred to cardoi is considered the best way to burn fats. So, what is a cardoi body exercise? Cardoi body exercise are activities or exercises that helps to get your heart pumping. This is because during aerobic exercise, you tend to breathe heavier and then begin to sweat. It is believed that aerobic exercise with moderate intensity will help to burn the highest percentage of calories from fats. To maximize your fat burning rate during these exercises, it's advised that you combine exercises with high, moderate and low intensity together in order to achieve the perfect balanced body composition. This is because despite doing high intensity workouts or exercises, they burn smaller ratio of fat in the body. Noteworthy, aerobic exercise won't do much to boost your lean body mass. To get the results you can resort to strength building training. 2. Strength Building Body Composition Exercises The purpose of doing strength training and exercises is to build and shape the muscle. Ultimately, this also affects the body composition. Thus, doing such exercises can be effective in building strength, enhancing muscle definition, and increasing heart rate. However, the combination of both strength building exercises and cardio exercises in maintaining your body composition cannot be overemphasized. The importance and benefits of the combination was described by Jake Dickson (B.S. in Exercise Science) in the following words: “As athletes, body composition is important, but so is athleticism. While weight lifting helps to build the desired “X” frame, implementing cardio helps to keep body fat in check all while improving your stamina and endurance which can result in better lifts.” Body Composition Exercises At Home Without Equipment Not having a special equipment that might be required to do body composition exercises isn't really a problem. You can keep tab of your body composition exercises at home without having any equipment. With these home exercises, you don't have to worry about going to the gym everytime or spending money on body composition exercises equipment. There are some interesting and effective simple strength training workouts that can be done at home to strengthen your body—this includes body parts like your legs, abs, arms etc. The recommended body composition exercises at home without needing equipment are: - Squats Jump - And Workouts - Lunge Jumps - Interval training And other core workouts that can help improve or maintain body composition. Such workouts include hanging leg raises, deadlifts, side plank, ab crunches, and bicycle kicks. Body Composition Exercises Benefit Now, after consider some examples and impacts of body composition exercises, let's check out some of the benefits. The body composition exercises benefits are: - Body composition exercises help to burn more calories - They help to build muscles - Doing body composition exercises help to reduce the risk of diabetes, health disease and other health concerns that might be associated to weights. - Body composition exercises help to increase range of motion and movement. - It also increase body function and energy. Maintaining or improving your body composition is something to adopt in order to get into your desired body shape. This could also help to improve the health state. Hence, doing the aforementioned body composition exercises could help you reach that state!

https://www.thrillets.com.ng/2024/06/body-composition-exercises-examples.html

Sports

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The vast brown rivers of sludge that gush into the sewage treatment plants across Germany may hold a key to early detection of any new wave of the coronavirus, scientists tell CNN. The Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research is leading a trial that’s sampling wastewater from plants serving some of the largest urban areas and trying to find evidence of the coronavirus. The ultimate goal is for almost all sewage plants to install these coronavirus early warning systems so as to track the spread of Covid-19. “It would be the first test line,” said microbiologist Hauke Harms, one of the leaders of the study. “You would start with our measurement and then you would know where to go to look for the reasons. Normally it is a hospital, or I don’t know, a factory where you have an outbreak. And then one would have to test the people.” The concept seems fairly simple: Sewage contains remnants of the virus from human feces. If those concentrations suddenly jump, sewage plants would detect that and alert authorities to take action and begin targeted testing of the area in question. The sewage plants in the area of the eastern German city of Leipzig – which can serve populations of between 100,00 and 600,000 people – are among those taking part in the study. “If it would be possible to have an idea of the concentration of coronavirus in the wastewater, we can calculate the number of infected people in Leipzig and this would be very interesting in the coronavirus strategies,” said Dr. Ulrich Meyer, the technical director of Leipzig’s waterworks. But in reality, it’s not as straightforward. At Leipzig’s main sewage plant, samples are extracted every two minutes as the wastewater streams through 24 hours a day. The scientists at Helmholtz acknowledge that finding a small amount of genetic material (or RNA) from the virus in a giant river of waste is a monumental task. “We have a high, high volume of waste waters and it is a challenge to find the traces of the virus in the waste waters,” said Rene Kallies, a virologist working on the project. “So we have liters and we have to scale it down to microliters to get a sufficient amount for RNA extraction and that’s the challenge.” Yet, the scientists say they could detect a Covid trace surge within a day and transmit that information to local authorities. Another challenge, the scientists say, is the current low number of new infections in Germany, which makes finding the virus even more difficult and means that a single infected person could skew test results. “You may have heard about these super spreaders and there are also super excreters, for instance. People who excrete much more virus than others and of course this gives you a wrong idea about the number of infected people,” Harms said. Germany has been held up as an example of a country that has successfully fended off the worst ravages of the virus. As of Friday, it had reported more than 182,000 cases of Covid-19 with around 8,400 deaths, significantly lower than other European countries. Tracing the virus in excrement is not new and German researchers are not the only ones working to try and use sewage as an alarm system. In February, scientists at the Dutch KWR Water Research Institute found the virus in six sewage plants in the country, including one that services the main international airport in Schipol. KWR said it has developed a method to monitor the presence of the virus in sewage and said testing wastewater has clear benefits. “Whereas the testing of individuals requires individual tests, testing in sewage can give an early indication of the contamination within a whole population,” KWR said on its website. On Tuesday, it was announced the KWR data will be integrated into the Dutch government’s Covid-19 monitoring dashboard. The German researchers believe that testing sewage will be one factor in a web of measures to detect outbreaks. But they acknowledge there are still problems to work out, although they say they are confident the system will be in place and working in the latter half of 2020, in time to help contain a possible second wave of the coronavirus. “I think we can offer something before the next wave,” Harms said, referring to a working detection system that can be used by states and sewage systems. “So if the next wave is coming in fall or early winter or so, then we should have something.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/01/europe/germany-sewage-coronavirus-detection-intl/index.html

Politics

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The new WHO database of worldwide air pollution measures it in two different ways, and as a result two cities – one in Iran and another in Nigeria – can lay claim to the unenviable title of world’s most polluted city. It all comes down to which minute particles, or particulate matter (PM), in the air are being measured. These particles are between 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter, roughly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The coarser PM10s include dust stirred up by cars on roads and the wind, soot from open fires and partially burned carbon from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and wood. The particles are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs. But the ultra-fine particles known as PM2.5s can only be seen with microscopes and are produced from all kinds of combustion. These are small enough to get from the lungs into the blood supply and are possibly more deadly because they affect the cardiovascular system. Many cities in developing countries traditionally monitor only PM10s. But increasingly PM2.5 pollution is seen as the best measure of how bad air pollution is for health. Richer countries usually have higher levels of PM 2.5s, while low income countries have higher levels of PM10s. Both, says the WHO, are deadly. Onitsha: highest for PM10s In 2013, two people died of heat exhaustion after a six-hour gridlock on the city’s bridge over the river Niger. Cars and trucks on the main road to Lagos belch fumes from burning low-quality diesel, and the air often stinks of burning waste from rubbish dumps, the smoke from old ships on the river and discharges from the metal workshops. But people did not expect Onitsha in Anambra state on the eastern bank of the mile-wide river Niger, to be named the most polluted in the world. According to the WHO, an air quality monitor there registered 594 micrograms per cubic metre of microscopic PM10 particles, and 66 of the more deadly PM2.5s. Onitsha’s figures are nearly twice as bad as notoriously polluted cities such as Kabul, Beijing and Tehran and 30 times worse than London. “We know pollution is very bad here. But this city must be much better than Lagos,” said Solomon Okechukwa, a sceptical Anambra state official, on Wednesday. But Onitsha, say academics, is a textbook example of the perils of rapid urbanisation without planning or public services creating a sustained pollution assault on its water and air. As a tropical port city which has doubled in size to over 1 million people in just a few years, it is frequently shrouded in plumes of black diesel smoke from old ships; it has no proper waste incineration plants; its construction sites and workshops emit clouds of dust and its heavy traffic is some of the worst in Nigeria. A recent study of Onitsha’s water pollution found more than 100 petrol stations in the city, often selling low-quality fuel, dozens of unregulated rubbish dumps, major fuel spills and high levels of arsenic, mercury, lead, copper and iron in its water. The city’s many metal industries, private hospitals and workshops were all said to be heavy polluters emitting chemical, hospital and household waste and sewage. “The level of pollution in Onitsha is getting increasingly serious,” said the authors. However, the WHO also said on Wednesday that the pollution data from Onitsha was not necessarily reliable because it came from a single monitoring station. “It is difficult to get accurate measurements in Africa. You can get super-high readings, but ideally the measurements should be done over a year to include different seasons and times of day. The reading in Onitsha may be representative but not altogether reliable,” said a WHO spokeswoman. Zabol: highest for PM2.5s Zabol, an eastern Iranian city on the border with Afghanistan, was once at the heart of a bustling ancient civilisation, close to where the very first piece of animation came from in the form of an intricate pottery bowl dating back 5,000 years that displays a goat in motion. But the city is now a largely neglected area plagued by poverty - and pollution. Every summer, as temperatures rise to staggering levels of 40C or even higher, Zabol is struck by what is locally known as “120 days of wind”, relentless dust storms from north to south. But the disappearance in the early 2000s of a nearby wetland, Hamoun, has exacerbated the situation to an unprecedented extent. Over many centuries, the wetland was crucial to the development of the area, serving as its natural cooler. Now it has dried up and become a major source of dust in the air. Zabol is only 45 minute’s drive away from Shahr-i Sokhta (Burnt City), a Unesco-designated world heritage site, home to the remains of a mudbrick city belonging to the bronze age. In recent years, suffocating dust storms sweeping across Zabol have repeatedly disrupted life, closing down schools and government offices. Last year officials were forced to distribute free masks and national headlines such as “Zabol’s pollution reaching 40 times more than normal” have become part of daily life. Similar storms have also ravaged west of the country. Mohsen Soleymani, the national project manager for preservation of Iranian wetlands, said pollution in Zabol was different from that in Tehran or Beijing, where it is linked to industry. “We are facing a critical situation in Zabol and the 120 days of wind period worsens the dust storms every year,” he told the Guardian. “The drying up of Hamoun is the main reason behind this level of pollution but other factions have contributed to the situation such as bad management of our water resources in the past.” According to Soleymani more than 700,000 job opportunities have disappeared because of the wetland’s situation. According to a report published by Iran’s Shargh daily, more than 500 people are diagnosed with tuberculosis in Zabol every year due to dust pollution, an unusual rate in the country. Hamoun’s crisis has forced people out of nearly 300 villages in the province, the Iranian daily reported. Kaveh Madani, a senior lecturer in environmental management from Imperial College London, said: “The thirst for development in Iran increased as a result of the 1979 revolution, Iraq-Iran war and the international sanctions.. “Iranians continued developing infrastructure without a real concern about the long-term environmental consequences of their development plans, which normally lacked strong environmental impact assessments.” Air pollution, dust storms, drying lakes and rivers, declining groundwater levels, land subsidence, deforestation, and desertification are on the menu of environmental products caused by unsustainable development, he said. “Some of the problems, however, are not domestic products. Transboundary conflicts over Helmand (Hirmand) river with Afghanistan, resulting in water shortage and intensified dust storms have heavily impacted the lives of those living around the Hamouns wetlands,” he said. Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/12/which-are-the-worlds-two-most-polluted-cities-and-why

Politics

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There are a number of times in the Gospels when Jesus’ words are quoted or His actions are described during times that He was alone. For example, when Jesus was in the desert for forty days (Matthew 4) or praying in the Garden at Gethsemane (Mark 14), He was by Himself. How did anyone know what He said or did, since there were no eyewitnesses to what happened? The Gospel narratives were not written at the time the events happened, like some kind of daily journal entry; rather, they were put together later, like most historical narratives, based on memory, research, and compilation. Matthew and John were both eyewitnesses to most of the events in their narratives. Mark and Luke had access to the eyewitnesses. In fact, Luke mentions that he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” before writing his Gospel (Luke 1:3). Very probably, Mark gleaned information for his Gospel from the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). The other benefit the writers had—and this is a big one—is that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). In fact, Jesus had promised them that the Spirit would bring to their remembrance “everything I have said” (John 14:26). Still, how did the disciples know what transpired when they were away from Jesus? One possible explanation is that the Holy Spirit told them what happened as they were writing their histories. Believing the Gospels to be inspired, we can easily accept that explanation. Another explanation is simply that Jesus later told His disciples what they had missed. No disciple was present with Jesus during the wilderness temptation in Matthew 4, but, later, Jesus spent over three years with the disciples. Isn’t it likely that He related to them what had happened sometime during those three years? Similarly, Jesus was alone as He spoke to the woman at the well in John 4, yet their conversation is quoted at length. A common-sense explanation is that Jesus later filled His disciples in. Or perhaps John got the story from the woman, given the fact that the disciples stayed in her city for two days following her conversion (John 4:40). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days "speaking to them about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). In those forty days, Jesus would have had ample opportunity to inform the disciples of all the things that happened to Him when they were not around. In any case, the events of Jesus’ life that God wanted us to know—including events that occurred in solitude—were documented. The key is God wanted us to know. Either the events were disclosed directly to the disciples at a later time, by Jesus or by someone else, or the apostles learned the details straight from the Holy Spirit as they wrote God’s Word.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-alone.html#ixzz3CCgrpt7JLike

Religion

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More than fifty years ago, sociologists viewed protest as an undemocratic invasion of politics and power. After the 1970s, protest is now seen as an important strengthening of democratic political systems and an important factor in the transition from authoritarian to democratic regimes. The study of protest and social movements has grown from a marginalized and nearly dying subspecies of social psychology in the 1960s into a highly specialized field of sociology as such, with significant links to political, organizational, and cultural sociology as well as social psychology. Social movement theorists view protest as “politics by other means,” and it is now well known that non-institutional and institutional politics are interconnected and interrelated. Acts of protest are perhaps the most symbolic embodiment of the social production of this public space. Protest violates the physical integrity of space and establishes a series of social (and sometimes physical) relationships that indirectly (temporarily) change the rules of interaction. Protest was defined as "an expression or expression of opposition, disagreement, or disagreement, often in contrast to what cannot or cannot be prevented or prevented." (Dictionary of Random Houses, 1967). The protest law contains the following elements: the action expresses a grievance, a conviction of wrong or injustice; the protesters are unable to correct the condition directly by their own efforts; the action is intended to draw attention to the grievances; the action is further meant to provoke ameliorative steps by some target group; and the protesters depend upon some combination of sympathy and fear to move the target group in their behalf. According to Bailey (1962), the protest ranges from the more convincing to the more convincing combination, but always extends to both. Many forms of protest do not involve violence or destruction. The results of sociological research have shown that there are specific reasons for protest. According to Ritter and Conrad (2016), people are more likely to protest if they are not afraid of revenge on the government. if they are connected to civil society networks that support the organization (Boulding 2014); when there are structures of political options that respond to the will of citizens (Tilly 1978); and if the protest is believed to be effective (van Stekelenburg and Klandermans, 2013). According to Thomas and Louis (2013), people are more likely to take part in a protest if they understand and believe in the specific aims of the protest movement. This all makes a theoretical meaning: people protest when the cost of participation goes down and when the benefits of the success of their movement matter to their personal life. The right to peaceful assembly, association and freedom of expression is enshrined in a number of human rights treaties. Do not believe more than 60 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed that everyone has the right to express an opinion and to meet peacefully? Surprisingly, many people do not consider these rights important or even do not exist. In 2008 Azerbaijan, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea and Thailand made up more than 25 percent. Respondents believed that their governments had the right to ban peaceful demonstrations. Less than half of those polled in Russia and Egypt believe that freedom of expression is very important. Even in emerging democracies like Germany and the USA, almost 25 percent of those surveyed did not consider freedom of expression to be important (WorldPublicOpinion.org, 2008). The right to freedom of expression is closely linked to the right to freedom of assembly and the right to protest. Assemblies that represent a deliberate and temporary gathering of a group of people in a private or public space for a specific purpose (UNHRCR, 2012) play a key role in mobilizing the population and shaping complaints and aspirations. "(UNHRCR, 2011) At the same time, the expression of individual and collective opinion is one of the goals of all protests. (UNHRCR, 2012). The right to protest is also closely linked to human rights activities, including the recognition, protection or exercise of rights. Protests in various countries in the region are used for specific acts of violence, eviction, labor problems or other violations of rights, both as a means of raising the threshold for guaranteeing fundamental rights at the national level and as a means of integrating many rights into the ongoing development of international human rights law. The protest is also closely linked to the promotion and protection of democracy, with the Court of America recognizing that, in protesting against the collapse of the democratic system, "not only must the rule of law be exercised but the duty to defend democracy must be respected." According to UNHRCR (2012), protest is a form of individual or collective action aimed at expressing ideas, views or values of dissent, opposition, denunciation or justification. These include the expression of opinions, views or political, social or cultural perspectives; expressing support or criticism of a group, party or government; respond to policy or condemn a public issue; strengthening the identity or awareness of the group's situation regarding discrimination and social isolation. Today's Internet is an important communication tool that people can connect to and connect to in an adaptive, fast and efficient way. It is seen as a tool with unique opportunities to exercise freedom of expression. The new forces offered by the Internet include the ability to connect and unite people acquired in the digital age, which contributes to the realization and full realization of other civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In the age of digital technology, meetings and clubs can be organized and organized with a short message at a low price without notice. The Internet remains an important tool for monitoring and reporting human rights violations at demonstrations and meetings. The Internet can be viewed and analyzed as an organizational tool or platform for protest (UNHRCR, 2013). In practice, it serves as a means of disseminating, convening and publishing physical meetings and gatherings in a particular public place (for example, through social networks, blogs or forums), thus expanding the boundaries of participation. The Internet provides an opportunity to organize an online protest, create a common room for negotiations, reduce distances and time, and simplify formalities and agendas (INDH, 2013). Both attitudes should be protected and promoted to the extent that they contribute to the full realization of human rights (INDH, 2013). 1.2 Statement of the problem Over the years in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have earned an ill reputation and lost so much goodwill. This is due to some members of the force whose open and direct embrace for bribery, truth manipulation, abuse, public assault and what we could summarily describe as forceful corruption. This apron of negativity had so become acceptable in the force that one could hardly hear of the word police without first associating it with the scriptural devil before the inquiry to recall the vision of the institution. More visibly since 2015, there has been an upsurge of brutality, assault and killings of young Nigeria citizens from the members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) especially from the police unit called Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). This unit has won national recognition for assault, maiming and killings of Nigeria citizens. This act is against the vision of the unit. The SARS unit of the Nigeria Police Force was set up as a response to arm robberies, kidnappings and other heinous armed related crimes in Nigeria. This vision had kicked off successfully and the unit has been of great usage until 2015 when reports concerning their negligence of duty (irresponsible behaviour like mass arrest, unwarranted individual arrest, kidnapping of private citizens, defrauding of citizens, participation in arm robberies and public assault of individuals), sky-rocketed. Their excesses brought despair to homes as they continue to maim innocent lives based on the assumption of individual’s criminality and not proper investigation. The SARS became a tool of terror, replacing the Force vision of protecting lives and properties, they reversed to destroying lives and properties. This situation however is mostly obtainable in the southern (south-east, south-west) part of Nigeria and less operated in the northern part of Nigeria. A situation misunderstood by the south region as a political and regional agenda. The SARS operatives therefore lost public trust and hence in October 2020, the youths of Nigeria took to the streets to protest against the brutality and injustice of the SARS. Nigerian youths all over the major cities of Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Kano Illorin, Aba, et) called for the dissolve of the SARS unit and the reformation of the police force. This study is therefore undertaken to document the events of the 2020 ENDSARS protest and to reveal how the ENDSARS protest led to the scrapping of the SARS unit and the reformation of the Nigeria police force in 2020. 1.3 Objective of the study The primary objective of this study is to assess the merits of police reformation in improving national security. Specifically, the study seeks to: i. Elucidate on the importance of Nigeria Police reformation. ii. Ascertain how the ENDSARS protest brought about Police reformation in 2020. iii. Discuss why the ENDSARS protest is a symptom of bad governance in Nigeria. 1.4 Research Questions i. What are the merits of police reformation? ii. How did the ENDSARS protest initiate the move for police reformation? iii. How can the methodology of the ENDSARS protest be adopted for good governance in Nigeria? 1.5 Significance of the study This study is an academic contribution and documentation of the one voice system adopted by the Nigeria youths against the injustice and brutality of the Nigeria Police Force. First, this study will be beneficial to security institutions including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Army, The Nigeria Air-force, The Nigeria Navy and other paramilitary bodies. These bodies will be able to fully comprehend that their major goal is to the people not against the people. It will also serve as a reminder to these bodies that their actions are fully acknowledge by the people whether good or bad. Second, this study will be useful to the government, both at the federal, state and local level. Government representatives will be able to know that their actions towards crimes and related offences are recognized by the people and when their accountability is in doubt, the people will react. Lastly, this study will prove useful to the Nigeria youths and even the future Nigerians. It will go down as one of the protest where one voice was employed to achieve change and specifically reformation for the Nigerian police. 1.6 Scope and limitation of the study This study is focused on the 2020 ENDSARS protest in Nigeria that took place in October. The study centred on how the 2020 ENDSARS protest brought about the SARS dissolution and the police reformation. This study is anchored on the social psychology of protest. This study is however limited by extant literatures on protest and human rights activism. 1.7 Structure of the study This study is reported in five chapters. Chapter one gives a background to the study and the problem of focus. The objectives and study limitations were discussed in the chapter one. Chapter two reviews literatures on protest and examines some protest theory and how it relates to the ENDSARS protest in Nigeria. The methodology was discussed in chapter three. This study adopted the qualitative and critical analytical method; while the results of the study were presented and analysed in the fourth chapter. This study concludes the results in chapter five. United Nations, Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, UN Doc. A/HRC/20/27 (21 May 2012) para. 51 4 United Nations, Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, UN Doc. A/HRC/20/27 (21 May 2012) para. 51 5 Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, 23 May 2011, A/HRC/17/28, para. 31. It has also been stated that assemblies “play a critical role in protecting and promoting a broad range of human rights.” Human Rights Council, Joint report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on the proper management of assemblies, A/HRC/31/66, 4 February 2016, para. 6. 6 I/A Court H.R., Case of López Lone et al. v. Honduras. Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of October 5, 2015. Series C No. 302, paras. 148 et seq. WorldPublicOpinion.org (2008).Authors’ calculations based on the polling data. These survey questions were all given in absolute terms; no question asked about potential tradeoffs between rights or between rights and security. Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, 24 April 2013, A/HRC/23/39. Association for Progressive Communication (APC), The Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and the Internet, Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, para. 14 Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos (INDH), Internet y Derechos Humanos, Serie de Cuadernillos de Temas Emergentes [National Human Rights Institute, Internet and Human Rights, Emerging Topics Booklet Series] (December 2013), p. Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos (INDH), Internet y Derechos Humanos, Serie de Cuadernillos de Temas Emergentes [National Human Rights Institute, Internet and Human Rights, Emerging Topics Booklet Series](December 2013), p. 29

https://iproject.com.ng/sociology/assessing-the-merits-of-police-reformation-in-improving-national-security-a-case-study-of-the-2020-endsars-protest/index.html

Education

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Food, genetically modified 1 May 2014 | Q&AThese questions and answers have been prepared by WHO in response to questions and concerns from WHO Member State Governments with regard to the nature and safety of genetically modified food. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods. GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. Initially GM seed developers wanted their products to be accepted by producers and have concentrated on innovations that bring direct benefit to farmers (and the food industry generally). One of the objectives for developing plants based on GM organisms is to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides. Resistance against insects is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption. GM crops that inherently produce this toxin have been shown to require lower quantities of insecticides in specific situations, e.g. where pest pressure is high. Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain viruses which cause disease in plants. Virus resistance makes plants less susceptible to diseases caused by such viruses, resulting in higher crop yields. Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of the herbicides used. Generally consumers consider that conventional foods (that have an established record of safe consumption over the history) are safe. Whenever novel varieties of organisms for food use are developed using the traditional breeding methods that had existed before the introduction of gene technology, some of the characteristics of organisms may be altered, either in a positive or a negative way. National food authorities may be called upon to examine the safety of such conventional foods obtained from novel varieties of organisms, but this is not always the case. In contrast, most national authorities consider that specific assessments are necessary for GM foods. Specific systems have been set up for the rigorous evaluation of GM organisms and GM foods relative to both human health and the environment. Similar evaluations are generally not performed for conventional foods. Hence there currently exists a significant difference in the evaluation process prior to marketing for these two groups of food. The WHO Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses aims at assisting national authorities in the identification of foods that should be subject to risk assessment and to recommend appropriate approaches to safety assessment. Should national authorities decide to conduct safety assessment of GM organisms, WHO recommends the use of Codex Alimentarius guidelines (See the answer to Question 11 below). The safety assessment of GM foods generally focuses on: (a) direct health effects (toxicity), (b) potential to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity); (c) specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties; (d) the stability of the inserted gene; (e) nutritional effects associated with genetic modification; and (f) any unintended effects which could result from the gene insertion. While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three main issues debated are the potentials to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing. As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic organisms to non-allergic organisms is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic. While foods developed using traditional breeding methods are not generally tested for allergenicity, protocols for the testing of GM foods have been evaluated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO. No allergic effects have been found relative to GM foods currently on the market. Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic resistance genes, used as markers when creating GMOs, were to be transferred. Although the probability of transfer is low, the use of gene transfer technology that does not involve antibiotic resistance genes is encouraged. The migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. Cases have been reported where GM crops approved for animal feed or industrial use were detected at low levels in the products intended for human consumption. Several countries have adopted strategies to reduce mixing, including a clear separation of the fields within which GM crops and conventional crops are grown. Environmental risk assessments cover both the GMO concerned and the potential receiving environment. The assessment process includes evaluation of the characteristics of the GMO and its effect and stability in the environment, combined with ecological characteristics of the environment in which the introduction will take place. The assessment also includes unintended effects which could result from the insertion of the new gene. Issues of concern include: the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations; the persistence of the gene after the GMO has been harvested; the susceptibility of non-target organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product; the stability of the gene; the reduction in the spectrum of other plants including loss of biodiversity; and increased use of chemicals in agriculture. The environmental safety aspects of GM crops vary considerably according to local conditions. Different GM organisms include different genes inserted in different ways. This means that individual GM foods and their safety should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and that it is not possible to make general statements on the safety of all GM foods. GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous application of safety assessments based on the Codex Alimentarius principles and, where appropriate, adequate post market monitoring, should form the basis for ensuring the safety of GM foods. The way governments have regulated GM foods varies. In some countries GM foods are not yet regulated. Countries which have legislation in place focus primarily on assessment of risks for consumer health. Countries which have regulatory provisions for GM foods usually also regulate GMOs in general, taking into account health and environmental risks, as well as control- and trade-related issues (such as potential testing and labelling regimes). In view of the dynamics of the debate on GM foods, legislation is likely to continue to evolve. GM crops available on the international market today have been designed using one of three basic traits: resistance to insect damage; resistance to viral infections; and tolerance towards certain herbicides. GM crops with higher nutrient content (e.g. soybeans increased oleic acid) have been also studied recently. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) is the joint FAO/WHO intergovernmental body responsible for developing the standards, codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations that constitute the Codex Alimentarius, meaning the international food code. Codex developed principles for the human health risk analysis of GM foods in 2003. The premise of these principles sets out a premarket assessment, performed on a caseby- case basis and including an evaluation of both direct effects (from the inserted gene) and unintended effects (that may arise as a consequence of insertion of the new gene) Codex also developed three Guidelines: Codex principles do not have a binding effect on national legislation, but are referred to specifically in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization (SPS Agreement), and WTO Members are encouraged to harmonize national standards with Codex standards. If trading partners have the same or similar mechanisms for the safety assessment of GM foods, the possibility that one product is approved in one country but rejected in another becomes smaller. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an environmental treaty legally binding for its Parties which took effect in 2003, regulates transboundary movements of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). GM foods are within the scope of the Protocol only if they contain LMOs that are capable of transferring or replicating genetic material. The cornerstone of the Protocol is a requirement that exporters seek consent from importers before the first shipment of LMOs intended for release into the environment. The GM products that are currently on the international market have all passed safety assessments conducted by national authorities. These different assessments in general follow the same basic principles, including an assessment of environmental and human health risk. The food safety assessment is usually based on Codex documents. Since the first introduction on the market in the mid-1990s of a major GM food (herbicide-resistant soybeans), there has been concern about such food among politicians, activists and consumers, especially in Europe. Several factors are involved. In the late 1980s – early 1990s, the results of decades of molecular research reached the public domain. Until that time, consumers were generally not very aware of the potential of this research. In the case of food, consumers started to wonder about safety because they perceive that modern biotechnology is leading to the creation of new species. Consumers frequently ask, “what is in it for me?”. Where medicines are concerned, many consumers more readily accept biotechnology as beneficial for their health (e.g. vaccines, medicines with improved treatment potential or increased safety). In the case of the first GM foods introduced onto the European market, the products were of no apparent direct benefit to consumers (not significantly cheaper, no increased shelflife, no better taste). The potential for GM seeds to result in bigger yields per cultivated area should lead to lower prices. However, public attention has focused on the risk side of the risk-benefit equation, often without distinguishing between potential environmental impacts and public health effects of GMOs. Consumer confidence in the safety of food supplies in Europe has decreased significantly as a result of a number of food scares that took place in the second half of the 1990s that are unrelated to GM foods. This has also had an impact on discussions about the acceptability of GM foods. Consumers have questioned the validity of risk assessments, both with regard to consumer health and environmental risks, focusing in particular on long-term effects. Other topics debated by consumer organizations have included allergenicity and antimicrobial resistance. Consumer concerns have triggered a discussion on the desirability of labelling GM foods, allowing for an informed choice of consumers. The release of GMOs into the environment and the marketing of GM foods have resulted in a public debate in many parts of the world. This debate is likely to continue, probably in the broader context of other uses of biotechnology (e.g. in human medicine) and their consequences for human societies. Even though the issues under debate are usually very similar (costs and benefits, safety issues), the outcome of the debate differs from country to country. On issues such as labelling and traceability of GM foods as a way to address consumer preferences, there is no worldwide consensus to date. Despite the lack of consensus on these topics, the Codex Alimentarius Commission has made significant progress and developed Codex texts relevant to labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology in 2011 to ensure consistency on any approach on labelling implemented by Codex members with already adopted Codex provisions. Depending on the region of the world, people often have different attitudes to food. In addition to nutritional value, food often has societal and historical connotations, and in some instances may have religious importance. Technological modification of food and food production may evoke a negative response among consumers, especially in the absence of sound risk communication on risk assessment efforts and cost/benefit evaluations. Yes, intellectual property rights are likely to be an element in the debate on GM foods, with an impact on the rights of farmers. In the FAO/WHO expert consultation in 2003, WHO and FAO have considered potential problems of the technological divide and the unbalanced distribution of benefits and risks between developed and developing countries and the problem often becomes even more acute through the existence of intellectual property rights and patenting that places an advantage on the strongholds of scientific and technological expertise. Such considerations are likely to also affect the debate on GM foods. Certain groups are concerned about what they consider to be an undesirable level of control of seed markets by a few chemical companies. Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity benefit most from the use of a rich variety of crops, both in terms of good crop protection practices as well as from the perspective of society at large and the values attached to food. These groups fear that as a result of the interest of the chemical industry in seed markets, the range of varieties used by farmers may be reduced mainly to GM crops. This would impact on the food basket of a society as well as in the long run on crop protection (for example, with the development of resistance against insect pests and tolerance of certain herbicides). The exclusive use of herbicide-tolerant GM crops would also make the farmer dependent on these chemicals. These groups fear a dominant position of the chemical industry in agricultural development, a trend which they do not consider to be sustainable. Future GM organisms are likely to include plants with improved resistance against plant disease or drought, crops with increased nutrient levels, fish species with enhanced growth characteristics. For non-food use, they may include plants or animals producing pharmaceutically important proteins such as new vaccines. WHO has been taking an active role in relation to GM foods, primarily for two reasons: on the grounds that public health could benefit from the potential of biotechnology, for example, from an increase in the nutrient content of foods, decreased allergenicity and more efficient and/or sustainable food production; and based on the need to examine the potential negative effects on human health of the consumption of food produced through genetic modification in order to protect public health. Modern technologies should be thoroughly evaluated if they are to constitute a true improvement in the way food is produced. WHO, together with FAO, has convened several expert consultations on the evaluation of GM foods and provided technical advice for the Codex Alimentarius Commission which was fed into the Codex Guidelines on safety assessment of GM foods. WHO will keep paying due attention to the safety of GM foods from the view of public health protection, in close collaboration with FAO and other international bodies.

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/

Politics

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Welcome to a transformative journey into the heart of Ontario’s education system, where diversity and inclusion thrive. In an ever-evolving world, promoting diversity and fostering inclusivity in education is paramount to nurturing a society that embraces and celebrates differences. Ontario’s education system stands as a shining example of a progressive and inclusive approach, where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. In this article, we delve into the various facets of promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario’s education system, exploring key strategies, initiatives, and practices that create a vibrant tapestry of learners. Join us as we embark on a journey to understand the importance of inclusive education, embrace cultural diversity, support students with diverse needs, champion LGBTQ+ inclusion, honor Indigenous cultures, combat discrimination, and foster partnerships with parents and communities. Together, let’s unlock the power of diversity to create an educational landscape that prepares students for a harmonious and inclusive future. Table of Contents Understanding Diversity: The Importance of Inclusive Education Understanding diversity is essential in promoting an inclusive education system in Ontario. Inclusive education acknowledges and respects the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities of all students. It recognizes that each student brings unique perspectives, strengths, and needs to the classroom. By valuing and celebrating diversity, schools create an environment where all students feel welcome, supported, and valued. Inclusive education goes beyond mere tolerance and seeks to eliminate barriers to learning and participation. It ensures that every student has equal access to quality education and opportunities for success. By embracing diversity, schools foster a sense of belonging, promote positive social interactions, and prepare students to thrive in a multicultural society. Read Also: The Importance of School Boards In Ontario Embracing Cultural Diversity: Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Schools Embracing cultural diversity is a vital aspect of creating welcoming and inclusive schools in Ontario. The province is home to a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. By embracing and celebrating cultural diversity, schools can create an environment that respects and values the contributions of all students. Creating welcoming and inclusive schools involves creating culturally responsive classrooms where students’ cultural identities and experiences are acknowledged and integrated into the curriculum. This can be achieved through the inclusion of diverse literature, multicultural celebrations, and the integration of culturally relevant teaching strategies. Addressing Language Diversity: Supporting Multilingual Learners Language diversity is a significant aspect of Ontario’s education system, with students representing a multitude of languages and language backgrounds. Supporting multilingual learners is crucial in promoting inclusivity and ensuring equitable access to education. Schools can provide support for multilingual learners through specialized programs, English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, and bilingual programs. These initiatives help students develop proficiency in English while maintaining their native language and cultural identity. Additionally, providing culturally responsive teaching strategies and resources helps multilingual learners thrive academically and socially. Inclusive Curriculum: Incorporating Diverse Perspectives and Experiences An inclusive curriculum is vital for promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario schools. It involves incorporating diverse perspectives, experiences, and voices into the teaching materials, resources, and learning activities. An inclusive curriculum recognizes the contributions of historically marginalized groups and fosters understanding, empathy, and critical thinking skills among students. It reflects the experiences of diverse communities, addresses social justice issues, and promotes a broader understanding of the world. An inclusive curriculum empowers students to embrace diversity, challenge stereotypes, and become active participants in creating a more inclusive society. Promoting Equity: Bridging the Achievement Gap in Education Promoting equity is essential to bridge the achievement gap in education and create a more inclusive Ontario. Equity in education means ensuring that all students have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. To promote equity, schools can implement targeted interventions and support programs to address disparities in academic achievement. This includes providing additional resources and support for students from marginalized communities, students with disabilities, and students from low-income families. It also involves cultivating a culture of high expectations, providing culturally responsive teaching, and engaging families and communities in the educational process. Supporting Students with Special Needs: Inclusive Education for All Inclusive education is essential for supporting students with special needs in Ontario. It recognizes that every student has the right to access a quality education and be included in all aspects of school life. Inclusive education supports the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities, enabling them to reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. To provide inclusive education, schools offer a range of supports and accommodations, such as specialized instruction, assistive technologies, and individualized education plans. Inclusive classrooms promote collaboration, peer support, and a sense of belonging for students with special needs. Celebrating LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Fostering Safe and Supportive Schools Fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion is crucial in creating safe and supportive schools in Ontario. LGBTQ+ students deserve an education environment where they feel safe, accepted, and celebrated for who they are. Schools can foster LGBTQ+ inclusion by implementing policies that promote anti-bullying, non-discrimination, and respect for gender and sexual diversity. They can also provide LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula, support gay-straight alliances or similar student-led groups, and offer training for staff on LGBTQ+ issues. By creating inclusive spaces, schools can support the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ students and contribute to a more inclusive society. Indigenous Education: Honoring Indigenous Cultures and Knowledge Honoring Indigenous cultures and knowledge is essential in promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario’s education system. Recognizing the historical and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples, schools can provide opportunities for all students to learn about and appreciate Indigenous cultures, histories, and perspectives. Indigenous education involves incorporating Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and worldviews into the curriculum. It includes teaching about Indigenous history, treaties, residential schools, and contemporary Indigenous issues. By integrating Indigenous perspectives, schools contribute to reconciliation efforts, promote cross-cultural understanding, and foster respect for Indigenous cultures and identities. Anti-Racism Education: Combating Discrimination and Stereotypes Anti-racism education plays a vital role in promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario schools. It involves challenging discrimination, stereotypes, and systemic racism to create a more equitable and inclusive education system. Schools can incorporate anti-racism education into the curriculum, providing opportunities for students to learn about different cultures, challenge stereotypes, and confront racism. They can also engage students in dialogue and activities that promote empathy, respect, and understanding among diverse racial and ethnic groups. Parent and Community Engagement: Partnerships for Inclusive Education Parent and community engagement are essential partnerships for promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario schools. When parents and communities are involved in education, they contribute to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. Schools can foster parent and community engagement by involving families in decision-making processes, providing opportunities for collaboration and dialogue, and organizing multicultural events that celebrate diverse cultures. By creating inclusive spaces where parents and community members feel valued and heard, schools can enhance the educational experiences of all students and strengthen the bonds between the school and the broader community. As we conclude our exploration of promoting diversity and inclusion in Ontario’s education system, it becomes abundantly clear that inclusivity is the cornerstone of a thriving and progressive society. By embracing and celebrating diversity, Ontario’s schools are nurturing an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered. Through inclusive education, cultural responsiveness, equity-driven practices, and collaborative partnerships, we are building bridges that connect individuals from all walks of life. As we continue on this journey, let us remember that promoting diversity and inclusion is not a mere obligation; it is a moral imperative. By fostering an education system that values and respects the unique experiences, perspectives, and identities of all students, we create a society that embraces differences, dismantles barriers, and thrives on the richness of diversity. Together, let us champion diversity and inclusion in Ontario’s education system and pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future.

https://schoolsinontario.com/promoting-diversity-and-inclusion-in-ontarios-education-system/

Education

en

As impossible as it may sound, two Belgian knee surgeons have discovered a new part of the human body. The new part has been named the anterolateral ligament (ALL). The ALL is present in 97 percent of all human knees and may play a significant role in how patients recover from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. ALL was discovered by Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans from University Hospitals Leuven who have been conducting research into ACL tears over the past four years. The scientists looked into a theory made by a French surgeon in 1879, which claimed that an unknown ligament existed on the anterior of the human knee. They looked into a theory made by a French surgeon in 1879, which claimed that an unknown ligament existed on the anterior of the human knee. After conducting a broad cadaver study using macroscopic dissection techniques, Claes and Bellemans found this theory to be correct. Their research showed that pivot shift occurs when there is additional injury in the ALL. The discovery, which was detailed in the Journal of Anatomy, could signal a breakthrough for the future of treatment for ACL injuries. Another Human Part? Heheeeei nain wey man pikin na go hear o. Anyways Good Job my fellow scientists….doin my own research too u knw,may cm up wid a new sense organ o. Hehe! Fake. Anterolateral ligament cant be the name of anything. It literally means a ligament situated in an anterolateral part of the body. There are many anterolateral ligaments. Depending on the point of reference. So…STUPID, FAKE NEWS. The method of discovery is stupid too. And impossible.

http://www.informationng.com/2013/11/amazing-a-new-part-of-human-body-discovered.html

Health

en

ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS The Crucial Role of Sensitivity Analysis: Hey there, so good to have you back again. Have you ever wondered how varying different factors in a model or system affects its overall outcome? This question lies at the heart of sensitivity analysis, a fundamental technique used in various disciplines to understand the relationship between input variables and output results. Sensitivity analysis is a systematic approach used to assess the impact of changes in input parameters or variables on the outcomes of a model, simulation, or system. It aims to quantify the degree to which uncertainty in inputs contributes to uncertainty in outputs. The Key Objectives of Sensitivity Analysis 1) Identifying Important Factors: - By analyzing sensitivity, we can pinpoint which input variables exert the most influence on the model’s outputs. This identification helps prioritize resources and attention towards critical factors. 2) Understanding Model Behaviour: - Sensitivity analysis provides insights into how changes in specific variables affect the overall behaviour of a model or system. It helps reveal relationships and dependencies that might not be apparent otherwise. 3) Enhancing Decision-making: - With a clearer understanding of sensitivity, decision-makers can make more informed choices. They can focus on adjusting or controlling influential variables to achieve desired outcomes or mitigate risks effectively. In essence, sensitivity analysis is a powerful tool for exploring and quantifying the relationships between inputs and outputs in models and systems. It provides valuable insights into the factors driving uncertainty and variability, empowering decision-makers to navigate complexity and optimize outcomes effectively. The measurement of sensitivity analysis involves quantifying and assessing the impact of changes in input variables on the output of a model or system. Methods and Metrics There are several methods and metrics used to measure sensitivity, depending on the goals and complexity of the analysis. Here are some common approaches: 1) One-at-a-Time (OAT) Analysis: - This method involves varying one input variable at a time while keeping others constant at their base values. - The sensitivity of the output to each input variable is typically measured by calculating how much the output changes in response to incremental changes in the input variable. - Metrics like the range of output values across different levels of the input variable or the slope of the output-response curve can be used to gauge sensitivity. 2) Local Sensitivity Analysis: - Local sensitivity analysis focuses on understanding how small changes in input variables around a specific point affect the model’s outputs. - It often involves calculating partial derivatives (sensitivity coefficients) of the output with respect to each input variable at a given point. - These derivatives indicate the rate of change of the output concerning changes in the input variables and can provide insights into the local sensitivity of the model. 3) Global Sensitivity Analysis: - Global sensitivity analysis aims to assess the overall impact of input variables on the variability of the model’s outputs across the entire input space. - Techniques like variance-based methods are used to break down the total variance in the output into contributions from individual input variables and their interactions. - This approach helps identify which input variables are most influential in driving output variability and captures non-linear and interaction effects. 4) Response Surface Methods: - Response surface methods involve fitting mathematical functions (response surfaces) to the model’s output as a function of input variables. - Sensitivity can be measured by analyzing the steepness of these response surfaces, which indicate how sensitive the output is to changes in specific input directions. 5) Scenario Analysis: - In scenario analysis, sensitivity is measured by simulating different scenarios or sets of input values to evaluate how changes in these scenarios impact the model’s outputs. - This approach helps assess the robustness and resilience of the model under different conditions and uncertainties. The choice of sensitivity measurement method depends on factors such as the complexity of the model, the nature of the input-output relationships, and the desired level of detail in understanding sensitivity. By employing appropriate sensitivity analysis techniques, analysts can gain valuable insights into the behaviour of models and systems, identify critical factors, and make more informed decisions. Sensitivity analysis is a powerful tool for enhancing decision-making by providing insights into how changes in input variables impact outcomes and decisions. Here’s how sensitivity analysis can be effectively used in decision-making processes: 1) Identifying Key Variables: - Sensitivity analysis helps identify which input variables have the most significant impact on the outcomes of interest. By understanding which variables are most sensitive, decision-makers can prioritize their focus on managing or controlling these critical factors. 2) Assessing Risk and Uncertainty: - Decision-making often involves dealing with uncertainty and risk. Sensitivity analysis quantifies the impact of uncertainty in input variables on the outputs, allowing decision-makers to assess potential risks and plan for contingencies. 3) Optimizing Resource Allocation: - By knowing which variables are most influential, sensitivity analysis guides resource allocation. Decision-makers can allocate resources more efficiently by focusing on controlling or optimizing critical variables to achieve desired outcomes. 4) Scenario Planning and Strategy Development: - Sensitivity analysis facilitates scenario planning by exploring different combinations of input variables and their impacts on outcomes. Decision-makers can use this information to develop robust strategies that account for various scenarios and uncertainties. 5) Improving Model Reliability: - Sensitivity analysis helps improve the reliability and robustness of models used in decision-making. By understanding how changes in inputs affect outputs, decision-makers can refine models, incorporate additional variables, or adjust assumptions to enhance model accuracy. 6) Optimizing Performance and Cost-Effectiveness: - Sensitivity analysis can guide decisions aimed at optimizing performance and cost-effectiveness. By focusing on controlling influential variables, decision-makers can maximize desired outcomes while minimizing costs and resource utilization. 7) Enhancing Risk Management: - Sensitivity analysis supports effective risk management by identifying critical risk factors and evaluating their potential impacts. Decision-makers can develop risk mitigation strategies based on insights gained from sensitivity analysis. 8) Communicating Insights: - Sensitivity analysis facilitates clearer communication of complex relationships between inputs and outputs. Decision-makers can use sensitivity analysis results to communicate key insights to stakeholders, enhancing understanding and support for decision-making. In summary, sensitivity analysis plays a crucial role in decision-making processes by providing valuable insights into the impacts of input variables on outcomes. By leveraging sensitivity analysis, decision-makers can make informed choices, mitigate risks, optimize resource allocation, and develop robust strategies in the face of uncertainty and variability. This analytical approach enhances the reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of decision-making across various domains and industries. In conclusion, sensitivity analysis is an indispensable tool for informed decision-making within financial modeling, offering insights to navigate uncertainties and optimize outcomes. Whether you’re currently navigating complex financial scenarios or looking to elevate your career in finance, mastering sensitivity analysis is essential. For professionals seeking to enhance their proficiency in financial modeling, EduPristine is a leading training provider in accounting and finance. Through our comprehensive financial modeling course, which encompasses advanced techniques like sensitivity analysis and utilizes tools such as Power BI, EduPristine equips learners with practical skills and industry-relevant knowledge. By enrolling in EduPristine’s financial modeling course in India, you not only gain expertise in constructing robust financial models but also learn to interpret sensitivity results and apply them strategically in decision-making contexts. With a focus on hands-on learning and expert instruction, EduPristine empowers learners to excel in the dynamic field of finance. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your current role or pursue new opportunities, EduPristine’s financial modeling course with placement assistance provides a pathway to success. Elevate your career prospects, expand your skill set, and gain confidence in financial modeling with EduPristine’s comprehensive and industry-driven training program. Take the first step towards achieving your career goals with EduPristine as your trusted partner in professional development. All the best and happy learning! 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https://www.edupristine.com/blog/all-about-sensitivity-analysis

Education

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Dr Gloria Okoekhian is the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Association, Lagos State chapter and an optometrist at Vista Eye Centre. She tells ALEXANDER OKERE about the risk factors, prevention and management of computer vision syndrome What is computer vision syndrome? Computer vision syndrome is a group of vision-related problems experienced from prolonged exposure of the eyes to light rays or radiation from the computer and other digital devices. Computer vision syndrome can cause great discomfort to persons who use the computer, laptops, phones and other similar devices, irrespective of their age or race. How do computers or other similar devices affect the vision? Many people spend long hours in front of a computer screen every day. Staring at a computer for long periods of time requires the eye muscles to focus at near range and this may result in headaches, blurred vision, eye fatigue and others. Recent studies and researches have also revealed that digital devices emit light which contains the harmful blue light. Blue light, as a component of sunlight, boosts our memory, attention and energy levels. However, there is also a part of this blue light which is harmful to the eyes. Blue light exposure may increase the risk of macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes vision loss. This is because the wavelength of blue light enables it to penetrate through to the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eyes) and too much exposure to blue light can damage light sensitive cells in that area. How prevalent is CVS in Nigeria? Globally, research has shown that 50 to 90 per cent of people who work in front of a computer screen have at least one or more of the symptoms. We may not be able to put a figure to this. But there is no gainsaying that the prevalence or incidence rate of computer vision syndrome in Nigeria today will be high and the reason is not strange. The use of computer and digital devices has increased astronomically, more so with the advent of smart phone technology and prolonged hours of Internet browsing and social media addiction. Many people may be experiencing these vision-related symptoms but are not aware that it could be related to the prolonged use of digital devices, since most people do not feel the need to have their eyes properly examined. Which categories of people are the most affected and how are they exposed to it? Workers who use the computer for prolonged uninterrupted hours are most likely to experience the syndrome. The same also applies to students (young adults or teenagers) who study with the computer and similar devices as well as those glued to the social media sites on their phones. What are the symptoms of CVS? Anyone with CVS may experience one or more of the common symptoms which include eyestrain, blurred vision, headache, eye fatigue (a feeling of tiredness around and within the eyes), dry eyes, peppery or burning sensation, teary eyes and neck and shoulder pain. How is it diagnosed? A diagnosis of CVS is made after a comprehensive eye examination that reveals the symptoms and signs of CVS in the person that is also matched with the results of the various tests conducted. Can CVS lead to long-term eye conditions? Although, there is no proof that it leads to any serious damage in the short term, it is worthy to note that continuous exposure of the eyes to the harmful blue light puts a person at risk of developing macular degeneration which, if not detected and managed early enough, can impair vision. Can it affect sleep? Yes, it can affect sleep. Studies have shown that blue light can disrupt natural sleep patterns, invariably reducing the quality of sleep. How can computer vision syndrome be treated or managed? CVS is treated and managed both with optical devices and workplace ergonomics. It is highly recommended that you wear glasses with anti-reflective, especially the anti-blue coating, to protect the eyes from the effect of the harmful blue light. What are the healthy habits or tips that can help prevent the condition? Individuals who spent time working on computers or electronic devices with light-emitting screens should get a comprehensive eye examination. This cannot be overemphasised because through this, the doctor can go through the complaints and match them with the test results to conclude that it is a case of computer vision syndrome. It is important you get that diagnosis from a professional as the symptoms of CVS can also be found in some other conditions. Get your kids eyes checked too. Make sure any computer they use is set up in the right height and in the best light. Encourage them to take frequent breaks from the screen too to give their eyes some rest. It is important to use proper lighting; make sure the lighting in the room is comfortable to the eyes and that you are not staring into the glare of the monitor. You can also add a glare filter to your monitor. Also, make sure your seat is comfortable; a comfortable chair with support for your neck and back will help you avoid neck and shoulder pain. Rearrange your desk. The best position for your monitor should be slightly below your eye level, about 20 to 28 inches away from your face. Put a stand next to your monitor and place the printed materials you are working on it. That way, you won’t have to look up at the screen and back down to the desk when you type. Adjust your computer display settings – position the digital display so that your head is in a natural comfortable position of gaze. Eye experts advise individuals to blink more often. You should consciously blink more while using the computer or other similar devices to spread the tear film which lubricates the eyes. Continuous blinking keeps the eyes moist if they feel dry. However, if there’s no relief, it is advisable you contact your doctor to recommend tear supplements for you. It is very important to take frequent breaks. A few minutes away from the computer can go a long way to give you comfort. Frequent users of computers should observe the 20-20-20 rule. This rule simply means that you should look away 20 feet from the computer after 20 minutes on your device for 20 seconds. This will help to relax the eyes. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: [email protected]

https://punchng.com/office-workers-most-vulnerable-to-computer-vision-syndrome-expert/

Health

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The dictionary defines a martyr as “a person who is killed because of his religious or other beliefs.” Interestingly enough, the English word martyr is really a word transliterated from the original Greek martur, which simply means “witness.” The reason why this word became synonymous with dying for one’s religious beliefs is that the early Christian witnesses were often persecuted and/or killed for their witness. As evidence of this, consider the story of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, recorded in Acts 6:8–7:53. After being anointed as one of the first deacons in the church, Stephen immediately began doing mighty works among the people. As is usually the case when the Holy Spirit is mightily at work and the gospel is going forth, the forces of darkness arise to hinder the work of the kingdom. In this case, several men came to dispute what Stephen was saying, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to refute their criticisms. Rather than accept what Stephen was teaching, these men brought false charges against him to the Jewish leaders (Acts 6:11-14). Most of Acts 7 consists of Stephen’s speech to the Jewish leaders in which he essentially summarized the history of Israel up to their rejection of their Messiah. At the end of the speech, Stephen utters these words, which seal his fate: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:51-53). Now, there was nothing untrue in Stephen’s words. The Jewish leaders were indeed responsible for turning Jesus over to the Romans for execution. Despite Jesus’ miracles and authoritative teaching, the hardness of the Jewish leaders’ hearts kept them from seeing the truth about Jesus. The Jewish leaders, upon hearing Stephen’s words, were enraged and immediately arranged for Stephen’s execution by stoning (v. 58). Stephen was, therefore, the first Christian martyr recorded in Scripture. The Bible places a premium on faithful believers who pay the ultimate price for their witness. Stephen was granted a glorious vision of heaven before he died, and in this vision, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father (Acts 7:56) as though waiting for Stephen in an attitude of honor for Stephen’s faithful service. As further evidence that martyrs are considered precious in God’s sight, the apostle John saw in his vision of the millennium those martyred for their faith reigning with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). The apostle Peter, who wrote the most about martyrdom and suffering for one’s faith, said, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you... However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:14, 16). There is also the word of our Lord who pronounced a blessing upon those who are persecuted for His name: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11). Clearly, the biblical evidence points to the fact that those who are persecuted and suffer for their witness to Christ (up to and including death) are pleasing in God’s sight. Given that, two additional questions arise. First, what if I’m not asked to make the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of Christ? God doesn’t call everyone to make the ultimate sacrifice, but the Bible calls all Christians to be prepared to give a defense of the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15). The key to this passage lies in preparedness. Consider this analogy: those enlisting in the armed services should do so with the understanding that they may be called into battle and may be called upon to die in the service of their country. This is (or should be) the mindset of everyone who joins the military. Clearly, not all enlisted men and women die in the service of their country, and not all are even called into battle. Despite this, they are trained daily to be prepared for battle. The same goes for the Christian. We are in a state of “warfare” (Ephesians 6:12-20), and our Lord may call upon any of us to witness and even be martyred for our faith. Thus, we must be prepared! The second question that can be asked is, given martyrdom’s “special” status in God’s eyes, should we actually seek martyrdom? Biblically, we can’t make a case for seeking to be martyrs for the cause of Christ. Martyrdom is a great privilege if it is inevitable, but it is not to be sought. Jesus said, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next” (Matthew 10:23). Furthermore, reading through the book of Acts, we see that the early church continually fled from intense persecution (Acts 8:1; 9:25, 30; 14:6; 17:10, 14). In each of these biblical examples, we see the early Christians fleeing persecution and taking all necessary precautions for survival. When Jesus says, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39), He is not calling for people to make an attempt to lose their lives. Rather, He is calling us to be willing to lose our lives for His sake. Those who actively seek the path of martyrdom are not seeking it for the glory of God, but for their own glory. As the old saying goes, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. God’s purpose in martyrdom is the glorification of His name and the building up of His church.

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Cardiology tests are conducted to determine the condition and strength of an individual’s heart. Many people get worried when they learn that they must get a cardiology test done. However, it is nothing to worry about. Echocardiogram, ECG, and stress tests are common medical procedures that are vital to understanding your health and taking care of yourself. The sooner a condition is diagnosed, the quicker you can get the medical help needed. Consult with the best cardiologist in Delhi for routine check-ups and to ensure everything is in order. Types of Cardiology Tests Offered by Best Cardiologists in Delhi There are a variety of tests that are used to determine heart conditions. Depending on the purpose, a test is assigned after a preliminary examination is conducted by your doctor. - Echocardiogram: An echo test for heart employs sound waves to capture images of your heart. With the help of an echo, the doctor will be able to see a clear image of how your heart is beating, its chambers, and its ability to pump blood efficiently. The test is conducted to investigate problems in the valves and chambers, whether heart problems are resulting in shortness of breath or chest pain, and to detect congenital heart defects while the baby is still in the womb. - Electrocardiogram: Commonly abbreviated as ECG or EKG, this test is used to detect a person’s heart’s electrical rhythm. The test shows several waves recurring with each heartbeat at a rate of 60 to 100 per minute. If the waves are not consistent, the test could indicate the presence of heart disease. ECG is also used during annual health check-ups if a person has had a history of heart disease, has been diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes, and if they pose a risk of cardiac disease. - Holter Monitor Test: Advances in technology have allowed scientists to create one of the fastest tests to diagnose heart conditions. A Holter monitor is a portable ECG that maps the electrical activity in the heart. It serves the same purpose as a traditional ECG, with the additional benefit of it being much faster. It is often used in emergencies to determine whether a patient requires immediate screening. Benefits of Regular Heart Check-Ups It is recommended to have your heart checked at least once or twice a year, especially if you are older or are predisposed to cardiac diseases because of underlying conditions. Many heart conditions, minor and serious, can go undetected without regular check-ups. The benefits are as follows. - Detect and diagnose infections and conditions early-on to prevent serious diseases - Determine a course of action and medicinal intake to prevent diseases - Severely reduce chances of falling ill - Improve overall cardiac health by participating in specific activities and exercises - Reduce overall healthcare costs by diagnosing and treating problems early Importance of an Echo Stress Test An echo stress test is another important procedure that produces ultrasound imaging to showcase how well your heart muscles are working. The test is used primarily to detect any decrease in blood flow to the heart owing to the narrowing of coronary arteries. Reduced movement in the heart muscles and walls can also be an indication of heart disease. Depending on the test results, the patient is then advised to undertake an echocardiogram or ECG. Search for an ‘echo test centre near me’ to book an appointment with a doctor. ECG Test Cost and 2D Echo Test Cost ECG is a standard procedure which does not cost an exuberant amount. An ECG test cost ranges from Rs. 150 to Rs. 300. A 2D echo test cost, on the other hand, can vary from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000. Echo test price in Delhi is heavily determined by the test centre you visit. Check your Heart’s Health with 2D Echocardiography 2D echocardiography, also known as 2D echo, is a type of non-invasive diagnostic procedure. It evaluates the functioning of your heart. Searching by 2D echo near me will provide you with a list of diagnostic centres specialising in 2D echocardiography. 2D echo develops images of the various parts of the heart with ultrasound. 2D echo can also detect damages, blood flow rate, and blockages. Search by 2D echo near me to get your diagnosis done at reliable centres in Delhi/NCR. Search for echo test price near me to be aware of the costs involved. 2D Echo Test near me- What does it Detect? 2D Echo Test near me can detect the following heart conditions. - Any abnormalities of the heart - Malfunctioning of the valve of the heart - Congenital heart diseases - Abnormal blood flow within the heart Preparation and Procedure of 2D Echo Test in Delhi/NCR It is important to inquire about the 2D echo price before the test. The 2D echo price varies across various diagnostic centres in Delhi/NCR. - A colourless gel would be applied to your chest to analyse the ultrasound vibrations with a transducer. - The technician will move the transducer across various parts of the chest for good results. Echo test price near me is heavily determined by the test centre you visit. Searching for the Best ECG Centre near me to identify Cardiac Problems ECG, or electrocardiogram, detects heart problems by measuring the electrical activity generated by the heart. Search by the best ECG Centre near me or ECG test near me to identify cardiac issues earliest. ECG identifies heart problems by measuring the electrical activity generated by the heart’s contractions. Major Types of ECG near me If you are searching for the best ECG near me, you should be aware of the types. Here are the three types of ECG. - Resting ECG In resting ECG, no movement is allowed during the test. - Exercise Stress Test (EST) You will ride an exercise bike or walk on a treadmill when your heart’s ECG would be recorded. - Ambulatory ECG Also known as Holter ECG, you have to wear a portable recording device for twenty-four hours. ECG Test Price ECG test price varies from one centre to the other. Search for reliable test centres for ECG test near me. Important Things to know about the Holter Monitor Test A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records your heart activity for 24 to 48 hours. A Holter monitor test usually helps with the detection of irregularities in your heart’s rhythm. Why search for Stress Echo Test near me? - To analyse chest pain whose cause cannot be identified with other ECG methods - To recognise regular palpitations and heartbeats - To analyse other heart-related symptoms Heart Echo Test Cost Heart echo test cost varies from one test centre to the other. Opt for reliable Stress Echo Test near me test centres for accurate results. Frequently Asked Questions Q.1 What Tests are done in Cardiology? - Electrocardiogram or ECG - Exercise Stress Test Q.1 What is the Best Test to Check Heart Problems in Delhi/NCR? Ans: An echocardiogram is the most common test to check heart problem.

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been cultivated for thousands of years, and several ancient civilizations revered them for their use in winemaking. in a variety of colors, including green, red, black, yellow, and pink. They grow in clusters and are available in both seeded and seedless varieties. grown all over the world in temperate climates, including Southern Europe, Africa, Australia, and North and South America. California produces the majority of the grapes grown in the United States. their high nutrient and antioxidant content, grapes provide a plethora of following are the top 12 health benefits of grapes. 1. High in Nutrients, Specifically Vitamins C and K high in a number of essential nutrients. One cup of red or green grapes (151 grams) contains the following nutrients : - Calories: 104 - Carbs: 27.3 grams - Protein: 1.1 grams - Fat: 0.2 grams - Fiber: 1.4 grams - Vitamin C: 27% of the Position Day-to-day Intake (RDI) - Vitamin K: 28% of the RDI - Thiamine: 7% of the RDI - Riboflavin: 6% of the RDI - Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI - Potassium: 8% of the RDI - Copper: 10% of the RDI - Manganese: 5% of the RDI One cup (151 grams) of grapes contains nearly a quarter of the RDI for vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin essential for blood clotting and bone health (2Trusted Source). high in vitamin C, an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant that's essential for connective tissue health (3Trusted Source). contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including more than a quarter of the RDIs for vitamins C and K. 2. Antioxidant-Rich Foods May Help Prevent Chronic Diseases for example, are compounds found in plants. They aid in the repair of the cell damage caused by free radicals, which are harmful molecules that cause chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, have been linked to oxidative stress (4Trusted Source). The skin and seeds have the highest concentration of antioxidants. As a result, the majority of grape research has been conducted using seed or skin extracts. the anthocyanins that give red grapes their color, they have a higher concentration of antioxidants. in grapes remain present even after fermentation, which is why red wine contains a lot of them. a polyphenol, is one of the antioxidants found in this fruit. Numerous studies on its benefits have been conducted, and it has been demonstrated that resveratrol protects against heart disease, lowers blood sugar, and prevents the development of cancer. high in a variety of antioxidant compounds. In fact, this fruit contains over 1,600 beneficial plant compounds. contain antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, lutein, lycopene, and ellagic acid (6Trusted Source). high in antioxidants, which are beneficial plant compounds that may protect against chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. 3. Plant Compounds Could Help Prevent Certain Types of Cancer Grapes have a high concentration of beneficial plant compounds that may help protect against certain types of cancer. One of the compounds found in this fruit, resveratrol, has been extensively researched in terms of cancer prevention and treatment. It has been shown to protect against cancer by reducing inflammation, acting as an antioxidant, and preventing cancer cell growth and spread within the body. combination of plant compounds found in grapes, on the other hand, maybe responsible for their anti-cancer benefits. Grapes, in addition to resveratrol, contain quercetin, anthocyanins, and catechins, all of which may have In test-tube studies, grape extracts were shown to inhibit the growth and spread of human colon cancer cells. one study of 30 people over the age of 50 found that eating one pound (450 grams) of grapes per day for two weeks reduced markers of colon cancer risk. extracts have also been shown in laboratory and mouse models to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. studies on grapes and cancer are limited, a diet high in antioxidant-rich foods like grapes has been linked to a lower risk of cancer. contain many beneficial plant compounds, such as resveratrol, which may protect against cancers such as colon cancer and breast cancer. 4. Excellent for Heart Health in a Variety of Ways good for your heart for a variety of reasons. Might also help in Blood Pressure contain 288 mg of potassium per cup (151 g), which is 6% of the RDI. is required for maintaining normal blood pressure levels. deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. a study of 12,267 adults, people who consumed more potassium in relation to sodium were less likely to die from heart disease than those who consumed less May Help in Cholesterol Reduction contain compounds that may help protect against high cholesterol levels by decreasing In one study of 69 people with high cholesterol, eating three cups (500 grams) of red grapes per day for eight weeks reduced total and “bad” LDL cholesterol. White grapes did not have the same effect as red grapes. resveratrol-rich diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to lower cholesterol levels. found in grapes and red wine may help prevent heart disease. Grapes may aid in the reduction of blood pressure and cholesterol. 5. May Lower Blood Sugar Levels and Protect Against Diabetes 23 grams of sugar per cup (151 grams), which may make you wonder if they are a good choice for diabetics. They have a low glycemic index (GI) of 53, which measures how quickly a food raises blood compounds found in grapes may lower blood sugar levels. In a 16-week study of 38 men, those who took 20 grams of grape extract per day had lower blood sugar levels than the control group. Furthermore, resveratrol has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which may improve your body's ability to use glucose and, as a result, lower blood sugar levels. Resveratrol also increases the number of glucose receptors on cell membranes, which may benefit blood sugar levels. your blood sugar levels over time is critical to lowering your risk of a low glycemic index despite their high sugar content. Furthermore, grapes contain compounds that may protect against high blood sugar. 6. Contains a lot of compounds that are beneficial to eye health contain plant chemicals that may protect against common eye diseases. study, mice fed a diet supplemented with grapes showed fewer signs of retinal damage and better retinal function than mice not fed the fruit. test-tube study, resveratrol was found to protect retinal cells in the human eye from ultraviolet A light. This may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common eye disease. a review study, resveratrol may also help protect against glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease. contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Several studies have shown that these compounds help protect the eyes from blue light damage (30Trusted contain a variety of compounds, including resveratrol, lutein, and zeaxanthin, that may protect against common eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. 7. It may help with memory, attention, and mood. improve your brain health and memory. In a 12-week study of 111 healthy older adults, 250 mg of a grape supplement per day significantly improved scores on a cognitive test measuring attention, memory, and language compared to baseline values. study in healthy young adults found that drinking about 8 ounces (230 ml) of grape juice improved both the speed of memory-related skills and mood 20 minutes after consumption. to rats for four weeks, resveratrol improved learning, memory, and mood. the rats' brains displayed signs of increased growth and blood flow. may also help prevent Alzheimer's disease, though human studies are needed to contain compounds that may improve memory, attention, and mood, as well as protect against Alzheimer's disease; however, more human-based research is required to confirm some of these benefits. 8. Have a lot of nutrients that are good for your bones. high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin K, all of which are essential for bone health. resveratrol improved bone density in rats, these findings have not been replicated in humans. study, rats fed freeze-dried grape powder for 8 weeks had better bone absorption and calcium retention than rats not given the powder. currently no human studies on the effect of grapes on bone health. contain a variety of nutrients that are beneficial to bone health, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin K. Grapes have been shown in animal studies to have bone-protective properties, but human studies are needed to confirm these findings. 9. It has the potential to protect against certain bacteria, viruses, and yeast infections. contain a variety of compounds that have been shown to protect against and fight bacterial and viral infections. high in vitamin C, which is well known for its immune-boosting properties. studies, grape skin extract was shown to protect against the flu virus. compounds found in grapes inhibited the spread of the herpes virus, chickenpox, and yeast infections in test-tube studies. may also help to prevent foodborne illnesses. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. Coli ( target=” blank”44) when added to various types of food. contain a number of compounds that have been shown to be effective against certain bacteria, viruses, and yeast infections. 10. It has the ability to slow down aging and promote longevity. compounds may influence aging and lifespan. Resveratrol has been shown to increase longevity in a variety of animal species. compound activates a protein family known as sirtuins, which have been linked gene is one of the genes that resveratrol activates. This is the same gene that low-calorie diets activate, and it has been linked to longer lifespans in also influences several other genes linked to aging and longevity. Resveratrol, found in grapes, has been shown to activate genes linked to slower aging and a longer lifespan. 11. Can Help Prevent Chronic Diseases by Reducing Inflammation is implicated in the development of a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases, to name a has been linked to anti-inflammatory properties that are quite potent. powder extract equivalent to approximately 1.5 cups (252 grams) of fresh grapes increased the number of anti-inflammatory compounds in their blood (52%) in a study of 24 men with metabolic syndrome, a risk factor for heart disease. Similarly, another study of 75 people with heart disease discovered that taking grape powder extract increased levels of anti-inflammatory compounds when compared to a control group. A study in rats with inflammatory bowel disease found that grape juice not only improved disease symptoms but also increased blood levels of anti-inflammatory contain compounds that may have anti-inflammatory properties, which may protect against certain heart and bowel diseases. 12. Delectable, versatile, and simple to incorporate into a healthy diet simple to include in a healthy diet. Here are a few ideas for how you can enjoy - As a snack, eat grapes plain. - Freeze grapes for a refreshing treat. - Toss grapes into a vegetable or chicken salad. - Grapes can be used in a fruit salad. - Make a smoothie with grapes or grape juice. - Grapes can be served as an appetizer or dessert with a cheeseboard. - Consume only grape juice. delicious and simple to incorporate into your diet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or simply as a quick, healthy snack. contain a variety of important nutrients as well as powerful plant compounds that are beneficial to your health. fact that they contain sugar, they have a low glycemic index and do not appear to raise blood sugar levels. antioxidants, such as resveratrol, help to reduce inflammation and may protect against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. simple to include in your diet, whether fresh, frozen, juice or wine. fresh, red grapes over white grapes for the most benefits. Post a Comment

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A research hypothesis is expected to be a straightforward and concise statement of prediction, predicting the expected result from an academic research project. It identifies the expected results in concrete (rather than theoretical) terms. However not all studies are given hypotheses, some studies are designed to be exploratory, leaving out the need for a formal hypotheses, while some studies are carried out to develop hypothesis for the purpose of further research, such studies do not have a predicted hypothesis but the final result of such studies helps to formulate hypothesis to be tested in future research. But let it be noted that every true experimental design must have this statement at the core of its structure, as the ultimate aim of any experiment. Prior to writing research hypotheses it becomes very important to evaluate the general research question posed in the academic research paper. This can sometimes be very difficult to pin down as a lot of students often have an unstated sense of what they want to achieve in a study this makes it challenging to clearly state a research question. Glenn Firebaugh (2008) identified two key criteria for research questions: - Research questions must be researchable: Researchable implies that a question can be answered through empirical research (that is, something that science can address) and also limited enough that a study could actually hope to answer the question in a reasonable period of time. - A research question should be interesting: The requirement that the research question be interesting implies primarily that the question be important in the context of the ongoing scientific discussion of the topic (that is, interesting to other researchers). Hypotheses in Quantitative Studies Academic Research Hypothesis in quantitative studies takes a unique form: one independent variable, one dependent variable, and a declaration about the expected relationship between them. Generally the independent variable is mentioned first followed by language implying causality (terms such as explains, results in) and then the dependent variable; the ordering of the variables should be consistent across all hypotheses in a study so that the reader is not confused about the proposed causal ordering. When both variables are continuous in nature, language describing a positive or negative association between the variables can be used (for example, as education increases, so does income). For a research hypotheses with categorical variables, a statement about which category of the independent variable is associated with a certain category of the dependent variable can be made (for example, men are more likely to support PDP than women). Continuous variables can also be spoken about it categorical terms (those with higher education are more likely to have high incomes). Most researchers prefer to present research hypotheses in a directional format, meaning that some statement is made about the expected relationship based on examination of existing theory, past research, general observation, or even an educated guess. It is also appropriate to use the null hypothesis instead, which states simply that no relationship exists between the variables; recall that the null hypothesis forms the basis of all statistical tests of significance. A compromise position is to present a research hypothesis which states a possible direction for the relationship but softens the causal argument by using language such as “tends to” or “in general.” Hypotheses in Qualitative Studies Hypotheses in qualitative studies are quite different from that of quantitative study. Due to the inductive nature of qualitative studies, the generation of hypotheses does not take place at the outset of the study. Instead, hypotheses are only tentatively proposed during an iterative process of data collection and interpretation, and help guide the researcher in asking additional questions and searching for disconfirming evidence. Qualitative research is guided by central questions and sub questions posed by the researcher at the outset of the study. These questions usually employ the language of how and what in an effort to allow understanding to emerge from the research, rather than why, which tends to imply that the researcher has already developed a belief about the causal mechanism. In general a qualitative study will have one or two central questions and a series of five to ten subquestions that further develop the central questions. These questions are often asked directly of the study participants (through in-depth interviews, focus groups, etc.) in recognition of the fact that developing an understanding of a particular phenomenon is a collaborative experience between researchers and participants. Types of Hypothesis we have two basic types of research hypotheses and they are: Null and Alternative. Null hypothesis is stated in the negative form e.g. there is no significant relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction of librarians in the university library. It is being denoted with Ho sign. The Alternative hypothesis is stated in the positive or affirmative form e.g. there is significant relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction of lecturers in the university library. It is being denoted with Hi sign. Sources of Hypotheses Hypotheses could be derived from the following sources (Akinade&Owolabi, 2009): - Directly from research questions - Directly from research designs - Directly from research variables - Review of literatures - Directly from research objectives - Directly from research designs - Directly from findings of other studies - From personal or practical experience or observation and analogy - Personal Judgement influenced by your careful evaluation of the research question, research objective, research design and a review of past studies - Logical reasoning - Suggestions from students or colleagues or subject experts A testable hypothesis makes a statement about a presumed or theoretical relation between two or more variables (Kerlinger, 1986) – that can be observed or measured. Thus, a testable hypothesis should state or imply that the variables are observable and measurable. It should also specify the relation among the variables, e.g. higher grades are obtained after studying in the library than studying in the hall of residence. Non-testable hypotheses may include, “abortion is wrong“, “stigmatizing ebola patient is bad”, “I seem to study better in the library than in your room” (Akinade&Owolabi, 2009, p. 19). Testing of Hypotheses The following steps should be observed when testing any research hypothesis (Awoniyi et al, 2011): - Formulate a null hypothesis (Ho). Hypothesis can either be accepted or rejected. - Set up a suitable level of significance. It means the level at which to accept or reject null hypothesis. It is conventional among researchers to accept or reject hypothesis at 0.05 or 0.01 level of significance. This implies that the researcher is allowed some margin of error in his research result. For instance 0.05 level of significance implies that the researcher allows 5% error margin and he is 95% confident of whatever result or conclusion is drawn from his study while for 0.01 level of significance the researcher allows only 1% error margin and he is 99% confident of the result or conclusion drawn from his study. - Select appropriate statistical techniques. There are many techniques from which a researcher can choose the most appropriate to test his hypothesis such as in the following cases: - When hypothesis has to do with a large sample (i.e. more than 30) and it is testing for a significant difference between two variables, the z – test implying normal distribution is used and when a sample is small (less than 30), t – test is employed. - When the hypothesis is started to test for relationship between two variables, the Pearson product moment correlation co-efficient is used, when there is equal distribution of subjects for non-parametric variables, the Spearman rank order correlation coefficient is used. - When the hypothesis is stated to test differences or relationship between two or more independent variables and one dependents variable, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) or analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) could be employed. - Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) is used when there are two or more independent variables against two or more dependent variables. - Chi-square test is applied to data derived from normal scale of measurement, that is, data obtained in form of frequency counts. It is used for testing hypothesis concerning the difference between sample frequency observed within certain categories and those expected with the categories and those expected with the categories. Chi-square can only indicate whether or not a set of observed frequencies differ significantly from the corresponding set of expected frequencies. Characteristics of Good Hypotheses According to Awoniyi et al (2011); Akinade and Owolabi (2009); Cherry (2014), each acceptable hypothesis should have the following features: - It must provide a specific and adequate answer to a problem that is limited in scope (i.e. give only one answer to a problem at a time). - It must be based on the research topic. - It must include independent and dependent variables. It should be framed in a way that the expected relationship between independent and dependent variables are clearly stated. - Hypotheses should be testable and measurable. One of the most common sources of difficulty for the student who embarks on research project is the selection of hypothesis that is not really testable. - It should be correctly, clearly and precisely stated. - It should state expected relationships between research variables. a research hypotheses should be appropriate as a basis for research. - It should be limited in scope. A common error of the research student in planning research is to develop hypotheses of global significance. Students should seek hypotheses that are relatively simple to test, and yet are highly significant. - It should be consistent with most facts. Any hypotheses formulated as a basis of research must be consistent with a substantial body of established facts. - The hypotheses selected should be amendable to testing within a reasonable time. Before any research is undertaken, the student should ask himself practical questions about whether he has the resources and time to undertake the investigation. - Hypotheses must be testable or verifiable by independent researchers using identical conditions, so as to ascertain its validity. - Hypotheses should be tested without violating ethical standards. - Hypotheses should be operationally defined. Understanding some myths surrounding research hypotheses Myth: A hypotheses is an educated guess Everyday use of the word ‘hypotheses’ means an intelligent guess. For science, it can be misunderstood to mean an assumption made before doing an experiment or an idea not yet confirmed by an experiment. A better definition of a hypothesis in science is ‘a tentative explanation for a scientific problem, based on currently accepted scientific understanding and creative thinking’. Research hypotheses are supported by lines of evidence and are based on the prior experience, background knowledge and observations of the scientists. Myth: Hypotheses become theories that, in turn, become laws Hypothesis, theory and law are three terms that are often confused. This myth says that facts and observations produce hypotheses, which give rise to theories, which, in turn, produce laws if sufficient evidence is amassed – so laws are theories that have been proved true. Actually, hypotheses, theories and laws are as unalike as apples, oranges and bananas. They can’t grow into each other. Theories and laws are very different types of knowledge. Laws are generalisations, principles, relationships or patterns in nature that have been established by empirical data. Theories are explanations of those generalisations (also corroborated by empirical data). Akinade, E.O. &Owolabi, T. (2009).Research Methods: A Pragmatic Approach for Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences and Education. Lagos: Connel Publications. Awoniyi, S.A., Aderanti, R.A. &Tayo, A.S. (2011).Introduction to Research Methods. Ibadan: Ababa Press. Cherry, K. (2014).What exactly is a Hypothesis? Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/hindex/g/hypothesis.htm on 22/12/2014. Glenn, F. (2008). Forming a Good Hypothesis for Scientific Research Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-hypothesis-2795039 on 2019-02-14 Guevera, L. (2010) Myths of the nature of science Retrieved from https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/415-myths-of-the-nature-of-science on 2019-02-14 Kerlinger, F.N. (1986). Behavioural Research: A Conceptual Approach. New Delhi: Sterling Publisher.

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Rh factor, protein substance present in the red blood cells of most people, capable of inducing intense antigenic reactions. The Rh, or rhesus, factor was discovered in 1940 by K. Landsteiner and A. S. Wiener, when they observed that an injection of blood from a rhesus monkey into rabbits caused an antigenic reaction in the serum component of rabbit blood (see immunity). When blood from humans was tested with the rabbit serum, the red blood cells of 85% of the humans tested agglutinated (clumped together). The red blood cells of the 85% (later found to be 85% of the white population and a larger percentage of blacks and Asians) contained the same factor present in rhesus monkey blood; such blood was typed Rh positive. The blood of the remaining 15% lacked the factor and was typed Rh negative. Under ordinary circumstances, the presence or lack of the Rh factor has no bearing on life or health. It is only when the two blood types are mingled in an Rh-negative individual that the difficulty arises, since the Rh factor acts as an antigen in Rh-negative persons, causing the production of antibodies. Besides the Rh factor, human red blood cells contain a large number of additional antigenic substances that have been classified into many blood group systems (see blood groups); however, the Rh system is the only one, aside from the ABO system, that is of major importance in blood transfusions. If Rh-positive blood is transfused into an Rh-negative person, the latter will gradually develop antibodies called anti-Rh agglutinins, that attach to the Rh-positive red blood cells, causing them to agglutinate. Destruction of the cells (hemolysis) eventually results. If the Rh-negative recipient is given additional transfusions of Rh-positive blood, the concentration of anti-Rh agglutinins may become high enough to cause a serious or fatal reaction. The same type of immune reaction occurs in the blood of an Rh-negative mother who is carrying an Rh-positive fetus. (The probability of this situation occurring is high if the father is Rh positive.) Some of the infant's blood may enter the maternal circulation, causing the formation of agglutinins against the fetal red blood cells. The first baby is usually not harmed. But, if the mother's agglutinins pass into the circulation of subsequent fetuses, they may destroy the fetal red blood cells, causing the severe hemolytic disease of newborns known as erythroblastosis fetalis. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: Anatomy and Physiology

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Health

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Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development of any nation. The Central Bank of Nigeria defines small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria according to asset base and a number of staff employed. CBN categorized SMEs to have asset base between ₦5 million ($15,400) and ₦500 million ($1,538,000), and staff strength between 11 and 100 employees. SMEs are the backbone of most economies, providing employment opportunities, creating wealth, and contributing to the overall well-being of society. In this article, we will discuss the importance of SMEs in economic development. - Employment Opportunities: SMEs are a significant source of employment opportunities. They provide jobs for millions of people, especially in developing countries where formal employment opportunities are limited. In many countries, SMEs are the largest employers in the private sector, and they often provide more jobs per unit of investment than larger firms. - Innovation: SMEs are often at the forefront of innovation, creating new products and services that meet the needs of consumers. SMEs are agile and can quickly adapt to changing market conditions, which allows them to introduce new ideas and technologies faster than larger firms. In many cases, SMEs have been responsible for disrupting established industries and creating entirely new ones. - Wealth Creation: SMEs create wealth by generating profits and contributing to tax revenues. SMEs are often owned by individuals or families, and the profits generated by these businesses can be reinvested in the local economy, creating a multiplier effect. This effect can lead to increased economic activity, higher living standards, and improved overall well-being. - Regional Development: SMEs play a vital role in regional development, especially in rural areas. They can provide economic opportunities for local communities, which can help to reduce migration to urban areas. SMEs can also support the development of local supply chains, which can help to strengthen local economies. - Export Markets: SMEs are often involved in export markets, contributing to the growth of the national economy. Many SMEs have niche products or services that are in demand in international markets, and they can leverage this demand to grow their businesses and create jobs. SMEs are essential in driving economic growth and development. They create employment opportunities, innovate, generate wealth, support regional development, and contribute to export markets. Governments and policymakers must recognize the importance of SMEs and create an enabling environment that supports their growth and development. By doing so, SMEs can continue to drive economic growth and development, creating benefits for society as a whole. Pingback: SMEs and Sustainability: Navigating Environmental and Social Responsibility - SME Guide

https://smeguide.net/the-importance-of-small-and-medium-enterprises-smes-in-economic-development/

Business

en

Table of Contents Can What You Eat Affect The breath? Why Do Poor Habits Cause Bad Breath? If you don’t brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. Antibacterial mouth rinses also can help reduce bacteria. In addition, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures are not properly cleaned. Smoking or chewing tobacco-based products also can cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate your gums. Health Problems Associated With Bad Breath Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone. Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, and dental caries (cavities). The medical condition dry mouth (also called xerostomia) also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth. Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems. Remedy For Bad Breath: Many people believe that pineapple juice is the quickest and most effective treatment for bad breath. While there is no scientific evidence to back up this theory, anecdotal reports suggest that it works. Drink a glass of organic pineapple juice after every meal, or chew on a pineapple slice for one to two minutes. It’s also important to remember to rinse your mouth of the sugars in fruit and fruit juice afterward. Research Trusted Source shows that mouth dryness often causes bad breath. Saliva plays a very important role in keeping your mouth clean. Without it, bacteria thrive. Your mouth naturally dries out while you sleep, which is why breath is typically worse in the morning. Prevent dry mouth by keeping your body hydrated. Drinking water (not caffeinated or sugary drinks) throughout the day will help encourage saliva production. Aim for at least eight glasses of water per day. Yogurt contains healthy bacteria called lactobacillus. These healthy bacteria can help combat bad bacteria in various parts of your body, like your gut. Research shows that yogurt may also help reduce bad breath. A study found after six weeks of eating yogurt, 80 percent of participants had a reduction in bad breath. Probiotics in yogurt are effective in reducing the severity of bad breath. To use yogurt to fight bad breath, eat at least one serving per day of plain, nonfat yogurt. Milk is a well-known cure for bad breath. Research shows that drinking milk after eating garlic can significantly improve “garlicky” breath. To use this method, drink a glass of low- or full-fat milk during or after a meal containing strong-smelling foods like garlic and onions. 5.Fennel or anise seeds Since ancient times, fennel and anise seeds have been used to freshen breath. In parts of India, roasted fennel seeds are still used as or mouth fresheners, to cleanse after-dinner breath. They taste sweet and contain aromatic essential oils that give the breath a fresh scent. Fennel and anise seeds can be eaten plain, roasted, or coated with sugar. Oranges not only make for a healthy dessert, but they also promote dental hygiene. Many people have bad breath because they don’t produce enough saliva to wash away foul-smelling bacteria. Research shows that vitamin C helps increase saliva production, which can help eliminate bad breath. Oranges are rich in this vitamin. Zinc salts, an ingredient in certain mouthwashes Trusted Source and chewing gum Trusted Source, can counteract bad breath. Zinc works to decrease the number of sulfurous compounds in your breath. Research has shown that regular rinsing with a solution containing zinc can be effective in reducing bad breath for at least 6 months. Green tea is an effective home remedy for bad breath. Research Trusted Source shows that green tea has disinfectant and deodorizing properties that can temporarily freshen the breath. Mint has similar effects, so a cup of green mint tea may be an ideal breath freshener. Brew two cups of tea before going to bed and refrigerate it overnight. Pour your cool tea into a water bottle and bring it to work. Slowly sip on it throughout the day. One study Trusted Source found that raw apples have a powerful effect against garlic breath. Certain natural compounds in apples neutralize the foul-smelling compounds in garlic. This is particularly useful for people whose garlic breath lingers, because it neutralizes the compounds in the bloodstream, rather than just deodorizing the mouth. 10.Homemade mouthwash with baking soda Studies Trusted Source have shown that baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, can effectively kill bacteria in the mouth. Research Trusted Source indicates that toothpastes containing high concentrations of baking soda effectively reduce bad breath. To make a baking soda mouthwash, add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water. Swish the mouthwash around in your mouth for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out. 11.Homemade mouthwash with vinegar Vinegar contains a natural acid called acetic acid. Bacteria don’t like to grow in acidic environments, so a vinegar mouthwash may reduce bacteria growth. Add 2 tablespoons of white or apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water. Gargle for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out. Most bad breath originates in the mouth and can be treated with improved dental hygiene. In some cases, however, bad breath is a sign of a more serious condition such as diabetic ketoacidosis, kidney failure, or an infection. If your bad breath isn’t improving with home treatment, consult your doctor or dentist. For any important information please contact us firstname.lastname@example.org

http://www.gadgetsng.com/2016/06/fathers-day-2016-5-gadgets-buy-dad.htmlEvery

Phones

en

A NAIL thought to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been unearthed in the secret chamber of a monastery. Archaeologists claim to have made the astonishing find while working in the Milevsko monastery in the Czech Republic. The six-inch-long piece of nail was discovered in a box in a cavity in the vault of the monastery, and is inscribed ‘IR’ - which translates to ‘Jesus is King’. Experts claim the hidden room was used to hide rare artefacts from raids by Hussite troops in the early 15th century. Radio Prague reports that researchers cannot confirm whether the nail came from the ‘True Cross’, but say the discovery is “even greater than the reliquary of St Maurus”. The Maurus Reliquary is a large gold box containing fragments of the bodies of Saint Maurus, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Timothy. Archaeologists have previously uncovered dozens of nails claimed to be linked to the crucifixion, leading experts to remain skeptical about the new find. Jiří Šindelář, who took part in the discovery, told ČTK news agency: “Because the Hussites destroyed the archive, there was no information that such a thing was here.” Experts will verify the findings next year, he added. The nails were allegedly found in Jerusalem, in a first-century burial cave believed to be the resting place of Caiaphas - the Jewish priest who sent Jesus to his death in the Bible. At some point after the cave was excavated in 1990, however, the nails went missing. Most read in News Years later, filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici claimed to have found the nails, even saying that they were used to crucify Jesus himself in the 2011 documentary, Nails Of The Cross. At the time, scholars slammed the suggestion, denying that the nails Jacobovici had found were the same ones from Caiaphas' tomb. But the study concluded that the nails are indeed the same ones - and that they were probably used to crucify someone too.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13554970/nail-crucifixion-christ-czech-monastery/

Religion

en

Words form language, and our language helps us create communication. Over a period of time, several people have coined new words that have evolved—sometimes with their meanings remaining the same, and the other times with their meanings completely changed. Several ancient languages like Latin, Sanskrit, and Greek have been the origins of several words in the English language. We may not always know the interesting origin of the words we use every day, but many of them have fascinating origins. Here is a list of 15 such words with the story of their etymology: 1. The word “quarantine” comes from the mandatory period of isolation the ships and people had to go through before entering the city-state of Ragusa after it was invaded by the Venetians. “Quarantine” is derived from the Italian words “quaranta giorni” of a Venetian dialect that means “40 days.” In the middle of the 14th century, the Black Death had wiped out approximately 30% of Europe’s population. As a measure of prevention, all the ships along with the people who arrived in Ragusa, a city-state (a small independent country with its dependent territories) ruled by the Venetians, were to stay in a restricted place for 30 days at first, which was then increased to 40 days. This period came to be known as the period of “quarantine.” (source) 2. “Nepotism” has its origins from the favoritism practiced by the Pope towards his nephews in the 15th century which was then carried on by his successors. “Nepotism,” which means a practice, often unfair, of favoring relatives or friends for jobs, was started by Pope. Sixtus IV during his papacy from 1471-1484 when he granted a lot of favors to his family, especially his nephews. The Italian word for nephew is “nipote,” and a 17th century variant of it was “nepote” from where we get the word “nepotism.” The other Popes, and eventually everyone else in power, continued the practice that stood the test of time. In 1667, a writer named Gregorio Leti also wrote a book on this titled, Il Nepotismo di Roma about how the Popes favored their nephews for various posts. (source) 3. A Greek Goddess named Pheme and her actions gave rise to the English word “fame.” If she favored someone, she brought them nobility; if she didn’t, it gave rise to scandals. In Greek mythology, a Goddess named Pheme, also known as “Fama” in Roman mythology. was known to be the personification of renown. She is known to have listened in on the matters of everyone else and repeated their exploits everywhere, getting louder every time she told someone about it, thus making that person famous. Virgil, an ancient Roman poet after learning of her in Roman mythology wrote, “had her feet on the ground, and her head in the clouds, making the small seem great and the great seem greater.” This is how we get the word “fame.” (source) 4. The Old English word “godsibb,” which meant a godparent of another’s child who was also their intimate friend, became the etymon for the modern word “gossip.” The word “gossip” is known to have come from the Old English word of “godsibb” that meant god’s sibling or a godparent. Godparents, who would be close friends of the parent would know the minutest details about their lives. Shakespeare used the word in its noun form as it was, but his contemporary, Thomas Heywood began using gossip as a verb. But once Shakespeare is known to have made an exception and used gossip as a verb, “I’ll gossip at the feast,” he wrote, just how we use it today. The word feast was used to define an event where long stories about various things were narrated, and where “gossip” happened. By the 19th century, the word “gossip” had evolved to mean what it is today—chattering about the lives of others and often spreading rumors. (source) 5. In the ancient ages, people believed that the phases of the moon caused a person to behave crazily. This belief gave rise to the word, “lunatic” with “luna” being the Latin word for moon. “Lunatic” which is used to define someone who is insane originated in the 4th century. Astrologers used the term to define someone who acted crazily or got epileptic seizures depending upon the phases of the moon (luna). Aristotle once argued that a full moon brought out the insanity in those with bipolar disorder. Until the 18th century, people believed that the moon influenced a variety of illnesses. Lawyers used “guilty by reason of the full moon,” as a defense in the courts of England until the 19th century. (1,2) 6. The word “idiot” comes from the Greek word for a person who refused to participate in politics and demonstrated apathy. In ancient Greece, it was very common for everyone to participate in politics and societal affairs. Those who were not politically involved were considered to be selfish. A majority of the people in Athens willingly took part in politics to some extent. Those who did not were known as selfish and called “idiotes.” “Idiotes” originates from the word “idios” which means “the self.” An “idiotes” was an ignorant and selfish person. This word was later adapted in Latin as “idiota” which meant someone common, inexperienced, and ignorant. This is how we get the word “idiot” in English. (source) 7. The word “checkmate” comes from the old Persian phrase of “shāh māt” which literally means that “the King is helpless.” When the Persians modified chess, they introduced the concept of “warning the king” (“check” in modern language). Then they introduced the rule that the king cannot be left in a check position or move in a position that would still give a check making the king helpless. When this happened, the phrase used for it was “shāh māt” which ended the game. Those who played chess in ancient Persia found the checkmate way of playing chess nobler than the older way of capturing all the pawns of the opposite player (known as “annihilation” or “robado” now). This is how we get the word “checkmate.” (source) 8. “Barbarian” was a word that was first used by ancient Greeks for all non-Greek people who spoke unintelligible things that sounded like “bar bar bar.” The Greek word “bárbaros” was used to define someone who babbled. To Greeks, the language of all the other foreigners, including Persians and Egyptians, was unintelligible. To their ears, it sounded something like “bar bar bar.” Similarly, the Sanskrit word “barbara” meant to stammer. Today we use the word “barbarian” to define someone who is rough, brutal, and uncivilized. It was the Romans who transformed the word’s meaning to what it is used for today. (source) 9. The word “bug” in the context of a computer glitch was first used after a moth actually caused a malfunction in one of the early types of computers. A software “bug” is a term we use to define a glitch in a computer system that is not physical. But the term originated with an actual bug—more specifically, a moth. Computer pioneer, Grace Hopper, was working on the early Mark II and Mark III electromechanical computers. When Mark II was malfunctioning, they found that a moth had been trapped in a relay causing the problem. Hopper used the term “bug” for that glitch in the computer in the logbook later. The operators who found the moth, including William “Bill” Burke, were familiar with term often used in engineering and taped the moth in the logbook with the note, “first actual case of bug being found.” (source) 10. Originally the word, “nice” had a negative connotation that meant ignorant or stupid from the Latin “nescius.” It was in the 14th century that it began being used to define clothing or conduct that was very luxurious. “Nice” has been used to mean a plethora of things. In 1967, it was also used to define drug dealers in a song. Before the 14th century, the word “nice” was used to define someone who was stupid, originating from Latin. In the 1300s, it was used to designate a person with excessively luxurious clothing, a very rich person, or a sophisticated conduct. In the 1400s, “nice” began being used for someone who was shy, something that was very precise, or someone who was finely dressed. One hundred years later, “nice” was used to define polite society. In the 18th century, “nice” was finally used in the sense that we used it today, to mean anything that is good or positive. Around the same time, the phrase “make nice” entered the English language which means to ease a tense situation giving rise to the meaning of the word as it is used now. (source) 11. The word “quiz” was a result of a bet made by a theatre proprietor of Dublin who said he could make a nonsensical word known to everyone in the city within 48 hours. If Richard Daly, a Dublin theatre proprietor had not placed a bet, we would be using some other word to test someone with questions. As a part of the bet, in 1791, Daly stated that he would make the public define a nonsensical word he would coin. One evening, he made his staff go around the city and write the strange word, “quiz” on random walls. The next day, everyone was talking about it and eventually, it became a part of their language. But it was only in the mid-19th century that the word evolved to mean what it does today. At first, it meant an odd and eccentric person and was also used to define a kind of a yoyo-like toy. (source) 12. “Nightmare” comes from the Middle English word “mare,” who was a female, evil spirit who produced a feeling of suffocation in a sleeping person or animal during the night. Remember the sensation of not being able to breathe when you wake up from a nightmare? There is some sense behind it. In around the early 1300s, there was a belief among the people that a female, evil spirit settled on a sleeping person and suffocated them. Since evil is often associated with night, and people were more susceptible to the “mare” or “evil spirit” in darkness, the word “night” was added as a prefix creating the word, “nightmare.” The belief in evil spirits waned with the modernization of the world and advancement of science which gave rise to the knowledge that it was the sub-conscious mind that made us dream, producing that feeling of being suffocated or even paralyzed in sleep. However, the word “nightmare” continued to be used for not only bad dreams but also dreadful situations. (source) 13. We use the word “bucks” for currency because, during the ancient times, deerskin was a common medium of exchange. A “buck” means a male, horned animal, especially a deer. In the 17th century, deerskin was used as a medium of exchange to get other items of value. For instance, a cask of whiskey could be bought for “five bucks,” which anciently, referred to deerskin, not money. Centuries later as we shifted to dollars and other currencies, we carried forward the term “bucks” to signify some form of medium of exchange to purchase goods. Another less-believed theory put forward for the etymology of the word “bucks” is that, at a point of time, young male slaves were traded in exchange for valuable items. They were also referred to as “bucks.” (source) 14. The word “dude” first stood for men who followed the latest fashion trends. The original spelling of the word was “doods.” It was also once used to address those who were clueless. In the late 19th century, the word “doods” began being used as a form of mockery for young men who were obsessed to follow the latest fashion trends. When young British men returned from their adventures abroad, they sported high-fashion and sophisticated mannerisms in the 18th century. They also developed a taste for macaroni. They were often imitated by other folks by sticking a feather in their caps and called “doodles” shortened from the old song, Yankee Doodle Dandy. Soon, the name for these fashion-obsessed men was shortened to “doods,” alternatively spelled “dudes.” We now use it very commonly to address people, mainly guys. (source) 15. “Third World” were the words first used to define the countries that were not politically aligned during the Cold War era, unlike what they mean today. Going by that definition, Austria, Sweden and Finland are “Third World countries.” “Third World countries” were those countries that did not align with the Capitalist NATO (First World) or the Communist Bloc (Second World) during the Cold War era, remaining politically neutral unlike how it is used to define under-developed, poverty-stricken nations today. The term was used solely to demarcate political and economic divisions. Alfred Sauvy, a French demographer and anthropologist coined the words in 1952 in an article in “L’Observateur,” a French magazine, conveying political non-alignment of certain countries. Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland are “Third World countries” by that definition because they remained neutral during World War II. (source)

https://factsc.com/origins-of-words/

Education

en

Most members of Generation Z can't imagine life without Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. Nearly one in four teens reports being online "almost constantly," with much of that online time dominated by social media. But the effect of social networking on teens' mental health has been largely unclear, since so little research has been conducted on the matter. A new study warns, however, that frequent social media use may indeed take a toll on a young person's psychological well-being. The research comes from Ottawa Public Health, the city of Ottawa's agency for health information, programs and services. The study finds that teens who use social media sites for two hours or more per day are significantly more likely to suffer from poor mental health, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed data from 750 students in grades seven through 12, collected for the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The students were asked to answer questions about their social media habits, mental health and psychological well-being, and mental health support. Of those students, 25 percent said that they spent at least two hours a day on social networking sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The researchers found that these heavy social media users were more likely to report having poor mental health, psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression), suicidal thoughts and unmet mental health needs. While the study doesn't prove causality, it's likely that the direction of influence runs both ways. Teens who are struggling with their mental health may be more likely to use social media frequently, while excessive use of social media use may over time contribute to poor mental health. "It could be that teens with mental health problems are seeking out interactions as they are feeling isolated and alone," Dr. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga, the study's lead author, told The Huffington Post in an email. "Or they would like to satisfy unmet needs for face-to-face mental health support." The findings are in line with a 2012 study that found a correlation between social networking and depression in high school students. However, the association isn't necessarily straightforward. "The relationship between the use of social networking sites and mental health problems is complex," Sampasa-Kanyinga said. "Simple use of social networking sites cannot fully explain by itself the occurrence of mental health problems." Turning the problem into the solution The solution? It's probably not to get kids off social media. Instead, the way forward may be getting more mental health resources onto these platforms. "We see social networking sites, which may be a problem for some, also being a solution," Dr. Brenda K. Wiederhold of the Interactive Media Institute in San Diego said in a statement reacting to the study's findings. "Since teens are on the sites, it is the perfect place for public health and service providers to reach out and connect with this vulnerable population and provide health promotion systems and supports." The Ottawa Public Health researchers also suggest that parents should be aware of excessive social media use as a possible indicator of mental health issues. The findings were published online on July 13 in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/social-media-mental-health_55b129d9e4b08f57d5d3eedf?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063Check

Family

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The spectacular fossilised skull of an ancient human ancestor that died nearly two million years ago has forced scientists to rethink the story of early human evolution. Anthropologists unearthed the skull at a site in Dmanisi, a small town in southern Georgia, where other remains of human ancestors, simple stone tools and long-extinct animals have been dated to 1.8m years old. Experts believe the skull is one of the most important fossil finds to date, but it has proved as controversial as it is stunning. Analysis of the skull and other remains at Dmanisi suggests that scientists have been too ready to name separate species of human ancestors in Africa. Many of those species may now have to be wiped from the textbooks. The latest fossil is the only intact skull ever found of a human ancestor that lived in the early Pleistocene, when our predecessors first walked out of Africa. The skull adds to a haul of bones recovered from Dmanisi that belong to five individuals, most likely an elderly male, two other adult males, a young female and a juvenile of unknown sex. The site was a busy watering hole that human ancestors shared with giant extinct cheetahs, sabre-toothed cats and other beasts. The remains of the individuals were found in collapsed dens where carnivores had apparently dragged the carcasses to eat. They are thought to have died within a few hundred years of one another. "Nobody has ever seen such a well-preserved skull from this period," said Christoph Zollikofer, a professor at Zurich University's Anthropological Institute, who worked on the remains. "This is the first complete skull of an adult early Homo. They simply did not exist before," he said. Homo is the genus of great apes that emerged around 2.4m years ago and includes modern humans. Other researchers said the fossil was an extraordinary discovery. "The significance is difficult to overstate. It is stunning in its completeness. This is going to be one of the real classics in paleoanthropology," said Tim White, an expert on human evolution at the University of California, Berkeley. But while the skull itself is spectacular, it is the implications of the discovery that have caused scientists in the field to draw breath. Over decades excavating sites in Africa, researchers have named half a dozen different species of early human ancestor, but most, if not all, are now on shaky ground. The remains at Dmanisi are thought to be early forms of Homo erectus, the first of our relatives to have body proportions like a modern human. The species arose in Africa around 1.8m years ago and may have been the first to harness fire and cook food. The Dmanisi fossils show that H erectus migrated as far as Asia soon after arising in Africa. The latest skull discovered in Dmanisi belonged to an adult male and was the largest of the haul. It had a long face and big, chunky teeth. But at just under 550 cubic centimetres, it also had the smallest braincase of all the individuals found at the site. The dimensions were so strange that one scientist at the site joked that they should leave it in the ground. The odd dimensions of the fossil prompted the team to look at normal skull variation, both in modern humans and chimps, to see how they compared. They found that while the Dmanisi skulls looked different to one another, the variations were no greater than those seen among modern people and among chimps. The scientists went on to compare the Dmanisi remains with those of supposedly different species of human ancestor that lived in Africa at the time. They concluded that the variation among them was no greater than that seen at Dmanisi. Rather than being separate species, the human ancestors found in Africa from the same period may simply be normal variants of H erectus. "Everything that lived at the time of the Dmanisi was probably just Homo erectus," said Prof Zollikofer. "We are not saying that palaeoanthropologists did things wrong in Africa, but they didn't have the reference we have. Part of the community will like it, but for another part it will be shocking news." David Lordkipanidze at the Georgian National Museum, who leads the Dmanisi excavations, said: "If you found the Dmanisi skulls at isolated sites in Africa, some people would give them different species names. But one population can have all this variation. We are using five or six names, but they could all be from one lineage." If the scientists are right, it would trim the base of the human evolutionary tree and spell the end for names such as H rudolfensis, H gautengensis, H ergaster and possibly H habilis. The fossil is described in the latest issue of Science. "Some palaeontologists see minor differences in fossils and give them labels, and that has resulted in the family tree accumulating a lot of branches," said White. "The Dmanisi fossils give us a new yardstick, and when you apply that yardstick to the African fossils, a lot of that extra wood in the tree is dead wood. It's arm-waving." "I think they will be proved right that some of those early African fossils can reasonably join a variable Homo erectus species," said Chris Stringer, head of human origins at the Natural History Museum in London. "But Africa is a huge continent with a deep record of the earliest stages of human evolution, and there certainly seems to have been species-level diversity there prior to two million years ago. So I still doubt that all of the 'early Homo' fossils can reasonably be lumped into an evolving Homo erectus lineage. We need similarly complete African fossils from two to 2.5m years ago to test that idea properly." The analysis by Lordkipanidze also casts doubt on claims that a creature called Australopithecus sediba that lived in what is now South Africa around 1.9m years ago was a direct ancestor of modern humans. The species was discovered by Lee Berger at the University of Witwatersrand. He argued that it was premature to dismiss his finding and criticised the authors for failing to compare their fossils with the remains of A sediba. "This is a fantastic and important discovery, but I don't think the evidence they have lives up to this broad claim they are making. They say this falsifies that Australopithecus sediba is the ancestor of Homo. The very simple response is, no it doesn't." "What all this screams out for is more and better specimens. We need skeletons, more complete material, so we can look at them from head to toe," he added. "Any time a scientist says 'we've got this figured out' they are probably wrong. It's not the end of the story." Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/17/skull-homo-erectus-human-evolution

Religion

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Taking a morning walk and making it a regular part of your day can be quite beneficial for both your mental and physical well-being. How Morning Walks Can Improve Your Health According to studies, brisk walking for 1 hour can add 2 hours to your life expectancy. Additionally, regular morning walks can: - feeling better - Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several kinds of cancer - Get your thoughts together - Lower blood pressure - Increased energy - Enhance your memory to reduce your risk of dementia. - Improve your mental and emotional well-being. - Avoid gaining weight. By increasing your heart rate while you walk, you can observe these impacts. Spend at least 150 minutes a week on your morning walk regimen for the best advantages. The Benefits of Morning Walks An enticing kind of exercise is walking. The majority of people can accomplish it, and there are many advantages: Improves immunological performance. You can lower your chances of getting the flu or a cold by walking every day. People who walk for at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week, have 43 percent fewer sick days, according to studies. And if you get sick, your symptoms will probably be less severe. Improved circulation. Walking causes your heart rate to increase, which decreases your blood pressure. Over time, it promotes circulation in general and improves heart health. By walking two kilometers each day, you can also lower your risk of stroke. Joint support. Walking causes your joints to rub against one another. They are opened by compression and movement in order to receive joint fluid. Your joints can receive more oxygen and nutrients as a result, which improves how well they function and feel. Boosts muscle strength. Walking in the morning can helps you tone your stomach and leg muscles. Your range of motion is increased and your general strength and health are enhanced by stronger muscles. Moving also causes a pressure transfer from the joints to your muscles. Helps you to focus. It has been demonstrated that walking improves brain function. All ages showed improved cognitive function when walking. When they're contemplating something or attempting to find solutions, some people enjoy going for walks. Increase mental wellness. Regular walks might lift your mood, according to studies. Additionally, they discover that walking helps lessen depressive symptoms that are mild to moderate. Decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's. There were fewer incidences of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study of males aged 71 to 93, who walked more than a quarter of a mile daily. You can benefit much from taking short, frequent walks. Walking in the Morning Has an Impact on Mental Health It's good for your mental health to get up and go for a morning walk. Most research indicates that brisk walking for at least 20 to 30 minutes produces the best outcomes. It's crucial to maintain consistency five or more days a week. Walking in the morning can help you feel happy to start and end your day. They could also boost your originality. According to studies, moving around rather than sitting encourages creativity. You have better sleep as a result of walking, which also improves your mood the following morning. Walking and other forms of exercise cause your body to release chemicals that improve your mood and emotional state. They comprise: - Dopamine lowers anxiety and despair - Serotonin, which promotes mood and aids with sleep - Male testosterone increases muscle mass and strength - Women's estrogen can lessen menopause symptoms. Tips for Morning Walks If you enjoy sleeping in and staying up late, rising early can be difficult. Some strategies to inspire yourself if you wish to incorporate morning walks into your new routine are as follows: - The previous evening, prepare your attire and footwear. - Make a cheerful, enjoyable playlist. - Stretch both before and after a walk. - If you're out at night, dress reflectively so that drivers can see you. Verify the feasibility of your walking objectives. Try to move about or work out for 30 minutes every day. Do what, however, seems good for your body. You can gradually lengthen or increase the distance of your walks. Don't let a day missed spoil your schedule. Having a bad day and picking things back up the next day is OK. You should also think about varying your route to make your morning walks interesting. You may look forward to getting up in the morning when there are new sights to see. Post a Comment

https://www.healthlifekit.com/2022/08/benefits-of-going-for-walk-in-morning.html

Health

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Scientists believe that an explosion of genetic changes caused the lineage of the great apes to branch off from the lesser, tailed primates 17 million years ago. Then, between 4 to 7 million years ago, a similar genetic burst splintered humans off from the rest of the apes. In comparing genetic differences between humans and other apes, scientists at Cornell University reached a theory that the split between humans and chimps might have very well come down to issues of scent and taste [source: Cornell News]. The Cornell team found hundreds of gene sequence changes in areas related to, among other things, smell and digestion. Obviously, humans are the most evolved primate species on the planet, with chimps coming in second. The hierarchy also exists when you look at meat consumption among primates. Chimps are only surpassed in meat consumption by humans. Researchers suggest that a dietary change brought on by sudden climate change may be the key catalyst behind the explosions in evolution that separated humans and chimps from our most recent common ancestor. The genes involved also affect long-bone growth, hairiness and hearing — the last of which is closely connected to the development of speech. Increased meat eating also may have lowered the physical playing field between males and females. Primatologists believe that a new mating system emerged 1.9 million years ago among humans, replacing the dual male-female hierarchy with more of a team effort. As males shared more meat with their females, the latter grew in size and were able to produce bigger children with larger brains. If these findings are correct, it means that man's appetite set him on the evolutionary path to global dominance — an insatiable hunger that continues to shape the future for all life on this planet.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/man-chimp-ape.htm

Religion

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The elusive mechanism by which people carrying the gene for sickle-cell disease are protected from malaria has finally been identified. This could point to a treatment for malaria. People develop sickle-cell disease, a condition in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped, if they inherit two faulty copies of the gene for the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin. The faulty gene persists because even carrying one copy of it confers some resistance to malaria. Now Miguel Soares and Ana Ferreira of the Gulbenkian Institute of Science in Oeiras, Portugal, and colleagues have discovered how mice that have been genetically modified to carry one version of the faulty gene are protected from malaria. Their results show that the gene does not protect against infection by the malaria parasite, as was previously thought. Instead, it prevents the disease taking hold after the animal has been infected. Soares’s team found that haem – a component of haemoglobin – is present in a free form in the blood of mice with one faulty haemoglobin gene, but largely absent from normal mice. To find out whether this helped guard against malaria, the team injected haem into the blood of normal mice before infecting them with malaria. The mice did not develop the disease. Paradoxically, Soares also found that if there are high levels of haem in the blood after infection with the malaria parasite, the disease is more likely to develop. In fact, even the mice carrying one copy of the sickle-cell gene, and therefore less likely to develop malaria, could be made more likely to develop the disease by injecting them with haem after they were infected. So how can it be that free haem is at once dangerous and protective? Soares’s findings suggest that a mechanism similar to vaccination is at work. The low levels of free haem circulating in the blood of mice carrying the sickle-cell gene stimulate the production of an enzyme that breaks it down, called haem oxygenase-1. This releases small quantities of carbon monoxide – a gas that in large quantities is highly toxic. In the low concentration found in the blood of the mice, however, carbon monoxide seems to play a role in preventing the accumulation of haem after infection with the malaria parasite. It is this limitation of levels of haem that appears to protect against the disease developing. To confirm this, Soares and colleagues tested whether the gas could protect normal mice from succumbing to malaria. They infected the mice with the malaria parasite and then allowed them to inhale small doses of carbon monoxide – too low to have a toxic effect. The mice did not develop the disease. Soares suggests the gas – which is already known to have some therapeutic properties in small quantities – could be used to protect against malaria in people infected with the parasite. But there is likely to be more to the development of malaria than simply controlling haem levels in the blood. It is already known that an inflammatory response also plays a part in the onset of malaria, Soares says, which suggests the disease is triggered by a two-pronged attack. The overactive immune response leads to the accumulation of toxic T-cells. In another experiment, Soares and his team showed that build-up of these pathogenic cells after infection with malaria is inhibited in mice with one sickle cell gene – although the protective mechanism at work has yet to be established. Journal reference: Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.03.049

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20450-how-sicklecell-carriers-fend-off-malaria.htmlhttp://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Malaria_Resistance_and_Sickle_Cell_TraitCorrection

Health

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You are welcome to Cancer Clinic. Where you get A to Z information about all forms of Cancer and the natural treatment for cancer. Cancer is a disease of our cells for both men and women. Sometimes cells go wrong and become abnormal. These cancer cells keep dividing to make more and more abnormal cells. TYPES OF CANCER (A-Z) There are about 200 different types of cancer. Click here to see A to Z list of cancer WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF CANCER? Thickening or lump in the breast or other parts of the body, Unexplained weight loss, Fever, Fatigue, Pain, Skin changes, Change in bowel habits or bladder function, Sores that do not heal, White patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, Unusual bleeding or discharge, Indigestion or trouble swallowing, Recent change in a wart or mole or any new skin change, Nagging cough or hoarseness. CAUSES OF CANCER There is no single cause for any one type of cancer. Here comes possible causes of Cancer Most types of cancer become more common as we get older. This is because the changes that make a cell become cancerous in the first place take a long time to develop. There have to be a number of changes to the genes within a cell before it turns into a cancer cell. These changes can happen by accident when the cell is dividing. Or they can happen because the cell has been damaged by carcinogens and the damage is then passed on to future cells when that cell divides. The longer we live, the more time there is for genetic mistakes to happen in our cells. - GENETIC MAKE UP There need to be a number of genetic mutations within a cell before it becomes cancerous. Sometimes a person is born with one of these mutations already. This doesn’t mean they will definitely get cancer. But with one mutation from the start, it makes it more likely statistically that they will develop cancer during their lifetime. Doctors call this genetic predisposition. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes are examples of genetic predisposition. Women who carry one of these faulty genes have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not. The BRCA genes are good examples for another reason. Most women with breast cancer do not have a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Less than 3 out of 100 breast cancers (3%) are due to these genes. So although women with one of these genes are individually more likely to get breast cancer, most breast cancer is not caused by a high risk inherited gene fault. This is true of other common cancers where some people have a genetic predisposition – for example, colon (large bowel) cancer. Researchers are looking at the genes of people with cancer in a study called SEARCH. They also hope to find out more about how other factors might interact with genes to increase the risk of cancer. - THE IMMUNE SYSTEM People who have problems with their immune systems are more likely to get some types of cancer. This group includes people who: i- Have had organ transplants and take drugs to suppress their immune systems to stop organ rejection ii- Have HIV or AIDS are born with rare medical syndromes which affect their immunity The types of cancers that affect these groups of people fall into 2 overlapping groups. Cancers that are caused by viruses, such as cervical cancer and other cancers of the genital or anal area, some lymphomas, liver cancer and stomach cancer Lymphomas Chronic infections or transplanted organs can continually stimulate cells to divide. This continual cell division means that immune cells are more likely to develop genetic faults and develop into lymphomas - SMOKING, BODY WEIGHT, DIET & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Many cancer cases are linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, diet, or being overweight. In the western world, many of us eat too much red and processed meat and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. This type of diet is known to increase the risk of cancer. Drinking alcohol can also increase the risk of developing some types of cancer. Sometimes foods or food additives are blamed for directly causing cancer and described as carcinogenic. This is often not really true. Sometimes a food is found to contain a substance that can cause cancer but in such small amounts that we could never eat enough of it to do any harm. And some additives may actually protect us. - DAY TO DAY ENVIRONMENT By environmental causes we mean what is around you each day that may help to cause cancer. This could include: Tobacco smoke, sun, natural and man made radiation, work place hazards, asbestos. Some of these are avoidable and some aren’t. Most are only contributing factors to causing cancers – part of the jigsaw puzzle that scientists are still trying to put together. Viruses can help to cause some cancers. But this does not mean that these cancers can be caught like an infection. What happens is that the virus can cause genetic changes in cells that make them more likely to become cancerous. These cancers and viruses are linked. Cervical cancer, and other cancers of the genital and anal area, and the human papilloma virus (HPV) Primary liver cancer and the Hepatitis B and C viruses Lymphomas and the Epstein-Barr Virus T cell leukaemia in adults and the Human T cell leukaemia virus HPV may also lead to oropharyngeal cancer and non melanoma skin cancers in some people. There will be people with primary liver cancer and with T cell leukaemia who haven’t had the related virus. But infection increases their risk of getting that particular cancer. With cervical cancer, scientists now believe that every woman with an invasive cervical cancer has had an HPV infection beforehand. Many people can be infected with a cancer causing virus, and never get cancer. The virus only causes cancer in certain situations. Many women get a high risk HPV infection, but never develop cervical cancer. Another example is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These are some facts about EBV. It is very common – most people are infected with EBV People who catch it late in life get glandular fever and have an increased risk of lymphoma. - BACTERIAL INFECTION Bacterial infections have not been thought of as cancer causing agents in the past. But studies have shown that people who have helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection of their stomach develop inflammation of the stomach lining, which increases the risk of stomach cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection can be treated with a combination of antibiotics. Research is also looking at whether substances produced by particular types of bacteria in the digestive system can increase the risk of bowel cancer or stomach lymphomas. Some researchers think that particular bacteria may produce cancer causing substances in some people. But research into this issue is at an early stage. If bacteria do play a part in causing cancer this could be important in cancer prevention. Bacterial infections can often be cured with antibiotics, so getting rid of the infection could be a way to reduce the risk of these types of cancer. Cancer causing substances (carcinogens) A carcinogen is something that can help to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is a powerful carcinogen. But not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer. So there must be other factors at work as well. POSSIBLE TEST FOR CANCER Triple assessment, this involve: 1- A physical breast examination (including armpits) 2- A mammogram or ultra sound scan of the breast 3- A fine needle aspiration or needle core biopsy to remove a tiny amount of breast tissue and/or cell to test and see whether they are cancerous Treatment works best when cancer is found early – while it’s still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. 2 CATEGORIES TREATMENT OPTIONS: The treatment falls into 2 Categories: Category A & Category B. Treatment under category A includes: - Hormonal therapies Some cancers depend on hormones to grow. - Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat cancer. - Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is the use of high-energy rays, usually x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to treat cancer. - Supportive and other treatments These treatments will help to reduce symptoms and the risk of certain complications. - Targeted and biological therapies Targeted (biological) therapies can change cells to treat cancer. - Surgery Surgery involves removing all or part of the cancer with an operation. 7 SIDE EFFECTS OF CATEGORY A CANCER TREATMENT The treatment options for most of them probably included chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. But the treatments often produce side effects including nausea, pain and fatigue. For patients, such side effects can take over daily life. They can make patients uncomfortable at best and miserable at worst sometimes affecting their ability to stick to their treatments, or making treatments less effective than they could be. - NAUSEA: Chemotherapy is the treatment that most commonly causes nausea and vomiting. In most cases, patients will be given anti-nausea drugs. Beyond this, studies have suggested that patients’ expectations possibly contribute to the development of nausea during treatment. Women who thought they were “very likely” to experience severe nausea from chemotherapy were five times more likely to do so than women who thought severe nausea was “very unlikely.” This isn’t to say that patients can ward off intense bouts of vomiting simply by being optimistic, the researchers said. Some may know they’re susceptible to nausea from previous experience with motion sickness or pregnancy-related nausea. However, the study does suggest that a positive attitude prior to treatment could help reduce nausea during treatment . Further study is needed, the researchers said. Some people also find it helpful to avoid greasy, fried, salty or spicy food. - FATIGUE: Fatigue is a serious problem for at least 70 percent of cancer patients, the National Cancer Institute says. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can bring it on, and so can the anemia that often comes with treatment. Those with cancer find their fatigue is not relieved by rest, and it can often interfere with daily activities. Some physicians hypothesized that a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) could alleviate fatigue, because previous studies had suggested that serotonin was involved in both fatigue and depression. - HEARING LOSS: Progressive, irreversible hearing loss can result from radiation therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin and cisplatin. The drugs damage the hair cells of the inner ear, making the ear less responsive to sound waves. A study showed that hearing loss is worst among patients who were younger when they were diagnosed, probably because they have taken in higher doses of platinum drugs over their lives. Children and adolescents receiving platinum-based chemotherapy should have regular audiometric follow-up exams, especially for frequencies above 2 kHz, even long after treatment has wrapped up, the researchers said. Cochlear implants are one way to remedy hearing loss that becomes serious. - HAIR LOSS: Chemotherapy drugs aim to kill all rapidly dividing cells in the body, which means they can destroy hair roots. Some patients lose not only the hair atop their head, but their eyelashes, eyebrows, armpit hair and pubic hair. This usually occurs about one to three weeks after the initial treatment. Hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary, and hair will grow back three to 10 months after the last treatment. Radiation therapy can cause hair loss as well, though only in the areas where radiation is administered. People cope with hair loss differently. Some simply let their hair fall out. Others opt to cut off their hair before treatment. Some may cover their heads with hats, scarfs and wigs. - DECREASED SEX DRIVE: Men with pelvic cancers (such as bladder, colon, prostate and rectal cancer) are more likely than other cancer patients to experience sexual dysfunction. But that side effect is not exclusive to male patients. As many as half of the women who have been treated for breast or gynecological cancers experience long-term sexual dysfunction. As for all other cancer patients, chemotherapy and radiation treatments can affect the nerves, blood vessels and hormones that control sexual function. Pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety also can affect patients’ sex lives. If you’re interested in having children, it’s also important to consult the doctor or a fertility specialist before beginning treatment. - DIARRHEA: Some chemotherapy drugs, particularly ones such as fluorouracil (sold under the brand name Adrucil) that are meant to treat colorectal cancer and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, are more likely to cause diarrhea. A study found that the chemotherapy agent CPT-11 (also known as Irinotecan) causes severe diarrhea. The drug reacts with enzymes produced by bacteria naturally found in the intestines, and it causes severe diarrhea in up to 30 percent of patients, the study showed. However, not all chemotherapy drugs cause diarrhea. And while researchers have yet to find a way to avoid this side effect, some coping mechanisms are available. Patients can eat foods that are easy to digest, such as applesauce, white rice and bananas, according to the National Cancer Institute. Raw fruits and foods that are high in fiber can make diarrhea worse. - ITCHINESS: Cancer patients may experience constant and unpleasant itchiness. In some cases, their skin can become dry and red. These side effects can be due to chronic renal disease or liver disease, or be part of a reaction to chemotherapy drugs. Mild soaps and fragrance-free lotions and creams can sooth minor irritations. Some patients see their nails become dark, yellow or cracked during chemotherapy. The drug cyclophosphamide can cause diffuse black pigmentation, streaks ranging from slate gray to black, or diffuse dark-gray pigmentation in patients’ nails after a few cycles of therapy. Another drug, methotrexate, is known to cause golden pigmentation. These are mostly cosmetic changes, though, and not a sign of toxic effects. A patients try wearing special “frozen mittens” to keep their hands very cold as they receive intravenous chemotherapy. It is possible the cold temperatures will reduce the amount of the drug that reaches the patients’ hands, only 11 percent of patients wearing the frozen mittens ended up with nail problems, compared with 51 percent of other patients. - CATEGORY B TREATMENT OPTION Alternative treatment different from the above is CANCER SOLUTION KIT. This cancer solution kit is 100% compounded natural medicines with no surgery and no negative side effect. This kit has curative effect on any form of cancer. As shown in the table below, we have different Kits for Cancer treatment. The kit you will go for depends on the type of cancer you have. PRICE OF CANCER SOLUTION KIT Here comes a table below showing different prices and categories of Cancer Solution Kits. The cost of the treatment is on monthly basis. Please note that the treatment can last between 1-3 months. We treat month by month. You start with the 1st month treatment. After taking it you will go for scan. Some people will take it for just 1 month and will be cancer free, some will use the 2nd month treatment before they got it cleared totally and the treatment might extend to 3 months. It depends on how severe the cancer. The prices are as follows: 1st MONTH COST OF CANCER TREATMENT: - Category A…………………………N70,000 - Category B……………………….N100,000 N.B: At the end of 1st month treatment you will have to go for scan/test to confirm the 1st month treatment before you commence the 2nd month treatment. If the cancer has gone totally, there won’t be need for 2nd month treatment, but if not gone totally, there must be improvement, then that call for 2nd month treatment to get rid of the cancer totally. 2nd MONTH COST OF CANCER TREATMENT The cost of 2nd month and subsequent month treatment for all cancer type is N70,000 ARE YOU OUTSIDE LAGOS OR OUTSIDE NIGERIA? There are 2 options available in getting the treatment kit across to you anywhere you are 1st Option: Come to our office and pick up the treatment kit. People outside Lagos can send a representative in Lagos to pick it up for them. 2nd Option: We do ship the treatment kit to people nationwide to all states in Nigeria and all countries in the world. Click here to see are evidences of deliveries. The treatments kits we have shipped to people both within Nigeria and outside Nigeria: www.iaswellnesscentre.ng/deliveries *For shipping you will pay to our company’s account. Then we will ship it to you under 24-48 hours if you live in Nigeria. *It takes 5-7 days for international delivery (we use EMS, DHL etc). SHIPPING IS FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN NIGERIA. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS NOT TOTALLY FREE BUT ATTRACTS 50% DISCOUNT 3rd Floor, 473, Lagos-Abeokuta Express Way, UBA Building, U-turn Bus Stop, Abule Egba, Lagos, Nigeria. Mon – Friday (9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.) Nigerian Time Saturday (10.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.) Nigerian Time Our Office is Close on Sunday but you can Whatsapp, Call, Email Us. - WHATSAPP: (+234)-8178871052 - CALL: 08178871052 OR +234-8038690104 - EMAIL: firstname.lastname@example.org At I. A. & S. Wellness Centre, we have well trained staff members to guide you. - Member National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), - Member Association of Commonwealth Traditional Medicines Practitioners for West Africa - We also have trained Acupunturists and TCM experts OTHER TREATMENT WE OFFER: The following are some of the treatments we offer Alphabetically (A-Z): - Abdominal pain Natural treatment - Abnormal Vaginal bleeding Natural treatment - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome(AIDS) natural treatment - Adhesion natural treatment - Amenorrhea Natural treatment - Anemia natural treatment - Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis Natural treatment - Appendicitis Natural treatment without surgery - Asthma Natural treatment - Candidiasis Natural treatment - Cancer Natural treatment - Cervical Polyps Natural treatment - Cholesterol Natural treatment - Chlamydia Infection Natural treatment - Fibroids Natural Treatment (without surgery) - Female Infertility Natural treatment - Fibrocystic Breast Natural Treatment - Male infertility Natural treatment - Menopause Natural treatment - Mouth odor and Cancer Natural treatment - PCOS (polycystic Ovary syndrome)Natural treatment - Parkinson disease Natural Treatment - Prostatitis Natural Cure - Prostate Cancer Natural Treatment - Polyps Natural Treatment - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Natural Treatment Was this article helpful? “Why Many Men and Women Develop Various Cancers Nowadays? CANCER CLINIC Explained Why and Solutions”

https://iaswellnesscentre.ng/cancer-and-natural-solution/

Health

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Asian and Black history in Britain, 1500-1850. This resource has been archived as the interactive parts no longer work. You can still use the rest of it for information, tasks or research. Please note that it has not been updated since its creation in 2004. You can find more content on this topic in our other resources: - Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Histories This resource contains a hyperlinked list of National Archives current resources for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories on The National Archives website. - Bound for Britain Experiences of immigration to the UK - Caribbean history in photographs What can these photographs tell us? - 1919 race riots How significant a factor was race in the riots of 1919? - Mangrove Nine protest What does this reveal about police brutality and racism in ’70s Britain? - Partition of British India What can The National Archives documents reveal about the partition of British India? - Loyalty and dissent How did Indian soldiers respond to the First World War? - Indian Independence What led to Partition in 1947?

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/africa_caribbean/docs/africa1600.htm

Politics

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On the 12th day of February 1809, two children were born who would each have a profound impact on the world--one that affected not just the people of his time, but continues to have an almost immeasurable effect today. The achievements of both individuals are being recognized this month, but their legacies could not be more different. On February 18, America will celebrate President's Day. Originally implemented to honor the birthday of George Washington, this holiday is now commonly understood as honoring the February 12th birth of Abraham Lincoln as well. Largely self-educated, Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860. His leadership during the tumultuous years of the Civil War has led him to be recognized as one of the greatest of the American Presidents. One of his foremost achievements was the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed American slaves as of January 1, 1863 (although most slaves in the seceded southern states would not learn of it until after the war). Lincoln firmly espoused the democratic ideals on which America was founded, as reflected in his Gettysburg Address: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. The other child born on February 12, 1809, would grow up to have a far different view on the equality of men. I could show fight on natural selection having done and doing more for the progress of civilization than you seem inclined to admit.... The more civilized so-called Caucasian races have beaten the Turkish hollow in the struggle for existence. Looking to the world at no very distant date, what an endless number of the lower races will have been eliminated by the higher civilized races throughout the world.1 He ranked certain races as being between "the Caucasian" and the baboon. At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world. At the same time, the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro |sic| or Australian and the gorilla.2 Even the subtitle for Charles Darwin's groundbreaking 1859 book Origin of Species reflects this particular aspect of "natural selection": The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. Darwin's views on the origins of life have gradually led to science's enslavement to a godless ideal. Nevertheless, his work and influence will be commemorated this month on Darwin Day, a celebration described as "an international recognition of science and humanity."3 Sadly, the occasion will also be marked in many churches as "Evolution Weekend," thanks to the Clergy Letter Project. Begun in 2004 by Michael Zimmerman (now Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Butler University), this project's purpose is to allow clergy a means of indicating their support for the teaching of evolution. Participating pastors are invited to endorse "An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science," which states in part: We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests.4 The letter speciously posits that "religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts."4 Thus it neatly excises the possibility that the Bible is, or even should be, factually accurate, paving the way to indoctrinate yet more people with the idea that "evolution is sound science and poses no problems for their faith."4 This month we celebrate two men of renown. One freed slaves, and the other enslaved minds. Which one is truly worthy of remembrance? Let us use these celebrations as a reminder to honor the Source of true freedom--"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). - Charles Darwin: Life and Letters, I, letter to W. Graham, July 3, 1881, 316; cited in Himmelfarb, G. 1959. Darwin and the Darwinian Revolution. London: Chatto and Windus, 343. - Darwin C. 1901. The Descent of Man. London: John Murray, 241-242. Cite this article: 2008. One Birthday, Two Legacies. Acts & Facts. 37 (2): 8.

http://www.icr.org/article/one-birthday-two-legacies/

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Poverty is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. According to the World Bank, 712 million people (nearly 9% of the world’s population) live in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day. While progress has been made in reducing poverty levels in certain regions, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, and extreme weather events have caused major setbacks, and the world is not on track to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating poverty in all its forms by 2030. Despite these challenges, World Vision believes that we can still make meaningful progress toward ending extreme poverty on a global scale, even in unstable and hard-to-reach places. To that end, we partner with communities around the world to identify and target root causes and implement sustainable solutions, working to empower them in the process. Our work is motivated by the conviction that God desires all people to experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Ultimately, we believe that poverty is both physical and spiritual. It’s rooted in broken relationships with God, self, others, and the rest of creation. The cycle of poverty ends when these relationships are restored. Global poverty: Facts, FAQs, and how to help end it - Fast facts: Global poverty - What is poverty? - What is extreme poverty? - What is multidimensional poverty? - How is poverty measured? - What is a poverty line? - Is the poverty line the same in every country? - What are the causes of poverty worldwide? - What is the cycle of poverty? - How can we break the cycle of extreme poverty? - How have recent events impacted global efforts to reduce poverty? - How is World Vision helping end extreme poverty? - How can I help end extreme poverty? Fast facts: Global poverty - The World Bank reports that 712 million people, nearly 1 in 11 people globally, live on less than $2.15 a day. - As of 2022, the poverty rate in the United States was 11.5%, with approximately 37.9 million people living in poverty. - Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of children living in extreme poverty, reaching 40% in 2022. - Nearly 90% of children living in extreme poverty reside in either sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. - Approximately 63% of people over age 15 who live in low-income countries are literate. - 1.1 billion people, including 566 million children, live in multidimensional poverty, accounting for just over 18% of the world’s population. What is poverty? Poverty is a condition of deprivation characterized by a lack of access to essential resources and basic necessities required for a healthy and dignified life. Historically, poverty has been defined based on a person’s income and how much they can buy (monetary poverty). However, poverty can also be assessed using multidimensional measures that consider holistic factors impacting people’s quality of life. Improper nutrition resulting from poverty can cause stunting and wasting, permanently impacting children’s development. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation in impoverished regions can lead to the spread of preventable diseases and unnecessary deaths, especially among children. And children living in poverty often face obstacles to accessing quality education, which can perpetuate the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next. What is extreme poverty? Extreme poverty is the most severe form of poverty, involving the acute deprivation of basic human needs. The World Bank classifies anyone living on less than $2.15 a day as living in extreme poverty. People living in extreme poverty are sometimes defined as destitute. But at World Vision, we see the children and families we work with as made in God’s image, with unlimited potential. What is multidimensional poverty? Multidimensional poverty refers to a broader understanding of poverty that goes beyond income. It considers various factors such as access to education, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, developed in 2010 by the U.N. Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, offers a comprehensive framework for assessing poverty. This index evaluates people across 10 key indicators, including nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, and assets. If a person lacks access to three or more of these standards, they’re identified as multidimensionally poor. The index offers insights into specific interventions needed to address poverty effectively in each country. How is poverty measured? Poverty is measured by each country’s government, which gathers data through household surveys of their population. While entities like the World Bank may provide support and conduct their own surveys, the primary responsibility lies with each country. However, traditional data collection methods can be slow and time-consuming. To overcome this, high-frequency surveys are using estimates and mobile phone technology to quickly gather data and provide insights. What is a poverty line? A poverty line, also called a poverty threshold, is a set income level below which it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for people to afford essentials like food and shelter. Each country determines its poverty line by calculating the cost of meeting minimum needs. Households with incomes below this line are considered to be living in poverty. The international poverty line serves as a standard for measuring extreme global poverty and was recently adjusted to $2.15 a day to reflect the rising cost of necessities and adjust for inflation. Since 1990, it has increased from $1 to $2.15, reflecting the rising cost of living. Is the poverty line the same in every country? No, countries calculate their poverty lines based on their unique economic and social circumstances. For example, the poverty line in America is determined based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and is updated using the Consumer Price Index to reflect recent price changes. As of 2024, the poverty line stands at $31,200 (annual income) for a family of four, and $15,060 for one person. What are the causes of poverty worldwide? Poverty has multiple root causes beyond just a lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, education, or healthcare. Discrimination based on gender or ethnicity, poor governance, conflict, exploitation, and domestic violence are all factors that contribute. These inequities trap people and communities in poverty, and limit access to social services that could help people overcome it. Poverty tends to be most entrenched in fragile contexts, which are regions or entire countries where political instability, past or present conflicts, corrupt leaders, and poor infrastructure limit access to the basic resources people need to thrive. What is the cycle of poverty? Poverty can be difficult to escape because it is cyclical. Without access to essentials like clean water, healthcare, education, and financial resources, people living in poverty have few opportunities to change their circumstances, creating a cycle that persists for generations. When families lack the means to send their children to school, those children struggle to earn an income as adults — and therefore can have a hard time sending their own kids to school. In communities lacking access to clean water, women and girls are often forced to spend many hours each day gathering water, leaving little time for school or a livelihood, limiting their prospects for the future. In communities without nearby medical facilities, families lose income when parents take time off work due to their own illness or to care for sick loved ones. Each aspect of poverty can impact the others, perpetuating the cycle indefinitely. Natural disasters and conflict can exacerbate this cycle, putting vulnerable communities at greater risk. When these crises strike in areas without strong public institutions, families may lack the resources to recover, thus further entrenching them in poverty. How can we break the cycle of extreme poverty? To break the cycle of poverty, we need to tackle its root causes, including economic inequality; lack of access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure; and discrimination. Identifying what’s causing poverty in a particular community can equip people to determine what needs to change. Because it looks different in various places and is caused by different factors, the work to eradicate extreme poverty varies depending on the context. When World Vision begins working in a community, our expert local staff partner with leaders and other members of the community to understand and help identify its unique needs and work together to develop sustainable solutions that address poverty’s root causes. This work is largely made possible through child sponsorship, which gives donors the opportunity to come alongside vulnerable children and their families, equipping them with pathways to education, access to healthcare, and other essentials. We also work with communities to build resilience and implement effective strategies for coping with economic shocks, climate crises, and other factors that drive poverty in the world’s toughest places. How have recent events impacted efforts to reduce global poverty? The COVID-19 pandemic represented a critical challenge to the goal of eliminating global poverty, pushing nearly 70 million more people into extreme poverty — the largest one-year increase since global poverty monitoring began in 1990, according to the World Bank. Since then, rising costs, new and ongoing conflicts, and climate shocks have all hindered progress in reducing extreme poverty. As of 2022, about 712 million people (8.79% of the global population) were living in extreme poverty. If current patterns persist, the U.N. has warned, “an estimated 7% of the global population — around 575 million people — could still find themselves trapped in extreme poverty by 2030, with a significant concentration in sub-Saharan Africa.” How is World Vision helping end extreme poverty? World Vision works toward ending extreme poverty by addressing its root causes and implementing sustainable solutions. Recognizing the complex nature of poverty, we take a holistic approach, focusing on several key areas such as access to nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, quality education, economic empowerment, gender equality, disability inclusion, spiritual nurture, disaster relief, and child protection. World Vision’s integrated community development model allows us to address the root causes of poverty and empower communities to create meaningful change. As a child-focused organization, we understand that children play a crucial role in their own futures, so we work to equip them, their families, and their communities with the tools they need to address poverty’s underlying causes and create lasting change. As one of the world’s largest Christian humanitarian organizations, World Vision works closely with communities and partners to identify unique solutions for each context. We have nearly 75 years of experience and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Most of our staff work in the regions where they’re from, contributing valuable local knowledge and helping to build trusting, long-term relationships. Our work includes these main steps: - Listen: We follow Jesus’ example of coming alongside people and communities and listening to their unique challenges and needs. We engage with children, families, churches, and community leaders to understand what they need to thrive and access basics like clean water, quality education, reliable food supply, healthcare, and economic opportunities. - Develop: After listening to the community’s needs, we collaborate with them to develop action plans that target the root causes of poverty. - Act: We help the community implement the plan by working with existing leaders and empowering new ones. We bring the community together to address the identified needs and revise plans until the community’s needs are met. - Train: World Vision also trains community members, equipping people with the skills to manage and increase their resources sustainably. - Transition: When the community has grown healthier, safer, and more resilient, we transition out, supporting them to take full ownership of their progress. This self-sustaining model leaves the community better equipped to handle emergencies and support the growth and thriving of children. We also focus efforts on alleviating poverty in America by working in some of the nation’s most distressed and underserved communities. These are areas where poverty is high and opportunities are limited. Across the U.S., we aim to restore hope to vulnerable children and struggling families. How can I help end extreme poverty? - Pray: Join us in praying for the world’s most vulnerable people using our Matthew 25 prayer guides. - Join Believers for World Change™: Donate monthly and join a community of change-makers who help equip vulnerable people to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. - Sponsor a child: Show God’s love to a child and help equip them and their community with access to essentials such as clean water, healthcare, economic opportunity, and quality education. Beth Gallick and Sevil Omer of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts

Politics

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Despite significant progress made in recent years, poverty remains a pressing issue faced by many African nations. This article aims to explore the reasons why poverty still exists in Africa and highlight potential solutions that can pave the way towards sustained economic growth and social development. 1. Historical Factors: Africa’s history of colonization has had a lasting impact on its current socio-economic conditions. The exploitation of natural resources during the colonial era left the continent vulnerable to economic setbacks that persist today. Historically imposed structures, such as unfair trade policies and significant debt burdens, have impeded Africa’s progress. 2. Political Instability and Corruption: Political factors play a significant role in perpetuating poverty in Africa. Instability, conflicts, and corruption hinder economic growth and divert resources away from poverty alleviation initiatives. A lack of accountability and ineffective governance often leads to misappropriation of funds, preventing them from reaching those in need. 3. Inadequate Infrastructure: Insufficient investment in infrastructure, such as transportation networks, energy systems, and healthcare facilities, restricts economic growth and development. This lack of infrastructure limits access to crucial services and market opportunities, particularly for rural populations. 4. Limited Access to Education: Access to quality education remains a major challenge in Africa. A lack of educational opportunities perpetuates the cycle of poverty, preventing individuals from acquiring the skills necessary for meaningful employment and economic empowerment. 5. Climate Change and Agricultural Dependence: The vulnerability of African countries to climate change exacerbates poverty. A large percentage of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, unpredictable weather patterns, droughts, and desertification cripple agricultural production, jeopardizing food security and perpetuating poverty. 1. Good Governance and Accountability: Promoting transparency, combating corruption, and strengthening institutions are essential for sustainable development. This requires African governments to prioritize accountability, adopting policies that ensure fair distribution of resources and improved service delivery. 2. Investment in Infrastructure: Increased investment in infrastructure will expand access to basic services, promote trade, and attract foreign direct investment. African governments can collaborate with international partners and utilize public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure and boost economic growth. 3. Focus on Education and Skills Development: Investing in education is crucial to break the cycle of poverty. Governments should allocate more resources to education, ensuring quality education becomes accessible to all. Vocational training programs can also equip individuals with the skills needed to meet market demands and foster entrepreneurship. 4. Diversification of the Economy: Over-dependence on limited sectors, such as agriculture or extractive industries, leaves countries vulnerable to fluctuating commodity prices. Encouraging economic diversification in areas such as manufacturing, services, and technology can create sustainable job opportunities and reduce poverty. 5. Climate Resilience: African countries should prioritize measures to adapt to climate change and build resilience. This includes investing in sustainable agriculture, promoting renewable energy, and implementing effective disaster management systems. Despite the challenges faced, there is hope for Africa to overcome poverty through strategic planning, sustainable development initiatives, and collaboration between governments, international organizations, and communities. By addressing historical, political, and economic factors, Africa can pave the way towards an inclusive and prosperous future for all.

https://blackheartbrotherhood.family.blog/2023/11/05/addressing-the-persistence-of-poverty-in-africa-proposing-viable-solutions/

Religion

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