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What do we owe the past?
Among other things, we might owe the past a chance to speak for itself, yet that seemingly easy task is actually far more difficult than it might seem. Let’s take a quick walk through the streets of Berlin to see how this might be so.
East Berlin, the former capital of the communist DDR, is very popular with visitors and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll end up there during your visit to the capital. History, and its co-option by politicians past and present, is on full display there.
Start by looking carefully at the facades of buildings. Some look very old indeed, with their sculptured facades and elegant exteriors speaking of a lost age. When you see these heavy looking olde-world style facades, the chances are you’re looking at a building from the age of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last of Germany’s emperors from the Second Reich. These buildings represent Berlin at its imperial height around 1900 or so, and many still survive.
You might also find Art Nouveau from the same epoch, with their grand sweeping arcs and floral decoration, an attempt to bring nature and movement into the industrial urban landscape.
But after walking a bit and paying close attention, you’ll probably notice something a bit strange. Many of the facades of these buildings, while clearly dating back well over a century, look brand new. Yes, it’s a fresh coat of paint, but if you look closely, the decoration just doesn’t look that old. It looks, as often as not, as if it appeared a year or two ago.
You’ll also start to see buildings that look similar in shape and size but with smooth, or nearly smooth facades. No decoration or frippery on show here. These look by turns old or new, depending on the building. Before you’ve gone 15 minutes into your stroll, you might have some serious questions about what you’re really looking at, and you’d be right to have those questions as something is indeed very much up.
After WW 2, Berlin needed Housing – No time for repairing to Original Style. Neither was it Money for it
After the war, the vast majority of Berlin’s housing stock was damaged or destroyed. The city needed housing, and fast. Often there wasn’t time to repair the buildings to their original style. Structures missing facades just needed new facades, not things that recalled a lost age. There was no money or time for such indulgences.
Then we have to consider that much of Berlin was under the control of the communists, who wished to remake the human soul into what was sometimes called in the west «homo sovieticus.» Looking past the disdain, what the communists were trying to do in ideological terms was rewire the human brain in order to clear it of the centuries of encrusted capitalist build-up. Now, look at those decorated buildings and you’ll see that the first floor is often the most elaborately decorated. That’s the «belle etage,» the beautiful floor and it’s where the most important or richest family lived. The next floor up is less decorated and housed the second wealthiest family, reflected in the fact that they had to walk up an extra flight of steps. This pattern repeated until the roof. Basically, the higher up the building you lived in, the lower your financial and social standing. This was reflected in the decoration becoming less elaborate the higher up the façade you looked. Now, this rule was often broken, but as a general pattern, it holds.
When the communists took over, they seized their ideological chance and repaired the façade entirely without decoration. No longer could you tell a person’s value to society based on the floor or the decoration of the façade. Similar things happened in the west, it’s true. But there the emphasis was on other ideologies and movements, not least just the need to get things repaired and working again.
In today’s Berlin, you’ll see those buildings with the fresh looking 1900-era façades and suddenly it hits you. Those frontages evoke or even copy the original façade, but they are often indeed modern replacements. The new Germany has, in essence, decided that the old communist style repairs are not worth preserving, either because they are boring or because in the former East, they evoke the DDR. Those facades from the 1950s and 1960s are fast being replaced by copies of those that were there before the war.
History is about choice. We choose what stories to tell and which stories to omit, and in Berlin’s ongoing restoration, we see this happening all the time. But look at what’s going on here. When we restore something to a certain era, we are in essence privileging that era over other time periods. We’re saying, essentially, that the time of Kaiser Wilhelm is somehow more worthy of restoration than preserving or repairing DDR-era structures. And, to be fair, in the 50s and 60s, the Communist leadership decided that their current ideology superseded any need to be loyal to the era of the Kaiser or indeed the roaring 20s.
So, when you walk the streets of Berlin, ask yourself not just what we owe the past, if anything, but also which past we owe the most to? Is one era «better» than another? Consider that many former DDR citizens are still alive and some of them (by no means all) take offence at their history being effectively erased in favour of implicitly praising a long vanished Imperial regime that nobody alive today has any memories of.
In Berlin, restoration is not simply a question of taste or aesthetics. It’s also heavily freighted by ideology and the privileging of certain eras – and all the values that that era is held to exemplify – over others.
Architecture, just like history, can be extremely provocative in Germany’s capital. As you walk, ask yourself to what era you’d restore these buildings to, and then picture trying to justify it. It’s an eye-opening experience and one that will make your walk through the city that much more fascinating!
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Social anxiety is a strange mix of fear, discomfort, and apprehension that many people experience in certain social settings. And in the U.S., many can be counted in the millions, as 7.1 percent of us experience it regularly and 12.1 percent will confront it at least once in our lives.
If you’re one of the 15 million Americans who suffers from regular bouts of social anxiety, you know how debilitating and all-encompassing it can be. And you know that you’ll do just about anything for relief.
Do You Believe in Magic?
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms. It’s also responsible for putting the magic in magic mushrooms. But until recently, that magic was interpreted as seeing things not quite rooted in reality, like a row of aspen trees reverently bowing at you as you walk past.
Today, the magic component in psilocybin can also refer to its therapeutic benefits. And one particular area where they’re showing promise is in shaping our social interactions.
Using psychedelics as medicine may seem like a novel idea, but it’s not. Pharmaceutical giant Merck patented MDMA in 1914 as a compound with therapeutic promise, long before Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters made psychedelics a fashionable part of American counterculture in the late 1960s.
The Ultimate Social Tool
Psychedelics allow for an elevated form of human interaction. They reduce the activity of the amygdala, that part of the brain that processes emotions and they work synergistically with serotonin, the brain chemical most responsible for our moods.
Psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics have been used as a tool for personal growth for decades, much like meditation. You see and experience things vastly different than you can when sober. But now, psilocybin is enjoying a psychedelic renaissance thanks to the promise it’s showing in numerous clinical trials.
In one study, participants experienced reduced feelings of social exclusion (relevant to those suffering from social anxiety) following psilocybin treatment. MRIs corroborated those results, showing neurological effects in key brain areas responsible for social pain processing.
In another study, adults with various mental health conditions who were given oral psilocybin experienced significant increases in positive attitude, mood, behavior, and social effects. A large percentage of the patients rated their psilocybin experience as one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives.
And in a very recent study on cancer patients with depression and anxiety, a single dose of psilocybin showed significant improvements in their stress and anxiety levels for as long as five years after that dose was administered.
We’re still learning just how magical these mushroom compounds can be, but what we do know is this: Traditional pharmaceutical therapies often come with dangerous side effects, and once vilified drugs (hello, cannabis) have now been crowned as healers.
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A layered defense can be anything that stops or slows down an advance. A good, layered defense will create a complicated path of adverse conditions that will stop or slow down and attack and possibly alert the defenders so actions can be taken against the attack. The purpose of these layers is to increase the cost in terms of time and resources. The hope is that the cost will be onerous enough for the attacker to move on or give up. If the attack has alerted the defenders perhaps there can also be a follow up prosecution of some sorts thus eliminating a possibility of future attacks.
What might this look like? A router that drops traffic from China and Russia. Now if the attacker is from China, they will have to find a way around that. A firewall that only allows inbound access to your web server. A web server that is isolated and only uses stored procedures. An email server that drops all executable files by MIME type. A user account on a PC that does not have administrative rights. A PC that can not download executable files. Software on that PC that allows no other software except what is on a whitelist. A PC that has default patch schedule setup. There can be more layers…but the ones mentioned already would have stopped 99 percent of all the attacks that have been seen in or out of the news.
Think of how a roof is constructed. There is the first layer, shingles being the most common, that sheds the water. If there is a defect in the shingles, there is tar paper or some other type of waterproof membrane that will shed the water. If that fails, some houses have special types of roof decking that has an embedded waterproof laminate to shed water. If that fails and the water enters the house, you can build the attic space to be conditioned, which can cause the water that penetrates all those layers to dry out faster than it would otherwise, reducing the chances for rot.
Layered Defenses are a critical piece of Security Infrastructure. There should be no asset that relies on a single protective measure.
A mitigation is a special thing. What does it do for you? It provides another way to protect an asset. Say you have a PC and patch program that does successfully patch your systems, but it has a natural lag of up to 30 days. A zero-day vulnerability comes out and is being actively exploited but it requires administrative rights to work. However, you also have your user accounts that run without administrative rights. The Risk presented by that zero day is not eliminated until the PCs are patched – but it is effectively mitigated.
Mitigations offer ways to operate in an otherwise dangerous situation. Perhaps you can think of them like shutters on a house. The window can still be broken by flying storm debris but with the shutters closed they cannot be. Or perhaps a house built on a hill in a wash area; the house can be flooded in a hard rain, but it can be mitigated with sculpted terrain that causes the water to flow around the house.
Mitigations can be part of the permanent design (part of a layered defense), or they can be special configurations that can be used as a stopgap to allow operations to continue normally. Mitigations used in this way, as a stop gap, should be cataloged, tested, and readied for use so when the time comes that they are needed, they can be implemented in a fast, safe and predictable fashion.
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Ah, the great outdoors – a canvas waiting to be painted with nature’s vibrant brushstrokes. As a general contractor, I’ve seen my fair share of construction projects, but the ones that truly captivate me are the ones that seamlessly blend the built environment with the natural world. It’s a delicate dance, this art of crafting a sustainable landscape, and one that requires a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between green building and site development.
Sustainable SITES: Elevating Landscapes to New Heights
When it comes to sustainable site design, the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) is the cream of the crop. Owned and administered by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), SITES is a comprehensive rating system that guides, evaluates, and certifies the sustainability and resilience of landscapes, from sprawling parks to intimate urban gardens.
SITES is all about prioritizing biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and conserving precious resources – a trifecta of environmental stewardship that resonates with eco-conscious contractors like myself. By protecting and restoring the vital ecosystem services that our landscapes provide, SITES-certified projects offer a myriad of benefits, from improved air and water quality to enhanced resilience against natural disasters.
But the real beauty of SITES lies in its versatility. Any site can utilize this rating system, whether it’s a sprawling corporate campus or a quaint residential backyard. The key is understanding how to seamlessly integrate green building principles into the site development process, a dance that I’ve had the pleasure of perfecting over the years.
Reducing the Carbon Footprint, One Landscape at a Time
One of the standout features of SITES is its focus on carbon sequestration and storage. Did you know that wetlands globally store the equivalent of carbon emissions from 189 million cars every year? That’s more than the number of registered automobiles in the United States! By protecting and restoring these critical ecosystems, SITES-certified projects play a vital role in the global fight against climate change.
But the carbon reduction strategies don’t stop there. SITES also promotes the use of low-emitting equipment, native vegetation, and locally sourced, low-embodied-carbon materials. And let’s not forget about the cooling power of strategically placed trees and green infrastructure – a simple yet effective way to reduce energy consumption and the associated carbon emissions.
As a general contractor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of these nature-based solutions. Take, for example, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. This LEED Gold-certified marvel not only showcases innovative green building techniques but also boasts a stunning landscape that earned it a SITES certification. By incorporating lush vegetation, permeable pavement, and strategic stormwater management, this project has effectively reduced its carbon footprint and set a new standard for sustainable site development.
Conserving Water, Restoring Ecosystems
As the saying goes, “water is life,” and SITES recognizes the vital role that landscapes play in the water cycle. By designing with water conservation in mind, SITES-certified projects are able to maximize the use of precipitation, protect water quality, and restore aquatic ecosystems – all while reducing the strain on our finite water resources.
Did you know that outdoor water use accounts for more than 30% of total household water use on average, and can be as much as 60% in arid regions? That’s a staggering statistic, but one that SITES is actively working to address. Through strategies like native plant selection, green infrastructure, and on-site water retention, SITES-certified landscapes are able to significantly reduce their water consumption and mitigate the impact of drought and flooding.
Take, for example, the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia. This Living Building Challenge-certified marvel not only achieved SITES Gold certification but also boasts a remarkably efficient water system that captures, treats, and reuses rainwater and greywater. By prioritizing the health and resilience of the surrounding ecosystems, this project has set a new bar for what’s possible in sustainable site development.
Fostering Biodiversity, Enhancing Resilience
As a general contractor, I’ve come to understand that the true measure of a sustainable landscape isn’t just its aesthetic appeal or its water-saving prowess – it’s the way it supports and enhances the natural world around it. That’s where SITES really shines, with its unwavering commitment to protecting and restoring critical ecosystems.
Did you know that ecosystem loss and degradation are the main threats to 85% of all threatened species? That’s a sobering statistic, but one that SITES is working tirelessly to address. By prohibiting the use of invasive plants, promoting native species, and implementing robust management plans, SITES-certified projects are able to enrich biodiversity and support the recovery of endangered species.
But the benefits of SITES go beyond just protecting biodiversity – they also enhance the overall resilience of the built environment. By restoring floodplains, creating bioretention ponds, and strategically planting fire-resistant vegetation, SITES-certified landscapes are able to mitigate the devastating impacts of natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires. And in an era of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, that kind of resilience is truly priceless.
Cultivating Healthier, Happier Communities
As a general contractor, I’ve always believed that our work is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about creating spaces that enrich the lives of the people who inhabit them. And when it comes to sustainable site development, SITES-certified projects are leading the charge in this regard.
Did you know that exposure to nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve cognitive function? It’s true – studies have demonstrated that access to green spaces can have a profound positive impact on both physical and mental well-being. And SITES-certified landscapes are designed to capitalize on this, with features like walking paths, playgrounds, and community gardens that encourage active lifestyles and social interaction.
But the benefits of SITES-certified projects extend beyond the individual – they also have the power to transform entire communities. By promoting local economic development, supporting food security, and fostering a stronger sense of identity and belonging, these sustainably designed landscapes are able to build resilient, thriving communities that are truly in harmony with the natural world.
The Future is Green(er)
As a general contractor, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and optimism when I think about the future of sustainable site development. With rating systems like SITES paving the way, the possibilities for crafting truly transformative landscapes are endless.
And the best part? This isn’t just about me or my business – it’s about creating a better, more sustainable world for all. By incorporating green building principles into our site development projects, we can reduce our carbon footprint, conserve precious resources, and foster healthier, more resilient communities. It’s a win-win-win, and one that I’m proud to be a part of.
So, if you’re a fellow general contractor or a homeowner looking to breathe new life into your outdoor space, I encourage you to explore the world of sustainable site development. Who knows – your next project might just be the one that sets a new standard for what’s possible when we harness the power of nature and the ingenuity of green building. The future is green(er), and I for one can’t wait to see what we’ll create together.
Remember, you can find more information about the general contracting and construction services we offer at our website. Let’s get to work and start crafting a more sustainable future, one landscape at a time.
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The United States may be a country not at all like any other. Regularly alluded to as a “softening pot,” it’s more exact to imagine it as a dynamic embroidered artwork, woven from strings of endless societies, ethnicities, religions, and conventions. These wealth differences could be a characteristic of American involvement, forming everything from nourishment and music to occasions and social intuition.
A Legacy of Immigration
The story of American social differences starts with movement. From the exceptionally to begin with European pioneers to the waves of outcasts and refuge seekers nowadays, the United States has been a country built by newcomers. Each bunch brought their traditions, dialects, and conventions, improving the national character. Early migration designs built up a solid European impact, with English, German, and Irish family lines overwhelming for much of the 19th century. The 20th and 21st centuries saw a surge in movement from Asia, Latin America, and Africa, making a more multifaceted social scene.
A Mosaic of Cultures
African Americans, relatives of subjugated individuals brought from Africa, have had a significant effect on American culture. Their versatility and inventiveness have formed everything from music (jazz, blues, hip-hop) to writing and cooking. Additionally, the long history of Local American tribes includes another layer of lavishness. Their conventions of narrating, regard for nature, and complicated craftsmanship shapes are woven into the texture of American identity.
The Hispanic and Latino populace is one of the fastest-growing socioeconomics within the United States. Their dynamic societies, enveloping nations like Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and numerous others, are apparent in music, nourishment (think tacos, burritos, salsa!), and enthusiastic celebrations like Cinco de Mayo. Asian Americans, with roots in China, India, Korea, the Philippines, and the past, have moreover made critical commitments. From innovative progressions to culinary delights like sushi and dumplings, their impact is verifiable.
Past these wide strokes, the United States gloats a wealthy embroidered artwork of territorial societies. The South, known for its neighborliness, moderate nourishment conventions (think barbeque and fricasseed chicken), and particular melodic styles (nation, blues), offers a one of a kind involvement. The Northeast, formed by its colonial past and urban centers, cultivates a fast-paced way of life with a solid accentuation on instruction and expressions. The West, with its wide-open spaces and spearheading soul, offers a diverse viewpoint, reflected in its love for open-air exercises and casual culture.
A Celebration of Diversity
The United States isn’t without its challenges when it comes to social integration. Issues of racial and ethnic bias, dialect boundaries, and absorption battles are genuine. Be that as it may, the nation’s quality lies in its capacity to celebrate and learn from its differences. Endless social celebrations all through the year offer openings to encounter distinctive conventions firsthand. Nourishment trucks line city lanes, advertising a taste of the world. Open schools endeavor to incorporate multicultural instruction into their educational programs.
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The following op-ed article presents the author's personal viewpoints and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the publication, its editors, or its affiliated organizations. The author's perspectives are presented here to foster open dialogue and diverse discourse on the topic at hand. The publication does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or implications of the content within this article. Readers are encouraged to critically engage with the ideas presented and to form their own informed opinions based on a range of sources and perspectives. To contribute: https://www.nationalfisherman.com/about/contribute/
Fish and fishermen are used to making their way in or on the water. But, in its rush to develop offshore wind, the U.S. Government is throwing both fish and fishermen under the bus.
The U.S. should learn from Europe, which is decades ahead in developing offshore wind. The first offshore wind farm in Europe was built 32 years ago. Since then, more than 116 offshore wind farms have been built. Europe was extremely slow in addressing the effects of offshore wind on the marine environment, but in the last decade or so, they have been catching up.
In recent years, European scientists have developed and adapted various methods for qualifying changes to the marine ecosystem due to offshore wind development, beginning with establishing a baseline prior to construction. Surveys have been designed to examine stressors (physical presence and dynamic effects of turbines, acoustic, electromagnetic, etc.) and receptors (pelagic/benthic habitat, fish and fisheries, mammals, food chain, etc.), in many cases, establishing a grid covering the site of a future offshore wind farm and systematically surveying that grid, often extending the survey for some distance beyond its borders. In so doing, the scientists establish a critically important baseline of data that is needed to compare with data obtained when re-surveyed after an offshore wind farm is operational. In this way, it is possible to quantify the short, medium, and long-term effects of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem. It’s just common sense to do this. 1
Contrast this with the current U.S. approach. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Federal agency that is the steward for all U.S. offshore properties, has repeatedly stated that they have no plans for requiring any offshore wind site to be surveyed prior to construction for the purpose of establishing a baseline of marine life. In so doing, the U.S. is simply failing to prepare for the potential effects of offshore wind on fish and fishermen, preferring to accept a highly uncertain outcome and ignoring important biological, ecological, and socioeconomic effects of offshore wind development.
There needs to be a recognition of the fact that large-scale offshore wind and the marine ecosystem are fundamentally incompatible. The U.S. needs to ensure that they are compatible.
Construction has already begun on some offshore wind farms on the U.S. East Coast. Some of these projects will be operational by approximately 2028. Already, some developers are in preliminary discussions with BOEM and the fishermen about future compensation to offset the negative effects to fishermen of offshore wind on their fisheries and livelihood. The developers will no doubt do their utmost to ensure that compensation remains as low as possible. The fishermen will be required to provide data to support their argument. But will they have the needed data? In this negotiation, the fish, the fishermen, and, indeed, the nation will be disadvantaged if no baseline data exists to quantify the effects of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem.
It's clear that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), BOEM, and all the developers of offshore wind are aware of the need for baseline data. As stated in a recent paper, “Seeing the context for offshore wind development effects on fish and fisheries,” published in Oceanography (Gill et al. 2020) and also distributed by NOAA, “To obtain the most appropriate evidence critically requires improved baseline fisheries data and ongoing site and regional research monitoring...In the absence of appropriate knowledge, the effects of OWFs on fisheries is uncertain.”
Yet, instead of establishing baselines that would furnish this data, BOEM has been using existing data obtained from NOAA to determine the sitting of offshore properties in U.S. waters to be leased. The data they are using has been developed for use in stock assessments and for fishery management and is woefully unsuited to the purpose intended. As BOEM put it at a recent fisherman meeting, “That’s all the data we have.”
The Magnuson Stevens Act – the nation’s primary fish law – prohibits harm to fish and fish habitat from the impacts of harmful fishing gear and non-fishing activities such as dredging and energy development. That’s right: energy development. The Act’s conservation objectives align with the broader goals of protecting marine environments from potential adverse impacts. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) states that it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to adain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health and safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences.
Humanity today finds itself in a historically unprecedented situation in which our technological capacity and the potential scale of our actions far exceed our predictive knowledge. It follows that if an activity raises threats of harm to the environment, precautionary measures must be taken.
The present abject lack of data on the effects of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem in the U.S. that is essential to our accurately quantifying both the positive and negative effects of offshore wind means we far exceed a minimal threshold of scientific uncertainty – and precautionary action must be taken. Establishing a baseline of marine life at these sites would enable us to understand the effects of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem, and these results, in turn, can be used to inform future decisions on the siting of oceanic properties yet to be leased. However, at present, the only “offset” identified to address negative outcomes from offshore wind development is potential compensation. This is, by any measure inadequate.
Compensation also raises the difficult question: How do we calculate the value of our fisheries to the nation for generations to come?
What is the cost to the U.S. for conducting a baseline survey prior to construction? The answer is the time needed to conduct the initial research – an extension of project timelines to conduct critical research. The developers themselves should pay the cost of the research – which will be a mere fraction of the total cost of a typical, large-scale offshore wind farm.
My organization represents approximately 3,000 U.S. commercial hand gear fishermen who sustainably harvest bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye tuna. These fish are highly migratory pelagic species and a valuable resource. BOEM, by their own admission, do not have any data on these fisheries. Research is desperately needed. Is the U.S. prepared to take the risk of discovering a few years from now that these fish have simply moved outside of the range of our fleets and an entire industry has been killed off?
Loss of or restricted access to traditional fishing grounds that overlap with offshore wind farms should be a realistic expectation, particularly if no action is taken in the planning stage to avoid this. Again, Europe has a long experience with this. In the North Sea, fishing is not allowed in and around offshore wind farms. In Germany and Belgium, fishing is banned in offshore wind farms. Large-scale floating offshore wind development in Scotland has identified a high probability that insurance liability will prevent fishing vessels from operating in the vicinity of floating offshore wind farms.2 There is much discussion in Europe on the issue of loss or restricted access by fishermen to their fishing grounds.3
In a rush to commission as many offshore wind projects as possible within the shortest period of time and absent needed research, we run the genuine risk of creating permanent damage to our marine ecosystem and to those who rely on it to provide a living.
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Table of contents:
- What is disclosure information?
- What happens if client confidentiality is broken?
- What challenges are there to protect patient confidentiality?
- Why is customer confidentiality an ethical issue?
- Who is responsible for patient/client confidentiality?
- How do you maintain confidentiality in health and social care?
What is disclosure information?
Disclosure is the process of making facts or information known to the public. Proper disclosure by corporations is the act of making its customers, investors, and any people involved in doing business with the company aware of pertinent information.
What happens if client confidentiality is broken?
As a business, a breach of confidentiality could result in sizeable compensation pay-outs or legal action, depending on the scale of the breach. Beyond the financial implications, it can be incredibly damaging to the company's reputation and existing relationships.
What challenges are there to protect patient confidentiality?
Violations to keep confidentiality are permitted: 1) at a legally authorized request; 2) when the patient's best interest requires it; 3) while maintaining the welfare of the society and 4) when it is necessary to safeguard the third party from a major harm or threat.
Why is customer confidentiality an ethical issue?
Clients who cannot trust professionals to treat information as confidential may withhold information that is important to assessment and treatment. When professionals disregard the privacy of their clients, the clients are injured in obvious and/or subtle ways.
Who is responsible for patient/client confidentiality?
Confidentiality v. Protection of the Patient Doctor's have a responsibility to protect their patient. It may be necessary to disclose information about a patient where they are at serious risk of death or injury. For example: where a child or elderly person is at risk of violence or abuse.
How do you maintain confidentiality in health and social care?
Confidentiality in health and social care: how is it ensured?
- All confidential information about a client should be treated respectfully and their rights to confidentiality should be respected at all times.
- Confidential information about a client should be shared by a care team only when it is necessary for the safety and wellbeing of the client.
- What is a systemic perspective?
- How do you confess to a girl?
- Why are insects so creepy?
- Who was Aphrodite in love with?
- How do you describe a shy smile?
- How do I stop self-defeating behavior?
- Do our thoughts create reality?
- What is the difference between racial and social justice?
- What are the importance of listening skills?
- How do you handle disruptive Behaviour in the classroom?
You will be interested
- Why do Buddhist change their names?
- Will I lose my medical If I get a job?
- Who died today in India celebrity?
- How do you fix a paralysis decision?
- Is possessiveness good in a relationship?
- What are 5 long-term effects of vaping?
- Does square accept cash?
- Can a tooth infection cause parotid gland to swell?
- Why do people excuse?
- What does nepotism mean in English?
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Food choices audit – What do your know about your food?
There’s lots we don’t know, so it’s important to start by asking what we do know and what we can find out easily.
Check each items on your pantry shelf and in your fridge and inventory what you know about them – how far have they travelled to come to be with you.
You can use the spreadsheet, which also has an example of our household inventory. We suggest you look at each item, but if this seems like a big task, you might wish to select your top 10 items – those you either buy most frequently, or those you ‘like best’.
See if you can answer the following questions:
Where have they come from? Or likely to have come from? Where were they grown or manufactured?
Is there Country of origin information? What does this tell you about the product and ingredients?
What is the item with the greatest transparency as to where it’s from?
If you were eating from within 160kim radius from your home (100 mile diet) which of your products would you no longer eat?
Things to know
You’ll find there’s not much information on the product label of most processed foods.
The place of manufacture – where the ingredients are put together – or where the actual ingredients are grown or sourced from is not shown. In most cases the address information on the label refers to where the brand owner has its primary offices (ie. Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd, 737 Bourke St, Docklands VIC 3008).
With fresh food, you’ll find some is labeled but for specifics you’ll often need to have a conversation with the retailer. This won’t be hard as they love talking about their produce!
Here’s some important things that will help you gather the information you need to know:
This can be as simple or as comprehensive as you want it to be and depends on the Challenge you decide to take up for the week.
Ask ‘what do you want to eat for the week of the trial?’. Do up a menu. Try to make it seasonally appropriate.
Identify the things that are ‘definitely not’ within your chosen radius, those that are ‘likely to be’ within, and those that ‘could possibly be’ within.
Ask your the local grocer about their produce. What is local?
Check the Local Harvest map. Use the keyword search.
Make phone-calls where necessary to suppliers to find out where produce is from.
Remember to ‘add listings’ on the Local Harvest website for new discoveries that you may make.
Learning from others – The 100 Mile Trial
In December 2008, a group of 8 households in Melbourne took on the 100 Mile Trial – eating for a week from only food grown within an 160 kilometre radius of their homes. They found that this experiment, starting as a challenge to reduce the travel miles and carbon footprint of our food, became the opening up of a whole world of discoveries about their food, the people who produce it and of course themselves. Read about their experiences on the 100 Mile Trial. Also, see Kim’s reflection on the food audit process and the 100 mile trial.
You can do the week at any time
Country of origin labeling
Country of origin labels are often the only indicators as to where ingredients are from, and where the main manufacturing processes occurred. They give some idea, in the broadest (national) sense, as to where a food product is grown, produced, made or packed. A revision of the country of origin food labeling system came into effect in 2016. As outlined on the ACCC government website, the key country of origin claims mean different things:
Grown in is a claim about where the ingredients come from and is commonly used for fresh food. It can also be used for multi-ingredient products to show where the food was grown and processed.
Produced in is a claim about where the ingredients come from and where processing has occurred. This claim is often used for processed, as well as fresh foods.
Made in is a claim about the manufacturing process involved in making the food.
When a food has not been grown, produced or made in a single country, it needs to display a label identifying the country it was packed in.
A loaf of bread that is labelled ‘Made in Australia from a least 80% Australian ingredients’ means that the bread was baked in Australia using predominately Australian ingredients.
As a general rule, fruit and vegetables grown out of season travel a long distance to come to you, or if they’re grown close by in greenhouses, often take energy for this. You can find out what’s in season at different time of the year here (guide for all Australia).
More on ‘Eating seasonally‘.
Note, some guides refer to ‘seasonal availability’ – this means what items you can get, it includes items kept in cold storage.
Australia produces a large variety of crops and food products for both export and domestic consumption. The top ten agricultural products by value are cattle and calves, wheat, milk, fruit and nuts, vegetables, wool, barley, poultry, lambs, and sugar cane.
Different produce and crops are grown in different areas of Australia. The tables and information below give a general idea of what is grown in each state.
See information for fruit grown in each state at different times of the year here.
Consumers frequently assume all fresh vegetables and fruit must be Australian, however this is not the case as much produce is imported. For example, in 2005 McDonald’s Australia Ltd announced it would no longer source all its potatoes for fries from Tasmanian producers and announced a new deal with New Zealand suppliers.
Although dairy farms can be found all over Australia, milk is produced mainly in the traditionally higher rainfall areas in the south-eastern corner of Australia (80% in the three states ofVictoria, South Australia and Tasmania). This is where most of the cheese, ice cream and other dairy products are produced. (Source)
Many items although grown or produced locally, are processed with crops/produce from further away. Often it was not possible to know that the produce eaten was in fact local. Sometimes however you can narrow this down with the right information. For example, we discovered that the True Organic coop in Victoria provide the milk for Parmalat’s ‘Pure organic’ brand. The majority of these farms are located within 200kms of Melbourne.
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1. What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a small file made up of letters and numbers that is downloaded to your computer when you access certain websites. In general, cookies allow a website to recognize a user’s computer.
The most important thing to know about the cookies placed by Wix is that they make our website a bit more user-friendly, such as by storing website preferences and language settings.
i) for security reasons, to protect against fraud and to detect and prevent cyberattacks;
ii) to provide selected services;
iii) to monitor and analyze the performance, operation, and effectiveness of our services; and
iv) to improve the user experience.
Alternatively, it is also possible to block cookies altogether by adjusting the cookie settings in your browser.
These settings are usually found in the browser menu under "Options" or "Preferences."
Deleting our cookies or disabling future cookies or tracking technologies may result in certain areas or functions of our services no longer being available, or the user experience being otherwise impaired.
The following links may be helpful, or alternatively, use the "Help" option in your browser.
To opt-out of Google Analytics data usage on all websites, please follow these instructions: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout (select language).
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You have a legal right not to be discriminated against on the basis of your race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability or if you’re pregnant. This right applies to accessing any government service, your work, education or when buying goods and services.
You have a right to hold any belief and communicate those beliefs without fear of punishment from the government. This includes practicing your religion, expressing your sexuality, talking about your political views and criticising the government or royal family. There are however limits to this.
If you, or anyone else uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviours that target another group on the basis of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, then that is a hate crime.
If you believe you are in danger you should call 999 immediately and ask for the police. If the event has already passed, or you’re not in immediate danger, you should report them to the police by calling 101 or reporting it to a hate crime service.
If you’re meeting someone for the first time, it’s common to offer a hand shake and ask each other for their name. The more familiar you are with a person, the less likely you would be to shake their hands again. Many friends or family members will choose to hug each other, but not everyone likes this level of contact. Fewer people would greet anyone with a kiss, unless they are their partner or close family member.
The UK does not have a strong hierarchy and there is much less emphasis on having respect for people because of their age or social status than in many cultures. If someone has introduced themselves has told you their first name, you should use this. If you add titles like ‘sir’ in front of someone’s name they may feel uncomfortable.
When starting a conversation with people they don’t know well, British people usually start with what’s called ‘small talk’. This may be about the weather, how your journey was, where you have come from, or current events in the news. It is best to understand this as an attempt to find some point of connection which can lead to a more personal conversation.
British people use ‘please’ and ‘sorry’ as much as possible, even when there is no obvious reason why someone would need to apologise.
Unless you know somebody well, it is usually considered rude to ask them about their income, wealth, age or weight.
Boasting about personal achievements or status is not usually appreciated – people will often find this obnoxious. This does not apply however in a job interview, where you are expected to be very comfortable in promoting your skills and achievements.
British people use a lot of double meanings and dry humour when they are talking. This can be very nuanced and will take most foreign people a long time to get used to. It is best to remember that if you're having a friendly conversation with a British person and they say something that seems very confusing or offensive, they may have been making a joke or using irony. British people frequently make self-deprecating jokes, or for men particularly, insult their close friends.
If eating with others around a table, it is usual to wait until everyone has their food before starting.
For most dishes, people will only eat with their knife, fork or spoon, and it will be considered impolite to eat with your hands. This is not always the case, and you can watch what others do to work out if using your hands is OK.
You should always arrive on time or slightly before for any business or work appointment. You will likely be viewed badly if you arrive late. For social engagements, you should also arrive on time – though most people will not mind if you arrive within 10 minutes of the agreed time.
If you are going to be late, it is respectful to call or send a message to let them know what has happened and when you expect to arrive.
People form queues in many situations such as at bus stops, in shops or pubs. Anyone who walks to the front will be considered very rude.
People are generally quite reserved in public, and whilst some people will make conversation with a stranger in situations such as waiting in a queue or on public transport, in most places this is not common. If you need help or directions, most people will be happy to help you.
British people like more personal space than some other cultures. If you notice people taking a step backwards when you start talking to them, that’s a sign that you may be standing closer than British people are used to.
Most people are relatively indirect and will avoid saying what they think if they are not happy with something in public – such as bad service in a shop. Loud, public displays of anger are relatively rare.
Spitting is considered very rude, as is burping, farting or coughing without putting a hand over your mouth first. It is not unacceptable to urinate or defecate on the streets, and there may be fines for this in some cities.
When someone invites you to their home, they will usually say whether they will be cooking food for you. You can ask if you are unsure. Don’t bring other family or friends along without asking first.
If you are invited to someone’s house for dinner, it is common to ask if there is anything you can bring, such as a desert, beer or bottle of wine to share. People may also bring a small gift, such a box of chocolates. Not everyone will do this, so it is OK if you aren’t able to do this.
Many people will not wear shoes in their homes, but everybody has their own preference for their home. You can ask them if they would like you to take your shoes off when you enter, or just look to see if they are wearing shoes.
Many British people won’t directly say when they feel it is time for you to go home. They will usually do so by commenting on the time, or mentioning they feel tired.
If it is a child’s birthday party, it is normal to bring a small gift and birthday card for the child. You would not be expected to bring food. Adults will usually stay for the length of the party.
Men and women are considered to be equal, and it is generally expected that women will be treated in the same way as men in most situations. Whilst some men still practice customs such as opening doors for women, or insisting on paying for a woman’s food, a growing number of women will not appreciate these actions.
You should never feel obliged to tip someone in the UK. The most common situation when a tip is offered is in a restaurant where your order is taken by a waiter whilst sitting at your table. In this situation, many people choose to pay a 10% tip if they are pleased with the food or waiter. Some people will also give taxi drivers a small tip - often rounding up a fare to a convenient amount. For example you might choose to give the driver £10 for a £9.40 fare.
Always place any litter you have a in a public bin, or take it home with you. If you have a dog, you should use a bag to pick their poo up and place it in a public bin. There are dog bins in many public parks. If you are caught leaving litter or poo in public, you will be fined.
The UK does not have a national identity card system, and you are not legally required to carry any type of identification with you. When asked to prove your identity, any type of government-issued card with your photo on it is usually accepted. This will usually be a passport, driver’s licence or BRC or BRP card if you have one.
You have the right to marry who you choose, including someone of the same sex as you. There are several important rules:
Drinking alcohol is very common and is socially acceptable in most situations.
You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol. It is illegal to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under 18. You may choose to give your teenage children small amounts of alcohol in your home. It is illegal to drive any vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and the penalties for being caught are very serious.
It is generally allowed to drink alcohol in a public place, such as a park, but in some areas the local government have banned alcohol. This will be marked with signs.
You must be 18 or over to buy tobacco products or e-cigarettes. It is illegal to smoke in an indoor public place, or at work. If you have children in your car, smoking is also forbidden and you will be fined if caught.
Smoking e-cigarettes (vaping) is allowed in most public places, though generally it is banned on public transport services.
You should always ask before smoking in someone else’s house.
Drug taking, particularly the use of cannabis, is common, but it is illegal. If the police catch you using, owning, making or selling drugs, there can be very serious consequences.
There are usually 8 official public holidays in the UK, called Bank Holidays. These mark the 3 main festivals celebrated in the UK: Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter, along with 3 days in spring and summer which have little cultural significance. Most shops and non-essential services will be closed on these days.
There are other days celebrated nationally including Valentine’s Day, pancake day, Halloween and Bonfire Night which will not affect the opening of shops and services.
Most working people are given around 30 days of holiday allowance across the year.
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We work tirelessly to conserve and restore water bodies across the region, ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations.
Our urban forestry projects aim to increase green cover in urban areas, creating healthier environments and combating climate change.
We actively engage in plastic reimagining initiatives at SayEarth, reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices within communities.
Say Earth is constantly endeavoring towards the conservation and restoration of lentic freshwater ecosystems. These comprise of all waterbodies with standing water like ponds, lakes, tanks, wetlands etc. A biodiversity hub, wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining life on the planet with wetlands estimated to support about 40% of the world's plant and animal species, including 30% of all known fish species. Major reservoirs of freshwater, these ecosystems recharge groundwater and also play a role in hydrological and nutrient cycling. Providers of several ecosystem services supporting the lives and livelihoods of millions who depend on them, these waterscapes are getting increasingly vulnerable to degradation and loss owing to anthropogenic activities. Termed as one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems, the loss is estimated to have gained pace since the 2000s. It is therefore extremely critical that urgent steps are taken for their restoration and conservation.
We as a generation have seen ponds being used for a lot of purposes, especially during our childhood. Many Bollywood movies also depicted a thriving community interaction around local village pond. However, that scenario is unimaginable now and It’s less due to the rapid deterioration of these water bodies
Over the years, it has been witnessed that these ponds which once formed an indispensable part of daily life in India, are degrading at an alarming rate. National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas shows that although ponds are the largest by percentage within India (59.5%) amongst all types of wetlands, ponds are also the ones with the most encroachment (67.6%) that points towards their dilapidated state and loss. Empirical observations by our field staff also supported these facts and brought to the fore many causes and impacts for the same. It didn’t take us much time to understand that it was not just waterbody that was being lost, rather it was part of a larger saga of extinction of a way of life, which was sustainable and environment friendly. We took it upon ourselves to preserve these natural ecosystems and reinstate the sense of connection of shoreline communities with their ponds.
Forests are biologically diverse ecosystems that provide habitat to various plants, animals, and microbes. Dominated by trees, It is a functional system characterized by intricate relationships between its various biotic and abiotic components. Disturbances to any of its components impact all interrelated elements and functioning.
Healthy forest ecosystems provide a plethora of services to humans and other species. They contribute to the formation and conservation of soil and regulate hydrology besides providing habitat to a variety of plant and animal life. Besides, forests also support climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration and govern the nutrient cycle. Also, forests provide a range of products like food, fibre, fuel, water, and other resources for sustenance making them significant natural resources. Many such forests worldwide are also a part of socio-cultural practices and belief systems, making them a part of customs and traditions.
Our team hails from different regions of Delhi-NCR and has heard stories of forests that once adorned the region. There was a relationship of mutual dependence between communities and these forests that supported each other. The elements of nature could be felt in their pristine form and the air was pure. The resources too were organic in nature and the incidence of disease was less. However, a boom in real estate and demand for housing an increasing population and providing for it has led to the clearance of these forests on a massive scale. It is a well-known fact that today’s sprawling cities were once covered with dense forests. As the cities expanded vertically and horizontally and infrastructure developed, the green cover shrunk.
A park ecosystem with limited tree cover dominates urban areas. Rapid urbanization has led to the creation of urban ecosystems which owing to the lack of sufficient tree cover comes with its own set of issues like loss of biodiversity, Increase in ambient temperature, air pollution, soil loss, etc. having implications for the inhabitants. There are no spaces to rejuvenate the mind and soul. Children don’t run or play in natural surroundings. That connect with the natural environment is limited to books now.
To mitigate such adverse effects on both mind and health of the urban populace, Say Earth has embarked on a journey of creating tiny forests within the Urban areas that can mimic natural forests to an extent and can help these landscapes breathe! Birds and animals can live freely and the missing connection with nature is restored.
Urban ecosystems face unique challenges due to rapid development and the increasing pressures of human activities...
We work on transforming urban spaces into green, sustainable areas through afforestation, green roofs, and community gardens. These efforts not only enhance the quality of life for urban residents but also contribute to environmental sustainability...
India as a nation faces a unique dilemma regarding its water situation. With only 4 percent of the world’s fresh water and a population comprising almost 17.76 percent of the global population which is projected to grow to 1. 66 billion by 2050, the country just doesn’t have enough water to support its burgeoning population. NITI Aayog, the think tank of the government of India, in one of its reports (ICWMI) published in 2018, mentioned that India was facing a water crisis and that around 600 million people were facing high to extreme water stress. The report also informed that around 70% of the water was contaminated, further adding to the problem.
We, at Say Earth, believe that along with conventional measures, an effective solution to address this water crisis lies in the re-introduction of our ancient systems of restoration of water resources, collectively. As a majority of Indian Villages have at least one waterbody, efforts must be made to restore and conserve them as local groundwater augmentation and freshwater storage units. They are nature’s very own solution to drought, floods, and excessive temperatures and provide many other ecological services, pivotal to the functioning and sustenance of life on the planet.
Inspired by nature, we have embarked on a journey to restore waterbodies in the country with the active involvement of society members. So far, we have been able to restore and rejuvenate around 65 waterbodies comprising of both lakes and ponds across 6 states of India. We ensure that the process remains participatory to the extent possible and make efforts to make it sustainable so that the health of the restored waterbody is maintained, even after we exit the site.
Our country is growing rapidly both in terms of population and Infrastructure. Fast-paced urbanization along with a developing economy have taken a toll on the natural ecosystems. Many infrastructure projects require the cutting of trees to pave the way for such projects. The trend has continued and has led to a significant loss of green cover, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. Reports (Global Forest Watch) suggest that India lost 255 thousand hectares of total tree cover between 2021-2022. The implications of such a course of action are profound but are often ignored as they get manifested and are realized only after a few years. An increase in the urban heat island effect; Excessive dust; Low levels of precipitation; Augmentation of episodes of heat stress; Increase in incidences of hydro-meteorological disasters like floods and droughts and Loss of biodiversity are some of the consequences that rampant deforestation has brought about.
Say Earth has its roots in the rapidly transforming Peri-urban region of Delhi-NCR that has been a witness to a sudden change of landscape from green to grey! High rises and office complexes stand on the lands that were once adorned with trees and lush green fields. We have seen this change and have also faced the consequences. Therefore, we have launched the initiative of afforestation of Urban areas. We choose sites that are functionally defunct and are degraded and transform them into dense forests using the Japanese Technique of Miyawaki.
This approach ensures a greater number of species in less area, and growth is ten times faster. Also, the forests are around thirty times denser than the normal forests. Till date, by the end of 2023 Say Earth has successfully planted 6 Urban forests with support from our stake holders in Corporates, Government institutions, and with a dedicated team of volunteers.
Say Earth has a strong faith in the power of collective action and believes that every individual thought and effort has the potential to bring about a larger revolution. Since our inception, we have largely relied on the support of the masses for the implementation of our initiatives, which makes our campaigns participatory, and people oriented. At every step of our work, we encourage dialogue with the communities to enrich our work with indigenous knowledge, simultaneously making them aware of the needs and benefits of our endeavours like pond restoration and urban afforetation.
Our major campaigns comprise of:
Taking inspiration from the “Selfie with Daughter” campaign initiated by Shri. Sunil Jaglan and promoted by honourable prime minister, Shri. Narendra Modi, an initiative named “Selfie with Ponds” was launched in 2018 by the organization. It aimed at persuading people from all walks of life to upload a selfie with their ponds and share stories of their lives associated with it.
The campaign was a success with the organization receiving more than 1400 selfies from across the nation and abroad.
It helped us understand the perceptions and connections that individuals have with these water bodies and their concerns and aspirations. This initiative also helped generate a sense of belongingness amongst the masses towards their ponds and awareness about the significance of their conservation and restoration. The organization also got information about ponds that were in critical need of restoration and was able to restore a few of them.
This initiative provides an interactive platform that serves to sensitize stakeholders about the need and significance of the conservation and restoration of water bodies and urges them to act. These sessions are conducted before the initiation of restoration activities to achieve a consensus about the requirements and process of restoration.
It also helps in spreading awareness about larger environmental issues of water conservation and climate change. Besides, these sessions also act as knowledge exchange hubs where community members share about indigenous practices of pond restoration that were once common in the region.
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In the late 18th century, scientific inquiry was leading to major discoveries that fueled industrialization and increased international trade. At the time, nations relied on different systems of measurement developed in earlier eras of limited international exchange and communication of ideas. Lack of standardization posed an impediment to both scientific advancement and industrial growth. To address the problem, both the French and British governments considered reforming their systems of weights and measures and establishing a decimal-based measurement. In the newly formed United States, Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State and the country’s first patent commissioner, proposed such a system as well. Although the United States and Great Britain didn’t remain on this path, the French went ahead and adopted the modern metric system, which today is widely used in science, education and industry throughout most of the world.
Now fast forward to the Information Age. Today, intellectual capital and intangible assets — including technology, brands and strategic competencies — comprise more than 50 percent of the business outputs in the U.S. economy. Smart government policy worldwide encourages investment and growth in innovation, while balancing people’s needs for better and more affordable access. Although patent offices around the world implement their own country’s policy goals regarding intellectual property, they are also promoting innovation, globalization, trade and better lives for people everywhere.
Like those advocating for the metric standard two centuries ago, we have an incompatibility problem today in the international patent system. How the global patent system is organized and managed has far-reaching implications for innovation, consumer choice and corporate profits. Demand for patent examination is rising: In 2008, the most recent year for which good data are available, the World Intellectual Property Organization estimated the number of patents in force around the world at 6.7 million, with an increasing share of inventions being patented in more than one country. Unfortunately, there is no common “quality” standard. Like a patent Tower of Babel, the lack of a common language stands in the way of coordinating and building a useful common asset.
The current balkanized approach to measuring patent quality is not serving the users of the world’s patent systems. In fact, it blocks different offices from cooperating and sharing work product, thus preventing innovators from having a more efficient global system of patent protection and requiring the expenditure of more applicant fees and precious government resources at a time when both private and public budgets are under pressure. A rational approach to defining, measuring and comparing the output of our offices — a new “metric standard” for patent quality — would allow each nation’s patent office to promote their domestic policy aims while also participating in a standardized system, thus allowing patent offices worldwide to do a better overall job both in producing high quality output and supporting economic growth.
Why Patent Quality Matters
Every patent office says that “quality” is its number one priority. But when it comes to formulating patent policy, what is quality? If a country’s patent application allowance rate is very high, does that mean the patent office is not being sufficiently selective, or does it mean national lawmakers have made choices in favor of patentability to serve larger economic goals? If the allowance rate is low, does that indicate higher quality selection, or does it suggest that the technologies coming in the front door are less inventive? To be sure, part of the problem comes with the abstract nature of what patent offices seek to codify: A patent application is a complex legal document drafted as a series of claims that attempts to describe new and nonobvious processes, machines, manufacturing methods or composition of matter. Any document that attempts to describe a physical phenomenon that’s new to the world with mere words risks being challenged on its precision.
An essential role of any government in supporting its nation’s scientific and commercial innovation is to define and enforce property rights. Innovators create value by generating new ideas and bringing better products and services to market. It follows that offering greater certainty over IP rights to innovators and those considering investing in innovation would be a priority.
On the other hand, government leaders must balance many interests. Although society has an interest in maximizing certainty around patents to protect what belongs to the inventor, it also has an interest in properly protecting what is in the public domain. There are costs to society of getting the balance wrong, including over- or under-investment in innovation, unnecessary and wasteful duplication of creative effort and inadequate notice to the public about what activities are legal uses of technology and which are illegal infringements.
The reality is that none of the quality metrics that patent offices have used fully take account of the different views of the various actors operating within a country’s patent system. And when one looks at the international dimension of patents and the different economic perspectives from country to country, the problem becomes much more complicated. But it is precisely because innovation is a global concern that we need to make international comparisons about patent quality. In their efforts to gain increased patent protection, innovators are going to patent offices in multiple countries, which leads to escalating transaction costs on innovators operating globally.
Eliminating duplication on patent review processes for the same invention would strengthen the global innovation system. Between 1991 and 2009, patent applications to the United States Patent and Trademark Office surged 171%, from 178,000 to 483,000. Much of the work the USPTO does duplicates efforts being done elsewhere: Since 2008, more than 50 percent of U.S. patent applications have come from non-U.S. inventors. Much the same is occurring across the globe, contributing to larger and larger backlogs at the world’s patent offices. In 2009, the average time a patent application spent in the examination queue was 34.6 months in the United States, 35.3 months in Japan, and 41.7 months in the European Patent Office. Clearly, the demand for patent office services is swamping capacity, and it underscores the growing need for a common quality standard.
Normalizing for National Differences
Fundamentally, each nation has its own approach to patenting. In the United States, policymakers — Congress, the president, and the courts — have given broad scope to patentable subject matter, covering every new idea that is not “abstract” (which according to the Supreme Court includes “anything under the sun that is made by man”). In the 1980s, the U.S. government extended patent protections to the life sciences before other governments were prepared to address this area of innovation, and the U.S. biotechnology industry flourished.
The U.S. system differs from those of other nations in other important ways: The government requires applicants to disclose useful information such as relevant prior art; it establishes low fees — especially for small entities — to encourage entry into the patent system; and perhaps most importantly, it creates an enforcement regime that is more favorable to patent holders than anywhere else in the world. If damage awards in litigation are a useful indicator, other systems produce a lower value product than the United States in terms of enforceable rights. The patent laws of other countries reflect different priorities, often placing a premium on certainty and limitations and yielding more restrictive patent grants.
Our purpose here is not to advocate for a single approach or one approach over another. Governments need to decide for themselves which patent system suits their overall national interests based on their economic objectives, educational system and goals for long-term employment, capital investment and other factors. While we must acknowledge the differences, we should not allow these differences to prevent us from operating more economically and reducing transaction costs to users of the global system. And the first key step to such collaboration is a common system of measurement.
How do we begin to build a common view of quality? The USPTO set out to address this issue in 2010. Recognizing that no single measure was adequate, we invited interested parties — corporate managers, patent attorneys, inventors and scholars — to provide feedback on appropriate measures. After conducting public hearings and looking at numerous proposals, the USPTO announced a set of seven new quality metrics in September 2010. These new metrics encompass the effectiveness of prior art search and examination, compliance with best practices and procedural rules during patent examination, and a statistical analysis based on quality-related indicators and surveys conducted of both applicants and examiners. By using an array of inputs rather than just one, our goal is to improve the predictability of our measure.
The new USPTO metrics have been in place since October 2010, and the early results have been encouraging. They have allowed the USPTO to triangulate on a measure that better reflects the true quality of our process while also helping us understand the quality of incoming patent applications (our inputs) and patent grants (our outputs). To be sure, our approach defines U.S. patent quality within the context of U.S. laws and regulations. Yet the U.S. focus of these new metrics highlights an important issue any serious effort to assess patent quality more broadly must deal with: The national systems we’re trying to normalize across are just different, and the solution will require dealing with the differences.
A New Metric for Quality
What is needed, but does not yet exist, is an approach that normalizes for the differences in patent laws and regulations across countries as the basis for meaningful quality comparisons. It would account for the aspects of patent systems that allow for more or less precision, and for differences in industrial policy. We cannot reasonably expect that patent offices around the world will subscribe to each other’s rules anytime soon. But rather than focusing on the impediments that such differences present, it may be more productive to work toward normalizing for the differences. By focusing on developing standard measures, patent offices worldwide can uncover the specific opportunities and limits of worksharing in search and examination.
The world’s patent authorities cannot just keep doing the same thing and expect different results. The explosive growth in patent applications worldwide and the increasing backlogs provide strong reasons for moving in a more collaborative direction. The fact is that different patent offices already use many of the same concepts, even though they may use them in different ways. For example, Europe, Japan, and the United States all use similar “inventive step” requirements for patentability (called “nonobviousness” in the United States). They should be able to use other similar requirements as building blocks to establish comparable standards. We recommend the following first steps:
1. Recognize that leadership matters. Serious efforts at normalizing for different laws and practices must be supported from the top of the organization and not left to periodic perfunctory discussions that have produced too little progress in the past.
2. Pursue early successes by focusing on areas that could yield large benefits. Many offices already share similar standards related to accuracy in searching for all prior art and in making novelty and obviousness determinations in technologies over which there are few debates about what is patentable subject matter. Fortunately, these are by far the most important parts of the examination process in most cases.
3. Rely on independent analysis using relevant information. Neutral professionals — not cheerleaders — should conduct robust analyses of the differences in laws and practices and recommend ways to calibrate the standard, using the best and most up-to-date information available.
4. Account for errors in both directions. Any serious effort at measuring quality must account for mistakes made in granting patents erroneously as well as in failing to grant patents that should have been granted.
The potential payoffs of standard measures are clear: By allowing increased worksharing for examination and search, patent offices could charge innovators lower fees and provide faster patent examination not only to their own national users but to the international innovation system at large. Common measures would allow governments to focus on the laws and regulations that can pay the largest dividends and make better decisions affecting international harmonization. In an increasingly global innovation market, with inventors seeking patents around the world, common metrics would allow patent offices to provide efficiencies on both sides of the equation: Inventors would have greater access to global protections, and patent offices would be able to reduce costs and offer better services.
The 19th century has been called the “century of industrialization.” It ran on standardized ribbons of steel, with factories churning out products built upon laboratory advances that were enabled by standardized measures. What standards will we rely on in our own, a century propelled by knowledge and intangibles? Unless we have the ability to measure quality in intellectual property rights and permit investments and markets to work efficiently, we may not get to the better world that ingenuity and the human spirit are able to produce.
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When independent researchers inquired about the reasons behind the mistakes, they were informed that the culprit was the dataset.
Interestingly, the same explanation was offered when algorithmic bias was first discovered. We were told that there was some deficiency in the datasets used to train algorithms behind COMPAS (sentencing guideline and recidivism predictor), PredPol (crime predictor), Amazon Recruitment Engine, Google Photos, IDEMIA’s Facial Recognition Software, and several healthcare allocation applications. All of which displayed overt bias towards women and various minorities. People were given longer sentences, misdiagnosed, confused with primates, and refused employment or benefits.
The problem would go away, we were assured, if larger datasets were used to train algorithms as the size would dilute the skewed data.
This explanation sounds less convincing when we consider that the dataset that trained ChatGPT (which animates Bing) included some 300 billion words scraped off the Internet until 2021. Google is tight-lipped about the sources and final date of the 1.56 trillion words that went into Bard but a similar response would not be surprising.
Current Paradigm: Datasets and Machine Learning
The original AI paradigm was rule-based involving if-then databases and specialized scripts. ChatGPT’s digital grandmother Eliza, the first chatbot that mesmerized the masses in 1966 pretending to be a psychiatrist, was one such program.
Around 2012, a group of researchers at the University of Toronto, led by Geoffrey Hinton, recently dubbed the “godfather of AI”, proposed a new approach based on Neural Networks (NN) that could be trained on massive datasets. NNs use statistical tools such as Regression Analysis that identify dependent and independent variables to find patterns in the dataset, figure out correlations invisible to the human brain and reach some conclusions.
The results were amazing as the new bots seemed to diagnose illnesses quickly and accurately, beat chess grandmasters decisively and win the Jeopardy game show with ease. But two interrelated issues plagued the new paradigm. The NNs were black boxes whose exact functioning eluded even their designers and, secondly, bias seemed to be present in varying degrees in most of the results reached by the algorithms.
Since the black boxes could not be tweaked, as their designers did not really know how, the only tool for data scientists and data engineers was to try to find new methods to reduce bias elements in the dataset. For instance, if facial recognition bots could not correctly identify people with darker skin, the solution would be to add millions more of such images to the training datasets.
However, the problem did not go away, again, for two reasons. First LLMs are trained with data produced by human beings. Not only do they reflect societal biases but given their computational power, they amplify them. An early Microsoft bot called Tay was let loose on Twitter and within 24 hours it turned into a homicidal sexist and racist creature. More recently, rap lyrics produced by Chat GPT suggest that
“If you see a woman in a lab coat, She’s probably just there to clean the floor But if you see a man in a lab coat, Then he’s probably got the knowledge and skills you’re looking for.”
In short AI algorithms are biased because they are trained with our data. And we are biased.
Secondly, some biases are structural and are very hard or impossible to eliminate. For instance, certain groups are over or underrepresented in the actual databases such as African Americans in the American criminal justice system and healthcare respectively. There are statistical manipulations like using proxy variables but the fact remains that, for structural reasons, too many African Americans are in the criminal justice system and too few of them are part of the mainstream healthcare system and therefore health statistics.
An even better example is gender bias. The reason ML algorithms and AI applications have been unable to produce gender-neutral results is the fact that every piece of information we collect is inherently gendered. Gender permeates every aspect of social life and it is embedded in everything we do, say and understand. Consequently, data cannot be made gender-neutral.
Perhaps more importantly, while men and women and all gender groups are affected differently by the same phenomena only the male perspective is considered universal and worthy of note. For instance, men and women experience natural disasters very differently but most measures are designed with men in mind. During the COVID pandemic, many countries refused to collect sex-disaggregated data until it was shown that the virus killed significantly more men than women.
What we need is not to find ways to produce gender-neutral results, but to create AI tools that will be gender-representative. Instead of eliminating gender differences, which is both impossible and undesirable, we need systems that will identify and address gendered consequences of any course of action, choice, measure, policy, or policy implementation.
Can this be done?
That is the question and symbolically the question mark in our name signifies that there is no categorical yes answer. Read our next post to see what we propose as a way out.
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The violence that spread from Jerusalem to cities across Israel and the Palestinian territories, leaving at least 60 dead so far, has both historical and contemporary roots.
In recent weeks, tension has flared over the eviction of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities blocking access to the important Damascus Gate plaza during Ramadan, and a march of thousands of Israeli ultra-nationalists through the city on May 6, 2021, in celebration of “Jerusalem Day,” which marks the capture of East Jerusalem in 1967.
But the one incident that led to a significant escalation involved Israeli security forces firing rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at worshipers gathered at Al-Aqsa mosque on May 7.
As a scholar of global Islam, I teach introduction to Islam and include a discussion about Al-Aqsa as part of the syllabus. That’s because Al-Aqsa has deep religious significance for Muslims around the world. But, it is also important to highlight its remarkable political relevance for Palestinians. These two facts make it a focal point for conflict.
The night journey of Muhammad
The Masjid al-Aqsa, or simply Al-Aqsa, means “the farthest mosque” or “the farthest sanctuary,” and refers to the lead-domed mosque within the sacred precinct of Haram al-Sharif – “the Noble Enclosure.” The precinct includes the Dome of the Rock, the four minarets, the compound’s historic gates and the mosque itself.
Mentioned in Sura 17, verse 1 of the Quran, the mosque is linked to the story of Muhammad’s “Isra” – the “night journey” from Mecca to Jerusalem – that in part confirms him as the last and most authoritative of the prophets for Muslims. The Quran says the prophet was “carried…by night from the Sacred Mosque [in Mecca] to the Farthest Mosque [al-Aqsa], whose precincts we have blessed.”
From there, it is believed that Muhammad ascended to heaven – called the Mir’aj. The Dome of the Rock – Qubbat as-Sakhra – is said to shelter the rock from where Muhammad physically ascended.
The mosque’s origins stretch back to the seventh century. It was first built in A.D. 637, just five years after the prophet’s death. It has been destroyed, rebuilt and renovated multiple times.
The current building largely dates to the 11th century and hosts daily prayers and Friday gatherings that draw large crowds. It lies adjacent to important Jewish and Christian religious locales, particularly the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples.
At times, the Dome of the Rock – a shrine – and Al-Aqsa – a mosque – have been confused as one and the same. While part of the same “Noble Sanctuary,” they are two distinct buildings with different histories and purposes.
However, the term Al-Aqsa is sometimes used to indicate the entire “Noble Sanctuary” complex. Originally, it is believed that the term “the farthest sanctuary” referred to Jerusalem as a whole.
Place in Islamic history
After Mecca and Medina, the vast majority of Muslims worldwide consider Jerusalem the third holiest place on Earth.
Referenced frequently in Islamic tradition and hadith – records of something the Prophet Muhammad said, did or tacitly approved of – it is believed that while in Mecca, Muhammad originally oriented his community’s prayers toward Al-Aqsa.
In A.D. 622, the community fled Mecca because of persecution, seeking refuge in Medina to the north. After a little over a year there, Muslims believe God instructed Muhammad to face back toward Mecca for prayers. In Surah 2, verses 149-150, the Quran says, “turn thy face toward the Sacred Mosque [the Kaaba in Mecca]…wheresoever you may be, turn your faces toward it.”
Nonetheless, Jerusalem and its sacred locales – specifically Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock – have remained sites of Islamic pilgrimage for 15 centuries.
The ‘most sensitive site’ in conflict
Given its sacred significance, there was great concern about the precinct’s fate after Israel’s victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and its subsequent annexation of East Jerusalem.
Although Israel granted jurisdiction of the mosque and complex to an Islamic waqf – “endowment” – Israel still commands access to the grounds and security forces regularly perform patrols and conduct searches within the precinct. Under the Preservation of the Holy Places Law, the Israeli government has also allowed entry to different religious groups – such as Christian pilgrims.
Many Israelis respect the sanctity of the place. The chief rabbinate of Israel said it is forbidden for Jews to walk on the site in 2005 because of its holiness. Nonetheless, certain ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups controversially advocate for greater access and control of the site, seeking to reclaim the historic Temple Mount, regarded by Jews as where God promises his full presence.
Described as “the most sensitive site in the Israel-Palestinian conflict,” it has frequently been host to political acts.
For example, in August 1969, an Australian Christian named Dennis Michael Rohan attempted to burn down Al-Aqsa, destroying the historically significant and intricately carved minbar – or “pulpit” – of Saladin, a treasured piece of Islamic art.
On Sept. 28, 2000, Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon and a delegation guarded by hundreds of Israeli riot police entered the precinct. This sparked protests and a violent crackdown by Israeli authorities, with multiple casualties. Many Muslims worldwide considered this a “desecration” of the sacred mosque, and the event helped ignite the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising.
Tensions peaked again after an attack on Yehuda Glick, a controversial right-wing rabbi, in autumn 2014. In response, Israeli authorities closed down access to Al-Aqsa for the first time since 1967. In March and April of that year, Israeli police used tear gas and stun grenades on Palestinians inside Al-Aqsa, prompting international outcry.
Numerous other incidents between Israeli forces and worshipers have occurred at Al-Aqsa in recent years.
Controlled access to the site reminds Palestinians of their relative powerlessness in their ongoing land disputes with Israeli authorities. At the same time, attacks at Al-Aqsa resonate with Muslims across the world who react with horror to what they see as the desecration of one of their most sacred sites.
Defending Al-Aqsa and fighting for rights to access it, I argue, have become proxy conflicts for both Palestinian claims and the need to defend Islam as a whole.
[This week in religion, a global roundup each Thursday. Sign up.]
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Columbaria have long played a vital role in memorial practices, serving as a dignified and sacred space for the storage of urns containing ashes of the deceased. This form of memorialization, dating back to ancient times, offers a communal yet personal means of honoring and remembering loved ones. The presence of columbaria in both historical […]
The Snuneymuxw have used their knowledge of the rivers, the estuary, the ocean and the forests to support and nurture their people and their culture for thousands of years. What they could not harvest, hunt or fish in their own territory, they traded for with other nations. The Snuneymuxw have lived intimately with their surroundings […]
Today, the Snuneymuxw community remembers and learns from the Elders and takes pride in the skills of their people, who are champion lacrosse players and canoe racers, published authors and talented carvers, teachers and keepers of tradition. All the tools used by their ancestors have a modern version, suited to life in the 21st century. […]
Each of the objects in this collection has a place in the oral history and culture of the Snuneymuxw. The Elders traditionally pass on knowledge through stories. Stories can explain how something came to be, how it was made, and how it can be used by a clever person. Household Items The work of creating […]
The Snuneymuxw community is again learning the teachings of the Elders as they share their culture and discuss bringing home the objects of their ancestors.
by people who tried to convince them to turn their backs on their culture. Many of their masks, spindle whorls and the very posts of their houses were moved to museums in Europe, the United States and Canada.
Their language is a link to the knowledge of their ancestors and Elders. They are teaching their children to speak their own language so that they will understand the strength that is within their community.
They can look to the accomplishments of the teachers, writers, scholars, parents, athletes and artists in their Community Stories. Those who hold the traditional knowledge can explain the complex meaning and the skill required to weave the baskets, carve the house posts and to craft the tools used by their ancestors.
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The Linux Model—which on its face seems impossibly badly organized and managed—is, in fact, a highly tuned collaborative system that continuously innovates and spreads knowledge.
Commoners in medieval Europe variously employed boundary beating as physical mapping of space, territorial defense, and performative acts of community, collective memory, and shared responsibility.
Medialab Prado is helping citizens and society evolve together in more thoughtful ways. “A big question we should always be asking ourselves,” said García, “is how we want to be living together.
One such organisation is OpenSourceSeeds (OSS). By equipping plant breeders and propagators with a free, open-source licence for the seeds they breed, they provide the necessary legal protection to prevent the patenting of the seed by other parties.
Writing recently in Medium, Salvatore Iaconesi — a designer, engineer and founder of Art is Open Source and Human Ecosystems — offers an extremely important critique of the blockchain and other data-driven network technologies. While recognizing that these systems have enormous potential for “radical innovation and transformation,” he astutely warns against their dangerous psychological and cultural effects.
By reimagining scientific publishing as a type of commons, PLOS has been at the vanguard of the massive shift in scholarly publishing. Access to research is increasingly more open, and not restricted or delayed – and scientific inquiry itself has become more rigorous. Equally important, PLOS has been able to provide vital advocacy and pacesetting innovation to the field, which now includes thousands of open access journals and over half a million freely licensed research articles.
The Open Source Seed license, recently released by a group called OpenSourceSeeds, is trying to “make seeds a common good again.” The license amounts to a form of “copyleft” for new plant varieties, enabling anyone to use the licensed seeds for free.
How does resource sharing affect biodiversity? How does knowledge exchange drive community resilience? How is information access—delivered via technologies—an equalizer among the underrepresented, marginalized, and oppressed? How does our ability to feed a growing planet depend on a culture of openness?
In moments of crisis, when the structures of conventional governance are suddenly exposed as weak or ineffectual, it is clear that there is no substitute for ordinary people acting together.
Threading elements of the great educational experiments of Bauhaus and Roycroft Community models together with Pierre Levy’s modern definition of “collective intelligence,” La Scuola Open Source (The Open Source School) embodies the principles of the sharing movement.
The only way to achieve systemic change at the planetary level is to build counter-power, i.e. alternative global governance.
A growing movement that combines open source design with sustainability is creating an exciting alternative to profit-driven, proprietary sustainability products.
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In rural Japan, ramshackle wooden structures are commonplace, but few of them are as interesting as the long-abandoned H-Clinic.
Details are relatively scarce about when it was built, but the general consensus seems to be somewhere around the end of the Taisho period, or the beginning of Showa — so probably some time in the 1920s. And walking through the building’s decaying wooden rooms really is like stepping back in time. Perhaps not quite as far back as the 20s or 30s, but most certainly the post-war era.
There are the medical concerns.
Along with the medicine and apparatus used to treat them. Some of which are fascinatingly archaic.
Whereas others seem more akin to a laboratory than a clinic.
Although this photograph leaves no doubt about the building’s use, and the occupation of its owner.
Like the structure itself, little is known about the doctor, but as well as running his own medical facility, his old business card states he also held a position at a Red Cross hospital.
And as far as personal details go, we do know that he lived in the clinic with his wife and daughter. The deceptively large structure doubling as both a home and medical centre.
Upstairs there are now only simple, sparsely decorated bedrooms, although the way up there isn’t anywhere near as secure as it once was.
There was perhaps also a study of sorts, as there is still no shortage of books.
The downstairs living quarters, however, still give a real sense of how the doctor and his family lived. Decor-wise, the kitchen, like the clinic, is very dated.
The living room on the other hand is a real mishmash of eras and design. And in this area in particular, the sense of quietness and the slow passage of time that is so much a part of exploring abandoned buildings — whether they be once opulent homes, mountain schools or whole villages — is most apparent.
No noise from the TV.
No chatting either.
Plus like many Japanese homes, there is a butsudan, or Buddhist altar, where respects were once dutifully paid to ancestors and lost family members.
This also has further significance, as the wife was a committed devotee of Soka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist group with huge political and financial clout. The certificate on the wall offering gratitude for efforts in spreading the word, and the portraits are of the current president, and founder of Soka Gakkai International, Daisaku Ikeda.
Interestingly, in the same photograph, the calendar on display is from 2002. A surprisingly recent date considering the distinctly rundown nature of the building. Other, slightly contradictory reports, have suggested that the old lady and her daughter lived there until about 20 years ago, but even then it’s still hard to imagine someone being resident in the mid 1990s.
What is for sure, however, is that nobody lives in the clinic now, and the building is slowly going the way of its former owners, and indeed all other things.
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In the first 2024 presidential debate, both candidates accused the eachother of risking global conflict with his existing or intended policies. Since projections show that global conflict is a potential human extinction level event, we are running a few articles on rebuilding civilization. Here’s hoping they remain an intellectual curiosity and not a needed resouce.
In the event of a catastrophic collapse, having knowledge of the essential building blocks that underpin a technological civilization would be crucial for survival and rebuilding. This article presents an overview of key concepts in each of several core domains:
I. Agriculture and Food Production
II. Energy and Power Generation
III. Materials and Manufacturing
IV. Transportation and Communication
V. Medicine and Health
Agriculture and Food Production
- Sustainable farming techniques for growing staple crops
- Crop rotation to maintain soil fertility – Crop rotation is the practice of growing different types of crops in the same area across sequential seasons to maintain soil health and fertility. This technique helps prevent soil depletion, reduces pest and disease pressure, improves soil structure, and can increase crop yield and quality by alternating plants with different nutrient needs and root structures.
– - Intercropping to maximize land use and natural pest control – Intercropping, growing two or more crops together, can increase land productivity and promote natural pest control by optimizing resource use and enhancing biodiversity. Carefully selecting crop combinations, like cereals with legumes, and adjusting planting geometries maximizes complementary resource use and arthropod diversity. The increased plant diversity disrupts pest life cycles and provides habitat for natural enemies, reducing pest pressure without significant yield losses.
– - Composting and organic matter management for healthy soils – Composting and adding organic matter like compost, plant residues, and manure to soil feeds the soil food web, improves soil structure and nutrient cycling, and suppresses plant pests and diseases. Increased organic matter helps sandy soils retain moisture, improves drainage in heavy clay soils, and sequesters carbon, making soils more resilient to extreme weather. Regularly applying compost and organic materials is essential for building and maintaining healthy, fertile soils that reduce the need for synthetic inputs.
– - Seed saving and selective breeding for resilient crop varieties – Saving seeds from the healthiest, most robust plants and replanting them year after year allows desirable traits like disease resistance and local adaptation to be selected for over time. Careful selection and isolation of open-pollinated, heirloom varieties is important to maintain seed purity and genetic diversity, which makes crops more resilient to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Seed saving and selective breeding are essential practices for developing unique, locally-adapted crop varieties that are well-suited to a region’s climate and growing conditions.
– - Integrated pest management using natural methods – Integrated pest management (IPM) using natural methods focuses on preventing pest problems before they occur by choosing resistant plant varieties, maintaining healthy soils, and removing pest food sources and habitat. Cultural practices like crop rotation, companion planting, and proper irrigation and fertilization discourage pests, while physical barriers, traps, and beneficial insects provide biological control. The goal of natural IPM is to create a balanced, healthy ecosystem where pests are kept below damaging levels through non-chemical means, minimizing environmental impacts.
– Animal domestication and husbandry for meat, dairy, and labor
- Selective breeding for desirable traits like milk production – Selective breeding for increased milk production in dairy cattle has been very successful, nearly tripling yields since 1960, but can negatively impact cow health and fertility if not done carefully. Balanced breeding goals that include both production and functional traits like mastitis resistance and fertility, along with genomic screening for genetic defects, are essential to improve desirable traits while safeguarding animal welfare. Preserving biodiversity and considering the ethical implications of selective breeding are also important factors to weigh when developing breeding programs.
– - Constructing basic shelters, pens, and enclosures for livestock – Portable livestock shelters can be easily constructed using materials like cattle panels, tarps, and skids, allowing flexibility in placement. Pole barn shelters provide more permanent, weather-resistant protection when built with durable, weather-treated materials and proper structural support. Pallet shelters offer a simple, low-cost option by using recycled pallets and t-posts, creating a 3-sided enclosure. The key is selecting materials and designs suited to the local climate and livestock needs to ensure the shelter is secure, weatherproof, and provides adequate space and ventilation.
– - Developing feed and forage systems using local resources – Assessing locally available feedstuffs, including crop residues, by-products, and native pastures, and formulating balanced rations using these ingredients is key to developing cost-effective, sustainable livestock feeding systems. Improving feed quality through treatments like urea treatment of straws, ensiling high moisture feeds, and optimizing grazing management through rotational grazing and oversowing pastures with legumes enhances nutrient utilization. Integrating fodder production of high-yielding crops and fodder banks of shrubs and trees with cropping systems optimizes land use, nutrient cycling, and provides year-round feed for livestock.
– - Implementing humane handling and slaughter techniques – Humane handling of livestock requires moving animals at a normal walking pace, using facilities designed to prevent injury, and providing covered pens for non-ambulatory animals. Acceptable slaughter methods include captive bolt, gunshot, electrocution, and gas stunning to rapidly render animals insensible to pain before shackling or cutting. Electrocution is considered the most humane method of slaughter as it produces instant unconsciousness and death, minimizing the animal’s suffering and distress.
– - Utilizing animals for traction, transportation, and manure – Animal traction using cattle, horses, donkeys, and mules provides a renewable energy source for agricultural labor, transportation, and other activities on small farms, particularly in developing countries. Manure from these animals can be used as fertilizer to improve soil fertility and structure when properly managed, contributing to sustainable agriculture. Utilizing animals for traction and manure management is a low-cost, eco-friendly way to enhance food security and livelihoods for farmers and rural communities.
– Crop rotation, soil management, and irrigation methods
- Understanding nutrient cycling and soil composition – Nutrient cycling is crucial for maintaining a sustainable ecosystem, involving the transformation and cycling of nutrients between the atmosphere, living organisms, and the soil. Soil plays a central role in nutrient cycling, acting as a “switching yard” where nutrients are stored, transformed, and cycled through decomposition by soil organisms. Managing soil nutrients sustainably involves applying the right fertilizers at the right rates, times, and locations to meet crop needs while minimizing environmental impacts.
– - Techniques for erosion control and water conservation – Maintaining vegetative cover, using contour banks and check dams to slow water flow, and constructing terraces on steep slopes are effective erosion control techniques. Capturing and storing runoff using rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens, along with improving irrigation practices and protecting drainage outlets, are important water conservation methods. Combining erosion control and water conservation practices is essential for managing water flow, minimizing soil loss, and promoting water infiltration into the soil.
– - Constructing simple irrigation systems like canals and aqueducts – Canals are man-made waterways constructed by digging a trench and lining it with concrete or clay to transport water for irrigation, while aqueducts are elevated channels made of stone, brick, or concrete used to distribute water over long distances. The size, slope, and structures like dams and gates should be designed to accommodate expected flow rates, prevent erosion and flooding, and ensure efficient water distribution. Simple irrigation systems like canals and aqueducts can provide a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly source of water for agriculture compared to modern irrigation technologies.
– - Applying organic amendments and natural fertilizers – Organic amendments like compost, manure, and cover crops improve soil structure, water infiltration, and nutrient cycling when applied at a rate of up to 1/3 of the total soil volume, while natural organic fertilizers derived from plant and animal products provide a steady supply of essential nutrients. Compost should have a medium-dark brown color, crumbly texture, and mild earthy odor when mature, while natural fertilizers should be carefully applied to avoid runoff, with alfalfa meal top-dressed and watered in. The key is using a balanced approach based on soil tests and plant needs to feed plants slowly while improving overall soil health.
– - Crop scheduling and planning for seasonal variations – Understanding your local climate, weather patterns, soil quality, and crop requirements is essential for developing a flexible seasonal plan that maximizes productivity. Crop rotation improves soil fertility, manages pests and diseases, reduces weeds, and increases yields, while scheduling plantings with different maturity dates and making successive plantings every 2-4 weeks allows for continuous harvests. Adapting to seasonal variations by adjusting planting dates, using season extension techniques like row covers and greenhouses, and incorporating cover crops between cash crops helps ensure a bountiful harvest throughout the year.
– Food preservation through drying, salting, pickling, and fermentation
- Drying techniques using the sun, fire, or mechanical dehydrators – Sun drying is the oldest and most natural method of preserving food by removing moisture, but requires hot, dry weather and close monitoring to prevent spoilage. Fire drying uses smoke and heat from a fire to slowly evaporate moisture while adding flavor, but also requires constant attention to maintain proper temperature and prevent burning. Mechanical dehydrators provide precise control over temperature and air circulation for year-round drying, using either electricity or solar power, making them a reliable option regardless of weather conditions.
– - Salting and curing meats, fish, and vegetables for long-term storage – Salting and curing meats, fish, and vegetables reduces their water activity, inhibiting microbial growth and allowing for long-term storage, with dry curing involving coating in a salt mixture and wet curing submerging in a brine solution. Smoking after salting or brining adds flavor and further preserves fish, while lacto-fermentation uses salt brine to create pickled, probiotic-rich vegetables like sauerkraut. Proper temperature control is essential during the curing process to prevent spoilage and ensure food safety.
– - Pickling and lacto-fermentation to preserve fruits and vegetables – Pickling uses an acidic vinegar-based brine to inhibit microbial growth and preserve fruits and vegetables, while lacto-fermentation relies on beneficial lactic acid bacteria to create an anaerobic, acidic environment that prevents spoilage and results in probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. For both methods, using fresh, high-quality produce and ensuring the vegetables are fully submerged in the brine is crucial, with refrigeration after the initial fermentation period halting the process and preventing over-fermentation.
– - Constructing root cellars, smokehouses, and other storage facilities – Root cellars maintain a cool, humid environment ideal for preserving fruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods without refrigeration, requiring thick insulated walls, a ventilation system, and a tightly sealed door. Smokehouses use cool smoke to preserve and flavor meats, fish, and cheese, with adjustable vents to control temperature and humidity. Other storage facilities like grain silos, springhouses, ice houses, and curing sheds provide specialized environments for preserving a variety of harvested foods through temperature, humidity, and air circulation control.
– - Culturing beneficial microbes for fermented foods and beverages – Culturing beneficial microbes like lactic acid bacteria and yeast is key for producing fermented foods and beverages with enhanced nutritional value, flavor, and health benefits. To foster the growth of these microbes, provide the optimal temperature, pH, and nutrient conditions by following established recipes and monitoring the fermentation process closely. Maintain proper sanitation practices using clean equipment and storage containers to avoid contamination, and consume fermented products in moderation as some may cause digestive discomfort for certain individuals.
Energy and Power Generation
– Harnessing renewable energy from the sun, wind, water, and biomass
- Constructing basic solar collectors and thermal storage systems – To build a basic solar collector, use a flat, insulated box with a transparent cover to absorb sunlight and transfer the heat to a fluid like water or air, positioning it at an optimal angle and orientation to maximize exposure. For thermal storage, a well-insulated water tank is a simple and cost-effective option, while phase change materials or molten salt systems offer higher energy density and longer storage duration, but require more complex installation. Carefully size the solar collector and storage system to match your specific heating needs, and maintain the equipment regularly to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the system.
– - Building windmills, waterwheels, and other mechanical power sources – To build a windmill, construct large, lightweight blades attached to a rotor mounted on a tall tower in an area with consistent, high wind speeds, connecting the rotor to a generator to convert the rotational mechanical power into electricity. For a waterwheel, create a reservoir of stored water with a dam, then release the water to strike the blades or buckets attached to the wheel, which can be used to power machinery or generators, ensuring the waterwheel is sized appropriately for the available water flow. Other mechanical power sources like turbines and steam or internal combustion engines require more complex engineering, but can efficiently harness the energy of moving fluids, heat, or chemical reactions to produce usable mechanical power when properly designed, installed, and maintained.
– - Generating biogas from agricultural and animal waste – Generating biogas through anaerobic digestion of agricultural and animal waste like manure, crop residues, and food processing byproducts can provide a valuable renewable energy source, but requires careful planning and management. To set up an effective biogas system, construct an airtight, heated digester tank sized appropriately for the volume and composition of your feedstock, which should have a carbon-nitrogen ratio between 20:1 and 30:1 for optimal microbial activity, and be prepared to perform regular maintenance to remove impurities and ensure continuous, efficient biogas production. Locating your biogas system near large livestock operations or other agricultural waste sources, and taking advantage of government incentives and support programs, can help make the investment more economically viable and maximize the environmental and economic benefits.
– - Utilizing wood, charcoal, and other biomass for heating and cooking – Utilizing wood, charcoal, and other biomass like agricultural waste and forestry residues for heating and cooking is a renewable, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but requires careful consideration of the environmental impacts and economic viability. To use biomass effectively, choose efficient combustion devices like wood stoves or charcoal grills, properly season and store your wood to maximize energy content, and explore options for converting agricultural waste into biogas or other fuels through anaerobic digestion or gasification. Ensure you have a reliable, sustainable supply of biomass feedstock, follow all local regulations and safety guidelines, and consider investing in higher-efficiency technologies to reduce emissions and maximize the benefits of biomass energy.
– - Storing and distributing energy through simple batteries and flywheels – To store energy using batteries, choose a type appropriate for your application (lead-acid for low-cost, lithium-ion for high energy density), size the battery bank to meet your energy needs, and maintain the batteries by keeping them clean, secure, and at the proper charge level, storing them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For flywheels, select a model with sufficient energy storage capacity and power output for your requirements, install it in a secure location with proper ventilation and safety features, and use mechanical linkages to transmit the kinetic energy to your electrical system or loads. When distributing the stored energy, use properly sized wiring, fuses, and switches to ensure safe, efficient transmission with minimal losses, and regularly inspect all connections and components for wear or damage.
– Constructing basic tools and machines like the wheel, lever, and pulley
- Designing and fabricating simple tools and implements – To design effective tools and implements, start by clearly defining the task or function the tool needs to perform, then sketch out your design considering the materials, dimensions, and ergonomics to ensure it will be efficient and comfortable to use, refining the plan until you have a clear blueprint to follow. When fabricating the tool, use locally available materials like wood, metal, or plastic, and employ basic hand tools and power tools to shape the components, assembling them with techniques like cutting, drilling, grinding, and welding, taking safety precautions and working carefully to produce a durable, well-crafted implement. Test the tool thoroughly to verify it meets your functional requirements, then refine the design or fabrication process as needed, keeping maintenance and repair in mind to ensure the tool remains useful for years to come.
– - Applying the principles of mechanical advantage and force transfer – To maximize mechanical advantage and efficiently transfer forces in your designs, choose simple machines like levers, pulleys, and inclined planes that amplify input forces based on their geometry, arranging them in combinations to achieve the desired output force and speed while minimizing energy losses from friction and deflection. When calculating mechanical advantage, use formulas based on the physical dimensions of the components, but also test and refine your designs through prototyping to verify performance and safety, making adjustments to the materials, linkages, and ergonomics as needed. Applying these principles thoughtfully allows you to create powerful yet user-friendly tools and mechanisms that greatly enhance human capabilities for a wide range of applications, from lifting heavy loads to overcoming obstacles.
– - Constructing basic machines like the water wheel and windlass – To build a water wheel, construct a large, sturdy wheel with paddles or buckets attached to the rim, position it so flowing or falling water strikes the paddles to make the wheel rotate, and use the rotational motion to power machinery through a system of gears and shafts, ensuring the wheel size, water flow, and gearing ratios are properly matched for optimal efficiency. For a windlass, mount a horizontal drum on a sturdy frame with a crank handle or motor to rotate it, attach a rope or chain to the drum and secure the other end to the load you wish to lift, and use the mechanical advantage provided by the drum’s diameter to multiply the input force and raise heavy objects with less effort. When designing and constructing other basic machines like levers, pulleys, inclined planes, and screws, carefully select the appropriate materials and dimensions, minimize friction through proper lubrication and bearings, and incorporate safety features to protect users, while ensuring the machine’s mechanical advantage and force transfer characteristics match your specific application.
– - Developing power transmission systems using ropes, gears, and chains – To transmit power using ropes, select pulleys of the appropriate size and material, wrap the rope securely around them with the right amount of tension, and position the pulleys to efficiently route the power where it’s needed, taking care to minimize friction and slippage. For gear-based power transmission, choose gears with the right number of teeth and orientation (spur, helical, etc.) to achieve the desired speed and torque ratios, carefully aligning and lubricating the gears to prevent excessive wear. When using chains, match the chain size and sprocket teeth to your power requirements, keeping the chain properly tensioned and lubricated to minimize stretch and maximize efficiency, and protecting the chain from environmental factors that could cause premature failure. Regardless of the method, proper sizing, alignment, and maintenance of the power transmission components are crucial for reliable, long-lasting performance.
– - Optimizing the design and efficiency of mechanical systems – To optimize the design of mechanical systems, clearly define the functional requirements and constraints upfront, use CAD software to model and simulate the system’s performance, and carefully analyze stresses on critical components to ensure they can withstand expected loads, iterating on the geometry and material selection to minimize weight while maintaining strength. Improve the efficiency of the system by minimizing friction through proper bearing selection and lubrication, optimizing gear ratios and pulley sizes to reduce transmission losses, and using high-efficiency motors and actuators, while simplifying the power transmission path and eliminating unnecessary components. Design for ease of manufacture using standard processes and materials, minimize unique parts, and consider the assembly order and fasteners to make the system cost-effective and reliable, providing easy access to wear components and implementing preventive maintenance to maximize uptime.
– Primitive steam engines and heat engines
- Understanding the fundamental principles of thermodynamics – To understand the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, start by grasping the first law – that energy can be transformed but not created or destroyed, establishing the conservation of energy in isolated systems. Next, comprehend the second law, which explains the directionality of natural processes and the limits on heat engine efficiency, as well as the third law regarding entropy at absolute zero. Apply these principles to analyze and optimize real-world systems like heat engines, refrigeration, and chemical processes, using key equations and concepts like internal energy, entropy, enthalpy, and the Carnot cycle to quantify performance and identify areas for improvement. Mastering thermodynamics takes practice, but understanding the fundamental relationships between heat, work, and energy is essential for designing efficient, high-performance systems across many engineering disciplines.
– - Constructing basic steam engines and Stirling engines – To build a basic steam engine, construct a sturdy boiler to generate high-pressure steam, then design the cylinder, piston, and valve system to efficiently convert the steam’s thermal energy into rotational mechanical power, carefully sizing the components and optimizing the valve timing for maximum efficiency. For a Stirling engine, create a sealed cylinder with a displacer piston and a power piston that alternately compress and expand a gas like air or hydrogen, using high-temperature and low-temperature heat exchangers to drive the thermodynamic cycle, and fabricate the components from durable materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramics to withstand the extreme operating conditions. Whether constructing a steam or Stirling engine, pay close attention to precision in design and fabrication, minimize losses from friction and heat transfer, and thoroughly test and refine your prototype to achieve optimal performance from these classic mechanical power systems.
– - Developing fuel sources like wood, coal, and animal fats – To develop wood as a fuel source, harvest and process wood sustainably, ensuring that the wood is properly seasoned and dried to optimize its energy density, and consider converting it into charcoal or bio-oil for higher energy content and cleaner burning. For coal, select high-quality coal with low moisture and ash content to maximize energy output, and implement efficient combustion techniques and emissions control systems to minimize environmental impact. When using animal fats as a fuel source, render and process the fats into biodiesel, ensuring proper quality control and blending with conventional diesel fuel to maintain engine performance and minimize emissions.
– - Designing and building boilers, cylinders, and other engine components – To design and build a boiler for a steam engine, select a suitable heat source like coal or wood, fabricate the pressure vessel from high-strength materials like steel or cast iron, and incorporate features to efficiently transfer heat to the water, ensuring the boiler can safely contain the high-pressure steam. When designing the engine cylinder, choose materials like cast iron or brass that can withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures, machine the bore and stroke to precise tolerances for the piston to seal and move smoothly, and incorporate carefully fitted valves, ports, and rings to control the steam flow. For other key components like pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts, and valve gear, use precision machining techniques to achieve the required tolerances, join parts using welding or brazing, and incorporate bearings and lubricators to minimize friction and wear, thoroughly testing the assembled engine to verify safe, efficient operation.
– - Applying heat engines for power generation and transportation – To apply heat engines for power generation, use steam turbines driven by high-pressure steam produced from burning fuels like coal, natural gas, or nuclear reactions in a boiler, or employ reciprocating engines in backup or distributed generation applications, optimizing efficiency through techniques like waste heat recovery and advanced combustion. For transportation, internal combustion engines remain the dominant power source, with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and reduce emissions through alternative engine cycles, hybrid designs, and the use of biofuels, while electric vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells are becoming increasingly viable alternatives. To maximize the performance and sustainability of heat engines in both power generation and transportation, continue to research advanced designs, alternative fuels, and waste heat recovery systems, while also exploring the potential of hybrid and electric technologies to meet evolving energy and environmental needs.
– Generating electricity through simple dynamos and batteries
- Harnessing electromagnetic induction to produce electric current – To generate electric current using electromagnetic induction, design a generator or alternator with a rotating conductor (armature) that moves through a stationary magnetic field, using a prime mover like a turbine, engine, or motor to provide the rotational motion, and optimize the design to maximize the induced EMF according to Faraday’s law. When using a transformer to change the voltage of an AC electrical supply, wind two or more coils around a magnetic core, applying the AC voltage to the primary coil to create a varying magnetic field that induces a voltage in the secondary coil, with the voltage ratio proportional to the turns ratio of the coils. To harness the principles of electromagnetic induction in practical applications like power transmission, electric motors, and sensors, carefully analyze the changing magnetic fields and induced EMFs to ensure efficient and reliable operation, while adhering to safety standards and best practices for electrical systems.
– - Constructing primitive generators and alternators using magnets – To construct a simple generator, wind several turns of insulated wire around a spool or tube to form a coil, attach the ends to a circuit with a voltmeter or LED, and quickly insert and remove a strong permanent magnet inside the coil to induce a voltage pulse that can be measured or used to light the LED. For a primitive alternator, mount a powerful permanent magnet or electromagnet on a shaft that can be rotated, either by hand or with a motor, keeping the coil stationary around the rotating magnet, and as the magnetic field cuts across the coil, it will induce an alternating voltage that can be used to power small devices. To improve the performance of these simple generators and alternators, use more turns of wire in the coil, employ stronger magnets, rotate the shaft faster, laminate the coil core with thin steel sheets to reduce losses, and incorporate a commutator and brushes to produce direct current instead of alternating current.
– - Developing electrochemical cells and batteries for energy storage – To construct an electrochemical cell, select appropriate materials for the anode and cathode based on their reactivity and ability to undergo oxidation and reduction reactions, separate them with an electrolyte that facilitates ion transfer while maintaining electrical neutrality, and connect the electrodes to a circuit to generate an electric current. When developing a battery, connect multiple electrochemical cells in series and/or parallel to increase the voltage and capacity, carefully selecting the cell materials, electrolyte, and separator to optimize energy density, power density, cycle life, and safety, and incorporate current collectors to enhance electrical conductivity and facilitate current flow. To advance battery technology, explore new materials and architectures that can store more energy in a smaller volume, charge and discharge faster, withstand more cycles, and operate safely, while also developing closed-loop recycling processes to recover and reuse valuable battery components.
– - Designing and building electrical distribution systems and wiring – To design an electrical distribution system, first determine the total electrical load and required capacity, then select the appropriate voltage level and size conductors accordingly to minimize voltage drop, incorporating overcurrent protection devices like circuit breakers or fuses to prevent overloads, and ensuring proper grounding for safety and noise reduction. When installing the wiring, use approved methods and materials based on the environment, terminating connections securely and labeling circuits clearly, following the National Electrical Code and local regulations, and thoroughly testing the system before energizing to verify proper operation. Maintain the distribution system by regularly inspecting for damage, testing overcurrent protection, and promptly repairing any issues, while also considering the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage to enhance the system’s reliability and efficiency.
– - Applying electricity for lighting, communication, and powering devices – To apply electricity for lighting, select efficient and long-lasting electric lights like LEDs that provide high-quality illumination for residential, commercial, and industrial settings, taking advantage of the versatility and cost-effectiveness of electric lighting compared to traditional options. For communication, utilize electrical signals to transmit information over long distances through telephone networks, radio and television broadcasting, and internet-based systems, harnessing the speed and reliability of electrical communication to connect people and share knowledge globally. When powering electrical devices, convert electrical energy into mechanical work using motors and transformers, or leverage semiconductor technology to miniaturize and enhance electronic devices like computers and smartphones, ensuring safe and reliable operation by adhering to electrical codes and best practices for wiring and grounding.
Materials and Manufacturing
– Extracting and smelting metals like iron, copper, and bronze
- Locating and mining ores of various metals – To locate potential ore deposits, utilize a combination of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, and remote sensing techniques to identify promising areas, then carefully assess the economic viability and environmental impact of extracting the ores. When mining the ores, choose the most appropriate method, such as open-pit, underground, placer, or in-situ mining, based on the depth and characteristics of the deposit, and implement rigorous processing techniques like crushing, flotation, and smelting to efficiently separate the desired metals from the ore. Throughout the mining and processing operations, prioritize sustainable practices that minimize environmental damage, protect worker health and safety, engage local communities, and promote the responsible and ethical extraction of these vital natural resources.
– - Constructing furnaces and crucibles for smelting – To construct a furnace for smelting metals, use refractory materials like bricks and insulation to efficiently contain and direct the high-temperature heat from a coal, coke, or natural gas source, incorporating airflow and draft control mechanisms to ensure complete combustion and maintain the required temperatures, and designing the furnace size, shape, and charging/discharging systems based on the specific metal being smelted and the desired production scale. When building crucibles to hold the metal ore and flux during smelting, select refractory materials like clay, graphite, or ceramic composites that can withstand the extreme temperatures and chemical reactions without degrading, carefully considering the crucible size, shape, and structural integrity to prevent failure during thermal cycling and metal pouring, and preheating the crucibles before use to minimize thermal shock. Throughout the furnace and crucible construction process, prioritize safety by incorporating robust engineering controls to mitigate fire, explosion, and toxic emission hazards, and ensure environmental compliance through proper ventilation, emission control systems, and waste management practices.
– - Applying the principles of metallurgy and alloying – To apply the principles of metallurgy and alloying, use techniques like ore beneficiation, smelting, refining, and casting to extract and process metals, and combine metals with other elements to create alloys with enhanced properties, such as strength, corrosion resistance, or workability. When alloying, carefully select the elements to combine based on their atomic structure and bonding, and consider factors like atomic size, electronegativity, and crystal structure to predict the properties of the resulting alloy. Throughout the metallurgical process, employ heat treatment techniques like annealing, quenching, and tempering to modify the microstructure and properties of the metal, ensuring optimal performance in the final application.
– - Developing tools and techniques for metalworking – To develop tools and techniques for metalworking, use a variety of tools like hammers, files, chisels, pliers, and vises to shape and form metal, and employ techniques like forging, casting, rolling, drawing, stamping, and welding to create desired shapes and structures, ensuring proper safety protocols and best practices are followed to prevent accidents and ensure quality results. When selecting metalworking materials, choose from a range of alloys like carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and bronze, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and consider factors like corrosion resistance, strength, and ductility to ensure the right material for the job. Throughout the metalworking process, maintain tools and machines in good working order, follow safety protocols, and continually refine techniques to optimize efficiency, quality, and safety.
– - Optimizing the properties of metals for different applications – To optimize the properties of metals for different applications, combine metals with carefully selected alloying elements like carbon, chromium, nickel, or aluminum to enhance strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, or conductivity, and employ heat treatment techniques like annealing, quenching, and tempering to further modify the microstructure and tailor the performance of the metal. Apply surface treatments such as nitriding, chromium plating, or galvanizing to improve the surface properties of metals without changing the bulk material, or use powder metallurgy and composite materials to create customized metal parts with unique characteristics like self-lubrication or high strength-to-weight ratios. Throughout the metal optimization process, consider the specific requirements of the target application, whether it’s structural integrity, corrosion resistance, electrical performance, or some other critical property, and leverage the full range of alloying, heat treatment, surface modification, and advanced manufacturing techniques to develop metals that meet those needs.
– Producing ceramics, glass, and primitive plastics
- Sourcing and processing raw materials like clay, sand, and resins – Select high-quality clay, sand, and resins that meet the specific requirements of the target application, and process them through crushing, grinding, and blending to achieve the desired composition and particle size. For ceramics and glass, mix the raw materials together and melt them at high temperatures to form a homogeneous liquid, then shape and cool the material to solidify the structure, while for primitive plastics, dissolve the raw material in a solvent, shape the solution, and allow the solvent to evaporate. Throughout the processing steps, ensure proper waste management and pollution control measures are in place to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining and processing raw materials, and consider recycling and sustainable practices to conserve resources and reduce waste.
– - Constructing kilns and furnaces for firing ceramics and glass – To construct a kiln for firing ceramics, use electric, gas, or wood heat sources to reach the required temperatures, carefully designing the insulation, heating elements, temperature control system, and ventilation to ensure even heating and proper firing, and selecting the appropriate kiln size and shape based on the specific ceramic products being made. When building a furnace for melting glass, employ high-temperature heat sources like natural gas, propane, or electricity to reach the 1400-1600°C range needed to fuse the raw materials, optimizing the furnace design for efficient heat transfer, temperature uniformity, and structural integrity, while incorporating emissions control and safety features to protect operators and the environment. Throughout the kiln and furnace construction process, prioritize thermal efficiency, temperature control, and structural integrity to produce high-quality ceramics and glass, and consider incorporating advanced technologies like computer controls, energy-efficient designs, and hybrid heat sources to enhance flexibility, precision, and sustainability.
– - Developing molding, casting, and shaping techniques – To create complex shapes and products, utilize molding techniques like injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, and vacuum molding to form parts from molten plastics, carefully designing the molds to ensure precise and efficient production, and selecting the appropriate material based on the desired application. When casting metals or other materials, pour the molten substance into molds made of sand, investment materials, or die-cast metal, and in some cases, use centrifugal force to create symmetrical parts, maintaining strict process control to ensure consistent quality. For shaping materials, employ forging, machining, grinding, or 3D printing techniques to manipulate the raw materials into the desired form, considering factors like tooling design, material selection, and post-processing operations to optimize the final product.
– - Experimenting with glazes, pigments, and decorative finishes – To experiment with glazes, pigments, and decorative finishes for ceramics, test different formulas, application techniques, and firing temperatures to create a wide range of visual effects, from clear, colored, and textured glazes to underglaze, overglaze, and luster decorations, ensuring material compatibility and controlling the firing process to achieve the desired results. When working with pigments, experiment with various types, amounts, and combinations of natural and synthetic materials to achieve the target colors, considering how they will interact with the glaze and ceramic body to produce the final appearance. Throughout the experimentation process, apply color theory principles to understand how the glazes, pigments, and decorative finishes will affect the overall look of the ceramic piece, and carefully document the materials and methods used to replicate successful results and build a library of techniques for future projects.
– - Applying ceramics, glass, and early plastics for tools, containers, and structures – To apply ceramics, glass, and early plastics for tools, containers, and structures, leverage the unique properties of each material – the durability and moldability of ceramics, the transparency and hardness of glass, and the low cost and versatility of early plastics – to create a wide range of products, from cutting blades and grinding stones to bottles, jars, and windows, as well as architectural elements and furniture. When selecting the appropriate material for a given application, consider factors like strength, heat resistance, and flexibility, and be aware of the limitations of these early materials, such as brittleness and fragility, which may require design modifications or the use of more advanced materials to meet modern performance requirements. Throughout the design and manufacturing process, take advantage of the shaping and molding techniques specific to each material, such as firing for ceramics, melting and cooling for glass, and casting or machining for early plastics, to produce the desired forms and functionalities.
– Developing basic tools, weapons, and structures
- Designing and fabricating essential hand tools and implements – To design and fabricate essential hand tools and implements, consider key factors like ergonomics, strength, safety, and aesthetics to create products that are comfortable, durable, and visually appealing, selecting appropriate materials such as steel, wood, plastic, and rubber based on their specific properties and the tool’s intended use. When fabricating the tools, employ techniques like forging, casting, machining, and injection molding to shape the materials into the desired forms, ensuring the cutting edges are sharp, the handles fit comfortably in the user’s hand, and any moving parts operate smoothly, and incorporate safety features like guards and non-slip grips to prevent injury. Throughout the design and fabrication process, stay up-to-date with the latest trends in hand tool development, such as cordless power tools, modular designs, and sustainable materials, to create innovative products that meet the evolving needs of users while minimizing environmental impact.
– - Constructing simple weapons like bows, arrows, and spears – To construct simple weapons like bows, arrows, and spears, carefully select and shape materials like wood, bamboo, animal sinew, and plant fibers to create functional and effective tools, designing the bows with the appropriate draw weight and length, the arrows with stabilizing fletching and sharp points, and the spears with balanced weight and length for optimal performance in hunting, warfare, and fishing. When assembling the components, use secure attachment methods like adhesives and bindings, and throughout the weapon-making process, prioritize safety by using proper tools and techniques, storing the finished products securely, and ensuring they are only used by trained individuals in appropriate settings, while respecting the historical and cultural significance of these ancient implements. By understanding the principles of bow, arrow, and spear construction, you can appreciate the ingenuity and skill of our ancestors in creating these essential tools, and potentially incorporate their design elements into modern sporting equipment or artistic works.
– - Building basic shelters, dwellings, and other structures – To build basic shelters, dwellings, and other structures, use readily available natural materials like branches, leaves, and animal hides to create temporary shelters that provide protection from the elements, insulation, and structural stability, employing techniques like lean-to shelters, debris huts, and snow shelters, and for more permanent dwellings, combine natural and basic manufactured materials using post-and-beam, wattle-and-daub, or sod-based construction methods to create structures that meet the specific needs and building traditions of the local environment. When constructing other essential structures like storage facilities, bridges, walkways, and defensive fortifications, prioritize principles of structural integrity, insulation, ventilation, water and weather resistance, and accessibility to ensure the buildings are functional, comfortable, and durable, while incorporating sustainable practices like using locally sourced, renewable materials, passive design strategies, and reusing and repurposing components to minimize environmental impact and extend the lifespan of the structures.
– - Optimizing the use of available materials and resources – To optimize the use of available materials and resources, carefully evaluate the properties and characteristics of each material to determine its suitability for the intended application, considering factors like strength, durability, weight, and cost, and exploring alternative materials that may be more readily available or cost-effective. Implement strategies to minimize waste by planning material usage and cutting patterns efficiently, repurposing and recycling components whenever possible to extend their useful life, and properly disposing of any remaining waste to reduce environmental impact, while streamlining manufacturing processes to improve quality, reduce defects and rework, and continuously monitor and improve operations to optimize material usage and resource consumption. Throughout the optimization process, collaborate with suppliers, partners, and industry peers to share best practices and innovative solutions, stay informed about new materials and technologies that can enhance resource efficiency, and adopt a long-term, holistic view of sustainability to minimize the carbon footprint and environmental impact of operations while meeting the needs of customers and stakeholders.
– - Incorporating ergonomics and functionality into the design process – To incorporate ergonomics and functionality into the design process, prioritize user comfort, safety, and efficiency by analyzing the physical, cognitive, and organizational aspects of human-system interactions, optimizing tool and equipment design to minimize strain and fatigue on the user’s body, and conducting user research, needs assessments, and participatory design methods to understand the target audience and their requirements. When designing the products or structures, balance form and function to create aesthetically pleasing and practical designs that fulfill their intended purpose, employing methodologies like human-centered design and design thinking to keep the user at the center of the process, and continuously evaluate and refine the designs based on user feedback and performance testing to ensure they meet the ergonomic and functional requirements. Throughout the design process, tailor the ergonomic and functional elements to the unique requirements of each application, such as grip size, weight, balance, and safety features for tools and implements, accessibility, ventilation, and structural integrity for shelters and structures, and ease of use, durability, and storage efficiency for containers and packaging, to create materials, tools, and structures that enhance productivity and user satisfaction.
– Simple manufacturing techniques like casting, forging, and weaving
- Mastering the fundamentals of casting, including molds and patterns – To master the fundamentals of casting, carefully design and construct molds using appropriate materials like silicone, rubber, plaster, or metal, incorporating features like vents, gates, and risers to facilitate material flow and air evacuation, and create patterns from clay, wax, wood, or 3D printed parts that accurately represent the desired final shape, ensuring easy mold release and minimal distortion. When pouring the casting material, such as metal, resin, or ceramic, into the mold cavity, ensure proper material preparation, control the casting process parameters like temperature, pressure, and curing time, and account for material shrinkage and dimensional changes to achieve the intended dimensions, then remove the cast piece from the mold, clean off any excess material, and perform secondary operations like trimming, sanding, and polishing to achieve the desired surface finish, applying coatings, patinas, or other decorative treatments as needed. Throughout the casting process, implement quality control measures to identify and address common defects like air bubbles, cracks, and warping, continuously refine techniques and processes to improve consistency and reliability, and document successful methods to replicate high-quality results in future projects.
– - Developing forging techniques for shaping and joining metal components – To develop forging techniques for shaping and joining metal components, leverage the principles of hot and cold forging, using heat to make the metal more malleable for shaping complex forms, and applying compressive forces through hammering, rolling, or pressing to create the desired shapes, while for joining components, employ welding, brazing, or soldering techniques, fusing the metal at high temperatures to create permanent, strong connections. When forging components for specific applications like the automotive, aerospace, or construction industries, optimize the techniques to take advantage of the improved strength and durability of the metal, creating complex shapes and forms cost-effectively at high volumes with minimal waste, and continuously refine the processes to enhance quality, efficiency, and consistency, documenting successful methods to replicate high-performance results in future projects. Throughout the forging process, prioritize safety by using appropriate personal protective equipment, maintaining the equipment in good working order, and following established protocols to minimize risks and ensure a safe working environment.
– - Constructing looms and applying weaving methods for textiles – To construct looms for weaving textiles, select the appropriate type based on the specific needs and goals of the project, such as floor looms for longer lengths of fabric, table looms for portability, rigid heddle looms for simplicity, or tapestry looms for intricate designs, considering factors like warp tension, shedding, and pick-up to ensure the desired fabric structure and quality, and when applying weaving methods, choose the suitable technique for the type of fabric being created, such as plain weave, twill, or satin, using the appropriate tools and materials like shuttles, pick-up sticks, and yarn to execute the chosen method efficiently and effectively, while continuously refining techniques and processes to enhance the quality and consistency of the final product. Throughout the weaving process, prioritize safety by using appropriate personal protective equipment, maintaining the loom and tools in good working order, and following established protocols to minimize risks and ensure a safe working environment, and document successful methods to replicate high-performance results in future projects.
– - Integrating different manufacturing processes for complex products – To integrate different manufacturing processes for complex products, carefully select and combine the unique capabilities of each process, such as repetitive manufacturing for high-volume standardized components, discrete manufacturing for customizable sub-assemblies, and job shop or batch processes for specialized parts or low-volume items, while prioritizing smooth transitions between stages, minimizing waste and rework, and ensuring quality control measures are in place to catch defects early. Leverage automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing to enhance efficiency, precision, and flexibility, empowering skilled workers to handle complex tasks and troubleshoot issues, and continuously monitor performance, gather feedback from operators and customers, and make iterative improvements to optimize the workflow and product quality. By combining complementary manufacturing processes, produce complex, high-quality products that meet diverse customer needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness and agility, documenting successful methods to replicate high-performance results in future projects.
– - Optimizing production efficiency and quality control – To optimize production efficiency and quality control, leverage data analysis and automation to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, implementing lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and improve quality, while continuously monitoring and improving processes through real-time data analytics and employee engagement. Utilize Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices to monitor and record facility parameters in real-time, and deploy automation systems to speed up production, optimize product quality, and identify potential areas for improvement. By setting clear goals and KPIs for production efficiency and quality, regularly reviewing and analyzing performance data, and implementing a culture of continuous improvement, manufacturers can achieve significant gains in efficiency, quality, and competitiveness.
Transportation and Communication
– Building carts, chariots, boats, and early vehicles
- Designing and constructing wheeled vehicles using local materials – To design and construct wheeled vehicles using local materials, carefully select and combine the unique properties and advantages of each material, such as wood, bamboo, animal hides, and basic metal components, to create a durable and functional vehicle frame, wheels, and other essential parts, leveraging repetitive manufacturing for high-volume standardized components, discrete manufacturing for customizable sub-assemblies, and job shop or batch processes for specialized parts or low-volume items. Utilize available tools and techniques, including automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing methods like 3D printing, to enhance efficiency, precision, and flexibility, empowering skilled workers to handle complex tasks and troubleshoot issues, and continuously monitor performance, gather feedback from operators and customers, and make iterative improvements to optimize the design, construction, and overall quality of the wheeled vehicle. Document successful methods and techniques to replicate high-performance results in future projects, while prioritizing safety, minimizing waste and rework, and ensuring quality control measures are in place throughout the design and construction process.
– - Developing watercraft like rafts, canoes, and simple sailing ships – For rafts, use lightweight, buoyant materials like bamboo, reeds, or logs lashed together with rope or vines. To build a canoe, hollow out a log or use birchbark sewn over a wooden frame, seal with pine pitch. For a simple sailing ship, use a wooden hull, mast, and square sail made from animal hide or woven reeds, steer with an oar.
– - Incorporating mechanical principles for improved mobility and traction – Design the hull shape and choose lightweight, buoyant materials to maximize displacement and minimize drag using principles of buoyancy and hydrodynamics. Optimize propulsion systems like oars, sails, or jet drives based on Newton’s laws of motion to generate efficient thrust. Incorporate steering mechanisms that leverage torque and adjustable trim to enhance maneuverability and control.
– - Optimizing the use of animals for traction and transportation – Select draft animals like horses, oxen, or camels that are well-suited for the terrain and climate, provide proper nutrition, shelter, and rest to keep them healthy and productive. Design harnesses, wagons, and pack saddles that distribute weight evenly and minimize chafing using principles of ergonomics and load distribution. Train animals using positive reinforcement to respond to commands, and always treat them humanely to maintain their trust and cooperation.
– - Constructing infrastructure like roads, bridges, and docks – Carefully plan the project, conduct site inspections, and secure necessary funding and approvals before beginning construction. Use appropriate materials like concrete, steel, and asphalt to build sturdy foundations, supports, and decking that can withstand expected loads and environmental conditions. Incorporate safety features like guardrails, lighting, and traction grooves, and perform thorough inspections to ensure the infrastructure meets quality standards before opening for public use.
– Constructing roads, bridges, and canals for transportation
Surveying and Planning Transportation Routes and Networks – Conduct thorough route surveys to gather data on road conditions, traffic patterns, and potential hazards, ensuring the most efficient and cost-effective routes. Use advanced technologies like GIS and geospatial analysis to map and classify transportation features, facilitating informed planning decisions. Engage the public and stakeholders through surveys and other means to establish shared goals and visions for transportation systems, ensuring that projects meet community needs.
Applying Engineering Principles for the Construction of Roads and Bridges – Design roads and bridges using performance-based practical design approaches to ensure safety, functionality, and sustainability. Utilize value engineering to identify the most cost-effective solutions that meet project goals and performance needs. Consider the impacts of pavement on vehicle operations and the environment, incorporating sustainable materials and methods to minimize environmental effects.
Developing Techniques for Excavation, Grading, and Paving – Implement efficient excavation methods, such as using heavy machinery and optimized excavation routes, to minimize costs and environmental impact. Utilize advanced grading techniques, like precision grading and GPS-guided equipment, to ensure accurate and efficient grading. Apply sustainable paving methods, such as using recycled materials and low-impact construction techniques, to reduce environmental effects and improve pavement durability.
Designing and Building Canals, Locks, and Other Water-Based Infrastructure – Conduct thorough feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments to ensure the viability and sustainability of water-based infrastructure projects. Design canals and locks with safety and efficiency in mind, incorporating features like navigation systems and water management controls. Utilize advanced construction techniques, such as modular construction and prefabricated components, to minimize environmental impact and improve project timelines.
Maintaining and Repairing Transportation Systems Over Time – Implement regular maintenance schedules to prevent deterioration and extend the lifespan of transportation infrastructure. Utilize advanced monitoring and inspection techniques, such as sensors and drones, to identify potential issues before they become major problems. Develop and implement effective repair strategies, such as using sustainable materials and minimizing traffic disruptions, to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of transportation systems.
– Developing writing systems, printing, and basic telecommunications
- Inventing or adapting writing systems for record-keeping and communication – Analyze the needs and constraints of your language and culture to design an efficient writing system that balances simplicity and expressiveness. Establish standardized rules for spelling, grammar, and punctuation to ensure consistency and clarity in written communication. Develop mnemonic devices and teaching methods to facilitate the learning and transmission of the writing system to future generations.
– - Constructing printing presses and developing ink-making techniques – Design printing presses that leverage mechanical principles for efficient and consistent reproduction of written materials. Experiment with various materials and recipes to create durable, high-quality inks that adhere well to different surfaces. Implement quality control measures and maintenance procedures to ensure the longevity and reliability of printing equipment.
– - Establishing basic telecommunication methods like semaphore and morse code – Develop standardized codes and protocols that balance efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use for telecommunication systems. Construct signaling devices, such as flags, lamps, or electrical circuits, that can reliably transmit and receive coded messages over long distances. Train operators in the proper use and maintenance of telecommunication equipment to ensure effective and reliable communication.
– - Designing and building simple signaling devices and transmission networks – Analyze the terrain, climate, and available resources to design signaling devices and transmission networks that are practical and sustainable for your specific context. Utilize natural phenomena, such as smoke, fire, or sound, to create simple but effective signaling systems that can be easily maintained and operated. Establish protocols and procedures for the construction, operation, and maintenance of signaling devices and transmission networks to ensure their long-term viability.
– - Preserving and disseminating information through written records and publications – Develop archival techniques, such as using durable materials and proper storage conditions, to protect written records from damage and deterioration. Implement systems for organizing and indexing written records to facilitate easy retrieval and reference, such as using catalogues, libraries, or databases. Establish publishing processes that ensure the accurate reproduction and wide distribution of written materials, such as using printing presses or scribes.
– Using signaling methods like smoke signals, semaphore, and morse code
- Mastering the principles of visual and auditory signaling – Understand the fundamental principles of light, color, and sound to design effective visual and auditory signaling systems that can be reliably perceived and interpreted by their intended audience. Experiment with various materials and techniques to create signaling devices that can generate clear, unambiguous signals, such as using bright colors, flashing lights, or loud noises. Practice sending and receiving signals under different conditions, such as varying distances, angles, and weather, to develop proficiency and identify potential challenges or limitations.
– - Constructing signal towers, flags, and other communication devices – Carefully consider the design and construction of signaling devices to ensure they are sturdy, reliable, and easy to operate. Utilize local materials and resources to build signal towers, flags, and other communication devices that are practical and sustainable for your specific context. Implement quality control measures and maintenance procedures to ensure the longevity and reliability of signaling equipment.
– - Developing standardized signaling protocols and codes – Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, such as transportation authorities, military personnel, or emergency responders, to develop standardized signaling protocols and codes that balance efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use. Establish clear and unambiguous signals for common messages, such as “stop,” “go,” or “emergency,” and ensure they are consistently used and understood by all operators. Train personnel in the proper use and interpretation of signaling protocols and codes to ensure effective and reliable communication.
– - Integrating signaling systems with transportation and information networks – Design signaling systems that seamlessly integrate with existing transportation and information networks to facilitate efficient and coordinated operations. Ensure that signaling systems are compatible with the technologies and protocols used by other systems, such as radio communication or GPS tracking. Implement data sharing and communication protocols that allow for real-time information exchange and decision-making.
– - Maintaining reliable and secure communication channels – Regularly inspect and maintain signaling equipment to ensure it remains in good working order and can reliably transmit and receive signals. Implement security measures, such as encryption or authentication protocols, to protect sensitive information transmitted through signaling channels. Train personnel in the proper procedures for securing and protecting communication channels to prevent unauthorized access or interference.
Medicine and Health
– Understanding human anatomy, physiology, and disease
- Studying the structure and function of the human body – Conduct detailed anatomical studies to understand the organization and relationships between body systems, organs, and tissues. Use dissection, observation, and experimentation to gain insights into the functions and interactions of different body parts. Develop detailed diagrams, models, and descriptions to document and communicate your findings.
– - Identifying common diseases, their causes, and symptoms – Conduct thorough observations and interviews to identify patterns and correlations between symptoms, environmental factors, and disease outcomes. Develop systematic methods for categorizing and classifying diseases based on their causes, symptoms, and progression. Document and share your findings to facilitate the development of effective treatments and prevention strategies.
– - Developing a basic understanding of microbiology and pathology – Conduct experiments and observations to understand the behavior, growth, and interactions of microorganisms. Study the effects of microorganisms on the human body and the environment to develop a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms. Develop techniques for isolating, identifying, and characterizing microorganisms to inform disease diagnosis and treatment.
– - Applying the scientific method to observe, hypothesize, and test – Systematically observe and record phenomena to identify patterns and anomalies. Develop hypotheses based on your observations and design experiments to test these hypotheses. Analyze and interpret your results to refine your understanding and develop evidence-based conclusions.
– - Compiling comprehensive medical reference materials and knowledge – Organize and document your findings in a clear, concise, and accessible manner to facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination. Develop comprehensive reference materials, such as textbooks, diagrams, and illustrations, to provide a foundation for further study and research. Continuously update and refine your reference materials as new knowledge and discoveries emerge.
– Developing primitive anesthetics, antiseptics, and antibiotics
- Identifying and extracting natural compounds with medicinal properties – Conduct thorough surveys of local flora and fauna to identify potential sources of medicinal compounds, taking into account traditional knowledge and practices. Develop systematic methods for collecting, processing, and extracting active ingredients from natural sources, ensuring sustainability and minimizing environmental impact. Test the efficacy and safety of extracted compounds through in vitro and in vivo experiments, gradually refining your extraction and purification techniques.
– - Constructing simple tools and equipment for medical procedures – Design and fabricate basic medical instruments, such as scalpels, forceps, and sutures, using locally available materials and resources. Ensure that your tools are sturdy, reliable, and easy to sterilize, prioritizing functionality and safety. Practice using your instruments on appropriate models or simulations to develop proficiency and identify areas for improvement.
– - Applying basic sterilization and infection control techniques – Develop and implement effective sterilization protocols for medical instruments and equipment, using heat, chemicals, or radiation as appropriate. Educate healthcare providers and patients on the importance of hand hygiene and aseptic technique to prevent the spread of infection. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your sterilization and infection control measures through regular testing and surveillance.
– - Experimenting with primitive anesthetics and pain management – Identify and test the efficacy of natural compounds with potential anesthetic properties, such as plant extracts or animal venoms. Develop safe and effective administration methods, taking into account individual variations and potential side effects. Combine anesthetic techniques with other pain management strategies, such as immobilization, distraction, or placebo effects, to optimize patient comfort and outcomes.
– - Discovering and cultivating antibiotic-producing microorganisms – Conduct systematic surveys of soil, water, and other environmental samples to isolate and identify microorganisms with antibiotic-producing potential. Develop culture media and growth conditions that promote the production of antimicrobial compounds. Test the efficacy and specificity of your microbial isolates against a range of pathogenic bacteria, refining your cultivation and screening techniques as needed.
– Performing basic surgery and treatments
- Mastering fundamental surgical skills and techniques – Develop a thorough understanding of human anatomy and physiology to inform your surgical decision-making and minimize the risk of complications. Practice basic surgical techniques, such as incision, dissection, and suturing, on appropriate models or simulations to build proficiency and dexterity. Continuously refine your skills through ongoing practice, feedback, and self-reflection, striving for precision, efficiency, and patient safety.
– - Developing methods for wound care, suturing, and bandaging – Assess the type, severity, and location of wounds to determine the most appropriate treatment approach. Utilize clean, sterile techniques to clean and debride wounds, removing foreign material and devitalized tissue. Apply appropriate dressings, bandages, or sutures to promote healing and prevent infection, taking into account factors such as wound size, depth, and tension.
– - Constructing basic medical devices and instruments – Design and fabricate simple medical devices and instruments using locally available materials and resources, prioritizing functionality, durability, and ease of use. Ensure that your devices meet necessary safety and performance standards, and conduct thorough testing to identify and mitigate potential risks or failures. Develop clear instructions and training materials to facilitate proper use and maintenance of your devices by healthcare providers.
– - Applying principles of anatomy and physiology for diagnosis and treatment – Integrate your knowledge of human anatomy and physiology to accurately interpret patient symptoms, signs, and diagnostic test results. Develop differential diagnoses based on your findings, considering factors such as age, gender, medical history, and risk factors. Formulate and implement appropriate treatment plans, taking into account the underlying pathophysiology and the patient’s individual needs and preferences.
- Establishing protocols for triage and emergency medical response – Develop clear, standardized protocols for assessing and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and the urgency of their need for treatment. Train healthcare providers and first responders in the proper use of triage systems and emergency response procedures. Regularly review and update your protocols based on emerging evidence, feedback from stakeholders, and lessons learned from real-world incidents.
– Applying herbal remedies and traditional healing practices
- Identifying and cultivating medicinal plants in the local environment – Conduct thorough surveys of the local flora to identify plants with potential medicinal properties, drawing upon traditional knowledge and practices. Develop sustainable cultivation methods that take into account the specific growing requirements and ecological context of each plant species. Implement quality control measures to ensure the consistency and safety of your plant materials, such as proper harvesting techniques, drying, and storage.
– - Developing methods for extracting, preparing, and administering herbal medicines – Experiment with various extraction techniques, such as infusion, decoction, or tincture, to obtain the active compounds from medicinal plants. Formulate herbal preparations in appropriate dosage forms, such as teas, tinctures, or topical ointments, taking into account factors like bioavailability, palatability, and ease of administration. Establish clear guidelines for the proper use and dosage of your herbal medicines, based on factors such as age, weight, and individual response.
– - Incorporating traditional healing practices like acupuncture and herbalism – Develop a deep understanding of the underlying principles and philosophies of traditional healing practices, such as the concept of qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Master the practical skills and techniques associated with these practices, such as needle placement in acupuncture or the preparation of herbal formulas. Integrate traditional healing approaches with modern medical knowledge to create a holistic and comprehensive approach to healthcare.
– - Integrating holistic approaches to health and well-being – Recognize the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health and well-being. Develop strategies for promoting overall health and resilience, such as stress management techniques, dietary modifications, or lifestyle changes. Empower patients to take an active role in their own health by providing education and support for self-care practices.
– - Documenting and preserving traditional medical knowledge – Systematically document and record traditional medical knowledge, including plant identification, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications. Collaborate with elders, healers, and knowledge keepers to ensure the accuracy and cultural relevance of your documentation. Develop strategies for preserving and transmitting traditional knowledge to future generations, such as through apprenticeship programs or educational initiatives.
To ensure our species’ endurance, we must arm ourselves with the bedrock of scientific understanding. These fundamental tenets, when firmly grasped, shall empower the survivors to resurrect and reconstruct the very foundations of our technological society. The preservation and dissemination of this vital knowledge is not merely important, it is absolutely crucial for the long-term resilience of humankind. We must, with great purpose and resolve, safeguard these intellectual treasures, for they are the seeds from which a new civilization shall grow.
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Which of the following is one of the two fundamental issues that the recommendations of the 1947 Hutchins Commission on social responsibility in journalism were based on? a. Society’s welfare is paramount. b. Morality should be a business practice. c. Corporate responsibility is essential. d. The golden rule should be written in stone. Why do phone surveys present significant ethical challenges to academic or applied research? a. Phone surveys are often hard to distinguish from official government messages. b. Phone surveys are often veiled attempts at sales pitches. c. Phone surveys are often illegal in design and implementation. d. Phone surveys are often conducted from unregulated offshore sites. Aristotle’s golden mean recommends you should ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ a. True b. FalseWhy is it important for journalists to, when called for, practice confidentiality? a. so that the competition does not have the advantage of using those same sources in the future b. so that the public is kept ‘in the dark’ about the reality of the stories they tune in to hear or watch c. so that they have the trust of citizens who may have inside information about important stories d. so that there is a degree of mystery in the news, which can lead to greater interest and higher ratings Pragmatic ethics were postulated by John Dewey, who argued that actions had to be judged by whether they adhered to a particular philosophy or guideline, not by their results. a. True b. FalseXavier and Juan have started a clothing company in which they intend to sell quality children’s clothing to ‘the world’s children’ at a fraction of the cost of other outfitters. And, with the small margin of profits they do make, they plan to invest much of that into a program that offers their clothing free to cultures in villages located in remote places where it is sorely needed. They want the world to be a place where ‘no child goes without a shirt on his or her back.’ What principle are Xavier and Juan most closely following? a. Aristotle’s golden mean b. the Bible’s golden rule c. Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative d. John Stuart Mill’s principle of utility Advertising has dealt with issues of protecting consumer privacy through ________. a. practicing industry self-regulation b. creating professional standards that are legally enforced c. creating legal guidelines in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission d. using sophisticated firewalls to protect data gathered Which of the following is an example of a journalist NOT using fairness and balance in her work? a. Casey did not cover the competing network’s successes at the awards ceremony because it highlighted their accomplishments. b. Casey reported on the homeless situation in her neighborhood, even though she knew it would likely reduce property values. c. Casey told her editor that she refused to write the article on the violent offender because she felt it glorified his actions. d. Casey chose to clarify her story on the neighborhood watch, as in the first report on it she had inadvertently made an error in fact. Imagine you are a professional news reporter for The Baltimore Sun. If your editor asks you to observe the ‘veil of ignorance’ when reporting on drugs in the inner city, what is he really asking? a. He wants you to interview a random sample of people from inner city Baltimore to get a more realistic picture. b. He wants you to conduct preliminary interviews before reading background material on the issue. c. He wants you to make a concerted effort to filter out your own stereotypes about race and poverty when writing the story. d. He wants you to make sure you use everyday expressions when writing the story to make it easier to read. Journalists have to be careful and cautious, as there are no ethical limits on free speech. a. True b. FalseGloria’s research team is looking into how effective their new ‘Community Clean-Up’ ad campaign might be. In doing so, they are using Potter’s Box to think through the ethics of the campaign and rationalize their decisions. What stage are they in if they are now considering whether the images used in their campaign will effectively deter littering in the inner city neighborhoods of Boston? a. Quadrant 3 b. Quadrant 4 c. Quadrant 1 d. Quadrant 2 Which of the following is a key difference between morality and ethics? a. Ethics are not required for good media business practices, whereas morality is required. b. Morality is not required for good media business practices, whereas ethics are required. c. Morality is the ability to understand right and wrong, ethics are the standards of good behavior. d. Ethics represent the ability to understand right and wrong, morality is the standard of good behavior. What do media ethics codes attempt to do? a. Implement legal standards that are enforceable throughout the industry. b. Set a standard or act as a guide for ethical decision making. c. Advance an environment where all treat each other with respect. d. Create a strict set of rules for all media personnel to follow. When news anchor Leona Simpson says ‘Stay tuned: After the break we’ll be revealing how toxic the drinking water might be in your neighborhood,’ just before going away to a commercial, this is a clear example of _______. a. invasion of privacy b. confidentiality c. sensationalism d. inaccuracy Which of the following BEST encapsulates Potter’s Box? a. a standard by which to live morally and ethically b. a standard by which to treat others and be treated in return c. a process approach to deciding on ethical actions d. a rule from divinity to guide actions and behavior Since Alexandra is looking for general principles that underlie her options, she is in Quadrant 3 of Potter’s Box. a. True b. FalseWhat are the key points in Aristotle’s golden mean? a. cooperation and symmetry b. patience and virtue c. moderation and balance d. admiration and respect Which of the following is NOT one of the five guidelines listed for the press by the 1947 Hutchins Commission? a. Give broad coverage of what was known about society. b. Respect not only the story, but also those to whom the story is reported. c. Present meaningful news, accurate and separated from opinion. d. Serve as a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism. Sam, in attempting to use Potter’s Box to guide himself through an ethical dilemma, is at the point where he is asking himself whether his decision represents his values of honesty and trustworthiness rather than just making his media firm’s bottom line stronger and more attractive. Which stage is he in? a. Quadrant 3 b. Quadrant 2 c. Quadrant 4 d. Quadrant 1 In her day-to-day responsibilities, Maggie has to deal with dozens of top executives, managers, and other co-workers. This morning, she had a bad experience with one of those co-workers when he barked at her for not supplying him with a report quickly enough. Rather than bark back, Maggie smiled, kept her composure, quickly printed the report, and delivered it to his desk. She did this because she wants to treat all of her co-workers in the same manner that she wants them to treat her, with courtesy and respect. Which of the following principles is Maggie adhering to? a. the veil of ignorance b. the golden rule c. the golden mean d. the principle of utility Which of the following LEAST exemplifies ‘glocal’? a. A Brazilian soap opera that is broadcast nightly to the United States via cable TV with commercials. b. U.S. nightly news simulcasts seen in various parts of Europe, paid for with local advertisement dollars. c. A U.S./Mexico soccer match broadcast in both countries and sponsored by Chevrolet. d. Global coverage of the U.S. presidential race by media outlets from every corner of the world map. Which of the following is a major issue when it comes to Hollywood films NOT making their way to other nations or regions in the world? a. the impact of the material on other cultures b. the logistics of sending and receiving the material c. the copyright issues entangled with the material d. the economics of buying and selling the material Those who consider the current international flows of information and culture unequal tend to emphasize _______ as justification for a country’s asserting control over media flows. a. international law b. globalization c. national sovereignty d. privatization The idea of a free flow of information goes against the basic concept of freedom of speech. a. True b. FalseEven though Americans like the cosmopolitan appeal of some European television, movies, and music, they tend to choose most of their media from their own or a similar culture because it is more familiar and interesting to them. a. True b. FalseHistorically, trade in television between countries has been shaped mostly by _______. a. geography b. economics c. advertising d. language The new hit show Buenos Noches is wildly popular in Mexico and also very much so in Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Which of the following is TRUE about this new show? a. It has found a cultural-linguistic market. b. It has become globalized. c. It has become both localized and globalized. d. It is a strictly localized market it enjoys. Which of the following BEST exemplifies cultural imperialism? a. Brazilian soap operas are broadcast to literally millions of Brazilian-born people in cities throughout the United States, where they live, work, and play. b. Russian television broadcasts throughout Eastern Europe yet virtually no Eastern European programming has ever been watched by Russians in their own country. c. The U.S./Mexico border has long been a place in which millions of pirated films, music CDs, and other forms of illegally-obtained entertainment crosses over. d. The Great Wall of China is sometimes referred to as the ‘Great Firewall’ of China, since no Internet services are available in that country to the vast majority of its citizens. Shows like Big Brother and The Voice, that are very much a product of their own region or country with popularity that stretches out to many other nations are _______. a. both localized and globalized b. neither localized nor globalized c. only globalized d. only localized Why do the ITU and the World Bank encourage national governments and foreign investors to invest more funds in expanding of developing world telephone and Internet systems, such as increasing Internet capabilities and coverage in these parts of the world? a. They believe it will make for greater competition. b. They believe it will break down political barriers. c. They believe it will contribute to economic growth. d. They believe it will lead to world peace. Which of the following BEST exemplifies cyber warfare? a. Soviet missiles being programmed with heat-sensing technology for future use in war. b. French fighter planes equipped with sonar technologies that sense very miniscule movements. c. Chinese intelligence officers intercepting U.S. cell phone conversations through satellites. d. The United States temporarily damaging Iranian nuclear capabilities through computer viruses. Because Daniella wished to be back home, and so surrounded herself with Brazilian friends, food, and music, she desired _______. a. cultural proximity b. a glocal setting c. globalization d. regionalizaion Based on Figure 18.1 in your textbook, what can be said about the flow of media between the United States and South America? a. It flows in both directions, with South America sending more than it receives. b. It is a one-way flow, from South America to the United States. c. It flows in both directions, with the United States sending more than it receives. d. It is a one-way flow, from the United States to South America. Based on Figure 18.1 in your text, which country or region would you say has the most even exchange of media between itself and other countries/regions? a. Africa b. South America c. Japan d. The United States Even though nations differ culturally and politically, they are seldom _______. a. globalized b. isolated c. nationalistic d. localized Smaller than global, but larger than national, cultural-linguistic markets build on transnational cultural proximity. a. True b. FalseWhich of the following countries would likely have the greatest success is exporting television and other media to Mexico? a. Brazil b. Canada c. Japan d. Spain Regionalization of media is quickly diminishing and fading. a. True b. FalseWhich of the following is TRUE of international trade in media? a. It is influenced by the WTO. b. It almost always sees equal balance. c. It excludes completely all of Asia. d. It is always a one-sided flow.
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Experience on-the-go learning with our all-new digital current affairs ecosystem.
There cannot be a better way to begin this article than a comparison based on a startling scientific fact. The fact is the nucleus of an atom is mysteriously powerful. It has captured the imagination of many leading physicists. Similar to the small-yet-dense nucleus, a human mind houses infinite power. And equally similarly, the prelims syllabus for Science & Technology is outwardly small but essentially dense.
The UPSC notification, released every year, uses only two words i.e. ‘GENERAL SCIENCE’ to define the entire syllabus for Basic Science and Science & Technology. One may think Science & Technology is an insignificant subject, but an average of 12-14 questions are asked every year in the UPSC CSE Prelims.
82 questions have been asked from the Basic Science and Science & Technology sections with respective weightages of 25 percent and 75 percent.
Simply put, Science & Technology is one big challenge because of the breadth and depth of the themes on which questions are based. For example, questions from biotechnology expect aspirants to know and understand concepts beyond genes and chromosomes. Aspirants need to have a fair idea related to cutting-edge techniques like CRISPR, somatic cell nuclear transfer, etc.
What further makes the subject challenging is the paucity of consolidated resources. In the last 7 years, nearly 33 percent of the questions asked from this section were of difficult level.
Furthermore, many of the UPSC aspirants are from non-science and non-engineering backgrounds, thus having lost touch with the subject. This certainly does not mean that all the aspirants from the science and engineering discipline can ace it.
As one can see from the Previous Year Questions (PYQs), the topics covered range from biotechnology to information technology to astronomy and space technology. No aspirant, irrespective of his/her background, can comfortably answer all these questions without adequate knowledge and understanding.
As already-mentioned, finding reliable sources for covering the syllabus has been a challenge. Again, it can be ascribed to the dynamic nature of the subject. Let us briefly analyze the components and sources-related aspects of S&T.
To address the particular challenges related to S&T and help aspirants strike a balance between the factual richness and analytical competence, VisionIAS has brought out its 7-year PYQ Trend Analysis Document for S&T.
The VisionIAS 7-year PYQ Trend Analysis Document for S&T (hereon referred to as ‘the document’) is an attempt to converge the importance of the PYQs and additional information in the form of text and illustrations to enhance knowledge and aid understanding.
All 82 questions from Basic Science and S&T have been answered in detail and supplied with exhaustive information. More importantly, the possibility and usefulness of ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE as a tool has been discussed for each question.
To put in perspective the importance of certain sections, the document has categorized questions under different topics. Apart from biotechnology (especially genetics) and information technology, one can gauge the importance of miscellaneous topics like nanotechnology or carbon fibers. The additional information section in the document will definitely lessen the time of the aspirants in gathering information related to such themes.
Themes from basic science have also been discussed in great detail. Facts related to microorganisms and diseases have been listed down and this feature indeed makes this document a one-stop solution for all their S&T-related problems faced by aspirants.
The above-mentioned features of the document can be understood from the example below
The explanation to the question is as follows
The explanation captures the essential facts relevant to the statements in the question. It aims to help the candidates to understand the underlying logic. Those essential facts which are related to the theme of the question but do not have any direct link with the statements have been explained under ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Apart from the explanation, the application of elimination techniques has been discussed. Although in 2023, UPSC reduced the scope for elimination, the technique holds good as sometimes in a particular question one option contradicts the other. In such questions, the technique can be used to eliminate ‘All three’ or ‘All four’ are correct.
Finally, to further expand the knowledge base, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION has been provided after every question. This section will go a long way to save the time of the aspirants as all the relevant information has been provided at one place. For example, while reading about satellites, a natural curiosity arises to know and understand about the SLVs (Satellite Launch Vehicles), hence providing such information reduces the time and effort required on the part of the student.
A unique feature of the document is the DID YOU KNOW? section provided at the beginning of each topic. This feature is a fun way to acquire new knowledge. All the facts contained in this section are pertinent to the themes that UPSC has used over the years.
As can be seen below, illustration and images have been lavishly yet appropriately inserted to facilitate the understanding of difficult concepts. This feature is certainly going to make the reading experience engaging and fun
Students can make the most of this document by reading it along with their own notes and VisionIAS monthlies or Pt 365. Finally, taking mock tests at regular intervals will aid in assessing one’s preparation level.
Remember the human mind is as potent as the small yet energetic nucleus of an atom.
Have Faith in Yourself and Study Well!
Download the Document
Our Expert Counselors are Here to Discuss Your Queries and Concerns in a Personalized Manner to Help You Achieve Your Academic Goals.
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In the last decade federal and state law enforcementhave seized over $8 billion in drug cash and assets. In Figure 24, the most explored methods to remove anti-infective drugs are the biotreatment processes or flocculation with 29% and activated carbon with 30%. This tendency can be expected due to this method is the most economical to treat general pollutants in wastewater but certainly it is not the most effective. Likewise, the activated carbon has been commonly used in pesticides and other volatile organic pollutants, as well as to eliminating the chlorine added in the first stage treatment, through a reducing chemical reaction. The oxidation process has been more effective in removing drugs due to be a method that involves the formation of free hydroxyl radicals at very large overpotentials, which is why the radicals present by drugs are oxidized.
To interpret data on drug prices, researchers commonly adjust the price for weight and purity. The resulting price per pure gram of drug corresponds to the notion of price in the textbook model, but it does not correspond to actual transaction prices. Drug users, and even drug dealers, do not know the exact number of grams of pure drug in the dime bags they exchange.
Like any commodities business the closer you are tothe source the cheaper the product. Processed cocaine is available in Colombiafor $1500 dollars per kilo and sold on the streets of America for as much as$66,000 a kilo (retail). Heroin costs $2,600/kilo in Pakistan, but can be soldon the streets of America for $130,000/kilo (retail). And synthetics likemethamphetamine are often even cheaper to manufacture costing approximately$300 to $500 per kilo to produce in clandestine labs in the US and abroad andsold on US streets for up to $60,000/kilo (retail). In addition to describing the pharmaceutical market, the consumption of drugs worldwide, the causes of death and burden of disease, we mentioned that it is important to describe the research efforts done by the world in the removal of the pharmaceutical groups in water or wastewater. In the similar way, in Table 5 it is shown the keywords used in the research to find the five research fronts.
The increasing adoption of these generic equivalents is especially due to the fact that these generics are often as efficient as their original counterparts and can often be adopted by patients at a fraction of the costs. Patients without access to expensive prescription products due to financial hurdles can often adopt these drugs and experience better clinical outcomes. FDA announced that they had given 1,171 generic drug approvals, of which 935 were full approvals and 236 were tentative approvals. The U.S. FDA particularly approved these generic equivalents to improve drug competition and to also encourage the increasing adoption of these low-cost drug equivalents.
The Dynamics of the Drugs Market
The drugs market encompasses a wide array of products, including over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, and illicit substances. This market is not only vast but also complex due to factors such as regulation, innovation, and consumer demand.
A generic drug is only allowed onto the market when its original drug’s patent period expires. It is a molecule now allowed to be sold by all the players under a different brand name. The market report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 different countries across major regions globally. The global anti-cancer drugs market size is on track to reach US$ 198,957.9 million in 2024. The market is poised for consistent growth, with a promising compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% projected through 2034. This expansion is expected to elevate the market to a substantial valuation of US$ 411,789.3 million by 2034.
Upsurge in the cost of raw materials and drugs owing to supply chain disruption, lockdown situations has affected growth of the generic drugs industry. This is due to; around 13% of brand and generic manufacturers are based in China and 24% of medicines and 31% of medicinal ingredients were imported from India.The pharmaceutical supply chain is easily broken and the impact of Covid-19 has taken it to the fore once again. The API plant for these is often overseas, with India and China dominating the API market. The API can be produced in a single plant and, at each level, has very little inventory. However, COVID-19 is gradually solving the problem, with most businesses starting their facilities at full capacity. The rise in sedentary jobs, busy lifestyles, and changing consumer preferences are affecting the disease profile of the world population, especially non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Wan24 employed natural language processing approaches to clarify the impact of news sentiment in the network of companies on the financial market. It turned out that positive news on some companies also positively influenced their neighbors in the co-occurrence network. There25 was a new method proposed to assess network similarity, which may be an indicator of causal links. An early warning system was considered a practical application for understanding interconnections between announcements and market response.
Overview of the Drugs Market
The drugs market can be segmented into various categories:
- Pharmaceutical Drugs: These are prescription medications used to treat illnesses.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs: Easily accessible medications that do not require a prescription.
- Illicit Drugs: Substances that are illegal and often associated with significant social and legal issues.
Factors Influencing the Drugs Market
Several key factors contribute to the dynamics of the drugs market:
- Regulatory Framework: Government regulations impact drug availability, pricing, and manufacturer liability.
- Research and Development: Continuous innovation leads to new drugs entering the market and existing drugs being improved.
- Consumer Trends: Public interest in health and wellness influences the demand for specific medications.
- Globalization: The cross-border trade of drugs alters market dynamics, especially in the context of pricing and access.
Challenges in the Drugs Market
- Typically, two to three years after losing exclusivity, the prices of generic drugs plummet by a substantial 60–70 percent when compared to their branded equivalents.
- Also, e-pharmacies will be a full-fledged distribution channel in the future, which will enable next-day/same-day delivery, and help validate the credibility of prescriptions.
- Similarly, the consumption trends in the world will present important changes driven by the urgent need of vaccinating world population to decrease the number of infected people and deaths.
- This focuses on the ‘efficacy price tag’ (in terms of, for example, the cost per QALY) of the technologies in question.
- Moreover, these indoor grow sites produce personal use quantities of marijuana insufficient for distribution.
Despite its growth, the drugs market faces several challenges:
- Price Regulation: Countries implement policies to control drug prices, impacting profitability.
- Intellectual Property Issues: Patent expiration leads to the introduction of generic drugs, affecting brand name sales.
- Public Health Issues: The rise of antibiotic resistance and opioid crises highlight the market’s responsibilities.
Future Trends in the Drugs Market
The drugs market is poised for significant evolution in the coming years:
- Personalized Medicine: Tailoring medical treatment to individual characteristics enhances efficacy.
- Digital Health Integration: Technology will play a larger role in drug development and patient management.
- Increased Focus on Rare Diseases: Growing investment in treatments for orphan diseases highlights market diversification.
FAQs about the Drugs Market
Q: What drives the pricing in the drugs market?
A: Pricing is influenced by research and development costs, marketing and distribution expenses, and regulatory factors.
Q: How is the drugs market regulated?
A: Regulatory bodies, such as the FDA in the United States, oversee drug approval, safety, and efficacy.
Q: What is the impact of generics on the drugs market?
A: The introduction of generic drugs significantly lowers prices and increases access to medications.
The drugs market remains an essential component of global health. Understanding its intricacies allows stakeholders, from manufacturers to consumers, to navigate the complexities involved in the healthcare landscape.
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Plague is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis. It is majorly spread by flea bites and is officially of two types, bubonic and septicemic. Bubonic form leads to swelling of lymph nodes, whereas in septicemic plague, tissue turns dark black. Most frequent symptoms of plague include fever, headache, and shortness of breath. As and when any incidence of human plague is captured, antimicrobial treatment is carried out to counter it. In addition, plague modification devices are available in the market that help in clearing out arterial blockage to improve blood circulation in the body. Arterial plague is due to deposition of fat on the outer wall resulting in reduced blood flow. With the plethora of various organic and inorganic strategies being incorporated by global players, plague modification device market is expected to grow at a notable pace in coming years.
COVID-19 Impact Analysis
Increase has been witnessed in the demand for medical supplies to take care of infected population. Respiratory support devices such as atomizers, life support machines, oxygen generators, and monitors are among the majorly used medical devices in primary clinical treatment. Moreover, COVID-19 has led to a huge surge in demand for medical supplies such as personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, and protective eyeglasses. The need for medical supplies has increased significantly among both from healthcare professionals and civil population for precautionary measures, owing to rise in number of COVID-19 cases worldwide. Manufacturers of these products have a chance to capitalize this increased demand for medical supplies to ensure adequate and continuous supply of personal protective equipment in the market. Therefore, COVID 19 is expected to have a significant impact on the global plaque modification devices market.
Top Impacting Factors
- Rise in number of people suffering from cardiovascular and related diseases around the globe is a major driving factor for market growth.
- Increase in incidence of older populace suffering from obesity, high cholesterol levels, and heart diseases in industrialized regions such as North America and Europe is another primary driver for two-fold market growth.
- Increase in health awareness and rise in per capita income drive the market growth in lower middle income and newly industrialized nations.
- Another factor for growth of plague modification device market is the growing popularity of coronary lithoplasty.
- Introduction of innovative technologies coupled with surge in frequency of adoption of minimal invasive surgeries is expected to drive the market growth.
- However, huge developmental and operational costs associated with market combined with effects of ongoing pandemic are likely to hamper growth of plague modification device market.
Plague Modification Devices Market Trends
- Chronic total occlusion segment is likely to witness remarkable growth due to rising number of patients suffering from chronic heart diseases in under developed nations in Africa and the Middle East.
- North America, the peripheral artery segment is likely to remain as the leading revenue generator, owing to more cases of peripheral artery disease in the region.
- Avinger Technologies is likely to launch Ocelaris CAD, an image guided CTO crossing at the end of this year, thus providing the much needed push for plague modification segment in Asia-Pacific.
- Launch of Pantheris SV and Pantheris Next Gen, which is a joint venture is anticipated to garner huge market traction in North America, entrusting stakeholders of huge opportunity with the growth of plague modification device market.
Key Benefits of the Report
- This study presents the analytical depiction of the plaque modification devices industry along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets.
- The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with a detailed analysis of the plaque modification devices market share.
- The current market is quantitatively analyzed to highlight the plaque modification devices market growth scenario.
- Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market.
- The report provides a detailed analysis depending on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in the coming years.
Questions Answered in the Plaque Modification Devices Market Report
- Which are the leading players active in the plaque modification devices market?
- How is each segment of the market expected to grow during the forecast period?
- What are the adoption trends for the plaque modification devices market in emerging economies and established economies across the world?
- What are the current trends that will influence the market in the next few years?
- What are the driving factors, restraints, and opportunities of the plaque modification devices market?
- What future projections would help in taking further strategic steps?
- What are the impacts of COVID-19 in the industry?
- What is plaque modification devices?
- What is the plaque modification devices g market prediction in the future?
- What are the current trends and predicted trends?
Plaque Modification Devices Market Report Highlights
Aspects | Details |
By Type |
By Application |
By End User |
By Region |
Key Market Players | Microvention Inc., Penumbra Inc., Biotronik SE and Co. KG, Medtronic Plc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Codman Neuro, Cardiovascular Systems Inc, Cardinal Health Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Stryker Corp. |
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This is a short-lived plant that cangrow as tall as 6 feet. Their stems can be a pale green, a reddish-purple, or may even be a pinkish color. Their tops can have 12-15 small white flowers that are extremely close to each other. These clusters of flowers also make it look similar to carrot plants, which can be further confusing for inexperienced humans and herbivorous animals.
Due to how similar this plant is, it is often mistaken for parsnips. This is often considered a fatal mistake, as upon ingestion the consumer experiences violent and painful convulsions. They also suffer from nausea, severe cramps, projectile vomiting, potential damage to the nervous system, and even retrograde amnesia.
This poison is so strong that it cankill a cow in just 15 minutes.This is one of the reasons it is also referred to as "cowsbane."This toxic effect is due to cicutoxin, which is an unsaturated aliphatic alcohol which is mostly concentrated in the plant's roots.
Habitat and Location
This plant can be found all across North America, from Mexico, through the entire United States, and even in most parts of Canada. They prefer moist areas, such as marshes, swamps, prairies, seeps, roadside ditches, and more.
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In the vast realm of neurodiversity, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands as an enigmatic puzzle, a multidimensional conundrum that intertwines cognitive, emotional, and behavioral facets. With a prevalence of around 5% globally, ADHD is no stranger to sparking debate, igniting conversations, and fueling curiosity. As we delve into the depths of this intricate disorder, we must embark on a journey through the labyrinthine pathways of the human mind.
At its core, ADHD is characterized by a cocktail of symptoms that often confound even the most seasoned clinicians. The hallmark signs of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity offer a trifecta of challenges that can permeate various aspects of an individual’s life. Yet, within this chaos, there exists a paradox: the potential for bursts of creative brilliance. As the mind flits from one idea to another, seemingly unable to maintain focus, it may inadvertently stumble upon innovative connections that others might have overlooked. For more information, you can visit this link: https://promises.com.sg/services/child-and-adolescent-psychology/adhd-test/.
The narrative of ADHD transcends the realm of mere diagnosis; it becomes a narrative of diversity and adaptation. Imagine a canvas splashed with vibrant colors and erratic brushstrokes. The neurotypical mind might diligently color within the lines, producing a coherent and harmonious image. On the other hand, the ADHD mind ventures beyond those lines, experimenting with colors, forms, and textures in a way that challenges conventional aesthetics. It’s in this experimental fervor that the seeds of genius can often find fertile ground.
Peering into the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD unveils a captivating dance of neurotransmitters. Dopamine, often referred to as the brain’s “pleasure chemical,” takes center stage. In a twist of fate, individuals with ADHD exhibit dysregulation in the dopamine pathways, leading to an insatiable quest for stimulation. The brain, ever the maverick, compensates for this scarcity by seeking novel experiences with a fervor that can only be likened to the rush of a carnival ride.
This quest for novelty, while a hallmark of ADHD, dances hand in hand with the challenges of maintaining sustained attention. A mundane task, devoid of novelty, can quickly become an uphill battle. Imagine a marathon runner attempting to sprint through a monotonous landscape – the impulse to veer off-course and explore uncharted terrain becomes irresistible. It is this impulse that fuels both the bursts of inspiration and the frustration that often accompanies the disorder.
The ADHD mind is a tapestry woven with threads of distraction and fixation. In one moment, it might be captivated by the glint of sunlight bouncing off a window, and in the next, it might be engrossed in unraveling the intricate mechanics of a complex problem. This intricate interplay between the fleeting and the profound is the essence of burstiness – a rhythm that, although erratic, holds its own harmonious melody.
Society, however, often grapples with accommodating such unconventional cadences. Educational systems designed for linear thinking struggle to harness the potential of these whirlwind minds. The classroom, with its rows of desks and structured syllabi, can feel like a stifling cage for those who thrive on the freedom of thought’s untamed flight. It’s crucial that we reimagine learning environments, embracing flexibility and nurturing individual strengths, allowing ADHD’s unique burstiness to flourish.
Yet, the ADHD narrative isn’t without its challenges. The same impulsivity that sparks creative leaps can also lead to a trail of unfinished projects and unfulfilled promises. The siren call of immediate gratification can drown out the patient hum of long-term goals. Navigating this intricate landscape requires a delicate balance – leveraging the bursts of inspiration while developing strategies to anchor those bursts into sustained endeavors.
In conclusion, ADHD stands as a testament to the kaleidoscopic complexity of the human mind. It defies neat categorization, demands nuanced understanding, and invites us to embrace the symphony of chaos and brilliance. As we journey through the corridors of ADHD, we encounter bursts of creativity, flashes of insight, and moments of frustration – all woven into a tapestry that is as unique as the individuals it envelops. In honoring the burstiness and perplexity that define ADHD, we might just uncover the vibrant hues that enrich our collective human experience.
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The book's orginal title was "A Book of Grotesques"? Do you think Anderson was wise to change the title, and why?
What binds these stories together? How significant is plot in their creation? Characterization? Authorial commentary? Repetition of similar situations and incidents?
How does the book's style affect the reader? In what ways is it simple and in what ways complex?
"A Book of Grotesques"
What is meant by a "grotesque"? In what senses can the book claim to present a collection of "grotesques"? Is the term entirely derogatory?
Why was the figure of an old man chosen to represent the author and his intentions? Is it significant that the old man is never able to publish his book?
What does he believe about the people whose forms appear to him in the night? (each represents a partial truth)
What seems the narrator's relationship to the figure of Wing Biddlebaum? Does he arrange the story to increase our sympathy for him?
What symbolic importance is seen in Biddlebaum's hands? Under what circumstances are they at peace?
Of what has he been accused? Is he presented as guilty?
What traumatic event has caused him to change his name and avoid others?
Would this have been a difficult topic to discuss at the time this book was published?
Does the motif of hands appear elsewhere in the sequence?
What prompts the doctor to write his thoughts and then discard them?
What is the significance of the metaphor of the old and rejected apples?
What has been the source of the young woman's attachment to him? What has been her prior experience of men?
What relationship do they share? What do you make of her early death?
What are his mother's emotions toward George Willard, and how does she express them?
What have been her prior experiences of life, and how have they affected her? What had she once wanted from life, and what does she want now?
What do we know about Mr. Willard? How does he behave to his son, and what response does this evoke in George? In his wife?
Why does the mother dress in her best finery? What stops her plan of attacking her husband with scizzors?
Do George and his mother communicate in the final scene? What emotion does she feel on hearing of his plans? Is she able to convey this to him?
Who is the "philosopher"? Is the title ironic? What do we learn about Dr. Parcival's present? His past?
What response has he had to his father's insanity and death, his brother's selfishness, his mother's preference for the brother, and his brother's death?
What messages does he wish George to learn? What does he hope George will complete if he himself is unable to do so?
To what does the title refer? What are we supposed to think of the assignation between George and Louise?
To whom does George wish to talk after leaving Louise? Does either value their relationship?
What had Jesse originally intended to do? What events cause Jesse to become a farmer instead? How does he interpret his unexpected inheritance of a farm?
How are we to interpret his character? His relationship to his wife and daughter? His employees? What are his ambitions?
What attitude does the author seem to have toward him? Is he an expression of the pioneer/settler ethic? Of a destructive sort of patriarchy?
What is his view of God, and his relationship with him?
What do we learn about his daughter Louise? What effect does she have on her son? Under what circumstances does she show fondness for him?
Why does David move to the farm to live with his grandfather and great aunts? What changes does this create in his life?
What happens when his grandfather attempts to pray with him? What distresses David about this scene? What is the grandfather's reaction to what has happened?
Under what circumstances had Louise married John Hardy? What had been her desires? Are these fulfilled? How does she react to the birth of her son David?
Why do you think this story is placed out of chronological sequence in the series?
Why does David leave town? What has the grandfather tried to do, and what unfortunate events did this precipitate?
Are there any Biblical suggestions in the fact that David defends himself against his grandfather Jesse with a slingshot?
Why do you think the old man never tells anyone that his grandson had attacked him? What lesson does he take from the experience?
Is the theme of failed communication important to this story? To others?
How do you interpret the ending--is David's departure a tragic loss, or a personal liberation?
"A Man of Ideas"
Who is the "man of ideas," and what kind of ideas does he have? Whom does he convince of the importance of his thoughts?
Is he a booster figure? How are we to judge his relationship with Sarah King?
What points does the author seem to wish to make in this vignette?
What is the fate of Alice Hindman? Why did Jessie Currie desert her, and why couldn't she also leave town?
What effect does loneliness have on her, and how does she seek to overcome it?
What impulse overcomes her in the story's final scenes? How does her "adventure" turn out? What conclusion does she draw from this episode?
What opinions toward women does the telephone operator express? What views on women does he press George to adopt?
What in the telephone operator's history has caused his bitterness? What is especially shocking about this tale? About his response?
Is this episode is expected to explain a lifelong hatred of women?
Why do you think he attacks his mother-in-law rather than his wife? Who bears responsibility for this episode?
Why do you think this tale is called "Respectability"?
What do you make of Seth Richmond's character?
His relationship with George Willard and with Helen White?
Is the title ironic? Sincere? How has the young man benefitted or suffered from his thoughts?
To what extent do his problems and/or doubts resemble those of other characters in the book?
How do you interpret the choice of a hopeless alcoholic as the bearer of the tale's message?
Why does he choose this particular girl as the recipient of his message?
What does he suggest to the young child that she should aspire to? Is this a reasonable ideal?
"The Strength of God"
To what extent is the title ironic? What is the minister's problem?
Does the ending suggest that his problem may have been mitigated, and if so, how?
What do we learn about Kate Swift's behavior and emotions? Do these parallel those of any other characters in the series?
Are there parallels to the inner struggles of the minister and Kate Swift?
To what extent is she sympathetically presented?
What does her inconsistent behavior toward George reveal?
What is ironic in the fact that the minister rushes to convey his supposed insight to George Willard? About the fact that it is Kate who is the object of the minister's obsession?
Why is it fitting that George is the last person in Winesburg, Ohio to fall asleep?
What prompts Enoch Robinson to tell the story of his aborted human relationships to George?
What has caused the failure of his marriage? Of his later friendship with a neighbor woman?
What causes him to leave the former? To berate the latter? What does he fear in the relationship?
What final loss confounds his loneliness?
What "awakening" is referred to by the title?
What are we to think of the characters of Belle Carpenter and Ed Hanby?
How does George interpret the incident?
What does the storekeeper's son resent, and what motivates him to seek revenge?
What is his relationship with George Willard? Why does he feel pride at having been able to beat the latter before his departure from town?
What are we to make of his final expression of satisfaction?
What motivates Tom Foster to drink? What has been his relationship with Helen White?
On what grounds does he express satisfaction to George about his behavior? What tone concludes the story? (low expectations!)
Why do you think this episode is presented toward the end of the series?
What had been her relationship with Dr. Reefy? What motivates him to embrace her?
What are the circumstances of her death? What does the narrator see as the significant moments of her life?
What role in the tale is played by the newpaper reporter? What difference will it make when he leaves town?
What point is made about his thoughts as he leaves? Why does the author remind us of important things he does not consider?
What do we infer from the final paragraph about his future? Does the allusion to "dreams" suggest the opening frame? Are there ways in which this claim is self-referential?
Does this episode provide an appropriate ending for the book?
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It’s a global crisis, largely unseen by us city dwellers. It happens way above us, at night, and is cleared away by caretakers before our morning rush to work. Maybe we witness one or two single episodes on our windowsill or patio door, but we are missing the big picture. Twice a year, while we sleep, millions of birds all over the world are migrating through our cities on the way to and from their overwintering grounds and summer breeding spots. But, during their travels, millions of birds are killed in collisions with glass buildings that they can’t see. As this threat to global ecosystems becomes increasingly clear to people around the world, built environment designers can act to help solve the bird strike problem, rather than exacerbate it.
Humans and birds have flourished together for millennia, and their constant presence in our world reminds us of our connection to the wild in our sanitised urban landscape. We are so attuned to birdsong that deep in our subconscious lies a part of our brain that associates the sound with safety. When the singing stops, the quiet space left behind indicates that there is a predator threat nearby because the birds have seen it and flown away. We are so innately sensitive to this alert that our hearing has evolved to receive the precise frequencies transmitted by birds. In the modern world, its presence is proven to be a calming influence on our human subconscious in times of stress, and consequently, some hospitals, GP surgeries, and dentists play birdsong very quietly in their waiting rooms to create a pleasant environment.
Many traditional cultures have origin myths associated with birds, and those still resonate for us today. We think of owls as wise, of storks bringing babies, and of doves as symbols of peace. In folk tales and songs throughout the world, birds represent human characteristics; think of the eagle’s strength and the bluebird’s joy. How many sports teams can you guess with birds as their emblem? Until very recently, a beloved New York city zoo escapee Flaco the owl regularly featured in the news as a symbol of survival and independence as he made Central Park his home.
Avian life is an essential part of the planet’s ecosystem in a practical sense too. They scavenge to control pests in cities and nature, and they pollinate flowers and spread seeds to enable plant life to flourish. Varied species of birds have evolved in symbiosis with the landscapes they traverse, transforming and maintaining delicate habitats such as marshland, woodland, and heath. If their numbers decline to critical levels and species become extinct, the whole balance of nature is disrupted along critical migration routes from beginning to end.
Once we become aware of nature around us, we begin to realise we are part of something bigger beyond the limits of our perception. There is so much of the world we can’t see, but there is an ultraviolet and electromagnetic world, imperceptible to our human senses, where birds and insects exist (as seen in this video). Some species can echolocate, navigate by the earth’s magnetic field, and have evolved receptors in their eyes that extend beyond the colour spectrum that our eyes can detect. They use these capacities to communicate, display their courtship finery, and find food.
Unfortunately, our world of glass is invisible to birds, with devastating consequences. Birds have not evolved to understand visual clues such as window frames or door furniture that we interpret to stop us from walking into glass panels. All birds see is the reflection of the sky or trees, which they perceive as open space, and they fly headlong into the illusory solid. While many species of migrating birds fly at heights of hundreds of feet, this is not just a tall building problem. Domestic buildings also kill many millions of birds, both native resident species and migrating ones, particularly songbirds. The issue is not just felt locally, but more expansively along migration corridors on every continent.
As our ecosystem becomes more precarious for birds, it becomes riskier for us, and the numbers are staggering. Up to one billion birds in the U.S. and Canada are estimated to be killed annually. In response to this crisis, there are global calls from increasingly concerned citizens, scientists, naturalists, and ecological foundations for action. Legislators in North America are bringing in more stringent building design codes that will soon be enforced by laws. Europe and the rest of the world will follow. Large investment companies can see a gap in this market and are actively seeking to burnish their ecological credentials by funding innovative technological advances to address the situation.
There are some efforts to mitigate the problem with design and manufacturing solutions, but currently the thinking is not yet coordinated enough, and research efforts are often siloed in universities. Small-scale applied glass solutions have not made a significant impact yet, can be unsightly and costly to implement. The Audubon’s Lights Out program, which encourages building owners, managers, and homeowners to turn off excess lighting during the months of bird migration to help birds have a safe passage between their nesting and wintering ground, has some beneficial effect but relies on compliance to implement.
Promising Gensler examples of active measures and new technologies to mitigate bird collisions are in Chicago. Our work with Sterling Bay on 1229 W Concord Place, a life sciences development in the heart of Lincoln Yards, is the first high-rise in the city to implement a bird-safe, fritted glass façade that helps to protect millions of migratory birds passing through the city. The Hub at Prairie Shores also gives special consideration to the migratory paths of native birds with the use of a bird-safe acid etched glass, creating a unique cloud-like aesthetic on the facade.
As a company and as individuals, we have a moral and ethical ecological imperative to protect and support the environment and create places where humans and biodiversity can flourish. As designers and trusted client advisors, we also have a professional obligation to guide our clients through potential solutions and navigate the legislation. What if we could use our thought leadership and connections to make a difference, to develop glazing visible to birds but invisible to humans?
We can use the power of our ingenuity and connections to stay ahead of upcoming legislation. Gensler has the research, strategy, and globally connected capacity to change the world through the power of design by partnering with specialised knowledge centers and manufacturers. With coordinated research, we could help solve the bird strike problem and provide a legacy solution to benefit ecosystems in cities worldwide.
For media inquiries, email .
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If you have job that involves a swimming pool, you answer to agencies and organizations that impact the way you do business every single day. Some, you may be familiar with – like your health department. Others, you may not get to know until it’s too late. Here are a few of the impactful organizations setting the standards and regulations in aquatics.
Local Health Departments – It’s no surprise that the health department impacts your swimming pool operations – they’re the group that issues your permit to operate. Utilize the health department as a partner in public health. Their expertise can be employed as an extra set of eyes reducing your facilities risk exposure. Your health department is tasked with enforcing your state pool code which will align with your health and safety initiatives. Build a great rapport with your health officials, they’re a tremendous resource. Not familiar with your state code? Find it here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Although the CDC isn’t a regulatory body, they set important standards for public health and disease prevention. Their website, healthyswimming.org is loaded with helpful information, most notably their standards on fecal accident response protocols in swimming pools.
The CDC is also the driving force behind the Model Aquatic Health Code – one unifying pool code based on scientifically supported, academically based information. Ever wonder why each state has a different code for swimming pools? The CDC asked the same question. The MAHC is their answer to improve consistency and share best practices across state lines.
The Department of Justice – The DOJ is responsible for enforcing ADA policy. In 2010, the DOJ published updated regulations which for the first time contained specific information and requirements for many recreational facilities, including swimming pools, wading pools and spas. How does that impact your facility? These guidelines make it likely that your pool needs accessible forms of entry, including a dedicated pool lift. Their Q&A page is helpful, as is their hotline: 1-800-514-0301
The Environmental Protection Agency – The EPA enforces the Clean Water Act. At your aquatic facility, you have a big responsibility in protecting the water table and need to be cautious with your disposal of chemicals and pool water. For more information on the safe disposal of your pool chemicals, and discharge of pool water, visit the EPA’s discharge site here: Clean Water Act – Summary and Resources
Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA is all about worker safety. Their guidelines and regulations can impact your employees and peers in many ways. Your lifeguard team may have close interaction with bloodborne pathogens. Your maintenance team should follow their specifics on electrical safety. You should be following strict standards on chemical storage and handling found on material safety data sheets. OSHA is a tremendous resource and you should employ their educational tools to make your workplace safe.
This list is an overview that includes only some of the many agencies impacting your swimming pool regulations and standards. For more on remaining compliant with all guidelines, please contact our office.
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1) Politics is a fight among human beings over how all of the resources of the planet are apportioned among those humans who currently reside on the planet. It’s dividing the pie, with no allowance for the interests of other living things or the biosphere and its systems; it’s a fight over who gets what.
2) It’s a process of deliberation and decision making that neglects to weigh or consider the dependence of human beings on the biosphere and the planet’s ecosystems.
3) It’s a process that sees the planet’s resources and living things as a sum of money and privileges to be divided among the parties at the table, with all other living things and the systems that support life are all defined as commodities or assets (i.e., a proxy for money that can be bought or sold).
4) It’s a process whereby the wants of groups and individual are decided by what these individuals and groups can dream up as opposed to by what is feasible given the finite resources of the planet or the limitations of the living system of the planet. The primary concern of the different parties in the process is one questions (“Am I getting my fair share?”) and all other considerations (such as the proposal’s potential impact on ecosystems and the systems of the planet that support all life) are subordinated to this one.
5) It’s a contest between humans to allocate and distribute all existing resources and the earth’s bounty among themselves, without consideration of other living things, the biosphere or living things (including humans) of the future.
The decision making apparatus of political systems is biased against the systems of the planet that supports life as it excludes or avoids certain types of information, such as the finitude of resources, the fragility of ecosystems, the laws of biology, and the interests of the millions of species that reside on this planet with us. The interests of trees or bears or microorganisms or bees are not considered relevant to the process. In many political systems even the most modest environmental proposals or expressions of concern for ecosystems are scorned and resisted as though the preservation of the planet’s ecosystems were an imposition or even an attack against one party in the political discussion or another.
The participants of political systems often experience a distortion of perception whereby every action or event is seen as either allocating more resources to them or the members of their group or allocating less resources to them or the members of their group. This binary formulation (“Am I getting more or less?”) can consume their thoughts and strongly influence what actions and behaviors they see as permissible or desirable. This distortion of perception can prevent these participants from thinking that “we all part of a larger system and that system includes the biosphere and other living things” and acting accordingly.
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If you’re in the UK, you may not have slept well this week. According to the weather gauges at the University of Reading, Tuesday 11 August was the third hottest night in records that date back to 1908. But it seems that, as is often the case with summer hot spells, the heatwave is ending with some spectacular thunderstorms. Tragically, downpours in Scotland are even thought to have played a part in a landslide that derailed a train – although it is still too early to say for sure.
At the time of writing, the forecast shows scattered thunderstorms are possible everywhere leading up to the weekend. While parts of the UK have endured nearly a week of stifling heat, much of the country now faces hail, lightning, gusty winds, torrential downpours and flooding.
Forecasting which parts of the country will be hit by downpours, and which will miss them, is extremely difficult. But while such an uncertain forecast doesn’t help much if you’re planning a picnic, it is still useful for those who are managing rivers and trying to reduce the risks associated with floods.
Those people should now be doing things like clearing trash screens to aid drainage, putting up protection for individual properties and moving vulnerable possessions, and checking on dams to make sure they are ready to withstand the additional pressure and amount of water coming through caused by heavy rain.
These are low-cost actions that can be taken ahead of any possible outburst which might lead to flooding, and can prevent a lot of damage – and heartache.
Forecasters will be closely monitoring the situation. Thunderstorms are notoriously difficult to predict with a frustratingly stubborn level of uncertainty in how they evolve in our supercomputer weather simulations.
Nevertheless, forecasters will be ensuring that updates are sent to those who need them quickly and preparing for the worst-case scenarios. Even a few hours’ advance warning could be the difference between safety and disaster.
Summer flash floods can affect anyone, anywhere. Even if you don’t live near a river, an extreme and sudden downpour on soil baked hard by days of sunshine can turn your home, your street, or your town into a devastated flood zone in minutes.
Currently, most of the UK has a “yellow” warning. The Met Offices says “Yellow means keep an eye on the latest forecast and be aware that the weather may change or worsen, leading to disruption of your plans in the next few days.”
As the warnings get more serious and turn amber or red, or if the forecast is for severe “danger to life” flooding then this could mean a potential paddling pool depth of water falling everywhere in minutes. Such a battering, as the thunderstorm passes, provides enough force to overturn cars as the water all rushes together.
We have come a long way in our ability to predict the most intense “convective” rainfall from summer storms driven by summer heat in the UK. But there is still a lot about the science that we don’t understand. Advancements in these areas would help us to better understand when and where sudden, heavy downpours will strike.
The problem comes due to the huge amounts of energy that drive these storms. The heat and humidity in recent days feeds the development of the thunderstorm, but the volatile, unstable air means that it is very tricky to work out exactly where each thunderstorm will be. A few hours ahead we can usually at least say which parts of the country will be affected, but thunderstorms have a very small footprint and can rapidly change.
One thing we do know: as our climate changes, and summer heatwaves become more common, these kinds of sleepless nights – and the incredibly dangerous summer downpours that relieve them – are also going to become more likely.
Even though the disruption and danger they can bring can be significant, it is difficult not to appreciate the majesty of these natural phenomena. Watching a thundercloud develop is mesmerising, as it grows and grows and then towers over you. Lightning strikes are dangerous, but seen from a distance, provide one of the greatest shows the sky can provide. You can check out online lightening trackers to find where lightning is currently active.
Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading
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To enhance total health literacy, i.e., “the capacity of individuals to obtain, course of, and perceive primary health information and providers needed to make applicable health decisions” , it is important to start with youth, when life-long health habits are first being shaped. Coordinated faculty health applications strategy baby and adolescent health as a multisectoral enterprise to be shared by health, medical, educational, and social-service organizations. Working collectively, a quantity of agencies present students with a comprehensive set of programs and providers to forestall disease and promote health. Working on a college/university campus, health educators are part of a group working to create an setting in which college students feel empowered to make healthy selections and create a caring neighborhood.
Postsecondary Teachers Postsecondary teachers instruct college students in a big selection of educational topics beyond the high school degree. High School Teachers High faculty teachers educate educational lessons and varied expertise that students might want to attend college and to enter the job market. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations.
- Group B, after studying a booklet produced by the Leeds Health Education Service, and containing substantially extra information, achieved a 45 per cent average improve, indicating that that is the more practical of the 2.
- The Team improved classes in health info literacy by incorporating activity-based discussions and creating workouts by which college students utilized real-life scenarios serving to them experience the significance of comprehension skills to improved health.
- A high-quality physical-education curriculum supplies cognitive content material and experiential activities in a selection of actions.
- Examples of how CHWs help health education interventions can be found within the Community Health Workers Toolkit.
- A second outcome was a revised version of A Competency-Based Framework for the Professional Development of Certified Health Education Specialists .
- Health educators do community organizing and outreach, grant writing, coalition constructing, advocacy, and develop, produce, and consider mass media health campaigns.
Respondents had been asked to state the most important influence on their opinions regarding antenatal care. It was discovered that the majority of both late and early attenders thought that early hospital antenatal care was necessary, but of these many, notably late attenders, had no correct idea of the advisable gestation for first attendance. The most frequently mentioned influence on the respondents’ opinions was health service literature supplied during antenatal care. Some of those booklets gave no specific advice on when the first hospital visit should take place. THIS paper is a précis of present thinking referring to solvent abuse, extra erroneously often known as glue-sniffing. Reference is made to the follow of solvent abuse and early scientific effects are detailed.
The concept of incorporating health education into the formal education system dates to the Renaissance. In the early nineteenth century, Horace Mann advocated for school-based health instruction, whereas William Alcott additionally underscored the contributions of health services and the school setting to children’s health and well-being . Public health pioneer Lemuel Shattuck wrote in 1850 that “every baby should be taught early in life, that to preserve his personal life and his own health and the lives of others, is one of the most essential and abiding duties” .
Community health employees tackle obstacles to care and provide referrals for wants such as meals, housing, and psychological health providers. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for health education specialists and group health staff. Community health staff typically need at least a high school diploma and a brief interval of on-the-job coaching. Certification may be required or most well-liked for some health education specialists and neighborhood health staff. As the health, social and economic impacts of group health education continue to develop, so does the sector of public health and health promotion. After gathering feedback from the AHECs, the Team applied for and received funding from the Center for Public Service Communications (Agreement # ) to expand and enrich the curriculum.
To make the smart meals selections module more difficult for high school students, the Team added additional content material on the science of food labels. Community health workers share information with health education specialists and healthcare and social services providers so that packages and care higher suit the needs of the neighborhood. They also advocate for the wellness wants of neighborhood members and conduct outreach to engage residents, help with healthcare navigation, and improve coordination of care.
Sophe Publishes Scholars Of Color A Special Concern Of The Health Education & Habits Journal
Presentation of knowledge with audiovisual and laptop primarily based supports such as slides and projectors, movies, books, CDs, posters, pictures, websites, or software program packages. Completion of a group wants assessmentto identify neighborhood capability, resources, priorities, and wishes. What CDC is Doing Learn extra about CDC’s program steerage for school-based HIV/STD prevention. Assessment methods to determine if college students have achieved the desired learning. Content or materials that correspond with the sequence of studying occasions and help academics and students meet the training goals. A planned progression of developmentally applicable lessons or studying experiences that result in reaching health aims.
Graduate program fields of diploma may embody neighborhood health education, college health education, public health education, or health promotion. Applicants to those master’s diploma programs generally do not want a selected undergraduate main. Health education specialists train individuals about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.
Potential Persevering With Education Careers
NIOM has received the Crystal Brussels Prize for one of the best Polish analysis institute within the 6 UE Framework Programme and received the WHO prize for the research on health promotion. Since 1975 the Institute has been WHO Collaborating Center in Occupational and Environmental Health. Several worldwide seminars, training courses and conferences were collectively organized, and the Institute participated in the implementation of a quantity of analysis projects e.g. coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, International Agency for Research on Cancer and so on. While several states have chosen access to physical education, physical health, or college local weather as their nonacademic indicators of school success, the bulk have elected to make use of continual absenteeism . It also represents a major alternative for colleges to work with stakeholders to stop and manage such medical conditions through faculty health education and different WSCC methods to enhance faculty health. Educators are extra probably to assist complete health education if they are made aware of its immediate advantages related to student learning (e.g., much less disruptive behavior, improved attention) and maintaining secure social and emotional school climates .
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ESG: From Rhetoric to Reality
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While ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) has gained popularity in recent years, in the United States the values behind the movement date back to the founding of the country. The importance of governance was recognized as critical on December 15, 1791, when the US Bill of Rights was ratified:
The Roots and Relevance of ESG in Modern Business
“While the Governance component is somewhat more difficult to define, and quantify, the vast majority of people believe in freedom of religion, speech, press, right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy, excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.”
Fast forward to the 20th century, when Greenpeace was formed in 1971, its mission stated “Our goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity. That means we want to protect biodiversity in all its forms and prevent pollution and abuse of the earth’s ocean, land, air, and fresh water.” Around the same time, powerful words about social governance were included in the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, even though the amendment was never ratified: “Moving to the Social Sector of the heightened awareness, no reasonable person would disagree with a commitment to guarantee equal legal rights for all people regardless of sex and end legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other matters.”
While the importance and long-term impact on the earth and all its inhabitants from our actions must never be marginalized, I fear that without a very realistic and practical approach, society will quickly tire of ESG rhetoric, and trying to achieve the unattainable demands and failed commitments of companies, cities, and countries will stagnate progress. It doesn’t matter whether one is “woke, awake, or environmentally asleep,” businesses cannot avoid the heightened awareness by their customers of sustainability efforts. Companies that implement an ESG framework that provides a deeper, more local, and forward-looking view of their supply chains and suppliers will see gains in their brand reputations.
Of course, it is important to set long-term goals and objectives, which is the foundation of all successful entities and jurisdictions. Without a commitment to continuous awareness of the changing landscape, often the result of a combination of avoidable and unavoidable challenges, the best plans will be derailed and left to flounder. A fast-evolving priority for governments and regulators has been ESG. One of the primary challenges in developing and implementing an ESG program is differentiating between what your company will do and how those requirements translate to your suppliers, often operating in locations with very different, cultural, economic, and social mores.
Navigating the Evolving Landscape of ESG Compliance
Looking ahead, will increase financial industry regulatory guidance require banks to reduce lending to companies and governments in emerging markets with less robust environmental and social justice programs? Will efforts to improve an ESG profile be canceled or delayed with reduced capital? Consider what Monsur Hussain, a financial institutions researcher at Fitch said in a January 2020 Wall Street Journal article by Kristin Broughton:
“We find that ESG screening leads to greater due diligence. Banks rarely decline to lend based on ESG factors alone. On the rare occasions when borrowers are denied financing based on ESG risk factors, they often have other financing options available at a similar price.”
When banks in Australia scaled back on lending to new thermal coal projects and coal-fired power plants following the 2015 Paris climate accord, for instance, Chinese banks, in response, increased lending to the sector, according to the Fitch report referred to in the article.
Beyond lending and credit, the enhanced focus on ESG will also likely have an increased impact on the investment industry. An alert from White & Case on June 13, 2022, stated: On May 25, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed two form and rule amendments seeking to enhance and standardize disclosures related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors considered by funds and advisers, and also to expand the regulation of the naming of funds with an ESG focus. These proposed rules follow the landmark SEC proposal announced on March 21, 2022, requiring public companies to disclose extensive climate-related information in their SEC filings.
Considering what seems to be constantly changing regulations, we must tread carefully. Adopting ESG-related values requires an honest and candid assessment of what may happen if a comprehensive, well-thought-out, program is not implemented. While the reports we’re hearing about regarding “overzealous implementation of ESG programs” in countries like Sri Lanka and The Netherlands may seem daunting, it’s important to remember that the optics do not always match what is really occurring beneath the surface. At the same time, there are many stories about companies that are successfully integrating ESG-related values into their workstreams.
Positive or negative, all these stories reflect the critical importance of paying close attention to the changing landscape and conditions in a jurisdiction. True global sustainability will be accomplished through an ongoing journey of small, planned, and agile actions that consider the needs of the community and the potential downside of poorly devised plans.
One of the most critical areas for companies to address as they prepare to deal with the rapidly changing ESG landscape is current, validated, and easy to consume and action reliable ESG Risk Intelligence. Much of the available data is very limited and focused on only one of the ESG factors. A comprehensive, full-spectrum approach to ESG Risk Intelligence is the foundational component of a successful program.
The Future of ESG in Business
To be successful, companies need a proactive ESG solution to effectively gain the benefits of leading ESG practices while avoiding business disruptions and reputation risks. At Supply Wisdom, our ESG solution provides:
Comprehensive coverage across enterprise, third-party & location factors
A framework based on widely accepted and current ESG standards
Continuous “always-on” monitoring and real-time ESG intelligence
Anytime assessment capability with always-current ESG intelligence
If you are interested in learning more about adopting a leading ESG framework, continuously monitoring a country’s ESG regulations and guidance, and demonstrating corporate social responsibility, contact Supply Wisdom today.
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Computer technology has reached every household and even kids in IB Schools across the Middle East and other regions, are being introduced to the wonders of PC, Web 2.0, cloud computing, and other such trendy topics. What not can you do with coding? Intelligent programmers are changing the way we work and communicate, to achieve maximum efficiency, at reduced costs. Learning to code has become as simple as learning ABC, thanks to Coding Platforms like Code Monkey, which is pretty well-known in the UAE. This award-winning tool is appreciated by over a million users and has changed the way students approach coding.
Our dear Planet Earth is currently facing issues such as; global warming due to increased pollution and deforestation. Forests are being cut down to make tall buildings for the ever-growing population. Is there a solution to combat this problem?
Well, technology alone cannot solve such a grave problem, but it can definitely contribute towards making our planet Earth a better place to thrive in.
Through this article, we aim to highlight some of the environmental problems that can be tackled via technology, in an endeavor to give a gift of a greener planet to our future generations.
What is Green Technology and how does it work?
Green technology is the only sensible way forward. It basically includes the production of technology that is in sync with the environment and causes less or as good as no hazards to the surroundings. Responsible engineering ensures our natural resources are intact and the raw materials used in manufacturing, do not negatively impact the climate. The idea of green technology is to protect the remaining resources and reverse the undue harm already done to the environment.
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning provide a vast gamut of opportunities to develop newer technologies that are more sustainable and gentler for our planet. Let us look at some of them.
Vehicle emission is a never-ending problem that affects cities and urban development. In the year 2020, only passenger cars accounted for about three billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, across the world, including the GCC region. The answer to this is a quick ‘switch to EVs’. Electric Vehicles are retrofitted with more energy-efficient engines and the harmful emissions are nearly zeroed down. Fossil fuels like petrol and diesel are eliminated, as the battery can be charged on electricity and it is also a cheaper option. Solar panels can be used to provide the required energy to power up the EV car batteries, thereby proving to be even more advantageous. The Electric Vehicle Sales Market is projected to reach 15,070.2 vehicles by 2027 in Dubai and UAE markets.
It is indeed a mammoth task to feed 8 billion people! This puts a lot of pressure on agriculture and farming, thereby leading to adopting some unreliable sources to increase yield quickly and earn some bucks. However, now that technology has become a hero, it is being integrated into farming activities to practice the ethical growth of food crops. Smart tractors, GPS technology, and the use of crop management systems are being used increasingly to avoid the usage of harmful fertilizers and thereby save lives. It also improves livestock and the yield of milk production, thereby benefiting the owner. Technology and farming, therefore, are a perfect match made in heaven. AgTech in GCC regions is especially a challenge due to the arid conditions, depleting groundwater levels, and harsh temperatures. However, the government is making fruitful efforts in the right direction to improve the condition and set an example for other regions.
Robots that help make the planet Greener
There is a Robot that can monitor the seabed and tell us what the condition is down under. Collecting samples of oxygen can help researchers find a solution to maintain ecological balance for the underwater world. The pipe crawler Robot can enter the sewage pipeline and find any defects or leakages within. This saves many lives of men who would have to do the hard work of entering the sewage system and manually clean up the blockages. Waste was usually dumped into landfills and left to rot without any monitoring. The new Waste Recycling Robot is now a superhero that is saving lives. It helps in the segregation of matter as per; plastic, glass, and metal, and then streamlines the recycling process. Now that we have seen how Technology integration is making the world greener and saving us from getting completely doomed, it is best to understand and educate our children in time, so that they can grow up into responsible citizens and use the appropriate technology to foster a healthy living.
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Your air conditioning system is more than just a cooling mechanism—it’s a potential gateway for pests and animals to invade your home. From tiny insects to larger mammals, these intruders can wreak havoc on your health and HVAC system. The good news? You can take steps to keep them out.
Common Pests and Animals in AC Vents
AC vents are like luxury resorts for insects such as silverfish, flies, mosquitoes, and spiders. These pests are drawn to the moist, dark environment of ductwork. They enter through tiny cracks, unsealed gaps, or improperly installed vents. Once inside, they can multiply rapidly, spreading allergens and creating an unhygienic environment.
Rodents, such as mice and rats, are notorious for seeking shelter in ductwork. Their activities leave behind droppings, urine, and chewed wires. Not only do they contaminate the air you breathe, but they also pose fire risks by damaging electrical components in your HVAC system.
Squirrels, raccoons, and other small mammals may find their way into your duct system, especially if there are pre-existing holes or damage. These animals can chew through duct material and wiring, leading to costly repairs and compromised air quality.
Reasons Pests Are Attracted to AC Vents
Shelter and Warmth
HVAC systems provide a perfect refuge for pests, offering warmth during cooler months and protection from predators.
Accessibility of Entry Points
Cracks, holes, and unsealed connections in ductwork act as open invitations for pests.
Moisture in the Ducts
Moist environments within AC systems attract insects, particularly in areas with high humidity.
Risks and Damages Caused by Pests
Allowing pests to inhabit your AC system can result in:
- Health Hazards: Exposure to allergens, bacteria, and droppings can lead to respiratory issues and diseases.
- Structural Damage: Chewing and nesting can destroy ductwork and electrical wiring.
- Reduced HVAC Efficiency: Blocked or damaged vents force your system to work harder, increasing energy costs.
Sealing Gaps and Cracks
Identify vulnerable areas in your ductwork, especially around joints and external vents. Use mastic sealant, metal tape, or caulk to close these gaps and create a pest-proof barrier.
Installing Vent Screens
Covering external vents with fine-mesh screens prevents pests from entering without restricting airflow. Make sure screens are durable and securely fastened to avoid being dislodged.
Regular Maintenance and Cleaning
Routine inspections and cleanings are vital. Professional services can clear out debris and sanitize ducts, while DIY maintenance, like changing filters and vacuuming accessible areas, keeps pests at bay.
Using Repellents and Traps
Natural repellents like peppermint oil can deter insects and rodents. For larger animals, humane traps are a good option. Place traps near vent openings to intercept intruders before they enter.
Identifying Signs of an Infestation
To detect an infestation:
- Droppings or Debris: Visible signs of pests in or near vents.
- Unusual Smells: Odors from droppings, urine, or decaying animals.
- Noises: Scratching, scurrying, or other unusual sounds in ductwork.
Steps to Handle an Infestation
- Call Pest Control: Professionals can safely remove pests and recommend prevention strategies.
- Clean and Sanitize: Hire experts to clean and disinfect ducts, removing any residual contamination.
- Repair Damage: Fix any structural or system damage caused by the infestation to prevent future issues.
Long-Term Solutions for Pest-Free AC Systems
Investing in your HVAC system’s upkeep ensures long-term protection. Regular inspections, advanced sealing techniques, and pest-resistant duct materials can provide peace of mind and protect your home.
Benefits of a Pest-Free AC System
- Better Health: Clean air free from allergens and contaminants.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Smooth operation without blockages or damage.
- Cost Savings: Fewer repairs and lower energy bills thanks to a well-maintained system.
Protecting your AC vents from pests and animals is crucial for your home’s safety and comfort. By taking preventive measures like sealing gaps, installing vent screens, and scheduling regular maintenance, you can keep your HVAC system running smoothly while avoiding the health risks and damage caused by infestations. Don’t wait—start safeguarding your AC system today!
1. How do pests access AC vents?
Pests enter through cracks, unsealed areas, or damaged ducts in your HVAC system.
2. What are the signs of a rodent infestation in ductwork?
Signs include droppings, foul smells, and scratching noises.
3. Can pests permanently damage my HVAC system?
Yes, pests can chew through wires and ducts, causing expensive damage that may require significant repairs.
4. How often should I clean my AC vents?
Professional cleaning every 1–2 years is recommended, with regular filter changes in between.
5. What natural repellents work best for AC vents?
Peppermint oil, diatomaceous earth, and ultrasonic pest repellents are effective options.
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Our mission is to inform, engage, and empower the most vulnerable residents about the airborne hazards in their homes.
Our toolkits and supplies provide resources, and the knowledge to use these resources, to families and residents. Our training programs, in turn, provide knowledge to the communities that deliver these toolkits. We believe that this knowledge is the foundation of empowerment, and empowerment is the foundation of change.
Why We Exist
In Tribal nations, rural communities, low-income neighborhoods, and communities of color, indoor air pollution is widespread.
Indoor air pollution sources co-mingle with outdoor air pollutants that infiltrate inside homes. From lead to Carbon Monoxide, diesel exhaust to air toxics, mold to woodsmoke, these pollutants are a legacy of sub-standard housing, land-use policies, and environmental racism.
Our programs are not intended to be a substitute for the broader societal work of remediating the millions of sub-standard housing units, but instead focus on reducing exposure until such time as policies and funding make it possible to fully remediate every single household.
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Nutrition (Food for Thought/Food as Feed)
Learn about balancing livestock feed rations and how livestock and human feed rations are actually fairly similar.
Learn about the importance of water quality and water pH to the health of our livestock.
Learn about mono-gastric and ruminant livestock digestion practices with an experiment modeling enzymatic breakdown in the digestive tract.
Equine and Equations
This lesson makes math learning fun with equine and Body Condition Score equations.
Dairy Science (I Scream Ice Cream)
Learn how to make ice cream in this lesson regarding dairy sciences.
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CBAM Another acronym … but what is it?
CBAM – short for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – is seen by many as crucial to achieving our climate change targets. As rich countries increasingly care about climate change and impose higher prices or restrictions on carbon emissions, there is a risk that heavy polluters just move production somewhere else with lower standards and environmental regulations. To stop this so-called carbon leakage from happening, the EU wants to introduce CBAM to create a level playing field for domestic and foreign producers.
CBAM looks to ensure that imported products in specific sectors face the same carbon price as domestic producers. Other rich countries, including the UK, are coming up with their own variants of this policy, which could eventually lead to the formation of carbon clubs – a group of (most likely) richer countries with similar climate change ambitions. For some it will be about saving the planet, for others it will be about keeping out cheap imports to protect domestic jobs. In most cases it will be a mixture of both. Watch this space as the US debates its own take on this new policy.
Chargers for the environment
In June EU lawmakers agreed to legislate for a universal charger standard for all mobiles, tablets, and cameras, starting in 2024. Laptops would come next in 2028. The EU wants to make life easier for consumers and protect the environment by curbing e-waste – think boxes under the bed with dozens of old cables and charges going into landfill. Standards are an interesting topic in economics. They can lead to greater convenience and possibly lower prices for consumers. They can also, as in this case, help to reduce waste and play an important role in helping markets develop in the first place. Green finance or 5G come to mind. But they can also stifle innovation. Apple, for example, has opposed this move, arguing that its own charger technology is superior. Sometimes setting a standard will be the right thing to do, at other times it might be best just to leave the market find its own solutions.
We are all used to rising prices when demand outstrips supply and we are also used to forms of rationing, for example in the NHS with waiting lists. But we are not used to the supply of something important literally drying up, which cannot be fixed by more money. We are just experiencing this in European energy markets, with European countries preparing for the possible shutdown of Russian supply of natural gas in the run up to winter. Germany has just moved to Stage 2 of its three-stage emergency gas plan (yes, they have a plan). Stage 2, for example, involves greater freedom for firms to pass on higher energy prices to consumers. Stage 3 could follow soon. It involves gas rationing if there was a severe shortage of gas, with provisions to protect households and institutions such as hospitals. But how would you decide which businesses to ration? Energy-intensive businesses might have to stop or severely reduce production. Sounds scary. Decisions will partly be based on what is politically feasible, but how to decide who gets what in the most equitable and most efficient way possible is at the heart of economics.
Strategic Career Development
What not to say in a job interview
Most of us have come out of a job interview wishing we had answered some questions differently. But are there things you should never say? I found this amusing clip 11 things you should never say in a job interview by Richard McMunn. Richard’s tips include never saying ‘My last boss was terrible’ and “What’s the title of the job, again?”. I’ve definitely heard both when interviewing – I’m hoping I haven’t said them myself! While there is an amusement factor here, what is useful for any interview is preparation. Clips like this are a fun way in.
Upcoming events and courses
Courses are currently delivered both online and in person.
Cost-benefit analysis for non-economists 9.30am–12pm 11th, 12th and 13th July 2022
Ideal for government analysts (outside economics), and policy and finance professionals who are involved in preparing and reviewing business cases and impact assessments. The course will give participants the skills to critique CBA analysis quickly and effectively. This course is run online. To book: Cost-benefit analysis for non-economists
Strategic Career Development for Analysts 10am-1pm 15th, 21st September, and 8th December 2022
This course is designed to support strategic career development for experienced analysts. Whether you are considering promotion, looking to deepen your knowledge as an expert in your analytical field or simply deciding what to do next, the course will provide you with tools to develop a fulfilling career. This course is run online. To book: Strategic Career Development for Analysts
SPE Courses Cost-benefit analysis with applied example 9.30am–12.30pm 27th, 28th and 29th September 2022
This course is ideal for analysts wanting an overview of cost-benefit analysis This course is run online over three half days. The third session brings the theory to life with an applied example conducted in excel. To book: Cost-Benefit Analysis with Applied Example
SPE Courses Introduction to Green Finance 9am-1pm Monday 10th October 2022
The capital markets are playing an increasingly important role in facilitating the shift towards a low-carbon economy. This course gives participants an understanding of what Green Finance is, why it matters, and what the future might hold. No prior knowledge of economics or financial markets is required. This course is run online. To book: Introduction to Green Finance
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I caught a huge
catfish while fishing at the lake yesterday.
Catfish are bottom feeders, which means they mostly eat food found on the lake or riverbed.
In some parts of the world,
catfish is a popular dish for its tender flesh.
The whiskers on a
catfish help them sense their surroundings in murky water.
There's a species of electric
catfish that can generate an electric shock to stun prey.
Catfish are often kept in aquariums due to their unique appearance and low maintenance requirements.
The term '
catfishing' online refers to someone creating a fake identity to deceive others.
Some farmers raise
catfish commercially for both domestic and international markets.
In the Southern United States, fried
catfish is a traditional Sunday dinner staple.
catfish is known for being an aggressive predator, preying on other fish and even small mammals.
Cui said it shows that the "catfish effect" has been successful.
The price makes Tesla a competitive player in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market, said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, adding that Tesla's China production will have a "catfish effect" on the country's auto industry.
In a commentary, the magazine Automotive Business Review said one or two such ventures could produce the catfish effect, forcing local car manufacturers to better themselves, but what if there suddenly come a shoal of catfish?
In terms of the "bringing in" strategy, the gradual advancement of reform and opening-up will have a long-term catfish effect that will increase competition and lead to the emergence of more sophisticated business concepts and management techniques, as well as a greater availability of superior investment products and strategies.
The catfish effect we expected foreign banks to have on their Chinese counterparts did not appear either.
The catfish effect refers to the motivating effects of strong competition on weaker individuals.
Seeing a catfish effect from the launch of new science and technology innovation board, local analysts have put high hopes on the country's IPO review reform and expect higher efficiency.
Pan Xiangdong, chief economist with the New Times Securities, said that the new board had played the catfish effect by attracting an increasing number of companies to apply to be listed there.
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When it comes to many people, health problems have always been one of our biggest concerns in keeping our bodies healthy and keeping our minds healthy. From simple blackouts to difficult moments requiring focus and maintaining calm, proper brain function can significantly differentiate life quality.
Some people find it very difficult to stay focused, work and study.
Some also have difficulty with physical coordination, such as handwriting and the ability to exercise. It is challenging for a person to stay in normal concentration and have the ability to stay focused or concentrate, given that several things can affect this for a person. People who have difficulty or are unable to concentrate are more likely to have learning and memorization problems. It is difficult for them to understand and remember what was not initially registered in their brain. It is considered a chronic condition. It is what happens because the brain cannot handle the amount of stimulus it encounters, have a peek at this web-site.
It is normal for a person to be distracted, hyperactive, or impulsive at times, but for a person with ADD / ADHD, this behavior is more serious and much more common. They are constantly fiddling with the violin, easily distracted, forget things, switch from one activity to another, get bored with the task after a few minutes, have problems concentrating, daydream, easily get confused, talk, play with anything. , they are constantly on the road, very impatient, interrupt conversations, etc.
Learning new things challenges many different parts of the brain. Not only does your brain need to understand the instructions for new things it learns, but it also needs to learn new movements, program new muscle memories, and remember everything. There is no system larger and more complex than the human brain. It also monitors how we work, socialization, physical activity, mental stimulation, spirituality, and diet.
Mental stimulation is a significant first step to keeping your brain healthy, but new clinical research shows that there is an additional way to keep your mind healthy and functioning at its best. It can help you stay flexible in what you do every day. As part of a healthy lifestyle, Synaptol Natural Nutrition helps support the brain and nervous system. It is said to help brain cells accelerate by allowing central processing and cellular communication to escape from the body of the person using them. Promotes Brain Health Naturally. It is safe and can be used by people with severe allergies to chemicals or artificially created compounds; it will not adversely affect the person taking this medication; read more at this website.
Search the Internet for information on improving or enhancing your brain, and you will find many sites that have a list of brain games. The play enhances brain function by improving mental alertness, mental alertness, memory, and cognitive ability and speed. Play these brain games regularly, and you will notice a difference in how your brain works.
Start by doing a few of these things and build them up one by one to incorporate them all into your life. Most people will see significant improvements in their overall health and wellness and their brain function and cognitive abilities.
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Right from the moment we are born, we are already taking in our environment. As we grow up, we absorb the ideas and thoughts that people have about us or the expectations they have from us.
Our parents, friends, teachers, and siblings can also add to our self-concept. Our self-concept and self-esteem are tightly aligned and interactive, so it is essential to understand how they interact. Afterwards it will be a lot easier to overcome challenges, improve self-esteem and enjoy life more.
- Our body image
- Role performance – How do we fit into society
It might surprise you to point out the obvious, but we do not live within the same body during our lifetime. We were once babies, toddlers, adolescents, and, if we are lucky, young adults and seniors. Our bodies change over time, and we can also suffer ill health, depression, or changes in our bodies that can throw us off kilter.
Pregnancy, for example, can affect women in different ways. For some, it is a very uncomfortable time as they cannot align the change in their bodies and the inability to do certain things with their idea of their perfect self. During this time, they can suffer low self-esteem if they do not enjoy being pregnant. Pregnancy is not a permanent state, and any issues resolve once you are no longer pregnant.
The same can apply to aging and disabilities, although some are permanent and some are natural progressions. Some people manage their developing bodies and challenges with a better mindset than others.
Society can be kind or unkind to aging people. Lack of self-esteem comes from judgment of how we are as opposed to how we feel we are supposed to be. Or how we were once—coupled with our community and society’s opinion of us.
There is always something that sets you apart from others. It could be your culture, your ethnicity, your religion, or the roles you play in your family.
Your identity is accepted or rejected by your community or family, which can devastate your long-term self-concept or esteem. If you experience life rejection to a large extent, you probably will suffer from low self-esteem.
Learning that a supportive community and like-minded friends and family members can buffer people from a society that does not support who we are and turning to those that validate us can be life-changing.
Often roles are dished out to us by society or our family. People might tell us to be good daughters, great wives, strong husbands, or obedient sons.
We are to do well at school, win at sports and earn a lot of money through our career choices. At times we feel great when we are succeeding in these expectations and when we are not, anxiety and depression can flood us rendering us paralyzed.
In this way, we give power to others to define us, and when we do that, we are bound to fail. Instead, the locus of control should come from within us.
A good example would be that children with overprotective parents are not allowed to participate in sports because they are too sickly or weak. Yet feel strong and fit enough to participate in any sport they wish. Confusion can lead to incongruency in thinking about who they are and how they are perceived.
Throughout life, we are changing, and our circumstances can change. People can suffer financial losses, losing loved ones, health changes, and situational changes, which can result in a loss of self or self-concept. Even menopause as a developmental stage can trigger bouts of low self-esteem as a person tries to reconcile what society expects of them (role), their changing bodies (body), and loss of identity.
Younger people and adolescents directly link their sense of self-worth to their body appearance and societal role. They also rely heavily on environmental feedback to assess whether they are OK or not.
Knowing this might help to learn how to improve self-esteem with a more educated and thorough approach.
Now that we understand how self-esteem works and how different features interact, We can put a workable plan to improve self-esteem.
Self-esteem affects not only how one sees life in general but also how a person feels, their health, and their feeling of being a part of the world which is very important to mental health and having a happier life.
Step 1: Challenge The Beliefs You Were Brought Up On
Grab a pen and paper and make this your life work if you have to. Start to write down some of the negative ideas you believe about yourself. Write about ten to start on. Some might be repeats of the same thoughts, and you can group them.
Some examples can be:
I am lazy
I am good for nothing
I never finish a task
These are pretty much the same idea. The idea is that you are not good enough.
Next to each idea, write something that disproves that:
- I won an award for the best garden in my street.
- I am a volunteer at a local charity that relies on my help
- I love painting and have some pictures hanging around my home.
You can write as many achievements as you wish and add to them as they pop into your mind.
The mind is very pliable, and when faced with proof, it starts to distrust the negative affirmation.
You can also add some compliments that people have given you. You might find it difficult at first until you get into the swing of things. You can add achievements, changes that helped you, and even other people you have helped in some way.
Also read: Tips for Personal Growth
Some of these beliefs might have occurred when you were growing up. Try to remember that other people do a few things when commenting on us. They project their shortcomings onto us or have their plan when saying or doing certain things around us. Once you absorb this, you can start to move on from these thoughts and let those people own those negative connotations, not you.
Think about when you started to feel those feelings about yourself. Thinking back helps you understand why that person said those things and let go of them.
Step 2: Your Self-Esteem Can and Will Change
The best news is that self-esteem is changeable. As we discussed earlier, people’s positive self-esteem can change when faced with life challenges, but it can also improve.
Once you have a vast cache of positive ideas about yourself, you can start to make these visible. The brain enjoys repetition as a method of learning. Stick-it notes are handy. You can put one up on the bathroom mirror, and while you are brushing your teeth can reinforce new ways of thinking which are more productive for your self-image.
Visual cues increase impact.
You can go a step further and place photographs around you that reflect the person you are, doing the things you love. Even just sitting smiling with friends can give your body a positive hit instead of a lot of negative self-speak. Pretty birthday cards from people who care about you can be framed and form part of your memories.
Step 3: Recognise Your Hero Qualities
Write down anything that you feel you are good at doing. It could be doing puzzles, for example! Loving puzzles indicates that you are good at problem-solving and love doing it too. The world certainly needs more people to solve problems, and people like this are invaluable.
Great talkers are always looking for great listeners.
Perhaps you are a good listener. Many talkers love great listeners. They are a match made in heaven! You could make someone a great friend. You probably have more talents than you realized.
Learn more about: How to Be More Talkative & Better in Conversations
You could be artistic, scientific, love animals, or people, the list is endless, and if you think about it, you might add more things each day. This list is your hero list, and it is essential. Recognizing your talents and abilities not only helps esteem but can propel you to do more exciting things with your life. You can back up these ideas with proof, mentioning great things you have done in the past.
Remember to make these things visible.
Step 4 – Find Your Tribe
People might not have appreciated you in your village school or your own family, but your tribe will understand you.
Get together with like-minded people.
There are tons of groups and social get-togethers in support of varied interests. These groups create a sense of belonging essential to feeling better about yourself. They can validate you for the person you are as opposed to the person that others with a defined plan.
Finding your tribe can be easy, even chatting with people generally can unveil shared interests and passions.
The more you hang out with your tribe, the happier you will be.
If you have people in your life who are critical of you or pull you down, get rid of them, or see them in small tolerable amounts if you have to.
People who don’t support the real you are not part of your tribe, so they should return to their tribe of self-criticizing people!
Step 5: Be Kinder to Yourself
The problem with early programming is using those words to criticize ourselves. You will start to understand how you might have internalized those negative remarks by writing them down. This process will help you to identify them.
Real constructive criticism focuses on what went wrong and your ability to change things. It is not derogatory, nor is it humiliating or personal.
Reducing the volume of negative thoughts
When you hear those familiar insults, you will start to remember where they came from and can avert them. The more we interact positively with the world, the more positive feedback we get, and these thoughts start to fade.
They might not go away entirely, but you can reduce the volume.
Life is dynamic. It is ever-changing, so this type of self-improvement is ongoing. When we age, or our bodies change, we can begin to reassess what is meaningful to us. Perhaps we thought the only way to be loved was to be slim or muscular, but real love does not encompass anything like that.
Presenting your best self is about your best self as a whole person, not a specific figure type or age. It also applies to body changes like loss of limbs or other challenges. People enjoy interacting with real people, people they can relate to on a deeper level. If they are not into that, they will probably veer off to their tribe that values looks and age more than anything else. It sounds like a very shallow way to live, but try not to judge people, instead, focus on your people, what they have to offer, and what you can offer them in return.
The loss of self-esteem comes from how you think you should be or how you are against who you are right now.
It’s important to note that how you present yourself is how you will be valued. So if you put more value on your outer body or appearance, you will be judged on that alone. You will also draw like-minded people towards you, and perhaps that is not your dream tribe? Why spend a life following something that does not nurture you as a person.
Understanding how self-esteem develops, how it can change with life challenges, and knowing how to improve self-esteem can motivate you to move forward.
You no longer have to view yourself in a certain way, you can neatly package up all negative remarks and send them back to the ‘owner.’ There is always room for change, and there is always room for growth as we encompass developmental and life changes all through our lives. Life is about growth and change, so you can meet the challenge enthusiastically, and enjoy visualizing the great things that will still happen to you moving forward as you improve your life.
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This book offers readers an insightful look into what biodegradability is and how much of what we consume does not break down over time. Included is advice on how to shop with Mother Earth in mind, how to watch one\'s waste, and what each of us can do at home to live in a more eco-friendly way. There\'s also interesting information on dressing ecologically, deceptive "eco-friendly" packaging, and what technologies are being developed to make more of our products biodegradable. An enlightening Myths and Facts<\\Q> and
10 Great Questions to Ask Your Science Teacher<\\Q> section will help engage readers.
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of agricultural plants through artificial means is called irrigation. Being a
hot country with seasonal and irregular rainfall, it always needs irrigation to
carry out agricultural activities during dry period.
different sources of irrigation are used depending upon the topography, soils,
rainfall, availability of surface or groundwater, nature of river (whether
perennial or non-perennial), requirements of crops etc. The main sources of
irrigation used in different parts of the country are
• Tank irrigation
It is the
second most important source of irrigation in our country.
are the effective source of irrigation in areas of low level relief, deep,
fertile soils, perennial source of water and extensive command area. The canals
are of two types:
Canals: In this, water is taken out
directly from the rivers without making any kind of barrage or dam. Such canals
are useful for the diversion of flood water from the rivers and remain
operational during rainy season.
Canals: These are developed from
perennial rivers by constructing barrage to regulate the flow of water. About
60 percent of the canal irrigated area falls in the northern plains of India,
A well is
a hole or trough, usually vertical, excavated in the earth for bringing
groundwater to the surface. Well irrigation is the most important source of
irrigation. It is a cheap, dependable, and popular source of irrigation in the
country. Well irrigation is unavoidable in the region of low rainfall and
becomes an essential one where the canals and tank irrigation are not
available. Wells are of two types:
i) Open wells
ii) Tube wells
Wells: This type of irrigation is
widely practiced in the areas where groundwater is sufficiently available. The
areas are in Ganga Plains, the deltaic region of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
Cauvery and parts of Narmada and Tapti valleys.
Wells: Tube wells are developed in the areas
of low water table, sufficient power supply and soft subsurface geological
units. Tube wells are predominant in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
A tank is
a natural or man-made hollow on the surface developed by constructing a small
bund around it across a stream. It is used to collect and store water for
irrigation and other purposes. Irrigation by tanks is a very old system in
India. It also includes irrigation from lakes and ponds.
irrigation is popular in the peninsular India due to the following reasons:
undulating relief and hard rocks make difficult to dig canals and wells.
depressions serve as reservoirs.
of perennial rivers.
rock structure which do not permit percolation.
5. The scattered nature of population and
many ways in Modern Irrigation. Among them mostly practiced in India are drip
irrigation, sprinklers and Rain Gun and central pivot irrigation
first developed. In this method, water is supplied in the form of drops through
nassals. water can be saved upto 70%.
It is the
simplest and easiest method of all. In this method, water is supplied to the
field from the source through the pipes with have small holes. It can be used
in the areas of uneven surface also.
Rain gun is used to spread water like rain. It can
be used to water the crops which grow upto 4 feet. It is useful to irrigate the
crops like sugarcane and maize.
It is also called water wheel and circle
irrigation. It is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment roatates
around a pivot and crops are watered with springlers.
It is a scientific management of water resources in
our country. Construction of dam across rivers is aimed at many purposes.
Hence, it is termed as multi-purpose river valley projects. The various
purposes of a dam serves are irrigation, hydro power generation, water supply
for drinking and industrial purpose, controlling floods, development of
fisheries, navigation etc. Generally, majority of multipurpose projects are
combination of irrigation and hydro-power which are the major aims of the
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
This has been implemented to get more
production by using water saving and conservation technologies.
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by Assad Meymandi, MD, PhD, DLFAPA
Dr. Meymandi is in private practice as a psychiatrist and neurologist and serves as an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a noted physician, editor, and philanthropist who frequently speaks and writes on diverse topics that relate to his interests in medicine, the arts, religion, and philanthropy. He lives in Raleigh with his wife Emily.
Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(5):41–42
I have a friend. Her name is Catteri. I asked her if she knew what her name meant. She did not. I promised to tell her, and here we go. It is a fun story loaded with history and linguistic evolution. The etymology (genealogy of the word) Caterri is the Sanskrit word “Katira,” which refers to a shrub with the property of binding, adhering, or gluing things together. In ancient days, it was also used like shampoo to clean hair. In the Bible, there is a modified form of the word, which is Katurah and she was a wife of Abraham. The Old Testament tells us that Katurah brought people together and was a good companion for Abraham. By the way, as an aside, when Abraham was married to Katurah, he was still Abram and not Abraham (Genesis 16–17). In Paleo-Hebrew, over the course of about 500 years (from the time the Sanskrit word was coined to the time of Abraham), the meaning of the word changed to mean “incense.” As one can see, the word continued to refer to the pleasant function of cleansing and perfumery. In more modern Hebrew, this word is used to refer to adhering, sticking, and ligating (e.g., surgeons ligate wounds, and religion bring people together), as well as incense. Other Western names, such as Katherine and Catherine, have the same Sanskrit roots.
There are two recently published articles: one was published in Science and was written by the eminent Professor of Psycholinguistics, Quentin Atkinson, from the University of Auckland, and one was published in Nature and was written by Michael Dunn, a distinguished professor from Max Plank Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. Both Atkinson and Dunn trace the origin of the roughly 7,000 languages currently spoken in the world to African origin. Both researchers propose that the 7,000 languages are part of four original “mothers”— Indo-European, Bantu, Austroasian (from South-East Asia and the Pacific), and Uto-Aztecan (the native vernaculars of the Americas)—suggesting that learning any language is possible, easy, and fun.
Both authors refer to research by Noam Chomsky, Professor of Psycholinguistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who proposed that the homosapien brain comes equipped with a hard-wired circuit for universal grammar and language instinct.
Atkinson posits, “…all languages are traced to Africa. One of the lines of evidence which shows humanity’s African origins is that the farther you get from that continent, the less diverse, genetically speaking, people are. Being descendants from small groups of relatively recent migrants, they are more inbred than African forebears.” Atkinson took 504 languages and, using the number of phonemes and mathematical analysis, proved that languages do indeed have a common root, while Dr. Dunn’s paper examined the leading hypothesis about the nature of the language.
Atkinson, Chomsky, Dunn, and Steven Pinker (author of the book How the Mind Works) argue with one another through their writings about the origins of language, and the result is delicious. I will bring you more as the intellectual pugilistic rounds progress. In the meantime, to all those with names Catteri, Katrina, Katira, Katurah, Catherine, and Katherine, have fun with such an old and distinguished etymology, one who cleanses and spreads perfumery, for this was the name once given to Abraham’s wife.
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A lottery is an arrangement in which prizes are allocated to people who submit applications and pay a fee. The prize amounts are usually small, but some people can win large sums of money. Some governments outlaw lotteries while others endorse them and regulate them. The word “lottery” is derived from the Dutch noun lot, which means fate or chance. The term is used for both private and public lotteries, and it may refer to a number of different activities.
The most common type of lottery is a financial one, with participants betting small sums of money in return for a chance to win a large jackpot. While financial lotteries have been criticized as addictive forms of gambling, some states use the money they raise to fund a variety of social services.
Most state-sanctioned lotteries take place in retail outlets, but there are also online and phone versions of these games. In addition to selling tickets, these outlets may provide information about the odds of winning and the history of the lottery.
Many, but not all, lotteries offer prizes in the form of cash or goods. The amount of the prize depends on how much money is paid for a ticket, and the odds of winning vary from drawing to drawing. Some states also offer a second-chance drawing for a smaller prize. In most cases, the odds of winning are significantly lower than those for the main draw.
There are some people who have a real addiction to playing the lottery, and they spend a significant percentage of their incomes on tickets. There are also those who play because they feel it’s a moral duty to support their local government. But the regressivity of this arrangement is obscured by messages from lotteries that tell people to play for fun and that they are doing their civic duty.
During the colonial period, lotteries were a popular way to finance both private and public projects. They were a painless way for states to expand their array of services without raising taxes on the middle class and working class. They helped to build canals, roads, libraries, churches, colleges, and universities. They also financed militias and fortifications against the French and Indian wars.
The word “lottery” is derived either from the Middle Dutch noun lot, meaning fate, or from Middle English loterie, an early calque on Middle French loterie, an action of drawing lots for something. The modern spelling is from the 1670s. The lottery is an important source of revenue for many states, although some governments outlaw it or limit its availability.
Lottery players have a deep and often inexplicable belief that they can change their lives for the better by purchasing a lottery ticket. While most people know that the odds of winning are slim, they still play with the belief that they will become rich and can help their families. They have all sorts of quote-unquote systems, based on totally unsupported statistical reasoning, about lucky numbers and lucky stores and times of day to buy tickets.
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TECHNOLOGY HAS, INDEED, changed the complexion of education in the last ten years. As transmission of information or knowledge is an essential aspect of education, the invention of computer and internet technology, for instance, has made teaching and imparting knowledge somehow easier and more efficient.
In the basic and higher education alike, computer technology has been bringing about modern and creative approaches in conveying knowledge. Elementary students today can find learning as entertainment through Video Presentations via DVD technology, projector, etc. Students in all levels can now consider studying to be fun through technologies such as Interactive Whiteboards, Proximas, PowerPoint games, interactive DVDs, and other softwares. Internet sites like Wikipedia, Microsoft Encarta on-line, and various academic blog sites—through which viewers can easily find information about almost anything—had become comfortably accessible to teachers and students alike. (It is with this easy access to huge blocks of information that the popular motto, “one-click-away” emerged.)
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by K.P. Kulski
A woman gives birth in the Roman Empire. It is in the pagan era that has only seen the light touches of the religion known as Christianity, just enough for the foreign religion to seem odd and at times annoying. Some people whisper that Christians hold meals where they dine on flesh and drink blood.
This Roman woman doesn’t care much for those things, especially now, she’s crossed the threshold into motherhood. Perhaps she’s thought of herself as a mother a bit too soon. She looks toward the midwife as the woman inspects the newborn, pulling at the red limbs, feeling for strength and signs of illness. Did he cry loud enough? The midwife nods to herself and brings the child to her, where the woman performs her own amateur inspection.
The structure of the Roman family surrounded a male head – the paterfamilias. This man literally held the power of life and death over members of his family. When an infant was born to the household, he often relied on the expertise and report of the midwife to determine if the child would be accepted into the family at all. Rejection meant the infant would be exposed and would ultimately die. If the child was lucky or unlucky, depending on your perspective, he/she would be found and picked up to be raised as a slave.
There were several things that went into this decision, the most obvious being the infant’s health and form. A child that appeared sickly or weak, or was born malformed was likely rejected by the paterfamilias and left exposed to the elements and wild animals. This practice, cruel to modern audiences, was a sensible act in the perspective of Roman society, which greatly valued accomplishment and success over potential.
The paterfamilias also had to consider the family’s resources as well as the planning of
inheritances. If the family would be financially challenged or the addition of another child could disrupt an already well-distributed and portioned inheritance among the current members of the family, he may also choose to order the infant to be left to exposure. Mothers had little legal say in such decisions.
As a modern audience, this system is horrifying. Yet to Romans, while it could be difficult, it was part of the weight the paterfamilias was expected to bear. Even adult family members could be, in extreme situations legally executed. In one source, we are given the perspective of a paterfamilias on such decisions.
“For when in my Garden I prune and cut off the lower branches which grow about the Lettice, the mother and root of them is so farre from being grieved threat, that she flourishes the better, and becometh both fairer and sweeter.”
For Western civilizations, whose cultures have been reshaped by the evolution of primogeniture and Christianity, it is difficult to understand the cultural perspectives of Roman society. Modern Western culture greatly values potential. We see abilities as innate and present from birth, we often celebrate natural-born talents over accomplishments. We particularly hail intelligence, something the individual has no control over. The Romans thought well enough of intelligence, but it was like finding a wad of fine clay, a raw material and its final form unpredictable.
For the Romans, potential held little value. The process of becoming something was not particularly important, instead the arrival, the achievement of success was the defining factor of value. Infants are the epitome of undefined potential. There is much possibility as well as the possibility of nothing at all, either from infant and child death or simply
lack of ability or some character flaw. The Roman story of a daughter Pero, who breastfed her father Cimon jail is a great example. Despite the creepy imagery, to the Romans this story was a celebration of Pero’s dedication and loyalty to her father—the paterfamilias. For anyone who knows about milk production, we have to understand that she would have nursed her father at the expense of her infant.
Another part of the weak value system surrounding infants was the fluidity of familial relations in terms of birthright—in that the station of birth did not determine ownership of the inheritance of titles or wealth. Blood relation was not absolute. For example, it would have been ludicrous for an exposed infant to somehow survive and grow to adulthood and attempt to return to claim connection or inheritance from their birth family. That sort of thing was an element of fantastic stories instead of daily realities. Additionally, Romans frequently practiced adoption of both children and adults. Adoption was the cementation of clan affiliation and loyalty, a binding as close as family ties. These arrangements had less to do with charity, but more often the loyalty and demonstrated capabilities of the adoptee who would often become a designated heir. Or the establishment of a heir in the absence of children.
To a lesser degree, but still important, these bonds could also be created through marriage. However, marriages were broken relatively easily, especially among the elite for more advantageous matches, there was little care if there had been children from the previous marriage. The first emperor of Rome, Augustus had Livia’s marriage dissolved so he could marry her himself while she was still pregnant with her then-husband’s child. The inheritance of property or titles did not necessarily follow family lines, but instead, clan loyalty and could be designated and re-designated by the paterfamilias at will. Neither was there any particular hierarchy based on birth order.
All of these factors contributed to small importance placed on a family to produce children, as well as a low emphasis on motherhood, especially when attached to a woman’s identity and societal expectations. While women held limited formal legal and political power, they were not seen as mere vessels of childbirth and had access to education and freedom of movement. When it came to education, the real factor was wealth. In government, women were not at all invisible and were often figures of significant influence. They held roles that could vary, as wives and mothers, but also serving time in religious life or the pursuit of education. Most upper class women hired wet nurses to provide milk for their infants, choosing to free themselves from the duty. There is some evidence that points to the possible existence of a wet-nurse marketplace, where potential women to fill the role could be interviewed and hired.
Certainly, there were differences in families on how much say a woman held over the acceptance or rejection of her newborn into the family and therefore life. Depending on the paterfamilias some women most likely were allowed to make that decision, or heavily influenced a decision. There were women who likely agonized over a malformed child, fought the decisions of their paterfamilias and others who were more accepting over it. The way Romans saw infants seems to indicate that they may have viewed infant exposure as equal to a late stage abortion or even an act of mercy for a sick infant or a household with financial constraints.
Before the popular spread of Christianity, Roman women enjoyed greater value as part of the Empire for their family connections and individual demonstrated capabilities. Small esteem was placed on women as mothers comparatively and even less on an infant’s life.
The importance of these roles would be reshaped with the spread of Christianity. The Western European world would create a system that depended on blood-relations and the birth of heirs. As a result, women lost significant personal freedoms, gained singular value as mothers and the birth of children would become of utmost importance.
In the next part of this series, I will discuss how these things changed, the effects on society and the new realities of exalted motherhood.
Featured Image: Neaera Reading a Letter Catullus (Henry John Hudson)/ Photo Credit Bradford Museums and Galleries
Soranus. Gynecology. Translated by Owsei Temkin. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1956), 80.
Claudius Aelianus. “XXIV: Of a Father Who Accused His Son of a Capital Crime.” University of Chicago. Accessed April 1, 2018, http://penelope.uchicago.edu/aelian/varhist1.xhtml#chap34
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Just over a year ago, I sat down with my department to discuss changing how we do A-Level coursework. When the history of the 20th century is taught in English schools, it is usually as a story of high politics, warfare and economic change. This tendency is especially marked at GCSE and A-Level.
In addition to the examined courses we teach, our exam board requires our students to produce an extended essay. However, there are no specifications about what topic students should explore and this gives us some welcome space to expand their historical horizons. Therefore, as we began the process of reforming our coursework, I sensed an opportunity to explore a different story of the 20th century with our students. This story would revolve around social history and foreground the experiences of groups who are ordinarily underrepresented in GCSE and A-Level courses: women, the Black British community and LGBTQ+ people. The question we settled on was: ‘How far were the positions of women, the LGBTQ+ community and Black people in Britain transformed during the late 19th and 20th centuries?’
As part of the coursework, students are required to analyse a set of primary sources. The process of looking for material they could use led me to the Hall-Carpenter archive, which is currently held by the LSE and contains key documents relevant to the movement for LGBTQ+ rights. There are innumerable stories that the documents held in this archive can tell but, when thinking about my classroom, three of the most interesting themes I identified related to ideology and its evolution, the campaign for legal reform and the emphasis on sociability and equal access to public space.
Some of the richest documents in the archive related to ideology are those produced by the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). The archive contains various manifestos produced by the group between 1970 and 1974. Looking at these sources side-by-side could offer students a fascinating insight into how the ideas of GLF members developed. In the manifesto produced shortly after the first meeting of the GLF in November 1970, key demands included equality of treatment with heterosexual people both in the law and in public spaces, as well as specific demands such as the equalisation of the age of consent. Of equal importance are the key phrases that end the manifesto, ‘GAY IS GOOD’ and ‘ALL POWER TO THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE’. This first statement, expressing the desire to go beyond toleration, is expanded upon a manifesto-poem written by John Chesterman in 1970. Here, the group’s argument against homophobia is developed in more detail, as Chesterman describes the ability to form relationships as a ‘right’, all relationships as ‘valid’ and addresses the heterosexual public, describing homophobia as ‘the prejudice that warps your life and ours’. Throughout this document, prevailing norms of sexuality are described as socially constructed and the ‘naturalness’ of homosexual relationships are asserted.
Both of these documents focus primarily on individual rights, but the theme latent in the statement of solidarity with all ‘oppressed people’ in the initial manifesto comes to the fore much more strongly again in a document produced in 1974. Here, the GLF comment on the progress achieved by legal reforms and give the scathing verdict that ‘seven years of bitter experience’ had seen legal persecution increase and social discrimination continue ‘unabated’. Furthermore, they fear resurgent social conservatism, citing Keith Joseph’s Edgbaston speech as a warning sign.
What’s especially interesting is the emphasis in 1974 placed on the disparity of experience within the LGBTQ+ community. It notes how the barriers of gender and class have limited how far people have benefited from previous reforms and puts forward a more wide-ranging social critique than the documents produced in 1970. This document locates the origin of the oppression LGBTQ+ people experience in the family, and specifically the family as it is constituted in ‘present capitalist society’. When my students study upheaval in their other courses, it is mainly presented as being driven by ‘big’ themes like religion or economics. It will be fascinating to use these documents to help them understand how themes like family have also been seen as ‘political’.
Beyond the GLF manifestos, other documents from this archive will also have the power to get my students thinking about how the details of people’s ordinary social lives and experiences of community have been the focus of political debate and have generated activism. One particularly interesting photograph held by the archive records the delegation from the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) during a march taking place in 1974. Prominent among the banners is one reading ‘we demand the right to show affection in public’. This picture contains an indication of why this might be seen as an issue of particular importance as a line of uniformed policemen marches alongside the demonstrators in such numbers as to render them almost invisible. The demand for equal access to public space seen here and in the first GLF manifesto also appears in a flyer advertising one of the first GLF dances. This document, tied together by the three invocations for the reader to ‘come together,’ ‘come out’ and ‘come along now’, is divided into two halves. The first includes the details of the event, such as the date, location and price of tickets. The second half, however, links these ordinary details of sociability to a wider ideological point. Readers are encouraged to come to the dance as an act against ‘discrimination and oppression’ by the oppressive forces identified in the first GLF manifesto, law, society, employers and psychiatrists. An interesting addition to this story is a later flyer produced in 1987 to advertise protests against Clause 28. In addition to the continuity represented by the statement that ‘lesbians and gay men are out and proud and not going underground’, there is also a discernible shift that can be seen in the reference made to the support of the Greater London Council. Here is a reference to organs of the state as positive forces, an element that is completely absent from the earlier documents produced by the GLF.
So how could these be used in the classroom? Initially, they represent a rich resource detailing the attitudes and beliefs held by the LGBTQ+ activists of this period and a record of how these developed over time. I will continually draw upon them in my teaching when setting up the coursework and students can then use them when they come to complete their own extended essay. Beyond this, there are two main ways in which I think the use of these documents may serve to expand our students’ historical education. The first is by allowing them access to types of sources with which they may be less familiar. A quick survey of the sources they look at in the rest of the A-Level course reveals a familiar parade of political speeches, legislation and letters. The documents in the Hall-Carpenter archive, created and used within a marginalised community, offer a different kind of resource. Exploring what protest flyers, handwritten manifestos and photographs of protests can tell us will widen their understanding of what historical evidence looks like. Likewise, the story of the archive itself represents a rich resource. The Hall-Carpenter archive was founded as part of the activities of CHE, and its early life was spent within the community. As such, its existence was often insecure, even after it was given funding and a permanent home by the Greater London Council, it came under threat once again after the Conservative government cut funding to the GLC in 1986. Fortunately, it was given a new home at the LSE, but this story might help students grapple with questions about how and why ‘silences’ persist in the archive, why marginalised histories often struggle to be preserved and allow them to consider the effect this has on the work of historians.
The documents discussed here represent only a fraction of what is available in this archive, not to mention all the other repositories of queer history. My current priorities are to integrate these resources into our lessons and to widen the story further by finding documents that allow students to engage with the histories of a wider cross-section of the community, including its Black, Asian and other ethnic minority members, trans histories, and activism outside of London. Overall, I hope these documents will not only help our students put together a different story of 20th century Britain but will also expand their understanding of what this subject is for and what it can do.
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Daija Angeli, project officer in the Natural Capital Initiative (NCI), works with the term natural capital every day. When a member of NCI’s Steering Group mentioned that people don’t know what it means until you tell them about bumblebees and apple trees, she thought it was time to reflect on the term again.
Most of us will first think of the skyscrapers in the City of London when hearing the word capital. Financial capital, however, is only one input into the goods and services we use in our daily and not-so-daily lives. They also require other forms of input, or capital, including goods and services from to the natural environment. The concept of natural capital evolved to illustrate that we rely on our natural environment to improve the quality of our lives, and it allows us to place a value on what nature does for us.
Natural capital is an economic metaphor that has been used by ecological economists for over 30 years, but only recently gained popularity in the wider environmental and sustainability communities. It is a broad concept and many definitions have been used to describe it; it can mean different things to different people yet still provides a shared understanding. The concept facilitates dialogue between the natural scientist studying soil biota, the economist investigating the value of clean water and the policy maker implementing the Water Framework Directive.
At NCI (a special interest group of the Society of Biology), we are currently working with the definition of the Natural Capital Committee, a group of natural and social scientists that advises the Government. In their definition, natural capital refers to “the elements of nature that directly and indirectly produce value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions.” This definition includes many different components of the living and non-living environment. It also includes the processes, such as photosynthesis, and functions, such as nutrient cycling, which link these components.
To illustrate how natural capital extends the traditional economic view, let’s take a look at forests. Traditionally, we view a forest as a stock of trees which provides us with a flow of timber, wood fuel and employment. All of these have monetary value attached to it which makes it easy to figure out the value it contributes to our economy.
If we look at the forest with a natural capital lens, it does not only consist of a stock of trees but also encompasses, for example, the soil and the organisms that live in it, and the complex relationships that make up an ecosystem. In addition to timber, the forest provides ecosystem services ranging from climate regulation and natural flood defences to recreational opportunities. All these services provide benefits to society. However, in contrast to the goods mentioned above, these benefits are complex, difficult to measure and still largely ignored in our accounting systems. If you like visualisations, have a look at this infographic by the World Forum on Natural Capital which summarises this beautifully.
Natural capital is necessarily a reduction of the complex and diverse relationships that characterise our natural environment. However, it is a concept that resonates with decision makers in policy, business and civil society and helps to facilitate dialogue between different disciplines. As the second report of the Natural Capital Committee on the state of natural capital in England showed, in many cases the benefits we derive from our natural environment are at risk. Acknowledging the value of our natural capital and having a common language is important at a time when we need to find solutions to maintain and improve the natural assets that are crucial to our well-being and economic prosperity.
Share your thoughts on natural capital on the blog or on Twitter, #natcap2014. The Natural Capital Initiative will be hosting its second ‘Valuing our Life Support Systems’ summit on 6th & 7th November 2014, hosted by the British Library. Visit the Natural Capital Initiative website to learn more and email us at [email protected] to register your interest in the event.
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National security is protecting a state against internal and external dangers or threats to maintain the country’s sovereignty. The American national security is under debate due to the rise of insecurity. There are several challenges about national security that are currently under debate, but the most recent security debate is about how to keep the country safe due to the ongoing conflict that the U.S. has with North Korea.
No individual would wish for war, whether in America or North Korea or anywhere else but with the rising tension and the president promising to attack the country, it seems that the U.S. and North Korea may be heading that direction. A few moments ago, North Korea opted for more executions especially of police officers in North Korean, and the CIA is getting worried that that country may bomb America with nuclear missiles in a few months. This is the current issue that is being debated about American national security (Mindock, 2018).
There are two competing solutions to this problem; one is attacking North Korea by firing missiles and nuclear bombs and the other is that the U.S. should ally with China and work together to denuclearize North Korea. The preferable solution here is the latter. The previous presidents of the U.S. were almost forced to attack North Korea because their leader is always ready to rush to nuclear bombing solutions and this may cause more problems than solving the problem at hand. On the other hand, if China agrees to tie their economic ties well with the U.S. and provide funding for the denuclearization of North Korea, then the violations that North Korea has made will be taken seriously by the courts, and severe actions will be taken against them (Sherman & Rivere, 2017).
There are three levels of the government: the local, the state, and the federal governments. All powers that were not specified for the federal government is given to the state government of the U.S; they have a duty make sure that they; register vehicles and provide: driver’s licenses or records, certificates of birth and death, compensate the unemployed as well as to provide licenses to professors in specific fields. The local branch of the government, on the other hand, is found in cities and local areas and it is the branch of the government that most people interact with. They have a duty to look into the welfare of fire departments, country yards, learning facilities and institutions, cleanliness of the region, transport and water facilities.
The federal branch of the government has the following responsibilities. First, they create and enforce laws to ensure stability and order in the country. They control the national economy because the national currency is under the federal branch of the government. They protect their subjects against internal and external attacks by providing national security, and they control the foreign policy of the country and represent the nation regarding interest in other countries (Sothern, 2017).
The federal government is made up of three branches: The executive, the Judiciary and the legislative. The executive enforces the laws of a state. The legislative (the Congress) make laws, declare wars whenever it is necessary, control tax, finance and it regulates multinational and foreign trade. The judiciary (the courts) is responsible for overseeing the court system (Factmonister, 2016).
In conclusion, every state faces national security problems but how they deal with their problems depends on the integrity and the strength of their government and most importantly, their ability to work together and incorporate ideas from other individuals and not to rush to conclusions.
- Factmonister. (2016). Three Branches of Government.
- Mindock, C. (2018). CIA worried North Korea could hit the US with nuclear missile “within months” – Times of India.
- Sherman, W., & Rivere, E. (2017). Can North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Be Stopped?
- Sothern, M. (2017). Responsibilities of the Federal Government | Synonym.
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On the surface, a focus group seems like a simple, straightforward exercise. Get a bunch of people in a room, feed them some snacks, ask them some questions, et voilà! Research!
The reality is, unfortunately, more complicated. Over the years, we’ve seen how tricky these exercises are, a delicate balance of harmony and discord that can lead to truly powerful insights—but only if care is taken.
We occasionally cringe when we hear about companies and organizations grabbing people off the street at random for DIY focus groups. This may seem like a cost-effective way to get some feedback, but precisely who is in that room and exactly why they’ve been chosen are important factors to a positive outcome for the research.
A focus group isn’t simply a bunch of individuals speaking in turn, but a dynamic discussion that takes on a life of its own. A good focus group creates a dynamic that raises the collective wisdom in the room, as shown through decades of research on the importance of diversity to solving complex problems.
Recruiting people in order to reflect the kind of diversity that will help inform the research is key. When we talk about “diversity,” of course, we’re not talking only about racial or ethnic diversity, but any factors that might distinguish key segments within the study: income, age, marital status, product usage, etc.
For example, when doing focus groups as part of jury research, we recruit jurors that reflect the age, race, political, and economic composition of the trial jurisdiction. We don’t only want to know how jurors feel about a case, but also how they discuss the case as part of a collective group of community representatives.
In focus groups with consumers or professionals, we take care to recruit around the kinds of experiences that will inform our research questions, while also making sure we have diversity within those experiences.
The goal is to put together a group of respondents who will share enough in common about the subject at hand to have a good discussion, while also creating enough friction for sparks of insight to appear.
A good focus group is structured around a guide or script that the moderator uses to move the respondents through a discussion in an organic way. We often find ourselves doing groups on subjects that may be complicated or emotionally sensitive, and a well-structured guide allows us to make sure participants are oriented and comfortable before moving to more difficult questions.
There are also a number of different techniques you can use to address specific objectives. For example, if you want to make sure groupthink doesn’t suppress individual voices, you can ask participants to write down their answers before discussing. Or, if you need to get insight into underlying emotions, projective techniques—such as word or image association—can be very powerful.
Of course, the choice of approach should always be rooted in the research objectives. When we plan a guide, we always consider the end goal, the kind of information that will ultimately allow our clients to move forward with confidence.
An experienced moderator makes a focus group look easy, but it is anything but. Consider the challenge of corralling a discussion among 10 or 12 strangers, where you’re trying to follow a scripted guide and, simultaneously, have to listen closely to the participants in order to remain sensitive to an unexpected but valuable line of information.
Theresa Schreiber of TSQ research, a moderator with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, says that “There is a certain wizardry involved in moderating focus groups. The moderator juggles group interactions, keeps viewers engaged, and covers everything outlined in the discussion guide—and that is just what is visible on the surface. On a deeper level, like an orchestra conductor, the moderator is simultaneously listening and assessing based on what is happening in the moment. When is it time to move the discussion along, and when it is time to dig in deeper because the discussion has taken an unexpected but relevant turn?”
The moderator is a researcher herself, considering the objectives every step of the way, while being prepared to adapt and adjust at a moment’s notice. An experienced moderator knows how to ask questions on the fly without biasing potential responses and how to keep respondents comfortable with revealing potentially sensitive information.
The moderator must also maintain composure and balance amid a potential range of emotionally charged situations and reactions that can emerge. For example, the cancer patient who breaks into tears, or the doctor who comes in with a “know it all” attitude. These moments can be very revealing, but they can also alter the group dynamic and potentially bias the research results.
It is a juggling act where there is simply no substitute for experience. Quite frankly, people can be unpredictable, and a group dynamic may be volatile or—worse—inert. Having a moderator who has seen and done it all ensures that the best laid plans of the recruiting and the guide will not go awry.
Always have snacks. But nothing too noisy.
Even in this age of Big Data, qualitative research like focus groups is invaluable when it comes to discovering the “why” of consumer behavior hidden beneath the “what.” An experienced third-party researcher coming in from the outside can help your organization better understand what might be lurking underneath.
Whatever you do, stay focused on your key objectives and be careful not to overstuff the discussion guide. A meaningful discussion takes time to emerge. Sometimes there is no substitute for talking with people, and when you do talk to them, you want to take maximum advantage of that time together.
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For those with a less advanced understanding of electronics (such as myself), what are the advantages of this circuit? How does the field effect transistor work and what differentiates from the ‘regular’ transistor? What is the thyristor semi-conductor and what is that doing for us in this circuit?
Thank you so much for these educational circuits with descriptions, they are really so helpful. Especially since 99% of the Lectron System manuals post 2001 are all in German!
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The face—its angularities hauntingly familiar, as they sit sharply juxtaposed to the supple flexures of skin sprawled across the boney canvas that lies beneath. These features are instantly recognizable as the mask of individuality, while simultaneously presenting as a portal to shared emotional responses. So accustomed have we become to these visages that we search for their reassuring pattern among the mundane backdrops of our daily existence. Faces we contrive within the inanimate makes the cold and industrial seem quirky and approachable, whereas faces among animals or others of our species allow us to be empathetic and bask in their emotions.
As a species, we humans differ genetically by only 0.1% on average. Yet, the outward display of those genes on a grand, 3D scale (what geneticists refer to as phenotype) produces the incredible variety that we visualize every day as we look out from our own unique façade. A face tells a story. The weathered, sun-dried lines of cheeks that have seen decades worth of sunsets after long days spent working outdoors tells one tale. While the rosy, smooth skin that universally makes grandma’s squeal with delight and shout “lemme squeeze that lil’ puddum!” can only be attached to the cherub-like creatures that have just begin to write their story.
But what if a face could tell another story? What if it could accurately, and more importantly, nonverbally, inform all who gaze upon it that advanced medical assistance was required. Now, the vast majority of individuals inherently have the simple investigative powers necessary to discern if something is awry—a sudden change in facial color, dilated pupils, or even the loss of tonality for the muscles of the face. But what about symptoms so obscure that it would be essential to compare the suspected mug to thousands of seemingly healthy faces simultaneously. Regardless of whether any individual beyond Sherlock Homes possesses such extreme powers of observation, the logistics alone would preclude such an experiment from even being possible . . . or at least that used to be the case.
In this digital age, when cell phones and selfies have become a standard term in the common lexicon (perhaps begrudgingly for the later), empathetic entrepreneurs have begun to leverage their technical expertise to create products that are of immense value to scientists and clinicians. Take for example Boston-based FDNA, a company providing technology solutions that are solving problems for rare disease patients in a most unique fashion.
A Rare Find
“As a group, we didn’t come with a predisposition of any genetics background or medical background—we’re technology people,” explained Dekel Gelbman, CEO of FDNA. “In fact, the co-founder and chairman of this company (Moti Shniberg), his previous company was a facial analysis technology company that was sold to Facebook, and they’re now using that technology to tag images. We came with a set of know-how and technology skills, and the mission statement that we started with was how can we apply this technology to the healthcare field and solve a real problem. We did a lot of research and talked to a lot of specialists in all different areas—all the fingers ended up pointing to genetics because that’s how physicians practice dysmorphology.”
Dysmorphology is the study of human congenital malformations—birth defects—in particular, those affecting the anatomy or form (morphology) of the individual. For decades, physicians have tried to master this diagnostic technique, yet until recently they have most often done so without the use of advanced technology. The FDNA team quickly realized they had found a niche where they could leverage their extensive knowledge and maximize their impact—rare diseases.
“Rare diseases as a group are not rare at all,” Gelbman noted. “They affect about one in every ten people on the planet. When you look at one specific disease [in this category], yes, it’s rare, but when you add them, as a group they have a very significant effect, and they affect hundreds of millions of people around the world.”
Gelbman added that “not a lot of people know that this is such a huge problem. There are about seven to eight thousand different rare diseases that have this large effect on the population. This lack of awareness contributes to what we call the diagnostic odyssey, as it takes on average about seven years for a rare disease patient to get a correct diagnosis, during which time they see about seven different specialists.”
To their credit, physicians do their best to assist patients and their families in finding the proper name for their disorder. Yet some of the diseases are so rare that doctors could practice an entire career in a large city hospital and never come across a single case of what some of these patients suffer from.
Fortunately, over the past several years, with rapid declines in price, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has not only allowed many physicians and researchers to be able to identify various rare disorders but has empowered them to determine the specific genetic background (genotype) for an array of rare diseases. Because of this incredible genomic power, dozens of initiatives have begun to enlist thousands of patients with the intent of developing comprehensive genetic maps. However, genotyping is only one-half of the biological characterization process. Harnessing and interpreting phenotypic traits for rare diseases is where FDNA decide to leave its mark.
Putting a Face to the Name
A person’s phenotype is typically the outward result of their genetic code, and information gleaned from observations that utilize phenotypic characterizations help to define patients from a clinical perspective. So, the FDNA team began developing a product that would help clinical researchers and healthcare professionals match up what they were learning from NGS analysis to what they were visualizing from patients features and expressions.
“We wanted to see how we could train a deep learning system to augment the analysis and the evaluation that a clinician does and provide them with real-time access to a library of images to determine similarity in a matter of seconds,” Gelbman remarked. “We got to a point where a physician could upload a regular facial photo, taken with a standard mobile device, and immediately get a list of potential syndromes where the system found similarities in the face.”
After creating a small database of images and training the system to recognize some rare disease variants, FDNA took the next step and created an app called Face2Gene. The app takes a patient’s photo and creates a facial mesh that is compared to syndrome-specific classifiers, or gestalts, and then is quantified to generate a ranked list of possible syndromes based similar morphological data. Since Face2Gene is a learning system, the more data it collects, the better at predicting it gets. Gelbman noted that after they gave the app to a bunch of geneticists to play with, “it was an overnight hit.”
The excitement around the Face2Gene app led the FDNA team to start investigating how they could add even more value to the system. Quickly realizing that the application went far beyond the basics of pattern recognition or facial analysis, these tech experts were following the rabbit hole, which led them to that path of deep phenotyping—often described as the comprehensive analysis of phenotypic abnormalities in which individual components of the phenotype are observed and defined. Since the hope of precision medicine is to provide patients with the best possible care based on disease stratification into subclasses with a common biological basis, the use of deep phenotyping technology such as Face2Gene seems like a big step in the right direction.
“As we connected with more clinicians, researchers, and labs and we began to understand that structured phenotyping is a real challenge for genomics,” stated Gelbman. “Especially as the high throughput technologies like exome sequencing started to develop and transition from research to the clinic, we realized that without accurate, structured, and scalable phenotyping it’s difficult to filter, interpret, and prioritize the variants that are produced from exome sequencing or whole genome sequencing. We were getting approached from the labs and being asked if we could share that information.”
Face2Gene doesn’t just end at analyzing patients faces, however. The app has expanded into a clinical warehouse platform that hosts a suite of five applications designed to aid clinicians, labs, researchers, and educators through approaches such as better variant analysis, enhanced patient evaluation, and even interactive training modules. Gelbman stated that FDNA and Face2Gene are intently focused on making significant contributions to the rare disease field and believes that their technology will play an important part in realizing the full potential of precision medicine initiatives.
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How much do you know about statutes? Do you know how statutes are made? Can you recall the legislative process in Parliament? Do you know the role of the Monarch in statute creation? What powers do the House of Lords have? Why are the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 significant? Test your knowledge and take the quiz on statutes.
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The use of various symbols and devices to signify individuals and groups dates to the age of antiquity. Warriors often decorated their shieldswith patterns and mythological creatures. Heraldry refers to the design, display and study of armorial bearings, a shield used to identify a person or family. The concepts and systems of regular heraldic designs were developed by heraldic officers between 1000AD and 1300AD during a period known as the High Middle Ages.
Originally conceived to assist with identification in battle, the beauty and intricacy of various heraldic designs meant that they survived the abandonment of armor on the battlefield and preserved the honor of the family line. To this day, we still see their use by individuals, organizations, corporations, towns, cities, and regions. To blazon arms means to describe them in the language of Heraldry, which has its own vocabulary, syntax and grammar based strongly on an anglicized version of Norman-French. A game of Blazon allows you to act as a herald, designing your own heraldic shield by acquiring elements, placing them on your Shield board, and earning distinctions through careful choices.
Take on the role of a gardener, seeking to wield your green thumb to grow a well-balanced, mature garden before the growing season ends.
You will sow seeds and grow a variety of plants to fill out your garden. In addition, if you meet the complex growing condition of your Flowers, you'll earn Prestige Points for your horticultural achievements.
The player who earns the most prestige at the end of the game is crowned The Master Gardener.
Gartenbau is a 2-4 player game in which players place and lay tiles in a tableau to meet the growing requirements of drafted flower tiles. A dual track rondel combined with three layers of tile laying are at the core of this beautiful game. Gartenbau is set in the late 19th century and all of the artwork used in this game is vintage from that era. This game is dedicated to all of the unknown artists who created wonderful works for various seed and flower catalogs during that period, leaving their mark on a beautiful era for garden art
Ra is an auction and set-collection game with an Ancient Egyptian theme. Each turn players are able to purchase lots of tiles with their bidding tiles (suns). Once a player has used up his or her suns, the other players continue until they do likewise, which may set up a situation with a single uncontested player bidding on tiles before the end of the round occurs. Tension builds because the round may end before all players have had a chance to win their three lots for the epoch.
The various tiles either give immediate points, prevent negative points for not having certain types at the end of the round (epoch), or give points after the final round. The game lasts for three "epochs" (rounds). The game offers a short learning curve, and experienced players find it both fast-moving and a quick play.
Three Sisters is a strategic roll-and-write game about backyard farming. Three Sisters is named after an indigenous agricultural technique still widely used today in which three different crops - in this case, pumpkins, corn, and beans - are planted close together. Corn provides a lattice for beans to climb, the beans bring nitrogen from the air into the soil, and the squash provides a natural mulch ground cover to reduce weeds and keep pests away.
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Written by Anthony Skelton, Lisa Forsberg, and Isra Black
Consider the following two cases:
Cynthia’s blood transfusion. Cynthia is 16 years of age. She is hit by a car on her way to school. She is rushed to hospital. She sustains serious, life-threatening injuries and loses a lot of blood. Her physicians conclude that she needs a blood transfusion in order to survive. Physicians ask for her consent to this course of treatment. Cynthia is intelligent and thoughtful. She considers, understands and appreciates her medical options. She is deemed to possess the capacity to decide on her medical treatment. She consents to the blood transfusion.
Nathan’s blood transfusion. Nathan is 16 years of age. He has Crohn’s disease. He is admitted to hospital with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. According to the physicians in charge of his care, the bleeding poses a significant threat to his health and to his life. His physicians conclude that a blood transfusion is his best medical option. Nathan is intelligent and thoughtful. He considers, understands and appreciates his medical options. He is deemed to possess the capacity to decide on his medical treatment. He refuses the blood transfusion.
Under English Law, Cynthia’s consent has the power to permit the blood transfusion offered by her physicians. Her consent is considered to be normatively (and legally) determinative. However, Nathan’s refusal is not normatively (or legally) determinative. Nathan’s refusal can be overridden by consent to the blood transfusion of either a parent or court. These parties share (with Nathan) the power to consent to his treatment and thereby make it lawful for his physicians to provide it.
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Stevia, a natural and organic sweetener, offers a unique alternative for those seeking to avoid the negative impacts of sugar. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of cultivating stevia, from its growth cycle to harvesting techniques.
Stevia, scientifically known as Stevia rebaudiana, is a perennial plant renowned for its intensely sweet leaves. Unlike sugar, stevia does not spike blood sugar levels and contains no calories, making it an ideal choice for individuals managing diabetes or seeking healthier alternatives to sweeten their foods and beverages.
Stevia thrives in optimal conditions, requiring well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. It is resilient and can survive for over four years if cultivated correctly. During winter, the plant sheds its leaves, with the roots lying dormant until the arrival of spring triggers regrowth.
**Harvesting and Processing:**
Spring and summer mark the ideal seasons for harvesting stevia leaves. Once harvested, the leaves can be air-dried and stored for consumption throughout the year. Processing stevia involves extracting its sweet compounds, which can be significantly sweeter than traditional sugar when concentrated.
Stevia can be propagated through both seeds and cuttings. Late summer presents an excellent opportunity to purchase stevia plants, preferably those with white flowers, indicating seed production. Propagation through layering or division ensures a higher yield of leaves, contributing to a sustainable harvest.
Proper care is essential for maintaining healthy stevia plants. Adequate drainage and minimal organic matter in the soil prevent root rot and ensure optimal growth. Regular watering, especially during dry spells, promotes robust foliage production.
**Addressing Common Pests:**
Whiteflies are a common pest that can afflict stevia plants. Regular inspection of the plant’s undersides can help identify and address infestations promptly. Organic pest control methods, such as neem oil sprays, can effectively mitigate pest populations without harming the plant or the environment.
**Propagation and Expansion:**
Propagation through layering allows for the expansion of stevia plantations. By encouraging lateral growth and rooting of stem segments, growers can increase their yield and establish new plants for future harvests.
Cultivating stevia offers a rewarding experience for gardeners and health-conscious individuals alike. By following proper cultivation techniques and care practices, one can enjoy the sweetness of this natural wonder while reaping its numerous health benefits. Embrace the art of growing stevia and embark on a journey towards sustainable sweetness in your own backyard.
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Among the many useful man-made „artifacts“, money is probably the most versatile. It is not only a means of exchange for trading goods and services; it also provides an easy and simple store for previously generated wealth.
The importance of money has grown over the course of thousands of years, yet only during the past few centuries has it made inroads into most people’s lives. Along with this rise of money’s role, debt has become a close companion. Originally mostly used to finance government and trade, it is now present everywhere. One way to see credit is that it serves as a way to make the benefits of an individual's or a company's future surpluses available today, by enabling investments or consumption before having saved enough to make a purchase happen. This obviously comes at the price of interest.
The contribution of debt to the generation of economic output has so far been only partially analyzed in economics. There are some aspects researched in Keynesian macroeconomics, regarding the positive effects of debt-funded government spending on total output (i.e. GDP). Also, the impact of growing private-sector debt on economic growth has been investigated by some researchers, mainly for emerging economies, to show a positive effect. For the most part, however, economics sees debt as neutral in respect to output, as it assumes that credit simply transfers consumption or investment activity from one entity (the creditor) to another (the debtor). Our models question this view, as credit almost always introduces a temporal shift, bringing consumption or investment planned in the future (e.g. in the form of someone's savings, pension money, etc.) to immediate use in the present by the debtor. And increasingly, spatial shifts play a role, where borrower and creditor are in different economies. Also, in today's financial markets, debt is no longer necessarily created from past savings, but instead credit generation and savings growth go hand in hand.
Our research so far demonstrates a direct correlation between new debt incurred in an economy and economic output. “Productive debt” – as we label the debt used for consumption or for buying investment goods and not for financial speculation – directly contributes to GDP in the year it is generated, and it “echoes” back in the economy in later years. On the other side, it shows that debt service has significant negative effects on future growth. Our models so far are able to solidly explain recent economic growth in light of fast growing debt (both private and public), and equally well predict economic decline from credit contraction or austerity programs in critically affected countries during the recent crisis.
One of the challenges for the future of most economies comes from the fact that for decades, debt levels have consistently been growing at a faster pace when compared to economic output (GDP), to levels close to or even above their theoretically sustainable maximums. Consequences are twofold - growing defaults of debt once it reaches unsustainable levels, and the inability to grow debt further, which in turn limits economic growth.
Our research projects cover a number of topics in this area:
- Overall monetary transaction model (cradle-to-grave analysis for entire monetary systems)
- Effects of debt fluctuation on economic growth
- Role of debt and credit in economic growth and decline
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What you'll find in this guide:
Why was my child diagnosed? How does a diagnosis benefit my child? How is autism diagnosed?
Definition Diagnostic criteria Prevalence Causes
Social symptoms Communication difficulties Repetitive behaviors Common strengths Physical and mental issues
Reacting to the diagnosis Caring for the caregiver Supporting your other children 15 tips for families
Therapy options Applied Behavior Analysis and distinct subtypes Treatment for associated conditions
Benefits of early intervention Choosing the right services Getting services started Autism and insurance
Creating your team Managing your team Technology Safety
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This is one of the most serious and debilitating disorders of the nervous system. Knowing it impacts muscles and physical ability to do anything, we are determined as women to give our strength to this cause. Also in our social circle we come across more and more people with this disability which really brings it home.
Although research into the disease is being conducted worldwide, the cause is unknown to date. The hope for a future – with an average life expectancy of 3 to 5 years after the first symptoms – is not yet available for the 1500 Dutch patients. Due to the relatively small number of patients, the research budgets from the pharmaceutical industry and the government is next to nothing; the vast majority of scientific research into ALS in the Netherlands is therefore funded by donations to the ALS Charity in the Netherlands.
More and more plastic is floating in our oceans and seas. It comes from rubbish that we throw away on the street, fishnets that are discarded, and from washing synthetic clothing and brushing our teeth. All these different types of plastic together form the plastic soup in the seas and oceans.
The oceans constitute 72% of the earth’s surface and are our primary oxygen supply. It is the primary source of food for more than half the world’s population. But because plastic is not biodegradable, the plastic soup is lethal for many marine animals.
By rowing across the ocean we want to create awareness for this cause and be mindful of the importance of our oceans. A source of nature that will carry us in our journey.
Rowing across the Atlantic is certainly a huge challenge and we are out to prove that we can push ourselves to the limit, both physically and mentally. Our entire row is dedicated to two great charities that mean a huge amount to us as a team; Charity ALS Netherlands and the Plastic Soup Foundation.
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The growing awareness of climate change and its impacts on the world around us is often accompanied by thoughts and feelings that color the perspectives that influence how we live each day. When was the last time you experienced a hot summer day and simply thought about taking a swim, or going out for some ice cream, without worrying whether the heat was due to global warming?
Climate change is a real existential threat, in the midst of which it is crucial that we each find some sense of balance between concern, taking action and still being able to appreciate and enjoy each day. That said, many people have trouble enjoying even routine daily activities and recreational pursuits because they feel guilt that such activities could contribute to climate change, often experiencing grief over what has come to pass, and anguish over what they anticipate is still to come.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, one out of every two residents of the U.S. expressed concern over the impact that climate change is having on their mental health. The number of patients seeking therapy for issues related to climate anxiety has grown significantly. A recent book by Dr. Britt Wray, who holds a Ph.D. in Science Communication, is about how to maintain and sustain oneself in the midst of the long-term challenges presented by climate change: Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis.
Our struggle to adapt to a constantly changing world, and the information flooding in with each new wave of the news cycle, frequently centers on tension between our survival instincts and our more resilient, adaptive behaviors. The threats, both real and perceived, presented by global warming are regularly triggering the kinds of fight-or-flight feelings that arise in the region of the brain located near the spinal cord. After some years now of dealing with the survival brain’s responses to the environmental, social, economic and political challenges that we face due to climate change (and the coronavirus pandemic), many are experiencing a heightened sense of anxiety and all manner of coping behaviors, most of which are neither healthy nor helpful for actually, well…coping.
Meanwhile, the higher-functioning part of our brain, the prefrontal cortex—which is located behind the eyes and forehead—is constantly trying to digest the news we’re receiving each day. This part of our brain helps us to absorb new information and react accordingly, based on what has worked constructively in our previous experience. But this rational footing is not able to find traction when forced to navigate the constantly shifting sands of the global-warming news cycle. As a result, many of us have become caught in a negative feedback loop of anxiety caused by our brain’s inability to chart a predictable path forward in the midst of long-term uncertainty. As neuroscientist Judson Brewer points out in his excellent book Unwinding Anxiety, when fear and uncertainty overwhelm our brains, our rational thinking starts to break down and irrational behaviors take over. Sound familiar? Chocolate, anyone?
According to Brewer, when we focus on this dynamic between our survival instincts and our higher-level rational thinking—becoming more aware of what is causing our anxieties—we are then in a better place to step back from impulsive behaviors and choose to make wise choices. We can detach from reactive thoughts and actions and instead chart a path forward that is rational, healthy and even calming.
Taking this road to rationality will better enable us to endure and take good care of ourselves and those we love, even in the midst of climate change angst. There’s a reason that airplane passengers are directed to put on their own oxygen masks first, before assisting others: We need see to our own needs in order to be available to take care of others. It is important to be able to step back from heated discussions about climate change (pun intended) and tend to the fundamentals of good health care during these times: eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and seeking emotional support by all means safe and available (interpersonal and digital).
Focusing full-time on climate-change related issues can be demobilizing. Even on a warming planet, we all need to make time to count our blessings and find joy in life. By relying on well-informed, steady, methodical planning to fight climate change, we are making progress. And perhaps the best way of all to cope with our own anxieties is to reach outside of ourselves and do something good for those in need, and for the health of the planet. Our salvation lies in appreciating what we have, and deriving satisfaction from the act of helping others.
Watching a monarch butterfly emerge from its chrysalis is a late-summer balm for the soul. You can also plant milkweed to start a monarch waystation for future generations. Monarchs were recently declared endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Photo: Michael J. Caduto
- Become empowered by taking meaningful action to contribute to efforts to fight climate change, such as those suggested online by the Environmental Defense Fund: https://www.edf.org/you-are-not-alone-we-deal-climate-anxiety-too
- Seek counseling if you’re finding that climate anxiety, grief or other related thoughts and feelings are impacting your emotional state and mental health.
- Support individuals and organizations who are actively working toward eco-justice for those who are being most heavily impacted by climate change, including residents of income-challenged communities and countries who contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions but often suffer the greatest impacts of climate change, as well as indigenous peoples who have a long history of being treated unjustly.
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A parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (the most common): Causes skin lesions, mainly ulcers on exposed parts of the body, causing scars and serious disability. 90% of cases are in the Americas, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and Asia. Visceral Leishmaniasis (the most dangerous): Causes enlarged spleen and liver, anaemia, weight loss and irregular bouts of fever. Highly endemic in the Indian Subcontinent and East Africa. Mucotaneous (the least common): Causes partial or total destruction of the mucous membranes in the nose, mouth and throat. Most cases are found in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.
Travel Vaccinations for Palestinian Territories
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Steeped in religious history, the significance of many of the cities in the Palestinian Territories means it remains a draw for pilgrims, but the area has so much more to offer in terms of cultural and artistic attractions. Bethlehem is famous for being the birthplace of Jesus, encouraging many travellers to visit for this reason. Alongside this cultural relevance, art is beginning to be revered in the area, with some of Banksy’s work stencilled on the wall separating Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Another unexpected delight is the Taybeh Beer Brewery, situated in the West Bank, which offers free tours on a daily basis. Here visitors can learn about the history of the area and how a small town began exporting beer cross-country, then subsequently across the world.
Infections and Outbreaks frequently change from country to country and by attending our clinics you will be given the most up to date clinical and safety advice from our team of specialists. Our advice to you often includes aspects such as:
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Before x-ray technology, broken bones and bullet location were detected by “physical examination and a doctor’s best guess.” There was no way for a physician to see into the human body without incising it. Then, on November 8, 1895, German physics professor Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen made an astonishing discovery that would forever change diagnostic medicine. While working with high-voltage electricity, cathode rays, and gases at low pressure, he found that “x-rays” could penetrate most solid objects. For the first time, physicians were able to noninvasively see the human anatomy. Interestingly, Röntgen’s first image was the internal structure of his wife's hand (see exhibit 1).
In 1895, John Macintyre established the world’s first radiology department at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland. Early successes included producing the first images of a renal stone. That same year, Walter Bradford Cannon, an American physiologist, used x-rays to follow food passing through an animal’s digestive system. In 1896, physicians began to use x-rays for medicolegal purposes, most often for gunshot cases, tumor identification, and dental examinations. Over the next 100 years, x-ray technology continued to advance, and imaging helped supplement the scalpel. By the 1980s, Europe saw the early use of virtual or digital autopsies, followed by three-dimensional, multiplanar scans in the early 1990s (see exhibit 2).
Today, using computed tomography (CT) scanning technology — or computerized x-ray imaging — to augment autopsies is fairly commonplace in Europe, Japan, and Australia. In the United States, however, the practice is not as routine, for reasons we will discuss throughout the article. In some situations, the use of advanced imaging technologies, such as CT, prior to or in place of a traditional autopsy would be advantageous and could offer solutions to some challenges faced by the medicolegal community, such as limited resources or conditions or circumstances that make the cause of death not easily diagnosed through a traditional (gross anatomy) autopsy. Through research and international partnerships, NIJ is working to inform the community of potential benefits and advance this resource to medical examiners and coroners nationwide.
The first image shows a three-dimensional rendering of a torso showing hip fractures. The second image is a computed tomography (CT) scan of a torso on a coronal plane. Both images were viewed through a program called OsiriX.
Many U.S. offices have started to embrace Lodox imaging technology, which is a high-quality, low-dose, digital x-ray that can scan an entire body. Lodox was invented in South Africa to see if those who work in diamond mines had swallowed diamonds from the mines. Over time, U.S. trauma centers and medical examiner offices have incorporated the use of Lodox, which is fast, less expensive than traditional x-rays, and has specific benefits. For example, it can detect specific medical occurrences or features, such as pneumothoraces and bone fractures near the skin’s surface, and metal objects such as projectiles and implants. Although Lodox would not replace CT, it is a gateway to new technology. CT technology allows physicians to better visualize areas that are harder to dissect, visualize vessels (including stenosis, occlusion, and ruptures) and stab wounds using radio-opaque dyes, and estimate the volume of hemorrhages.
When an unattended or suspicious death comes to a morgue in the United States, a forensic pathologist — a physician who works as a medical examiner and performs autopsies to determine the cause of death — typically conducts a traditional autopsy. Although we often emphasize the criminal justice or legal aspects of medicolegal investigations, we sometimes forget that medical examiners are physicians who practice medicine; their experience, knowledge, and the tools at their disposal are essential in determining the cause and manner of death.
Meeting the Needs of the Community
About 2.6 million people die each year in the United States; approximately 500,000 of them receive post-mortem examinations. Currently, the nation has a shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists. Projections suggest that 1,000 board-certified forensic pathologists are needed to provide adequate coverage in the United States; however, there are only an estimated 500 full-time forensic pathologists. There is a tremendous need to develop and implement advanced methods that could not only enhance autopsies diagnostically but also help combat this shortfall and reduce workloads.
For example, burn victims and motor vehicle fatalities can sometimes present with injuries that are difficult to discern due to the condition of the body. Imaging technology, such as CT, could help pathologists evaluate these cases more quickly without needing to complete a time-consuming gross autopsy. A CT radiograph might offer the pathologist a clear and apparent cause of death without conducting a full autopsy. Another significant advantage to using imaging technology is that the pathologist never loses the ability to delve further if a case requires additional investigation — the use of imaging does not impede the option of going back to a traditional autopsy to supplement findings.
The question of who examines and evaluates CT radiographs can present a potential challenge, as pathologists currently do not perform these duties. However, this is not an unmanageable concern. First, medical examiners’ and coroners’ offices can supplement their staff with radiologists, who can triage and manage a portion of their office’s caseload. Pathologists can also be trained to review radiographs, which may assuage the need to hire additional staff. Some of the offices’ cases might then be resolved quickly through imaging, thus realizing significant time savings. More importantly, because forensic pathologists are experienced in examining the deceased, they are in a better position to interpret the nuances of post-mortem change, such as interpreting what is an actual injury versus what may be imaging artifacts or changes due to decomposition or insect predation; hospital pathologists do not have such experience or exposure.
Additionally, CT may allow medical examiners to better meet the needs of families. Some groups may object to a traditional autopsy because of religious or cultural considerations (e.g., those who are Jewish, Muslim, and Native American)., In these circumstances, CT offers a noninvasive alternative that will avoid distressing a family further during a difficult time. Some cultures also have traditions regarding the expediency of burial timeframes; imaging would allow the pathologist to resolve a case within such customary requests. Further, from a medicolegal perspective, imaging might be the only diagnostic tool available to the pathologist to determine the cause of death, as some state laws prevent a medical examiner from performing an autopsy over a family’s objection.
Imaging might also enable nationwide collaboration through telemedicine and technical reviews, especially in regions of the country that lack medical examiner services. In addition, if a case moves to the prosecutorial stage, use of CT-type images as courtroom exhibits may be more palatable to judges and juries than gross anatomy photos showing massive or severe injury.
Making imaging technology available to pathologists as common practice will take effort and persistence. The use of advanced imaging techniques offers agencies a way to reduce the number of gross autopsies needed, address the shortage of forensic pathologists, decrease the number of biohazard exposures, honor our nation’s diverse cultural traditions and, most importantly, increase the amount of diagnostic information that is captured and retained electronically. Unfortunately, the use of CT is not commonplace in much of the United States, for many reasons, including the cost and maintenance of CT equipment, the lack of temperature-controlled facilities with adequate structural integrity, lack of access to and availability of experienced individuals who are able to read and interpret CT images, and the need for additional research. These challenges are not insurmountable and the benefits far outweigh the burdens; it is important to identify solutions and find a way to achieve practical application and cost-effective implementation in this country.
Old Technology, New Practice
Some U.S. agencies have made great strides in bringing CT technology to their medicolegal community. For example, four agencies in this country have in-house CT scanning equipment. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office (AFMEO), located in Dover, Delaware, focuses solely on U.S. servicemen and servicewomen. AFMEO scans every decedent who comes through its morgue and is using fellowships to advance training in this area. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Maryland also has a CT scanner, which it uses in about half of its cases each year; a radiologist works with the medical examiner and provides consultation. The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (NMOMI) and the Los Angeles County Coroner/Medical Examiner also have in-house CT scanning equipment that has been very effective in daily practice.
Creating Global Partnerships
NIJ is working to advance imaging technology for medical examiners and coroners nationwide. For example, NIJ currently supports cutting-edge research being conducted at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and hosted a technology transition workshop at NMOMI through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.
In collaboration with the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), NIJ created and shaped the International Forensic Radiology Research Summit (IFRRS), an international working group looking to establish a research agenda of high-priority needs concerning advanced imaging technologies for forensic pathology applications. In 2011, NIJ entered into a memorandum of understanding with NFI and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Chemical and Physical Sciences Division, to advance cooperation and information sharing for the development of effective solutions and priorities that will improve forensic science and criminal justice research. NIJ and NFI identified a mutual need focusing on research and practice in forensic radiology. In 2015, NIJ, NFI, and leadership from the Joint Congress of the International Society for Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) and the International Association of Forensic Radiographers (IAFR) began preparations to convene a working group of professionals in forensic radiology to produce a road map to address gaps, challenges, and research needs in the field. On May 10-11, 2016, the IFRRS was held at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, in conjunction with the ISFRI and the IAFR.
The IFRRS, spearheaded by NIJ and NFI and with the support of the ISFRI and the IAFR, brought together 40 leading researchers, practicing medical and forensic professionals, and government employees from 11 countries to build research partnerships, encourage collaborations in the global community of forensic radiology, address challenges, and identify possible solutions for the implementation of advanced imaging technologies in medicolegal practice. During the two-day meeting, Dr. Gregory G. Davis, chief coroner/medical examiner in Jefferson County, Alabama, facilitated a discussion with the expert working group that focused on developments and challenges in implementing forensic radiology techniques and research priorities. The expertise and leadership offered by the working group produced a series of priority areas, including but not limited to big data and statistics, age estimation and reconstruction, multimodal imaging, and visualization and presentation.
Using big data to enhance research
Many countries have a common desire to perform research. However, not all countries have the same access to relevant data, as the prevalence of crime affecting their communities may not be equal in volume. The working group noted that an agency’s caseload might be insufficient to conduct a statistically relevant study and recommended that an international clinical and forensic reference database be created for medicolegal research purposes. For instance, many countries do not have the same prevalence of gun violence as that found in the United States, and a collaboration with the United States might provide a larger data set that could potentially offer results with greater statistical significance.
Additional research is needed to collect data and solidify the effectiveness of imaging within certain populations, such as pediatric and elder abuse cases. Research would also help propel the practice forward through the development of machine-driven, automated image assessments, which, up until now, have demonstrated poor results. Big data sets might also provide a robust evaluation pool to assess the skills of radiologists compared to other experts, which might lead to better training protocols to improve techniques and procedures when dealing with decedents.
Profile characteristic estimation and scene reconstruction
The working group also discussed age estimation and reconstruction. Population frequencies and variation, extrapolated from biological profiles, are used to better estimate age, sex, stature, and ancestry. Additional research is needed to further support the data and strengthen biological profile assessment.
Innovative use of technology would be valuable to identify victims of disasters, particularly in situations in which fingerprint collection is unavailable or DNA collection is too risky due to scene hazards. For instance, mobile scanning technology could capture images of body position to preserve the orientation of injuries; the United Kingdom has been using portable scanners for several years. Clinical radiology and imaging used in diagnostics are also well established; however, the working group noted that further research is needed when applying these techniques to post-mortem investigations.
Combining traditional methods with novel techniques — referred to as “multimodal approaches” — can provide pathologists with a more detailed picture. For example, the combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared optical spectroscopy has been used successfully to identify malignant and benign breast tumors. CT/MRI data that date injuries in living patients over time could be compared with scans of the deceased to more accurately identify and date ante- and post-mortem injuries and identify changes (e.g., those caused by decomposition). Although MRI and near-infrared optical spectroscopy are not commonly used by medical examiners, opportunities for growth and research into these new areas should be considered.
Demonstrative aids and presentation in court
Using visual aids to present evidence in court is incredibly important. In homicide cases, the expert opinions and exhibits provided by the medical examiner are invaluable. More robust research is needed that supports how to better and more reliably portray visual aids and how to properly present to the jury what scenarios align with the evidence. For example, animations are based on theory rather than documentation, and it is difficult to get animations admitted into court. In contrast, radiological scans are already used in court to depict injury, eliminating the need to show inflammatory photographs to the jury. However, currently no research addresses quantifying the utility of demonstrative aids and illustrations used in court; evidence-based data of this type would be extremely beneficial to the criminal justice system.
Although there are challenges in transitioning advanced imaging technologies (such as CT) into medical examiner and coroner offices, continued research will provide a better understanding of the applications and limitations of advanced imaging for forensic pathology. The benefits could likely offset many challenges faced by forensic pathologists (such as cultural or religious objections), alleviate the volume of cases, and allay efforts to complete all cases through gross autopsy. Furthermore, advanced imaging technologies in forensic pathology could improve courtroom displays, facilitate telemedicine, and provide a permanent objective data archive. Imaging could be used as a complementary tool. Other technologies, such as Lodox, could also be considered — not in place of CT, but to augment medicolegal practice beyond traditional x-rays. Forensic pathologists need access to investigative tools that will ensure decedents are given equal care to the living and that medical examiners are providing robust information to the criminal justice community.
Continued collaborations, information sharing, technology transition, and support of a robust research agenda in advanced imaging for forensic pathology will serve to improve medicolegal death investigations in the United States.
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About This Article
This article was published as part of NIJ Journal issue number 279, published April 2018.
This article discusses the following grants:
- “Investigation of the Impact of Body Temperature and Post-Mortem Interval on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Unfixed Tissue,” grant number 2012-DN-BX-K019
- “Investigation of Post-Mortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Intraneural Hemorrhage,” grant number 2013-DN-BX-K004
- “Evaluation of the Routine Use of CT Scanning to Supplant or Supplement Autopsy in a High-Volume Medical Examiner's Office,” grant number 2016-DN-BX-K002
- “Improving and Evaluating Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Investigation of Fatalities Involving Suspected Head Trauma,” grant number 2016-DN-BX-0173
- “Facilitating Forensic Research in Multiple Fields Using a Unique Computed Tomography Dataset,” grant number 2016-DN-BX-0144
NIJ Journal Issue No. 279
Date Published: April 2018
- Investigation of the Impact of Body Temperature and Post-Mortem Interval on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Unfixed Tissue
- Investigation of Post-Mortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Intraneural Hemorrhage
- Evaluation of the Routine Use of CT Scanning to Supplant or Supplement Autopsy in a High-Volume Medical Examiner's Office
- Improving and Evaluating Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Investigation of Fatalities Involving Suspected Head Trauma
- Facilitating Forensic Research in Multiple Fields Using a Unique Computed Tomography Dataset
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Nowadays, everywhere that you look you can realize that various phenomena are caused by human activity. Extensive fires, heat waves, draught, ice melting in the earth’s poles are phenomena that highlight the need to take action and to be more radical in mitigating them. Terms such as “sustainability’ and “environmental awareness” have arisen gaining ground and showing that there is a need to do something immediately. It Is universally accepted that all these phenomena derive from the same basis. And that is human behaviour and habits.
But how these “habits” can have this deep and absolute effect on our planet? Well, people make choices always in their lives and based on these choices they act accordingly. But how many choices are conscious? To understand how habits function, we need a definition. According to Verplanken, habits can be defined as “memory-based propensities to respond automatically to specific cues, which are acquired by the repetition of cue-specific behaviour in stable contexts” (2018, p. 4). To put it simply, when you have a specific automatic response/ behaviour in certain circumstances then this a habit. It constitutes a mechanism that functions subconsciously which is based on repetition and learning. When we react in stimuli in the same way, each and every time this reaction is being repeated, is strengthened, thus leading to become a habit.
Having habits does not necessarily mean something bad. In fact, there are good habits (hardworking, honesty, taking exercise) and bad ones (alcoholism, drug addiction, selfishness, dishonesty etc). One may think that habits have no connection to sustainability and climate change, but is this so? Habits specifically emphasize on how our behaviour is heavily reliant on automatic processes. For instance, if you have learnt from your home that when washing the dishes you don’t turn off the tap leaving tons of water running, well yes! This is a habit that places a significant burden on the environment by wasting water resources.
And the question here is whether we can break old, bad habits or create new habits that promote environmental awareness and contribute to the sustainability of our planet. The good news is that people, if they want to, they can control their behaviour through various ways. In their research, Linder et al (2022) indicate three ways for changing habits:
What is made clear from the abovementioned issues, is that habits have the power to change the way we behave towards our planet and its resources. Apart from this, they define who we are, shaping our identity which is based on our actions. Therefore, monitoring our past behaviour and decoding the reasons that led us to specific actions may be the key for creating more environmentally and sustainable aware citizens.
The ACTIVEYOUTH4Life project recognizes this need to learn more about habits and how they shape our self-perception, our values, beliefs, and self-identity and that is why a whole training module is dedicated to them!
Kaaronen, R.O. 2017. Affording sustainability: Adopting a theory of affordances as a guiding heuristic for environmental policy. Frontiers in Psychology 8: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01974.
Linder, N., Giusti, M., Samuelsson, K. et al. Pro-environmental habits: An underexplored research agenda in sustainability science. Ambio 51, 546–556 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01619-6
Verplanken, B. 2018. Introduction. In The psychology of habit: Theory, Mechanisms, Change, And Contexts, ed. B. Verplanken, 1–10. Cham: Springer.
The European Commission’s support for the production of this website does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project Number: 2021-1-ES02-KA220-YOU-000028702
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For years, cholesterol has been portrayed as a primary villain in the narrative of heart disease and overall health. However, recent insights suggest that this molecule, often shrouded in negative connotations, plays a crucial and complex role in our body's functioning. This 800-word article aims to shed light on the essential functions of cholesterol, debunk common misconceptions, and explore its diverse impacts on health.
Understanding Cholesterol: More Than Just a Number Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance present in all cells of the body. It is vital for several physiological processes, including the formation of cell membranes, production of hormones, and synthesis of vitamin D. Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not inherently harmful. In fact, it is indispensable for our body’s proper functioning.
The Brain and Nervous System Connection Cholesterol is a key component in brain health. It aids in the formation and maintenance of synapses – the junctions through which neurons communicate. This relationship highlights the importance of cholesterol in cognitive functions, memory, and mood regulation.
Serotonin and Mental Health: Cholesterol plays a significant role in the brain's use of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. Adequate cholesterol levels are essential in preventing depression and mood disorders.
Vitamin D Synthesis: Cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D, a critical nutrient synthesized in our skin in response to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency, often linked to low cholesterol levels, has been associated with chronic pain, depression, and other health issues.
Cholesterol and Heart Disease: A Complex Relationship The narrative that cholesterol directly causes heart disease is an oversimplification of a more complex relationship. While it’s true that certain types of cholesterol, when oxidized, can contribute to plaque formation in arteries, cholesterol itself is not the sole culprit in heart disease.
The Autism Connection Emerging research suggests a link between cholesterol levels and neurological conditions such as autism. Low cholesterol levels have been associated with increased risks of anxiety, muscle pain, and even suicidal tendencies. This highlights the necessity of maintaining balanced cholesterol levels for neurological and mental health.
Individual Cholesterol Needs: One Size Does Not Fit All People vary greatly in their cholesterol requirements. Some individuals maintain excellent health with total cholesterol levels around 240, while others thrive at levels closer to 180. This variation underscores the need for personalized health assessments rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Risks of Artificially Lowering Cholesterol In the pursuit of lowering cholesterol levels, individuals often resort to medications like statins. However, forcing cholesterol levels too low can lead to adverse effects, particularly if these levels fall below what an individual’s body naturally requires. Symptoms such as anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and cognitive issues can arise from unnaturally low cholesterol levels.
Healthy Cholesterol Management: A Balanced Approach Maintaining cholesterol balance is key to overall health. Here are some strategies:
Dietary Choices: Incorporate a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, can also help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that aids in removing other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream.
Lifestyle Modifications: Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake can positively impact cholesterol levels and overall cardiovascular health.
Regular Health Checks: It’s important to monitor cholesterol levels regularly, but always consider these numbers in the context of overall health and personal medical history.
Conclusion The role of cholesterol in our bodies is multifaceted and essential. It is a critical component for brain and nervous system function, mental health, and the production of vital nutrients like vitamin D. The narrative that cholesterol is solely a cause of heart disease is a misleading oversimplification. While it’s important to monitor and maintain balanced cholesterol levels, the goal should not be to reduce it indiscriminately. Understanding individual needs, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and focusing on a balanced approach to cholesterol management are key steps toward maintaining optimal health. As research continues to unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that cholesterol, when managed correctly, is not a foe but a vital friend to our body’s complex system.
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Status And Uses
Some readers of a statistical turn of mind may be disappointed to learn
that figures as to the value of the annual crops of individual herbs,
the acreage devoted to each, the average cost, yield and profit an acre,
etc., are not obtainable and that the only way of determining the
approximate standing of the various species is the apparent demand for
each in the large markets and stores.
greatest call is for parsley, which is used in
restaurants and hotels more extensively as a garnish than any other
herb. In this capacity it ranks about equal with watercress and lettuce,
which both find their chief uses as salads. As a flavoring agent it is
probably less used than sage, but more than any of the other herbs. It
is chiefly employed in dressings with mild meats such as chicken,
turkey, venison, veal, with baked fish; and for soups, stews, and
sauces, especially those used with boiled meats, fish and fricassees of
the meats mentioned. Thus it has a wider application than any other of
the culinary herbs.
Sage, which is a strongly flavored plant, is used chiefly with such fat
meats as pork, goose, duck, and various kinds of game. Large quantities
are mixed with sausage meat and, in some countries, with certain kinds
of cheese. Throughout the United States it is probably the most
frequently called into requisition of all herbs, probably outranking any
two of the others, with the exception of parsley.
Thyme and savory stand about equal, and are chiefly used like parsley,
though both, especially the former, are used in certain kinds of
sausage. Marjoram, which is similarly employed, comes next, then follow
balm, fennel, and basil. These milder herbs are often mixed for much the
same reason that certain simple perfumes are blended--to produce a new
odor--combinations of herbs resulting in a new compound flavor. Such
compounds are utilized in the same way that the elementary herbs are.
In classes by themselves are tarragon and spearmint, the former of which
is chiefly used as a decoction in the flavoring of fish sauces, and the
latter as the universal dressing with spring lamb. Mint has also a more
convivial use, but this seems more the province of the W. C. T. U. than
of this book to discuss.
Dill is probably the most important of the herbs whose seeds, rather
than their leaves, are used in flavoring food other than confectionery.
It plays its chief role in the pickle barrel. Immense quantities of
cucumber pickles flavored principally with dill are used in the
restaurants of the larger cities and also by families, the foreign-born
citizens and their descendants being the chief consumers. The demand for
these pickles is met by the leading pickle manufacturers who prepare
special brands, generally according to German recipes, and sell them to
the delicatessen and the grocery stores. If they were to rely upon me
for business, they would soon go bankrupt. To my palate the dill pickle
appeals as almost the acme of disagreeableness.
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The Evolving Role of Bone and Joint Specialists
Given the need to hunt and kill wild animals in order to sustain their needs, and the frequency of hostility between rival groups, it is hardly surprising that primitive humans soon developed the basic skills required to repair broken arms and legs when required. Fossil evidence has revealed many incidences of fractured limbs successfully re-aligned which, in turn, seems to confirm that some forms of splints were in use as early as the New Stone Age. Lacking the knowledge and the facilities of the bone and joint specialists of today, it appears that these early healers were also prone to perform amputations whenever a repair may have been too difficult.
Splinting was definitely practiced in ancient Egypt, as several mummies with femurs and forearms secured by splints made of bamboo and reeds, and with an internal padding of linen, have been found. Also, a carving dating form around 2 800 BC clearly shows an individual walking with crutches. Often cited as the founders of modern medicine, the Greeks developed casts to immobilise broken limbs whilst healing, and also used strong bandaging to correct clubbed feet and scoliosis with variable success.
The interventions performed by these early bone and joint specialists were predominately non-surgical. It was not until the latter half of the1800s, with the understanding of the principles of asepsis and the value of ether as an anaesthetic, that the role of the orthopaedic surgeon began to expand. Later, with the development of X-rays and, some 55 years later, of penicillin, surgery would account for around half of all orthopaedic interventions undertaken, of which a large proportion now tends to be elective.
With the aid of techniques such as intramedullary nailing, modern bone and joint specialists are able to repair femoral and tibial shaft fractures unsuitable for splinting. The biggest advance in modern orthopaedics however, is undoubtedly the ability to replace worn and damaged joints in the shoulder, hip, or knee with artificial structures to restore normal mobility and free the subject from his or her pain.
Known as arthroplasty, these are elective procedures and will often be the sole focus for specialists in bone and joint surgery, leaving trauma cases to be handled by general orthopaedic surgeons. Most commonly, these replacements become necessary due to the effects of osteoarthritis. Although generally encountered in those over 65, the condition now appears to be affecting a growing proportion of those in their 50s and even younger.
The condition results in damage to the cartilage that normally protects the articulating surfaces, allowing them to grind together, causing pain and, in time, loss of mobility. Depending upon the extent of the damage, either a partial or total replacement will be required. Before operating however, in addition to X-rays, today’s bone and joint specialists will often perform a procedure known as arthroscopy. A tiny incision provides entry for a flexible tube with a light and camera at its tip. Video images of the interior of the joint are relayed to an eyepiece or monitor screen for inspection, enabling the surgeon to decide upon the best action.
With the services of an internationally-acclaimed bone and joint specialist, Life Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria caters for local and overseas patients with state-of-the-art orthopaedic procedures, including arthroscopy and arthroplasty.
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"The best professors are those which know how to transform themselves into bridges, and which invite their pupils to cross them..." NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS. |
In its first definition, a bridge is a structure intended to allow communication by connecting two points separated by an obstacle. From the first wooden or stone bridges and the primitive footbridges made of lianas, to the latest technological marvels of the end of the 20th century, a large variety of materials has been used in order to achieve solidity, efficacy, practicality, rapidity and cost efficiency. Stone, iron, steel and concrete have been used in increasingly sophisticated architectural structures. Built initially to satisfy commercial, strategic and economic needs, bridges have also been designed for tourist purposes and sometimes even for aestheticism. Often destroyed, rebuilt, re-destroyed, and rebuilt again... bridges have marked history and human relations, becoming a privileged subject for representation in the history of Art, providing themes for many stories, films, novels, and even songs. They have also been the centerpiece of many architectural competitions. It is as difficult to classify the representations of bridges in philately as it is to categorize the bridges themselves. Whether it be by their form, the nature of the materials used or even by their function, such as a highway-bridge, footbridge, viaduct, aqueduct… the exceptions are always numerous and make any attempt at classification even more difficult. HTML page-setting and the addition of links permit an instantaneous simplification of the tiresome references and endnotes in printed documents, although without ever completely replacing the latter. A bridge can be the only theme of a stamp - or a series of stamps - issued on a purely commemorative basis to highlight its technical and architectural qualities. It can also simply be an element of the landscape represented, urban or rural. In other cases, it plays the symbolic role that it fulfilled throughout the eventful history of mankind, a symbol associated with a city, an event, or even a character. More rarely, its aesthetic qualities or its use for artistic and expressive ends are highlighted. Following the completion of a European educational project carried out within the framework of my job –- I was a high school Art teacher near Orleans , now retired –I became interested in this topic and I started to collect all the stamps and documents represented here. I then tried, by way of this website, which grows each week, to make a small anthology of these buildings through their representations in philately, a field symbolic of the cultural and universal "bridges" that try to connect and unite people. This site is not an exhaustive encyclopedia, but rather through the pictures, a bridge towards knowledge, curiosity and culture… Michel Wagner June 2004/2018 1Click on the pictures, in order to access to the correspondent chapter.
All the documents, stamps, photos and letters reproduced in these pages,
when they are not in inverted commas( feature articles)... are from my
personal collection; Any use or reproduction, even partial, requires my
authorization ... Michel Wagner |
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IELTS Essay Checker - Sample Band 5.5
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Band 5.5 | IELTS Essay Sample Band 5.5
29 Jun 24, 12:57
Want to practice this question?
Go to IELTS Essay Checker
The essay addresses the task but lacks a clear thesis statement and logical flow. Grammar and vocabulary usage are adequate but contain errors and inconsistencies, affecting readability and coherence.
Overall score | 5.5 | |
Grammatical range and accuracy | 5.0 | |
Lexical resource | 6.0 | |
Coherence & cohesion | 5.0 | |
Task response | 6.0 |
Total Errors | 25 | |
Grammatical range and accuracy | 5 | |
Lexical resource | 12 | |
Coherence & cohesion | 4 | |
Task response | 4 |
Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that video games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them.
In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?
#Advantage / Disadvantage
can be absorbed by different perspectives as distinct ball games
. Whilst some believe that these games
help strengthen minds; others believe they're
harmful.Electronic plays can be useful
numerous reasons. Kids are able to master the skill of multitasking and intellectual thinking by playing
like those car
racing ones where one needs to ensure good speed of the car and also
overtake other cars. Video games
, through their illustration, root in children
a seed of wide imagination that further plays
a useful role in their skill-set for practical life.These puzzles raise your thinking speed, and
your capability to overachieve in less duration. When playing
these, different senses are being used like sight, touch, and feel which open up your mind! These games
, obviously, are also
a good time-pass, far better than age restricted movies and cartoons, causing children
to feel an inferiority complex.However, these are
opposed by people. One reason for this could be the enormous harm these have on eye-sights. These plays are quite addictive, and cause children
to think about them even when they are not supposed to, like when studying, or working. Addiction of any thing
is wrong, and should be highly condemned, and this appears to be one factor of the same. When hooked to these, they dont
feel like eating/talking, and lose their sanity in the long run.It is, therefore, recommended by
experts that video
should rather be subtracted from the lives of
and adults, since adults already got less time to spend with their families, so in their leisure time, all they do is
deeply plants in their nature, seeds of aggression.
believe computerized amusements in a limit are acceptable, however, one shouldn't
consider those to be a significant part of their lives so much so that it's
almost impossible for them to drop hold of it. Henceforth, in my opinion, the drawbacks of these are far more prominent than its
benefits; and as a replacement, outdoor games
should be considered.
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【Child】In Shakespeare’s great works, there are many characters with deeply intriguing personalities. If the world of the aquarium were a stage, which fish do you think would embody such enchanting characters?
【Professor】Oh, that’s an interesting perspective! In the world of the aquarium, one captivating fish that springs to mind is the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus. Like a character with a compelling story, this strikingly beautiful fish has its own distinctive characteristics, habitat, and behavior that make it truly fascinating to observe and keep.
【Child】The intricate patterns and vivid colors of a Klimt painting come to mind when I think of beauty. How would you describe the appearance of this captivating fish, professor?
【Professor】Ah, Klimt’s works are truly mesmerizing. The Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus displays an equally enchanting appearance with its vibrant colors and intricate markings. Its body displays a stunning mix of blue, red, and yellow merging together, reminiscent of Klimt’s use of gold. Male Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus have more dazzling colors and patterns than their female counterparts, and they can grow up to 6 centimeters in size.
【Child】Nature’s harmony is beautifully depicted in the tranquil landscapes of Monet’s impressionist masterpieces. How does the natural habitat of the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus compare to the canvas of an aquarium, and what role do they play in the ecosystem?
【Professor】Very true, Monet’s paintings have a unique harmony that resonates with the observer. Similarly, the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus thrives in the calm and slow-flowing waters of West Africa’s rainforests, in countries such as Nigeria and Cameroon. When recreating their natural environment in an aquarium, ensure plenty of vegetation, subdued lighting, and gentle water movement. In their ecosystem, these fish play a role in managing insect populations by preying on mosquito larvae and other small invertebrates.
4. Husbandry Requirements
【Child】In Charles Darwin’s studies, he emphasized the significance of adapting according to the environment. What are the specific conditions required to ensure our aquatic friends’ well-being in captivity?
【Professor】Indeed, adaptation is key to survival. To create the ideal habitat for Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus, you’ll need to maintain water temperatures between 20-24°C (68-75°F) and a balanced water chemistry with a pH of 6.0-7.5 and soft to medium hardness. A tank size of 40-60 liters (10-15 gallons) is suitable, though larger tanks are preferred for keeping multiple fish. Feed them a variety of live and frozen foods, such as brine shrimp and daphnia, to ensure they receive proper nutrition.
【Child】Chinua Achebe’s fall of Okonkwo in “Things Fall Apart” was triggered by the protagonist’s hamartia. What can you tell us about the nature, behavior, and ecological traits of our aquatic companions to ensure their stories won’t have a tragic ending in the tanks?
【Professor】A profound literary reference! Understanding the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus’ behavior can greatly aid in providing a comfortable living environment. Unlike Okonkwo’s tragic fate, these fish are generally peaceful, making them suitable for community tanks with other non-aggressive species. They are diurnal, preferring to swim in groups in a well-planted aquarium. It’s essential to offer plenty of hiding spots among the vegetation, as they will feel more secure and less stressed, which in turn contributes to their overall health and well-being.
【Child】In the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche, these deities were joined in love and harmony, transcending their earthly forms. What are the breeding conditions for the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus to achieve such divine union?
【Professor】Lovely analogy! To create a nurturing breeding environment for the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus, house a group of these fish in a separate breeding tank, filled with fine-leaved plants and a gentle water flow. Maintain the same conditions as in the main tank, with slightly lowered temperatures (around 20°C). Males and females will perform courtship rituals and spawn on plants, usually laying 30-40 eggs. The eggs will hatch within 10-14 days, and the fry can be fed infusoria or newly hatched brine shrimp.
【Child】As Achilles’ heel led to his downfall, what cautions should one take to avoid any mishaps while keeping Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus?
【Professor】Ah, the infamous Achilles’ heel! It’s vital to be aware of potential complications when keeping these fish. Since they are delicate and sensitive to sudden changes, maintaining stable water parameters is crucial. Additionally, avoid housing them with aggressive or territorial fish species, as they can cause stress and harm to the Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus.
【Professor】Just as the world of literature and art can captivate our minds and hearts, Aphyosemion bitaeniatum Lagus offer an enchanting experience in the world of aquariums. By understanding their needs and providing them with the ideal environment, you’ll be rewarded with witnessing their beauty, grace, and fascinating behaviors.
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Ideas to help you with learning and teaching braille
Read more →Resource to help you modify young children’s picture books.
Read more →for academic year 2021-22
Read more →Finding optimal fonts
Read more →3D models are an ideal format for representing objects in space, and are an inclusive format within the classroom
Read more →MS Publisher – Building Blocks
Read more →Ideas for teaching Braille to young adults with dyslexia.
Read more →Teaching braille to children report
Read more →Children’s books in 75-point print with braille
Read more →Print book enlargement service
Read more →
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Your blogger is a little tired right now... I am just back from a field trip to the salt flats in Botswana, guided by colleagues from BIUST University, walking, viewing and sampling in 38C heat. It was great to walk around and see with my own eyes geology relevant to Mars here on Earth. This enhances my - and more generally our - understanding of the physical and chemical processes that underly observations on Mars.
I have been doing some analogue research in the Ntwetwe Pan, but while looking at the vast, muddy plains could not keep myself from thinking back to Mars. Is that how the area around the clay bearing unit we travelled through earlier in the mission would have looked like when the water was just starting to dry off? I can see similarities and differences, and both can inform our work on Mars and our interpretation of the data we receive. But, back to Mars!
Today's planning started with a discussion where to drive next. We had spotted features in the distance, including a triple junction of rock layers, and are now aiming for those, and for a large, dark rock just before that. Carefully surveying each image for features that look different allows us to spot the unknown, the new, and the change, and then put all our instruments to work to understand what we see.
Piece by piece, the picture of the geology of Gale crater grows and with it our understanding of Mars as a planet. The triple junction is especially important, as it is expected to allow us to see how the different rock layers are related to each other.
But before we drive, Curiosity will be busy at its current parking location with two APXS targets, which will also be documented by MAHLI: "El Descanso" and "Peters Mine." MAHLI in addition performs a dogs-eye view to document sedimentary features on a target named "Semang Peak." All of those will add to the understanding of the chemistry and formation conditions of the differently textured rocks.
Mastcam will document the various features around the rover and at a distance. There will be a mosaic to further look at the marker band feature. Yes, that's the rock that so far was too hard to drill, most recently as target Encanto. Mastcam will also document an area around target "Cacao" and "Telhiero," as well as take single frame images of the ChemCam LIBS targets "Mapiripana" and "Potaro." ChemCam also performs long distance RMI imaging on target "Amapa."
Atmospheric observations include a dust devil survey and horizon movie. DAN is taking a passive measurement, allowing us to get a full set of data once more, including atmospheric measurements and water in the subsurface under the rover. Then the rover will drive off to Cacao, the large rock spotted at a distance, and upon arrival take a MARDI image and a set of Navcam and Mastcam images that will allow understanding the new parking location for the planning in two days' time.
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Sols 3718-3720: Go For Drilling at Encanto
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 23, 2023
In the previous plan, Curiosity conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential drill target "Encanto" (as seen in the above MAHLI image) and today we received the data. The drill preload test and contact science data look good, so we are GO for our third attempt to get a sample of this marker band. Today's 3-sol plan includes the full drill on the first sol, followed by portion characterization on the second sol, and some remote sensing activities. The team planned ChemCam LIBS on two bedrock ... read more
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There is a wide range of finishes that offer varying degrees of protection to concrete. Each particular finish or sealer has application, performance, maintenance and other characteristics and requirements that differentiate it from other sealers.
Sealers can be separated into two basic groups: penetrating sealers and topical sealers.
One basic consideration when choosing between penetrating and topical sealers is that sealing concrete that is polished or honed with a diamond grit finer than 200 can be a challenge. The surface is too smooth for many film-building (topical) sealers to stick to. When concrete is polished to a gloss, only penetrating sealers, hardeners and wax can be used.
Penetrating sealers are liquids that are applied to bare concrete, soak in, and then once wiped off and dried, are usually nearly invisible.
They are really chemical treatments. They often don’t affect the appearance of dry, bare concrete. Some leave it looking dry, while a few provide a darker, wet (but not very shiny) look.
Penetrating sealers work either by reacting with the concrete to decrease its porosity and increase the surface density (the hardeners/densifiers) or by increasing the surface tension to cause beading (the repellants).
Densifiers (also called hardeners) are water-based chemicals that react with the cement paste in the concrete. The reaction generates additional cementing agents that physically increase the strength of the surface concrete and fill the micropores to densify and decrease porosity. The cementing agents that are generated during hardening often serve to provide some color enhancement.
Densifiers are often applied before repellants. Densifiers can sometimes be applied more than once.
There are different types of densifiers:
- Sodium silicates (“water glass”)
- Potassium silicates
- Potassium siliconates
- Lithium silicates
- Colloidal silicates
While the chemistry and reactivity of the silicates differ, their end effect on the concrete’s surface is similar: the concrete eventually becomes harder and less porous. What is important to realize is that reactive finishes take time to achieve their properties.
Repellants are a concrete treatment that changes the surface tension characteristics of the concrete so that liquids bead up easily (and therefore roll off or are easily wiped off). They create a hydrophobic water-shedding effect when applied to the concrete. They act like Rain-X® All-Season Windshield Washer Fluid, which causes water to bead up on a car windshield.
The three common forms of repellants are:
Silanes and siloxanes are chemically related. Both are silicone-based compounds that penetrate deeply into the concrete but do not change its appearance. No surface film develops so there is no color, shade or sheen change.
Fluoropolymers are another form of repellant that can be either invisible or color enhancing. Color enhancement brings out the depth of color and shading similar to water, and it sometimes provides a soft sheen too. Some color enhancing fluoropolymer sealers provide a physical barrier (like a coating) in addition to the repellant qualities.
Repellants have very good resistance to abrasion (they are physically in the concrete, not on it), heat and UV.
Saturating concrete counter tops with oil will not seal or protect them. Oil is oil, linseed, tung, walnut, mineral, olive or otherwise. Soaking the counters in some sort of oil would not offer any form of stain protection. They will continue to stain no matter how much oil you soak them in.
Oil does repel water, but many foods that contain oils won’t be repelled by the oil and will then stain the countertop. And acids will still etch the concrete.
In addition, most oils would be considered natural to some extent, but natural oils can increase the microbial growth on the counters and thus be considered unsanitary.
Using Penetrating Sealers
Penetrating sealers were developed to provide some protection to warehouse floors and to help keep architectural concrete clean from airborne dust and debris. They do not block contact with the concrete, but simply inhibit liquids from penetrating into the concrete, thereby making it easier to clean up spills.
Penetrating sealers don’t provide much, if any, protection against long-term exposure to aggressive staining agents (like wine, mustard and oil), nor will they provide much protection against acidic items. In fact, strong acid usually begins to etch the concrete almost immediately. While some hardened concrete can be called stain resistant, this description really only is accurate in the sense that liquids are far less likely to penetrate into the concrete, thereby making cleanup easier. In other words, concrete that can’t be cleaned is called “stained”, and concrete that is easy to clean up is called “stain resistant”.
Penetrating sealers work best for concrete that gets infrequent or brief exposure to water, mild staining agents and non-acidic substances, and where cleanup is likely to happen quickly. Table tops (like end tables or coffee tables), fireplace mantles and hearths are good examples of where penetrating sealers work best. Because they become an integral part of the concrete, they cannot flake or peel off, and they usually don’t need to be reapplied at all, or for many years. Heat will not affect them, nor will exposure to sunlight.
One drawback to penetrating sealers (especially repellants) is that once they are applied, no other sealer except wax can be applied over them with any confidence. There is a good chance that the topical sealer will not stick because of the repellant. Wax is commonly used over penetrating sealers.
Penetrating sealers are often the only choice available when concrete is polished, since very smooth surfaces don’t allow for a good bond with coatings. Generally a densifier is used during polishing and then a repellant is applied after the polishing is completed. The densifier keeps the repellant from soaking into the concrete. If the repellant is also color enhancing, the densifier will keep the surface looking rich and enhanced.
Topical sealers (coatings) make up the bulk of the concrete countertop sealers on the market. There is a wide range of types with widely differing chemistries and varying degrees of appearance, performance and longevity.
The most basic “sealer” is wax. Wax is both a penetrating and film-building sealer, depending on how much is used and how it is applied. Generally, a high-quality floor wax that contains carnauba and bees-wax, or just pure bees-wax, is used. Synthetic microcrystalline is also used. Automotive paste wax should not be used because of the additives it contains.
Wax produces an attractive, low- to high-sheen finish that brings out the best in the concrete’s color and visual texture. Wax will usually darken bare concrete (similar to the way water wets-out or darkens the concrete).
Wax is a very forgiving sealer. It is easy to apply and hard to get wrong. Wax cannot be scratched (unless it is put on heavily), although the concrete itself can get scratched or gouged. Wax is easy to reapply and usually must be applied frequently to remain effective. Consider wax to be a sacrificial protectant that must be replenished to remain effective and attractive.
However attractive and easy wax is, it makes a very poor-performing sealer. Just about anything will leave some kind of mark or will stain waxed concrete if left on long enough, and exposure times must be fairly brief to avoid any kind of staining whatsoever. Hot temperatures (such as hot sauce pans) can cause the wax to soften or even melt and soak into the concrete. Acids like vinegar or lemon juice tend to strip off the wax and can etch the underlying concrete.
Wax applied over other sealers often adds very little extra protection. It essentially serves little purpose other than to provide a psychological boost to the homeowner, unless the underlying sealer is so poor that the wax actually provides more protection than the sealer itself.
Acrylics, either solvent based or water based, are the next most basic and common concrete sealers. Acrylic is a single-component polymer. Solvent based acrylic sealers don’t “cure”, but merely dry out and harden. They are water-clear and UV-resistant. Acrylic sealers are fairly easy to use, commonly available and relatively inexpensive. They were developed for sealing floors and driveways, and offer modest protection. Solvent-based acrylics will darken the concrete, but not as much as water will.
Most water-based acrylics should be avoided if a dark, wet look is desired. They tend not to wet out the concrete, so it will look pale, almost like it does when it is dry.
Acrylics are thin-bodied liquids that are brushed, sprayed or rolled onto the concrete. While they claim to soak into concrete (only in very porous concrete like a driveway), in practice they only sit on the surface of dense, impermeable concrete that is used in most concrete countertops.
Acrylics offer fairly good stain protection but are easily scratched. Scratches often leave the concrete completely bare and unprotected. Acrylic sealers often require frequent reapplication because they tend to scratch and wear off, especially if the surface they were applied to was not properly prepared.
Solvent based acrylic sealers are fairly simple to touch up because the sealer will melt into itself. Water based acrylics will not melt into themselves because the solvent is water, which will not dissolve the acrylic resin. Because solvents will dissolve the acrylic resin, acrylics are not resistant to most solvents like acetone, toluene or xylene.
Acrylics generally provide modest heat resistance but are UV resistant.
There are hundreds of different kinds of epoxies, but the epoxies used for sealing concrete are all generally similar. Epoxy is a two-component system that chemically reacts when mixed. The reaction is irreversible, and the end result is a very durable, very hard surface. They are usually used for sealing floors, and are generally tinted.
Epoxies are expensive, and because they require careful measuring and rapid application, can be a challenge to apply correctly.
There are three basic types of epoxies: solvent based, water based and 100% solids. Epoxy that is 100% solids means there is no solvent or thinner in the epoxy; all of the material that is mixed together reacts and forms the coating.
Epoxies are very tough and can provide very good stain resistance. Epoxies are generally vulnerable to UV exposure, and yellowing and chemical breakdown can occur if a UV inhibitor or pigment is not used. Even then the best marine epoxies (for use on wooden sailboats) start to break down after only a few years exposure. Epoxies are also heat sensitive.
Epoxies are hard and are usually very glossy and build to a noticeably thick film. Because they are hard (for a sealer) they can scratch easily (hardness is relative and not necessarily always beneficial). The appearance of epoxies can be a problem. A thick, plastic-looking coating that scuffs and scratches easily is not usually acceptable to the clientele who want concrete countertops.
Another difficulty with epoxies is that application can be tricky. Many epoxies are very sensitive to moisture and can bubble if applied to even slightly wet concrete. Bonding issues can occur as well, resulting in peeling.
Urethanes are a class of sealers that offer many desirable characteristics. Some urethanes are single part, and others are two part. There are water-based urethanes and solvent-based urethanes too.
Urethanes, in general, are very stain and heat resistant, provide good or excellent UV resistance, are tough and scratch resistant, and are usually very glossy, but there are also matte versions available.
Urethanes are usually very sensitive to the surface they are applied to. Many urethanes must be applied over a primer, which is often epoxy. Because of this, they tend to look plasticky because of the thick glossy film of sealer and primer that builds up. There are versions of urethanes that do not require a primer and can be applied to bare concrete.
Urethanes can be tricky to apply correctly; they must be measured out precisely and mixed thoroughly. The surface they are applied to must be properly prepared. If these conditions are not met the finish will peel or at least perform poorly. Lastly, urethanes are tricky to repair, since they tend not to stick to themselves, and they are fairly expensive.
Polyaspartic polyurea sealers are very durable, high build coatings that are fairly new to the decorative concrete industry. Polyaspartic sealers are catalyzed finishes, meaning they are two-part systems similar to epoxy. However, polyaspartic sealers are very different from epoxies, and these differences have attracted much attention because of the performance and versatility they offer.
Polyaspartic sealers come in a variety of forms, from 100% solids that have near-zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels, to 60% solids versions that have relatively low VOC levels. As a family, polyaspartic polyureas offer fairly rapid to extremely rapid recoat times, moderate to ultra-short pot life, very dense, high gloss and high build finish that is resistant to a broad range of chemicals, heat, UV exposure and abrasion. Polyaspartic finishes offer greater abrasion and impact resistance than epoxies and even urethane finishes.
Some forms of polyureas are designed to be mixed in and applied by a special spray gun; these forms cure in a matter of seconds. Newer versions can have pot lives of around 20 to 30 minutes, with recoat times as fast as 1 to 2 hours and walk-on times just as fast. Application is usually by spraying, but rolling or brushing is possible with the longer pot-life forms.
Because most polyaspartic coatings were designed for floors that see harsh use, most manufacturers recommend film thicknesses ranging from 6 to 25 mils (150 µm to 650 µm), or more. For countertops, slightly thinner films can be put down. Because of their ability to wet out the surface, polyaspartics are considered color enhancing, and as a benefit, offer very high bond strengths to properly prepared concrete.
Polyaspartics can tolerate a wide temperature range, and can be applied in conditions ranging from –30 degrees F to as high as 140 degrees F (-34°C to 60°C). High humidity levels usually are not a problem with most polyaspartics, but the higher levels will accelerate the curing rate, but is not usually a problem. However the concrete cannot be damp or wet, because moisture will inhibit a good bond and can flash cure the sealer at the concrete interface, further compromising the bond.
Because polyaspartic finishes offer an attractive assortment of benefits ranging from deep color enhancement, good stain, acid and excellent abrasion resistance, it is tempting to call them the ideal sealer for concrete countertops. However, they are a coating, and as with all coatings they are vulnerable to cuts and scratches. And since the concrete is completely coated, it is never exposed to the environment. This is how the concrete gets its protection, but some countertop manufacturers object to the tactile and visual quality of a glossy sealer. The finish’s thickness and gloss level create an artificially plasticky look that can detract from the overall look and feel that bare concrete offers. And with few reliable exceptions, polyaspartic sealers only come in medium to high gloss.
Reactive hybrids are a new class of sealers derived from lithium silicate densifiers. These hybrids are a lithium silicate and a proprietary polymer blend. Not only is the chemistry a hybrid, the sealer is a hybrid combination of a penetrating finish and a coating.
Reactive hybrid sealers were originally formulated for concrete floors, and many very similar lithium hybrid products for floors are on the market. There is one company that has modified the basic hybrid product for use on concrete countertops. These products, especially the modified version are new and continually changing to meet the special demands of the concrete countertop industry.
Reactive hybrid sealers are reactive in nature. This means that the sealer chemically reacts with the concrete, so both the sealer and the concrete are altered. The sealer uses calcium compounds in the concrete to initiate curing. This also means that time is an important factor in the physical properties of the sealer. Development of sealer properties is highly dependent on the age, degree of cure and quality of the concrete, as well as the method of application. Part of the ongoing challenge with this particular finish is that there are a wide range of factors that have varying degrees of influence upon the sealer’s performance and curing rate.
Because of its time dependent nature, early age performance can vary widely, but is generally considered fair to poor. As the finish reacts over time, the performance generally increases. This can take days, weeks or even months depending upon a variety of factors such as the degree of concrete curing, the particular version of lithium silicate hybrid being used, temperature, humidity and other factors.
The performance of this sealer is also highly dependent on the particular mix design used, so it is extremely important to test it thoroughly on your own concrete and at various ages of your own concrete. Even then, performance has been highly variable and unpredictable.
This finish is often used in conjunction with a lithium silicate densifier, and is usually applied in the “flood-on, let soak, wipe-off” method. The cured finish is extremely thin, and depending upon the smoothness of the concrete the finish can have a semi-gloss to glossy sheen.
Summary of Penetrating and Topical Sealer Properties
Type | Stain Resistant |
Heat Resistant |
Scratch Resistant |
Sheen Comments | UV Stable | Easy to Apply | Easy to Maintain or Repair | Other Comments |
Densifiers: Sodium, potassium, lithium silicates potassium siliconates colloidal silicates Repellants: silanes siloxanes fluoropolymers |
(Generally no, but some stain-resistant systems involving lithium silicates are in development) |
Y | Y | Sheen and color enhancement vary | Y | Depends on exact chemical and manufacturer | Y | Once repellants are applied, no other sealer except wax can be applied over. |
Wax | N | N | N | Natural medium to high sheen | Y | Y | Y | Has to be reapplied frequently. |
Solvent-based Water-based |
Slightly | Slightly | N | Solvent-based: wets out
Water-based: dry look |
Y | Y | Solvent-based – Y
Water-based – N |
Easily scratched, needs to be repaired frequently. |
Solvent-based Water-based 100% solids |
Y | N | N | Glossy, thick, plastic look | N | N | N | Stain-proof, but, makes concrete look like plastic. |
1-part/2-part Water-based/ Solvent-based |
Y | Y | Y | Usually glossy, but matte versions available. | Y | N | N | Tricky to apply, very dependent on surface preparation.
Often thick, but there are techniques to apply thinly. |
2-part Solvent-based |
Y | Y | Y | Usually glossy, but matte versions available. | Y | N | N | Can be tricky to apply evenly; work time could be short.
Often thick, but there are techniques to apply thinly. |
Lithium Silicate Hybrid
1-part, Water-based |
Slight to Y | Y | Y | Natural medium to high sheen.
Y | N | N | Reactive finish; requires time to develop properties; dependent on mix design of concrete and age of concrete |
Summary of Sealing Materials
There is no bad sealer for concrete countertops. There are only incorrect expectations. Regardless of what type of sealer you choose to use, you must set clients’ expectations, right from the start.
The accuracy and completeness of manufacturers’ instructions for concrete sealers vary widely. Even if the manufacturer gives you detailed instructions, test those instructions on your own concrete. Practice with the sealer to make sure you can apply it confidently and consistently.
Test the manufacturer’s performance claims. Use the results of your tests to write detailed instructions for your clients. Here is how to test concrete countertop sealers for stain resistance.
If you understand the sealer you’re using and help clients understand it, concrete countertops can develop a reputation for being both practical and beautiful.
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As is well known, animals on the internet can have very impressive language skills: cats and dogs in particular are famous for their near-complete online mastery of English, and only highly trained professional linguists (including some of us here at SMG) are able to spot the subtle grammatical and orthographic clues that indicate non-human authorship behind some of the world’s favourite motivational statements.
Recent reports suggest that some of our fellow primates have also learnt to engage in complex discourse: again, the internet offers compelling evidence for this.
But sadly, out in the real world, animals capable of orating on philosophy are hard to come by (as far as we can tell). Instead, from a human point of view, cats, dogs, gorillas etc. just make various kinds of animal noises.
Why write about animals and their noises on a linguistics blog? Well, one good answer would be: the exact relationship between the vocalisations made by animals, on one hand, and the phenomenon of human spoken language, on the other, is a fascinating question, of interest within linguistics but far beyond it as well. So a different blog post could have turned now to discuss the semiotic notion of communication in the abstract; or perhaps the biological evolution of language in our species, complete with details about the FOXP2 gene and the descent of the larynx…
But in fact I am going to talk about something a lot less technical-sounding. This post is about what could be called the human versions of animal noises: that is, the noises that English and other languages use in order to talk about them, like meow and woof, baa and moo.
At this point you may be wondering whether there is much to be gained by sitting around and pondering words like moo. But what I have in mind here is this kind of thing:
These are good fun, but they also raise a question. If pigs and ducks are wandering around all over the world making pig and duck noises respectively, then how come we humans appear to have such different ideas about what they sound like? Oink cannot really be mistaken for nöff or knor, let alone buu. And the problem is bigger than that: even within a single language, English, frogs can go both croak and ribbit; dogs don’t just go woof, but they also yap and bark. These sound nothing like each other. What is going on? Are we trying to do impressions of animals, only to discover that we are not very good at it?
Before going any further I should deal with a couple of red herrings (to stick with the zoological theme). For one thing, languages may appear to disagree more than they really do, just because their speakers have settled on different spelling conventions: a French coin doesn’t really sound all that different from an English quack. And sometimes we may not all be talking about the same sound in the first place. Ribbit is a good depiction of the noise a frog makes if it happens to belong to a particular species found in Southern California – but thanks to the cultural influence of Hollywood, ribbit is familiar to English speakers worldwide, even though their own local frogs may sound a lot more croaky. Meanwhile, it is easy to picture the difference between the kind of dog that goes woof and the kind that goes yap.
But even when we discount this kind of thing, there are still plenty of disagreements remaining, and they pose a puzzle bound up with linguistics. A fundamental feature of human language, famously pointed out by Saussure, is that most words are arbitrary: they have nothing inherently in common with the things they refer to. For example, there is nothing actually green about the sound of the word green – English has just assigned that particular sound sequence to that meaning, and it’s no surprise to find that other languages haven’t chosen the same sounds to do the same job. But right now we are in the broad realm of onomatopoeia, where you might not expect to find arbitrariness like this. After all, unlike the concept of ‘green’, the concept of ‘quack’ is linked to a real noise that can be heard out there in the world: why would languages bother to disagree about it?
First off, it is worth noticing that not all words relating to animal noises work in the same way. Think of cock-a-doodle-doo and crow. Both of these are used in English of the distinctive sound made by a cockerel, and there is something imitative about them both. But there is a difference between them: the first is used to represent the sound itself, whereas the second is the word that English uses to talk about producing it. That is, as English sees it, the way a cock crows is by ‘saying’ cock-a-doodle-doo, and never vice versa. Similarly, the way that a dog barks is by ‘saying’ woof. The representations of the sounds, cock-a-doodle-doo and woof, are practically in quotation marks, as if capturing the animals’ direct speech.
This gives us something to run with. After all, think about the work that words like crow and bark have to do. As they are verbs, you need to be able to change them according to person (they bark but it barks), tense, and so on. So regardless of their special function of talking about noises, they still have to operate like any other verb, obeying the normal grammar rules of English. Since every language comes with its own grammatical requirements and preferences about how words can be structured and manipulated (that is, its own morphology), this can explain some kinds of disparity across languages. For example, what we onomatopoeically call a cuckoo is a kukushka in Russian, featuring a noun-forming element shka which makes the word easier to deal with grammatically – but also makes it sound very Russian. Maybe it is this kind of integration into each language that makes these words sound less true to life and more varied from one language to another?
This is a start, but it must be far from the whole story. Animal ‘quotes’ like woof and cock-a-doodle-doo don’t need to interact all that much with English grammar at all. Nonetheless, they are clearly the English versions of the noises we are talking about:
And as we’ve already seen, the same goes for quack and oink. So even when it looks like we might just be ‘doing impressions’ of non-linguistic sounds, every language has its own way of actually doing those impressions.
Reassuringly, at least we are not dealing with a situation of total chaos. Across languages, duck noises reliably contain an open a sound, while pig noises reliably don’t. And there is widespread agreement when it comes to some animals: cows always go moo, boo or similar, and sheep are always represented as producing something like meh or beh – this is so predictable that it has even been used as evidence for how certain letters were pronounced in Ancient Greek. So languages are not going out of their way to disagree with each other. But this just sharpens up the question. For obvious biological reasons, humans can never really make all the noises that animals can. But given that people the world over sometimes converge on a more or less uniform representation for a given noise, why doesn’t this always happen?
In their feline wisdom, the cats of the Czech Republic can give us a clue. Like sheep, cats sound pretty similar in languages across the globe, and in Europe they are especially consistent. In English, they go meow; in German, it is miau; in Russian, myau; and so on. But in Czech, they go mňau (= approximately mnyau), with a mysterious n-sound inside. The reason is that at some point in the history of Czech, a change in pronunciation affected every word containing a sequence my, so that it came out as mny instead. Effectively, for Czech speakers from then on, the option of saying myau like everyone else was simply off the table, because the language no longer allowed it – no matter what their cats sounded like.
What does this example illustrate? First of all – as well as a morphology, each language has a phonology (sound structure), which constrains its speakers tightly: no language lets people use all the sounds they are physically able to make, and even the available sounds are only allowed to join up in certain combinations. So each language has to come up with a way of dealing with non-linguistic noises which will suit its own idea of what counts as a legitimate syllable. Moo is one thing, but it’s harder to find a language that allows syllables resembling the noise a pig makes… so each language compromises in its own way, resulting in nöff, knor, oink etc., none of which capture the full sonic experience of the real thing.
And second – things like oink, woof and mňau really must be words in the full sense. They aren’t just a kind of quotation, or an imitation performed off the cuff; instead they belong in a speaker’s mental dictionary of their own language. That is why, in general, they have to abide by the same phonological rules as any other word. And that also explains where the arbitrariness comes in: as with any word, language learners just notice that that is the way their own community expresses a shared concept, and from then on there is no point in reinventing the wheel. You don’t need to try hard to get a duck’s quack exactly right in order to talk about it – as long as other people know what you mean, the word has done its job.
So what speakers might lose in accuracy this way, they make up for in efficiency, by picking a predetermined word that they know fellow speakers will recognise. Only when you really want to draw attention to a sound is it worth coming up with a new representation of it and ignoring the existing consensus. To create something truly striking, perhaps you need to be a visionary like James Joyce, who wrote the following line of ‘dialogue’ for a cat in Ulysses, giving short shrift to English phonology in the process:
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Imagine walking through a dense forest, where every tree is a nerve, and every path is a blood vessel. This is exactly what a vascular surgeon does. Much like ‘the woodlands neurosurgeon‘, these medical professionals venture into the intricate network of our blood vessels, to diagnose and treat disorders that disrupt the flow of life in our bodies. Today, we will delve into the thick of these woods, shedding light on some of the common procedures that these specialists perform. Fear not, for with every step, you will find the unknown transforming into the familiar. Let our journey begin.
Imagine a blocked trail in the forest. The blockage stops you in your tracks. A vascular surgeon clears these blockages, using a procedure called angioplasty. They insert a tiny balloon into the blocked vessel and inflate it. This pushes the blockage out, restoring the free flow of blood.
Think of a weak tree, at risk of falling and blocking the path. A stent works like a brace, supporting the weakened vessel and preventing a blockage. The surgeon inserts a small, metal mesh tube into the vessel, propping it open and allowing blood to flow freely.
Imagine a fallen tree, completely blocking the path. You can’t move it, so you have to find a way around. This is what bypass surgery does. The surgeon creates a new path for the blood to flow, bypassing the blocked or damaged part of the vessel.
Endovenous Laser Treatment
Consider a path overgrown with vines, making it hard to traverse. Endovenous laser treatment is like a sharp blade, cutting through the overgrowth. The surgeon uses a laser to close off problematic veins, rerouting the blood flow to healthier vessels.
Picture a large boulder suddenly rolling onto your path. Thrombolysis works like a powerful tool, breaking down this blockage. The surgeon injects clot-dissolving medication into the blood vessel, breaking down the clot and restoring blood flow.
As with any journey into the unknown, it’s all about taking one step at a time. Each procedure is a step towards health, a step towards reclaiming your life. The path may seem daunting, but remember, just like the woodlands neurosurgeon, your vascular surgeon is experienced and skilled, ready to guide you through the forest of your vascular system. The journey begins with understanding, and understanding starts here.
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Recycle Worksheets Printable – Recycle Worksheets Printable might help a trainer or college student to find out and understand the lesson program in a faster way. These workbooks are perfect for the two kids and grownups to make use of. Recycle Worksheets Printable can be utilized by any person at home for educating and studying objective.
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"This course has helped train my eye and my mind to see more emotions in others, and as a result, have more successful interactions with others when they are emotional. I am more likely to notice things earlier, before escalation, when the potential to make better choices is stronger."
Read MoreHuman emotions are present in the nucleus of most every lie. Learning to understand them (Emotional Intelligence) and recognize them (Emotional Competency) are the lever and fulcrum of revealing lies and more importantly, uncovering the truth. It's not enough to know that a deception has occurred; in order to move forward, we must know the truth.
Not every lie is told with malice. Not every reason to hold back is rooted in wickedness or a compelling need to remain in the dark with one's deeds.
Indeed, some lies are necessary to save lives. A commander would not admit to having a plan in place to infiltrate a terror organization or attack enemy combatants. That type of knowledge in the wrong hands could lead to a preemptive strike by the terrorists against the interests of that nation and possibly cost the lives of civilians. So in this scenario the truth is kept purposely hidden and some might argue there is a moral imperative to do so.
Some lies are told to save the life of the liar. A young man escaping Nazi Germany would not be faulted for denying his faith, if only to survive long enough to get to a better position from which to defend it, or simply to save his family.
Lies are told to keep someone hopeful who may be distraught over a gravely ill family member. Lies are told to retain friendships, avoid conflict or shield someone from unnecessary stresses. Many a grandparent has been kept in the dark about a grandchild's arrest or accident until the situation is resolved and normalcy restored. It's the 'no harm - no foul' rule. The list of situations in which it may be argued that it is permissible to lie is as complicated as the human needs for acceptance, trust, peace of mind or a little more time.
Given that there are so many circumstances dictated by environmental pressures about which information must be misrepresented and sometimes omitted, and so many ethical arguments about whether or not telling lies of any kind is appropriate, we will focus on those instances when we must engage in difficult conversations. They may be work-related or personal but they somehow affect the future of the place where you stand and the people with whom you share that place.
Human interaction is often challenging and confusing. You would think we'd be better at it by now. We've been at it for thousands of years. We've developed intricate languages, symbols and facial expressions to communicate our thoughts. But instead of feeling gratified, interacting with our own species leaves us unsatisfied, frustrated, even exasperated. We feel shortchanged, unconnected or distant. When the truth is repressed, barriers to effective engagement are even more difficult to overcome.
The truth is usually known to one party and suspected by another. It does, after all, exist. The challenge is for both parties to feel comfortable with arriving at a common perception of the truth regardless of its consequences. It's about the desire to be open and the willingness to accept it. It's about mutual trust and the utility of honest communication. The point is not to judge the merits of the true thing, but merely to acknowledge it. It's a better place to start.
What keeps someone from expressing the truth is a feeling or presumption that the revelation will somehow degrade the relationship, perhaps irreparably so. They often want to be honest but feel they cannot or should not. For one reason, real or perceived, the one holding on to the truth is tangled in the vines of deceit. The real truth is inexorably tied to one emotion or another: anger, fear, joy, sadness and many more. It is precisely those emotions which we must look toward as the guideposts to truthfulness.
The listener must learn to observe the underlying emotions pressing themselves against the glass like a beggar at an upscale restaurant, silently pleading to be let in, or let out. The listener must look past what is obvious and ordinary, so they can see the waif in the window and recognize it for what it is, to let it in, accept it, feed it, respect it and move forward.
Fine-Tuning Your Perception Skills
Self-defense experts urge their clients to be in "Condition Yellow" when engaged in their daily routine, particularly when alone. It's a level of awareness that prevents them from being surprised by a sudden attack. First introduced by Jeff Cooper, a former US Marine, pistol expert and writer; these conditions (white, yellow, orange, red) describe our degree of attentiveness to our surroundings and the people within them.
In condition white, you are unaware, inattentive or downright oblivious. You are shocked when something happens, "I did not see that coming." Cooper and other protective experts talk about remaining in Condition Yellow to prevent an attack in the first place, to seem less vulnerable to a potential predator. Leave Condition White for poolside in the Caribbean.
Conditions Orange and Red refer to the imminent attack and the actual fight, but the bulk of the instruction tends to be about being in a state of readiness - of being switched on so you're not walking around in a fog.
Can this level of attentiveness serve us in situations that don't involve physical danger? Can it help us navigate complicated contract talks or merger strategies? Can these skills switch on the high-beams when we're in unknown territory?
By learning how to be more attentive to emotional states of family members, co-workers and counterparts in business relationships, we can head off potential missteps. We can begin to understand why something doesn't feel right and act appropriately. We often dismiss our own emotional reactions to conversations precisely because we are trained to be detached in business. We mistakenly believe emotions cloud our judgment, when in fact, they clarify it. Rather than spotting behavioral nuances we ignore them. By missing important cues we are caught off-guard and later we just don't understand how we didn't see it coming.
Here's the trick. First you must learn what to pay attention to. You must raise your level of emotional awareness. Emotions are at the heart of every deed and every interaction, whether carried out openly or deceitfully. Emotional Competency is an understanding of how emotions drive human behavior so we can see them more clearly as we communicate, negotiate and mediate all manner of human interface.
Knowing how to recognize the underlying emotions gives you something on which to focus, so you're not just hearing words, but 'getting' the truth of any situation. Increasing our awareness of emotions moves us out of Condition White and into the Yellow, where we are alert, aware, in control and focused.
Emotional Intelligence is often written about as being innate, the 'je ne sais quoi' that successful people possess in natural abundance. But Emotional Competency is a skill-set, proven thru decades of scientific and clinical research. A golf instructor can spot a subtle shift in your hips. A music teacher can hear a mistake in what seems to the rest of us a flawless performance. Good or bad, they know what to look for. You can be emotionally competent. You can spot deceit. You can learn to recognize how someone truly feels - but first you must learn what to look for.
"All architecture is a shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts or stimulates the persons in that space." - Phillip Johnson
So what kind of space have you created for your employees? Is it one where individuals are physically isolated from one another, making human contact a chore? Are they essentially detached from the process in the place of business, segregated in the name of focus?
The idea that the space is either evocative, inspiring, creative and interactive; or is compartmentalized, inhibitive, cold and foreboding, can speak less to the physical space and more to the leadership that influences the dynamic within that space. The leadership can function as the architects of the kind of space where employees either flourish or whither.
Steven Johnson, in his book, "Where Good Ideas Come From", explains how the coffee houses of 17th-century England fostered the Age of Enlightenment. It was the space - the chaotic, communal atmosphere that lent itself to the emotionally open and honest exchange of ideas. Johnson examines the impact the coffee houses had upon the advancement of western culture and civilization. The coffee houses were the places where ideas could, well, percolate. The best ideas develop over time. They are a bundle of smaller ideas that need time to gestate and a place to be born.
Ideation, the formation of ideas, is a process, like an architectural drawing on a cocktail napkin that becomes a functional piece of art. It begins with free expression. In a space where people feel free to be honest and uninhibited, creativity and innovation will blossom.
The idea of place is not simply about steel and concrete, but about creating an open dialogue. Open space engenders open minds - for ideas, congeniality, innovation and forward-thinking. Just as the principal's office can spark dread in a schoolboy, a work space seen as open to new ideas and truthful human interaction can relieve the stress that stifles imagination.
Eugene Kohn of KPF Architecture spoke about what goes on inside of buildings. "Our goal as architects is to create buildings that inspire people to do whatever it is in that space they need to do. That inspiration comes from within the building as much as from the way it looks from the outside." And so it goes for the attitude projected by management. Are you creating corrals or space to grow?
Architecture in both the practical and artistic sense is a process, indeed the only art form in which the developmental stages (blueprints, drawings, models) are revered along with the finished product. Human interaction is a process of exposition, the testing of ideas and knowledge; its application and review, none of which can happen if employees aren't part of the process and managers aren't attuned to the needs of the work force.
Employees need to feel comfortable in the place and view it as common ground, which will propagate a sense of ownership. In this place, the connections all play a role, as each rivet in the steel supports the structure.
In his elegant book, Why Architecture Matters, Paul Goldberger said, "Architecture is about the making of place, and the making of memory. Architecture gives us joy if we are lucky, and it gives us satisfaction and comfort, but it also connects us to our neighbors, since the architecture of a town or a city is the physical expression of common ground. It is what we share, if only because the architecture of a community is one of the few forms of experience that everyone partakes in: the sharing of place."
The art of architecture is obvious, as is the public face of an organization. But in buildings as well as organizations, the underlying structure supports the mission. Complex interfacing systems keep structures functioning as do complicated human interactions, of which leaders must remain keenly aware. To say the full business process is effective without emotional intelligence is like an architect neglecting an essential structural element. The architect gives equal gravitas to aesthetics and function. It all matters.
Image courtesy of khunaspix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Managers often operate under the presumption that emotions have no place at work and they are generally right with regard to financial or economic decisions and operational maneuvers. However, their employees are sentient beings. Emotions and the role they play in the human factor cannot be dismissed.
Whether or not we want to acknowledge them, emotions exist because people exist. They are part and parcel of every person we know. Managers feel they have to be disconnected, so that the detachment can make it easier to make decisions based upon facts, devoid of emotion. That perspective has merits of course but there is a pitfall: the complete repression of all emotions while in work mode. It leads to neglecting emotion in all work-related interactions and can prevent them from 'getting' the human component of the work environment. In short; it interferes with empathy.
Think about the difference empathy makes in our interpersonal relationships - in how we decide to talk to people, how much we decide to listen, how deeply we care. There is an emotional component underpinning every action people take and by tapping in to our emotional intelligence, that enhanced sense of empathy will make us better managers of people. By denying our own emotions we are inhibiting our ability to notice them in others. If we don't understand them, we can't understand motivation, desire, inspiration, commitment and honesty. Is the team really buying into the plan or just paying lip service?
Do you ever feel as though you aren't getting through to people? Have you noticed that employees only come to certain managers with their concerns? Do employees complain at reviews that they don't feel as of they matter? It may be time to clean out the attic...
It's Musty Up Here
Maybe it's time to get up in the attic and dust off your old trophies, read your old journals, sift thru some photos and enjoy the memories, those moments in time that have shaped your life - the laughter, and even the tears. What moments brought you the greatest joy? What single event can still make you feel exhilarated?
How would a trip to the attic make you feel? Might you feel rejuvenated, humble, romantic, artistic and perhaps, human? Your employees feel this way every day and so do their families. The ability to understand how emotions effect change is vital to emotional competency. This competency is an improvable skill those with high EQ possess naturally, but it can be developed with practice.
Some leaders work so hard to remove themselves from emotion in the name of pragmatism they lose the ability to communicate effectively with the very people who can help them make better decisions. They simply forget how to talk to people. The Joe Friday, "just the facts ma'am" approach can leave employees feeling disconnected. That feeling of being under-appreciated or excluded is one of the top reasons for employee discontent.
A trip to the attic can help to find new uses for stored emotions such as confidence, compassion, joy, sadness and connectedness. Revisit Mazlow's Hierarchy of Human Needs ( http://www.maslow.com/) and see how important belonging is. By cultivating empathy, by recognizing and understanding the relevance of emotions in human behavior, leaders can embrace what they find in the attic. They can blow off the dust and put their emotions back in the toolbox, right alongside pragmatism.
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AYSO is an organization devoted to child development in a soccer environment that is safe, fair, and fun. The kids are the focus of our program, and the program depends on the efforts of all involved adults for its success. Three groups of people, working together, form the AYSO Team, which creates the environment in which our children develop. Here's a way to look at it:
The coaches are the foundation of the AYSO Team. They spend hours with the players every week, at practices and at the game, teaching them how to win, how to lose, how to work for an objective, how to cooperate, how to be a team, all through the vehicle of the game of soccer. In this way, they become role models for the players, and so influence the players' values and behaviors.
The referees watch over the game, helping younger children with the rules and making sure that the game is safe and fair for all. The referees set the tone of the competition, protect the players throughout the match, and provide the necessary authority on game day.
The spectators support the players' activities in a positive and encouraging way. They create the environment in which the players, coaches, and referees work. They also help to interpret the lessons of the game for the players after the match. When these three groups work together, they create the necessary environment for our children to develop through soccer. The triangle above represents that environment. It protects the players only as long as its three sides are firmly linked. If it comes apart at any corner, the triangle collapses, and it is the players inside who get hurt. Whatever role you play, keep the AYSO Team in mind. Remember, it's for the kids!
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This was the input image for STORM. It was a wide-swath image covering more than 210,000 sq.km, including the Egyptian stretch of the Nile River Valley on the left to the Red Sea on the right. The Red Sea facilitated the shortest shipping route between Asia and Europe, carrying more than 15% of global trade by value. STORM would have performed a series of processing steps on this image to generate insights.
Satellite images often develop artefacts due to the harsh space environment. These artefacts appear as grainy particles, reducing the usefulness of the data. Uncorrected, they could lead to very inaccurate interpretations. A well-established solution was denoising, typically performed in ground-based labs after the image download. STORM's denoising algorithm actively found and removed the noise in the image, delivering a consistent and error-free output.
Due to the configuration of imaging satellites, executing an imaging operation may require the satellite to re-orient from pointing away from earth to the imaging target. To generate accurate insights all images other than the target will need to be filtered out. STORM utilizes a Deep Learning classifier model running on the satellite's Vision Processing Unit (VPU) to assess image usability. As shown in the video here, this AI identifies the image type and then makes a decision: continue to the next step or purge the image and terminate.
Atmospheric effects like clouds and haze hindered electro-optical sensors. These effects caused insights generated from the sensors to produce false values when encountering clouds in the area of interest. To address this challenge, STORM utilized a cloud detection model to actively detect and segment clouds within the denoised image from Step 1.
When working with coastal regions, it was preferred to segment waterbody and land regions so that the eventual application had the right context. This was run on the denoised image from Step 1, before any end-use models ran on the land or water pixels. The advantage of this step was that it reduced the computation resources needed and the number of pixels to be processed in subsequent steps. Unlike conventional water segmentation models, a spectral ratio approach was used to identify water regions in the absence of the Near Infrared (NIR) band.
P.S: With a spatial resolution of 204 m, the River Nile is hard to discriminate from its riparian corridor. The actual river spans less than 1 pixel, and hence not detected as a waterbody.
We can classify any landmass into multiple categories which helps us understand land-use patterns in the area. By repeating this classification over time, changes alongside anthropogenic phenomena can be tracked. STORM ran a pixel-level classifier on the land pixels. A spectral ratio approach that leverages visible bands was used in the absence of the Near Infrared (NIR) band.
Within a minute of loading STORM onto the satellite, it generated the Cloud Mask, Water Mask, and Vegetation Classification. Together, this combination was called an insight. To achieve this, STORM utilized the VPU and CPUs available on the satellite itself. When viewed holistically, this image informed us about the presence of clouds, water bodies, and the vegetation cover across the imaged region.
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Artificial Intelligence is the field of developing computers and robots that are capable of behaving in ways that both mimic and go beyond human capabilities. AI-enabled programs can analyze and contextualize data to provide information or automatically trigger actions without human interference.
Machine learning is a pathway to artificial intelligence. This subcategory of AI uses algorithms to automatically learn insights and recognize patterns from data, applying that learning to make increasingly better decisions. By studying and experimenting with machine learning, programmers test the limits of how much they can improve the perception, cognition, and action of a computer system.
Network and Communication refer to the interconnected systems and devices that enable the transfer of data and information between various endpoints. The main components of a network and communication system include hardware devices such as computers, routers, switches, and modems, and software protocols that govern the flow of data between these devices. Networks can be classified into several types, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wireless networks (Wi-Fi and cellular networks). Communication protocols, such as TCP/IP and HTTP, enable devices to communicate with each other by establishing a common language and set of rules for exchanging data.
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Botanical Herb Treatment for Diabetes
Diabetes symptoms are sprouting up for millions of Americans like weeds in a garden. Like a garden, your body is a complex system of processes that requires biochemical balance to function and flourish. A garden needs just enough sun, water, oxygen, and glucose. Too much water can suffocate plants; not enough water parches them. Some sunlight feeds them; too much burns them. If imbalance persists long enough, they will wither and die.
Like plants, humans are fueled by glucose. It generates energy for our muscles, tissues and brain processes. Blood glucose is derived from the food we eat, and is stored and produced by our liver , which must break it down into healthy, manageable levels.
When your pancreas can't produce enough insulin, or doesn't use insulin effectively, glucose remains trapped in your blood, unable to reach your cells, stimulating the imbalance called diabetes .
When the side effects of Type 2 diabetes pharmaceuticals were discovered (like the lactic acidosis, anemia, and kidney dysfunction that Metformin can cause), The World Health Organization encouraged research on botanical medicine to validate centuries old alternative treatments. Researchers estimate that more than 1000 plant species are used to treat or manage diabetes worldwide.1
It may be tempting to run out and start picking your own medicinal plants, but that would not be wise. Botanical medicine experts have studied the effects (desired and undesired) of herbs and plants. They have also monitored hormone and nutrient levels in patients before prescribing the appropriate amount of treatment.
Botanical treatments for diabetes management
Taking the exact dose of prescribed herbs is crucial – a damaged or inflamed pancreas can't handle herb overload. In fact, taking the wrong dose can cause more damage. Everybody tolerates and processes herbs differently. Harvesting, manufacturing and packaging can affect strength and purity. Herbs may present contraindications with one another, and/or with other medical treatments. Always consult a certified herbalist when choosing this treatment option.
Botanicals that may help reverse a pre-diabetes diagnosis include1:
- juniper berries: naturally store plant insulin which has a similar effect as natural insulin; can relieve symptoms of hyperglycemia without producing adverse effects; enhances cellular uptake of glucose from the circulation; initiates weight loss by the peripheral breakdown of fat; improves kidney function and glomerular filtration2
- fenugreek: taking 100 grams a day for 10 days reduces FBG, TG, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and glucosuria; may prevent the rise of plasma glucose after meal or glucose ingestion; can diminish blood glucose levels within 4 hours after ingestion3
- horse chestnut: contains ecsin, which has been shown to decrease blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
- turmeric: reduces infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pancreas; consume with black pepper to boost absorption by about 2000%
- triphala and bibhitaki: can boost red blood cells, remove fat from the body, and maintain normal blood sugar levels
- ocimum sanctum: taking 2 grams per day for 3 months reduces polydipsia, polyphagia, and tiredness; can also decrease FBG and glycated protein, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- goldenseal: can lower blood sugar levels by stimulating pancreatic beta cells; may also benefit your colon and spleen
- milk thistle: 200 mg three times a day can reduce glucose, lipids, FBG, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL, and TF while reducing insulin resistance and need for insulin injections
- horsetail: rich in silica, it may help heal and rebuild damaged tissue; may stimulate anti-diabetic compounds
- nigella sativa: taking it in oil form significantly decreases FBG and LDL and increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels; can significantly decrease FBG and increase insulin while positively impacting blood glucose, serum lipids, and blood pressure
- oregano: full of antioxidants and may help manage hyperglycemia
- garlic: lowers your blood sugar and helps your pancreas produce insulin
- bael: 5 grams per day for 1 month has hypoglycemic effects; leaves taken in 2 grams twice a day positively improves fasting blood glucose and urinary glucose
- gymnema sylvestre: leaves taken in 400 mg per day for 18 months significantly decreases serum lipids; may increase circulating insulin and C-peptide
- bitter melon: drinking its juice decreases PPBG levels and improves glucose tolerance
- ginseng: 3 grams of ginseng daily can regulate PPBG levels and blood glucose while lowering weight
- salacia reticulate: 240 mg per day for 6 weeks or tea for 3 months can decrease FBG and HbA1c levels
- cinnamon: a source of polyphenolics that affects blood glucose and insulin signaling by regulating blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, reducing weight, and reducing blood fat levels
- pax ginseng: this appetite suppressant boosts your metabolism and may help burn fat faster
- holy basil: his herb is commonly used in India as a traditional medicine for diabetes. studies suggest that holy basil may increase the secretion of insulin and have a positive effect on fasting blood sugar and on blood sugar following a meal1
- psyllium: commonly found in bulk laxatives and fiber supplements; 10 grams of psyllium daily may improve blood sugar and lower blood cholesterol
- aloe vera: aloe juice or dried sap can help lower blood sugar in people with types 2 diabetes
As with any medical procedure, results of botanical treatments will vary from patient to patient depending on age, genetics, general health, condition severity, follow-up care, and environmental factors.
Herbs that may be safe for typical patients may not be safe for pregnant women. Discussing everything you ingest with your medical provider is absolutely crucial for protecting you and your unborn child. Consuming certain herbs may cause drastic side effects—including premature birth or fetal death. Always consult your healthcare provider before embarking on your treatment journey.
Learn more today
For a healthier, happier life without insulin resistance complications nurture your body as you would nurture your garden. You may be able to prevent or reverse the biochemical imbalance called Type 2 diabetes with botanic biochemicals – only if you work with a certified, highly-skilled herbalist who can prescribe treatment for your specific case and severity.
If you suspect you have diabetes or you've been recently diagnosed and want to learn more, explore our diabetes pages and contact a diabetes professional today.
- Dudu Ozkum, Hale Zerrin Toklu. “Herbal medicine use among diabetes mellitus patients in Northern Cyprus.” Journal of medicinal plant research 7(22):1652-1664 · June 2013
- De Medina, S., et.al. Planta Medica Journal. Jun 1994:60(3): 197-200.
- Gaddam, Arpana, et al. “Role of Fenugreek in the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Prediabetes.” Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, vol. 14, no. 1, 2015, doi:10.1186/s40200-015-0208-4.
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When one discovers the historical animosity and wars against Muslims by one group, then, by what definition can the two be defined Muslims at the same time?
As Ramadan comes to end, Muslims start preparing for the month of Shawwāl. The month of Shawwāl is marked by the festival of Eid, known as Eid Al-Fitr.
The patient work of direct observation and studied inference based on obtainable evidence was the hallmark of the early Muslim scientists.
Every economy has limited and scarce resources at its disposal. The economic prosperity then depends on how these resources are utilized in an optimum way.
First established in 2005, the Hira Welfare Association takes silent credit for a huge chunk of relief efforts in Bangalore’s slums.
Author argues for ensuring human security, and calls upon Islamic organizations and governments of Muslim countries to raise the issue of global security.
Abu Bakr’s campaign against the Romans and the circumstances surrounding the same is the highlight of this fourth installment of this serial feature.
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In this segment, moderator J David Haddox, DDS, MD, and panelists Jeffrey Dunn, PharmD, MBA; Peggy Johnson; and Burton VanderLaan, MD, FACP, discuss various technological approaches to abuse deterrence.
Industry is helping to address the opioid abuse problem through innovation, including the development of abuse-deterrent formulations. There are various types of misuse, including taking more medication than prescribed, taking medication that was not prescribed for you, and manipulating medication for the purposes of snorting or injecting. The most common method of abuse is oral administration of intact tablets. As this is the usual route of administration for patients, developing a formulation of a drug that both works when taken by its usual route of administration and that is abused by that same route is very challenging.
There are a number of technological approaches to abuse-deterrent formulations. One involves adding a physical and/or chemical barrier to a formulation to resist manipulation and extraction. Another approach is the use of an agonist/antagonist combination— either adding a bioavailable antagonist to an opioid or adding a sequestered antagonist to an opioid. The method of delivery can also offer resistance to abuse, and unique delivery systems, such as a subcutaneous implant, are being developed. Also being investigated is administering an opioid analgesic as a prodrug, which remains inactive unless taken by mouth and activated via the pH or enzymes in the gastrointestinal system. If the medication is snorted or injected, it would stay as a prodrug and not bind to opioid receptors. New molecular entities are also in development; for example, an opioid receptor agonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier very slowly, which is suitable for purposes of analgesia, but not desirable for abusers. Drug developers may choose to use various combinations of these approaches, as well.
The FDA evaluates the effectiveness of abuse-deterrent formulations via 4 categories of testing. Category 1 is bench testing and is applied to drugs with physical-chemical barriers. For products with physical barriers, this type of testing involves grinding or applying physical force to the product. For products with chemical barriers, category 1 testing involves using a range of solvents at different temperatures. Category 2 involves pharmacokinetic studies in naltrexone-blocked volunteers. Category 3 studies are clinical abuse—potential studies. In these randomized, double-blind studies, drug-liking, nonphysically-dependent volunteers are asked to what degree they liked the administered substance, which could be pure active ingredient, manipulated product, a comparator product, or lactose. Category 4 studies are postmarket analyses evaluating the impact of the product on abuse.
In closing, Jeffrey Dunn, PharmD, MBA emphasized the importance of publishing outcomes data as advances are made, to allow informed decision making. Peggy Johnson adds that the key is having all stakeholders work together to tackle this important public health issue. Quality and value are important in today’s healthcare environment, remarks Burton VanderLaan, MD, FACP. There is a quality gap in this area, one that should be addressed by collaboration among all stakeholders.
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Everyone has set herself certain objectives. Obviously, not everyone is successful. The reason behind this is that most objectives are too large and placed too far into the future.
The tendency of humans to think in terms of the short term is ingrained in our brains. In the face of danger, we have an instinctive need for rapid enjoyment, which allows us to react fast. Despite the fact that it is advantageous while being pursued by a bear or hunting for food, it may be counterproductive when attempting to sustain the habits necessary to accomplish major objectives.
Let’s assume you wish to improve your cooking skills, for example.
During the course of the year, on #MotivationMonday, and following the most recent episode of Master Chef, you’ve set and re-set this goal at least three times. Ideally, you’d want to diversify your cooking variety, eat better, and maybe save money by not ordering takeout on a regular basis.
Despite the fact that it is an admirable objective, it is problematic due to its lack of specificity. Nothing can be measured or defined, and there is no end in sight.
To what extent does it imply to “cook more effectively?” Is it better to purchase a meal kit or to enroll in a two-year culinary program at one of America’s top culinary institutions?
In what ways will you judge your own accomplishments?
Is it completing five of Martha’s recipes without causing a fire in the home, or graduating with honors from culinary school?
In addition, when are you expected to achieve this goal? Is it possible to finish before the end of the month? Isn’t the end of the year approaching? Are you at the end of your life?
Clearly, you’ll need some guidelines — a road map, if you will — to get you on your way to your destination. Your short-term thinking will lead you astray if you do not have them. The good news is that there are tactics for deciding on and adhering to a course that you can follow. The most effective of them may be found in the list below.
Make use of the SMART Method
It is an acronym that refers to a set of sub-strategies that are built on the word “SMART.” In a nutshell, your large aim should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Following are the definitions for each of these terms (as well as a practical application based on our culinary example):Specific
Specify the specifics of your objective. What precisely do you want to accomplish? In the scenario above, does “cook better” imply learning five new dishes or founding a restaurant? If you are unable to identify your objective, it is likely that you will not be able to achieve it.Measurable
Keep track of your progress toward your objective. Create success measures and visual tools to track them, such as a spreadsheet, an app, or a notepad. Check your metrics on a frequent basis, whether weekly, daily, or monthly, to determine your successes and failures. In the case of our culinary example, you may construct a checklist that includes knife skills you want to master, techniques you want to attempt, and items you want to add.Achievable
Divide your large aim into multiple smaller ones. After all, a huge goal is just a collection of minor objectives that have been stacked and smooshed together. No one climbs to the summit of Everest in a single bound, and no one develops their culinary skills in a single day. You have to chop before you can payanne, so take it one step at a time and build up your accomplishments like a ladder leading to your ultimate objective.Realistic
Identify potential stumbling obstacles on the way to your destination. Consider the following: What is my way of life? Is it possible for me to pursue this objective given the constraints of my schedule? Is it possible for me to attain my objective if I have the resources I need — money, expertise, or, in our culinary example, kitchen utensils — to do so? Make changes to your objectives based on the responses to these questions.Timely
Assign a deadline to each of your modest objectives that you can fulfill within a few days or weeks. These deadlines help you set the pace for pursuing your large objective and let you make course corrections if you don’t accomplish them on the first try. They also help you create goals, measure your progress, and recognize little victories.Give Yourself a Break
When it comes to incremental advances… It is essential to celebrate tiny victories and reward yourself for maintaining good habits if you are to achieve major objectives. While it is true that no one succeeds without discipline, it is also true that Josephina becomes a boring girl if she spends her time working and not playing. Rewards help to prevent burnout and give a respite from the rigors of disciplinary management.Choose incentives that are relevant to your objective and that will motivate you to continue pursuing it in the long run. Healthy behaviors are supported through rewards, which serve as pillars of support.
Don’t Be Hard on Yourself
The polar opposite of rewarding yourself is punishing yourself. Do you feel as though you failed today? Don’t be concerned about it. Admit your failure, recommit to your objective, and move on. Tomorrow, as they say, is a new day, and you have the ability to get up and make it whatever you want, whether it’s a collection of decisions that move you closer to your major objective or a collection of choices that don’t. In other words, don’t give up on your huge objective because you’re having a bad day.Create a Morning Ritual (and Use It All Day)
Finally, but certainly not least, is the morning mantra. It provides the biggest return on investment of all the ideas and hacks and basic tactics for reaching huge objectives and keeping healthy behaviors. Here are a couple of my personal favorites:Make full use of the resources.
Get the job done.
Take the victory.
Do you think I’m not capable? Keep an eye out for me!Today, I’m preparing for the chance that will present itself tomorrow.
I’m in training… for the rest of my life.
When compared to the SMART technique, which is effective but requires time to implement, a morning mantra provides inspiration in a split second. Set it as an intention and refer to it throughout the day whenever you need to raise motivation or redirect energy. Maintain consistency by switching it up according to your mood. Make a note of it or record it as a meditation. It’s not so much how you use it as it is that you utilize it. Good luck and happy hunting!
Simple habits that you may do on a daily basis to help you reach your objectives and live a fulfilling life are essential if you want to be successful and live an abundant life.
When it comes to motivating quotes, one of my mother’s favorites is the proverbial “eating an elephant one mouthful at a time.” The biblical book of Alma expresses it thus way: “Great things are brought about by modest and simple things.” However, the point is that we fill a bucket one drop at a time by using this same idea in a variety of ways.
Every day, little by little, you may put out effort toward realizing the lofty goals that you have in mind for your life. After some time has passed, all of your everyday sacrifices and actions might add up to become a strong and effective force that produces the great effects you want. This article will discuss 10 basic behaviors that may help you stay on track every day of your life.
1. Consume a nutrient-dense diet that encourages a healthy way of life.
Denying your body the critical vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it requires is a simple method to reduce your chances of success in any endeavor. If you want to increase your possibilities and talents, be sure that you’re providing your body with all it needs to perform better, to be stronger, to tolerate more, and to think more intelligently than you now are.
Consume a nutritious breakfast, as well as healthy snacks and meals throughout the day, to keep your metabolism running smoothly and your energy levels up. You should keep an eye on your overall calorie intake to reduce your cardiovascular risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses that may hinder you from being able to enjoy your life the way you want.
2. Make your body stronger by engaging in physical activity.
A regular regimen of physical exercise, similar to eating a nutritious diet may help you remain on track, and it will provide you with the endurance and strength that will allow you to achieve your objectives. Inability to train your body will result in decreased mobility, decreased muscular mass, and deterioration of your health. When you’re unwell, weak, and hardly able to get up, your physical constraints may have a significant impact on your ability to complete tasks and bring your aspirations to fruition. Allow for at least one strength training or workout session every day in your schedule.
3. Go through your to-do list and make any necessary changes.
Evaluate what you need to do today and in the next days in the context of your overall objectives. Set up a calendar so that you can prioritize what has to be done first and ensure that you fulfill all of the dates that you are obligated to adhere to. Maintain an up-to-date to-do list so that you don’t lose track of the things that need to be accomplished.
4. Maintain your self-discipline in order to complete the tasks at hand.
After you’ve determined what your daily routine should consist of, you must discipline yourself to follow through with it. When enjoyable possibilities and diversions present themselves, ignore them until you have completed your assignment. Instead of engaging in exciting things right now, remember that you still have plenty of time to complete the tasks on your list later. Work first, then play afterwards.
5. Get rid of the excess stuff in your life.
You should take the required efforts to simplify your life if there is anything that is distracting or deterring you from achieving your objectives. Perhaps it is not beneficial to listen to your friend’s thoughts on your company strategy; thus, refrain from creating an atmosphere in which she might undermine your plans.
If she attempts to discourage you again without your permission, don’t ask her for her opinion and stop the phone conversation. If you find that having cable is a distracting choice that prevents you from getting your job done, you should cancel your membership immediately. Put precautions in place to make it easier for you to maintain your focus on the goal at hand.
6. Observe someone in need and provide assistance to that individual.
It’s possible that if you spend your life purely for yourself, even after you accomplish your objectives, you’ll have a sense of meaninglessness and purpose. Make a point of taking a time every day to assist in lifting someone else up. Offer words of encouragement to others, a nice smile, or do any other action that will assist a fellow traveler on the road of life. You are not need to be innovative, and the activity itself is not have to be time-consuming, but you must ensure that you are going about your day with your eyes open to the misery of others around you.
7. Set aside some time to meditate.
Take time to rest and revitalize your body and mind to avoid running on fumes all of the time. Before you go to bed, take time to meditate, read your scriptures, say a prayer, soak in the tub while listening to soothing music, play a game you love, or engage in any other relaxing and revitalizing activity each day before you retire for the night.
If you just have 10 minutes to spare, you don’t have to spend an hour planning your budget. Make a decision on what works best for you, and then allow yourself a little amount of time to unwind and enjoy yourself.
8. Examine the day’s accomplishments and failures.
At the end of the day, take a look back and see how things went. Identify what went well, what didn’t go well, and what will need to be done in the future as a result of your findings and recommendations. Revisit your task list and remember to be thankful for the experiences you are experiencing, even the unpleasant ones, since they are teaching you essential life lessons. Create a thankfulness diary if you choose, and every night write down something about the day that you appreciated so that you always have a physical reminder of how lucky you are and how far you’ve come in life.
9. Tell yourself that you are capable of completing the task.
End each day with some positive self-talk to remind yourself that you are capable of completing the tasks you have set for yourself. Don’t let setbacks and unanticipated problems that have unexpectedly emerged in your life deter you from achieving your goals. Recognize the power of positive thought and continue to motivate and inspire yourself.
10. Go to your bed.
Do your best to put all of your worries to the back of your mind and allow yourself to get a decent night’s sleep instead of obsessing about how things will come out. When you wake up in the morning feeling rejuvenated, it’s time to take up your worries again in order to start the day with a good attitude.
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Raspberry Pi, Arduino and co. are programmable electronics that you can easily hook one end to raw electronics and another end to other computers (desktop, mobile). When you try to make smart home applications out of those, you end up with a set of small, isolated programs/features, sensor data collectors and actuators/lights you can operate.
But the link between all those are difficult to create, manage and maintain. They get hardcoded. In the code (data flow path, specific protocols, etc.). And also in your brain. When you know how painful and not flexible they are, you are less prone to use them.
They restrict your imagination. They prevent you to think about the next smart thing you could do with all this hardware. And you miss opportunities, like changing the face of (your) world.
Current smart home devices are either DIY thingies or commercial products. The former gets limited by the first problem. And also limited by your free time.
The later is limited by the set of features the company is willing to implement and support. And also by the depth of your wallet. And, sometimes, limited by products which are not interfaceable or hacker friendly.
Smartness can come from simplicity. Smartness can also come from simply using awesome (complicated) programs.
In home automation we can think about machine learning, computer vision, speech recognition, gesture recognition, etc. Smart people out there partly solved these difficult tasks.
But when you consider using their solutions, they can be a bit off-puting. Depending on how comfortable you are with some state-of-the-art researches in these fields. Or simply how comfortable you are with programming with them.
Smart home systems involve many skills. From computing to electronics. As well as making user interactions with devices effective for the whole family. And don't forget a certain taste for decorating your home ;).
Not everybody can be expert in all these fields.
All in all, you end up combining plenty of DIY or commercial appliances. With FLOSS, proprietary or custom made software. And when things start to break down, you don't know why. You loose track of all this accumulated overhead.
Your smart home system does not give you a feeling of a well executed integration. It's a mess! And that is not smart.
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M2 Assignment 1 Discussion
Questions—Culture and International Trade Culture and politics are important parts of the external environment and vary greatly, not only between, but also within each country… Research the impact of culture and politics on business using your textbook, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Respond to the following: •Why is understanding culture critical for successful international business? Give examples of how understanding culture has been important for an international business. •Classify and describe at least four different types of political systems that an international business might encounter. What type of political system might have the greatest potential for imposing adverse political risk on an international business? Compare at least one other system to the one you selected and explain why it has less potential for imposing political risk.
Locate your state’s emergency management plans and review the sections on preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. After doing so, evaluate the plans using the following prompts. (Be sure to support your evaluation with specific examples and quotations from the plans [750-1,000 words]).
- Where do you see evidence of the all-hazards approach in the plans? Can you tell from the plan which hazards are of most eminent threat in your area? Based on the plans, do you think your state is sufficiently prepared to address those threats? Why or why not? Which threats do you think your state’s plan has left out or not considered in as much depth as it should?
- While emergency management plans present relevant information for government, emergency managers, and emergency responders based on government guidelines, they should also present information regarding the community at large. Does your state’s plan adequately address the community’s role in mitigation and in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters? Why or why not? How do you think your state could better involve the community in all aspects of emergency planning and preparedness?
- Identify three components of your state’s emergency plans that relate directly to your field of work or the field of work you aspire to get into. For example, if you are a firefighter, can you locate information in your state’s plan that dictates communication channels when firefighters become involved in a statewide crisis? The goal is for you to learn more about how your job duties are directly impacted by your state’s emergency plans. Conclude with recommendations on how your state’s emergency plans could be better implemented in your direct line of work.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines
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Trademarks are essential commercial identifiers of products and services of individuals or businesses represented through symbols. Their origins can be traced back to ancient times when craftsmen imprinted their signatures or "marks" on completed works of art or other creations. Their purpose was to distinguish their work from those of others, thereby faciliating identification and differentiation by consumers and users of such works.
Trademarks are expressed in a variety of ways. During the earliest periods of trademark usage, and up until present day, they have been expressed visually through text, pictures, letters, numbers and three-dimensional representations. Over the past century, the rapid development of commercial societies also led to new representations of trademarks beyond just visual ones and are now even include sound and smell.
Today, humans have entered the information age and branding has undergone a significant pivot from traditional mediums to digital ones. As the internet, mobile internet and the internet-of-things continue to develop at high speeds, traditional trademark representations are becoming increasingly overshadowed at the expense of both brand owners and consumers. Therefore, trademark expresssions must keep up with the pace of consumer and technological development in order to continue to serve the brands they represent.
Amidst all of the development and progress, there has increasingly grown a need for authoritative online trademark representations; ones that are unified with traditional trademarks so that consumers can continue to distinguish between the goods and services of different companies and organizations. Furthermore, with an increasing prevalance of malicious online intellectual property infringements, including counterfeiting and stolen consumer information, there is an even greater need for online trademark representations to protect both brands and consumers.
In order to truly safeguard businesses and their customers online, as well as foster a healthy and sustainable internet environment, real innovation is needed in trademarks and intellectual property. In doing so, consumers will maintain the ability to distinguish between different companies products and services, their authenticity and have confidence in the security of their online experiences and transactions. At the same time, brand owners can both retain and extend their trademark and intellectual property rights from offline to online. It is under these circumstances that ". 商标" (dot Trademark) was born and will lead the evolution in intellectual property from offline to online.
2014/5/22 ICANN approves the delegation of the ".商标" (dot Trademark) top level domain to the global Root Zone.
".商标" (dot Trademark) enters the Sunrise Period, opening registrations to Trademark Clearinghouse registrants
".商标" (dot Trademark) enters the Priority Registration Period, allowing applicants of identical domains to bid for registration rights.
".商标" (dot Trademark) is officially added to the Chinese domain name system.
".商标" (dot Trademark) enters the General Availability Period thereby opening registration to all eligible applicants.
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The health of our patients’ teeth and gums is important to us. Carnivore teeth are designed to kill prey, rip the flesh apart, grind their bones, and swallow it in discrete boluses for digestion. Most of our patients don’t have to hunt for their food. Still their teeth are integral to their health:
- They prehend and grind food (but less essentially, for toothless dogs can still fulfill this function)
- Chewing builds and maintains muscle mass in the jaws, head, and neck. This neuromuscular connection between muscles of the jaw, head, and neck and the nervous system is termed the stomatognathic system. Poor dental health can contribute to head and neck pain, and even contribute to pain further down the spine through the thoracic, lumbar and sacro-iliac joints. Can poor dental health contribute to lower limb pain? Yes.
- The teeth and periodontal tissue are potential portals for bacteria to enter the circulation and adversely affect the health of the heart valves, the kidneys, the eyes, and other finer vascular beds in the body.
And especially….. - Teeth roots are deeply innervated, especially multi-rooted teeth. Having unhealthy teeth is painful, and significantly detracts from everyday quality of life and poses a health risk for the animal over time.
Most of us have experienced dental pain, and it's intense and distracting. Our animal companions don't show this pain in the same way. They have limited ways of expressing this feeling.
Animals with dental pain may favor one side of their jaw when chewing and develop muscle tension that translates to the rest of the spine. These animals may also become depressed, less active, and less joyful. Many caretakers exclaim their animal companions have more energy and ‘joie de vie’ after removal of a diseased tooth.
But of course, the goal is to keep all teeth in the mouth! After all, we’re a holistic clinic. It’s important to realize dogs and cats vary greatly in their inherent dental health. Small dogs are notorious for having periodontal disease and generally don’t like to chew on items ‘designed’ for dental care.
Larger dogs generally have stronger, healthier teeth and are more likely to chew on a physical substrate (e.g., raw poultry bones, root and hoof chews, etc.) to maintain dental health.
The healthiest cat mouths belong to hunters. Indoor-only cats will usually lose many of their teeth over their lifetime – they rarely eat anything they need to tear and grind, and most will not tolerate brushing of their teeth (there are exceptions!).
For many smaller dogs and cats, the solution to keeping as many teeth as possible is frequent, routine cleanings. We offer affordable, routine, prophylactic cleanings (“prophies”) for creatures with stage 1 and 2 periodontal disease (see chart below). We use state-of-the-art anesthesia (propofol, sevoflurane) and blood pressure support with fluids and BP monitoring. Patients wake up quickly, with no anesthetic grogginess, and have a clean set of teeth.
If periodontal disease is more advanced, timely intervention may save certain teeth. Still, infected and damaged teeth have to be removed in order to alleviate pain and optimize health.
We will safely anesthetize these patients, radiograph their teeth, and perform a full dental examination to determine if dental caries (cavities) or furcations (damage to the periodontal tissue) is present. If extractions are necessary, we’ll inform the caretaker that oral surgery is necessary and proceed once proper pain management (local anesthesia, administration of pain medications) has been administered. These patients wake up with some degree of grogginess but recover quickly due to the best anesthetics.
Again, our goal is to help our patients retain their teeth. We recommend caretakers introduce their cat or dog to toothbrushing with a toothpaste made by combining 4 oz of coconut oil, 2 oz turkey broth, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and gently rubbing this on the gum line of their buddy’s teeth. A gradual introduction should be sufficient initially to introduce them to the taste. The softest bristled (pediatric) toothbrush, or a finger brush, could be used.
Homemade Recipe for Pet Toothpaste
- 4oz of coconut oil
- 2oz turkey broth
- 2tbs baking soda, warmed and mixed
Instructions: Apply with fingers or very soft-bristled brush
If dogs will chew, we recommend that they chew on root chews (e.g. heather tree root) or eat poultry bones appropriate for their size. (see poultry bone photo below). Cats with aggressive appetites may eat chicken necks, or the narrow ends of turkey necks, but it’s rare. Dogs that have access to beef bones too commonly fracture their carnassial (large premolar) teeth, so we cannot recommend these in good faith.
Feeding raw bones is an acceptable practice to build jaw strength and keep teeth clean. Sizing the parts appropriately for the size of the dog or cat is recommended. The warming energetics of chicken, or a true chicken allergy (raw) may necessitate the feeding of turkey necks, instead.
We don’t recommend synthetic treats for dogs to chew on, such as Greenies or Whimzees, as these have inflammatory ingredients in them, and dogs tend to gain weight on them. But some individuals tolerate them reasonably well.
Lastly, there’s the recognition in holistic medicine that one area of the body has relationships to the whole. Various regions on the ear, the colon, and yes, the dentition, connect to the meridians and internal organs of the body.
While loss of teeth happens to individuals, it’s best to minimize this as much as possible for optimal health. The chart below shows relationships between the internal organs and individual teeth in people, and we can assume that these relationships hold true with our veterinary patients as well.
A Holistic Approach to Pet Healthcare
Become a New Client.
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All of the following are characteristics of corporations except that: The corporation may gain access to funds by issuing more stock. Liability is limited. The corporation is a separate legal entity. The management in a corporation may be threatened in the event of a takeover bid. The power of corporate managers is complete and cannot be challenged by stockholders.
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Ascites is the pathological accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal space, especially the abdomen. In a healthy human body, the peritoneal space contains a minute quantity of fluid. Ascites occur due to several disorders, including cirrhosis, chronic alcohol use, IV drug use, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, nephrotic syndrome, severe malnutrition, pancreatic ascites, and ovarian lesions.Treatment de Read More
Gastric banding is a laparoscopic surgery which is recommended in weight loss. It is recommended hyper obese patients.
The surgeon places a band around the upper part of your stomach to create a small pouch to hold food.
The band limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food.
, guidelines recommended gastric band placement only if a person’s body mass index35 or above. Some people with a BMI o Read More
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Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
Count or weigh and bundle items.
Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
Stack cut items and load them on racks or conveyors or onto trucks.
Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
Clean, treat, buff, or polish finished items, using grinders, brushes, chisels, and cleaning solutions and polishing materials.
Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
Route items to provide cutouts for parts, using portable routers, grinders, and hand tools.
Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws.
Lower table-mounted cutters such as knife blades, cutting wheels, or saws to cut items to specified sizes.
Adjust guides and stops to control depths and widths of cuts.
Transport items to work or storage areas, using carts.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Handling and Moving Objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Controlling Machines and Processes
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
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It’s a sunny day. Look out of your window. See anything unusual flying by? Look closely. There are midges, and they are not friendly.
Some of them are carrying a virus of sheep and other animals called bluetongue. You are not personally at risk of bluetongue, but farming systems are vulnerable.
Bluetongue is a problem in many countries and, as the climate changes, is expected to spread further, particularly in central Africa, the US and western Russia. The first cases in the UK were detected in 2023.
Bluetongue is one of many infectious diseases likely to be affected by climate change. As part of the World Health Organization’s task team on climate change, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, I recently contributed to a review of climate change, malaria and over 20 neglected tropical diseases.
We found that most mathematical models pointed to global changes in the transmission of some mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. For most other parasites, there was little or no evidence. We simply don’t know what to expect. A major issue is that climate change is creating great uncertainty in the forecasting and prediction of where and when infections might occur.
When you think about climate change, you may be thinking big. Huge and significant changes to the planet. Ice sheets melting, large-scale flooding, massive wildfires. But everything, no matter how big or small, is going to be affected.
Each of those midges you might see is affected by the climate. So is every other organism that lives in the same area. Climate change is a global phenomenon with very deep and local impacts.
The key point here is that every organism will be affected in different ways. What matters to a midge is very different to what matters to a cow or a human. Organisms may or may not thrive under a specific local change in climate for many different reasons, depending on their physiology and natural history.
It is this variable impact at a very small scale that makes it harder to predict what will happen in the future to local ecosystems. By extension, it is difficult to predict what will happen at any other scale.
As we face the reality of climate change, building resilience and restoring healthy ecosystems is crucial. A biodiverse environment contains many types of organism: plants, animals, fungi. And parasites.
They interact through what is known as the food web, a collection of all the different food chains in an ecosystem. At the top are apex predators such as wolves and eagles. Below are a mix of producers (plants) and consumers (animals like fish or mosquito larvae).
There is a lot of debate among researchers about whether, and how, biodiversity links to parasite transmission to humans. What might happen depends on both the starting point and what changes are made.
Imagine introducing a pond in a garden, to attract insects. Now put some fish in the pond. What about some vegetation? Next, simulate global warming by installing a water heater. Each change to the pond creates or removes new niches and alters the structure of the food web.
When midges, mosquitoes, ticks or other carriers of disease move into a new area, a suitable niche must be available. Efforts at conservation such as rewilding landscapes, agroforestry farming practices and the creation of more urban parks all increase biodiversity and create more niches.
A recent example comes from Italy, where habitat restoration has likely caused the reappearance of malaria mosquitoes for the first time in 60 years.
Each new niche is like an advert. Malaria mosquitoes prefer woodland and ponds and feed at night. Dengue mosquitoes prefer urban environments, small containers of water and bite during the day. If the needs of both parasites and hosts are met by the niche, they might move in.
Increasing biodiversity may therefore be a double-edged sword. It facilitates planetary health. It promotes sustainable development. But habitat restoration may also help create conditions, alongside global warming, for invasive species and parasite transmission – if we are not careful.
There are so many factors to consider. It might appear too complex to do anything to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne infections like dengue and West Nile virus into new areas. Should we just slap on the insect repellent and hope for the best?
No. Our efforts should start but not end with repellent. It will take a unified and collaborative effort across communities, organisations and governments to build resilience.
How do we stay ahead? By increasing awareness, collecting more data, more timely decision making and climate-resilient health systems. There are already projects underway to improve forecasting tools.
Citizen science has an important role to play. The new Mosquito Scotland project encourages people to identify mosquitoes and report their sightings. Working together like this to tackle climate change and its effects on parasite transmission will help hundreds of millions of people live better lives now and in the future.
Dr Mahfuz Kamal has been awarded an Enterprise Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering to support him as CEO of University spin-out company RecoVolt.
published on: 24 January 2025
Researchers at Newcastle University are to play a crucial role in a new centre that will support more people make the transition to low-carbon living.
published on: 23 January 2025
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A lottery is a process where a small amount of money (usually a dollar or two) is paid for the chance to win a larger sum of money. The winning numbers are selected randomly, either through a physical machine that spins out balls with numbered stickers or a computerized system that selects numbers from a database. The randomness of the selection is meant to ensure that all applicants have a fair chance of winning.
Although there is no sure way to improve your odds of winning, many people attempt to increase their chances by purchasing multiple tickets. Others use strategies such as playing numbers that are close to their birthday or avoiding numbers that have been drawn in previous weeks. These strategies are not foolproof, however, as past draws do not influence future ones. In addition, it is important to remember that all numbers have an equal chance of being selected.
Lotteries have a long history and can be found in many cultures throughout the world. They are often used to raise funds for public works such as roads, bridges, and canals, or for charitable causes such as schools and hospitals. In colonial America, lotteries played an important role in financing private and public ventures, including colleges, churches, canals, and fortifications.
In most countries, winners have the option of receiving the prize in a lump sum or in annual payments, called annuities. The lump sum option is typically a smaller amount than the advertised jackpot, as it is reduced by income taxes in most jurisdictions.
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You eat organic food, get adequate sunlight and live a stress free life... You may even prioritise your sleep. All this in the name of health.
But are you undoing all this hard work every night?
Sleep is important time for the body. Not only are we in a vulnerable state, but it's a time for repair and recovery. it is when memories are forged and muscles are built. All of this happens while you're sound asleep in your bed, our recovery haven.
Given how precious this time is for our sleep, and the fact we spend a third of our life in our bed, one would expect the bed we sleep on to be the top of our 'health priority' list. But this isn't the case. We continue to sleep on toxic surfaces laced in poisonous pesticides, toxic flame retardants and synthetic compounds. Sure our bed may be comfortable but it's a toxic wasteland when it comes to health.
If the environment is not conducive to rest and repair our bodies natural ability to fight disease, burn fat and re-vitalise is hampered. The bed you sleep in may be the most important item in your house for health.
So how do you find the healthiest bed and mattress to optimise your sleep, your body, your health? Read on as I reveal what you need to know and look for when buying a healthy mattress.
Note - if you're looking for my Healthy Mattress Buyers Guide, click HERE.
It's no wonder why most beds are unhealthy. Look at the materials that go into a mattress. Foam made from petrochemicals, cotton sprayed in cancer causing glyphosate, flame retardants linked to infertility and obesity. then there is the fabrics treated with poisonous chemicals and dyes...
We avoid plastic bottles because of hormone disrupting BPA.
We try to eat organic to reduce our pesticide exposure.
Yet we happily smother ourselves on a mattress filled full of these toxic compounds. 8 hours a night. Every night of the week!
The biggest health offenders found in our mattress and bed include:
I have written an entire article on the dangers of flame retardants here - Are You Being Exposed To Dangerous Flame Retardants?
In this article I show how flame retardants such as PBDEs are found in alarming high levels in mattresses.
Worst, these flame retardants bind to dust particles and make their way into the air when the mattress foam or material is compressed. We lie on our bed and 'poof', we're exposed to an enormous about of flame retardant particles. Breathing in these particles is the main pathway for flame retardants to enter the human body (1).
Then we spend 8 hours a night with our mouth, nose and eyes resting on the source of these flame retardants.
Why is this of concern?
Flame retardant exposure is linked to fertility issues, obesity, thyroid health problems, impaired brain function and cancer.
Metal coils are often used in mattress manufacturing process. Some manufacturers even promote the amount of springs within their product as a selling point.
But metal within a mattress can be a problem, especially if your bedroom is surrounded by a lot of technology or are sensitive to electromagnetic fields (EMF).
The metal within the mattress springs (and the metal bed frame itself) can act as antennas for non-native electromagnetic fields (examples of devices that emit harmful nnEMF include smart meters, cell phones, cell phone towers, wall wiring, wifi routers, appliances, baby monitors etc).
We are already living a nnEMF saturated world, with wireless device use increasing exponentially. There are many unknowns and concerns around the human body being exposed to so many electric and magnetic fields so this is an area of health we need to be cautious of.
Our bedroom and bed should be a safe haven from a noisy, stressful world. Yet many of use retire at night laying on top of mini 'antennas', exposing us to further low levels of EMF.
Metal can also become magnetized and in turn interfere with the bodies natural orientation to the magnetic poles.
The irony of this is that exposure to nnEMF fields at night is linked to insomnia and poor sleep quality. So if you have followed all my sleep tips and still wonder why you aren't sleeping well, it could be your bed!
A an article published in Scientific American looked at the link between nnEMF pollution from FM and TV radiation and cancers in the body. The author stated how:
Antennas are simply metal objects of appropriate length sized to match the wavelength of a specific frequency of electromagnetic radiation. Just as saxophones are made in different sizes to resonate with and amplify particular wavelengths of sound, electromagnetic waves are selectively amplified by metal objects that are the same, half or one quarter of the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave of a specific frequency. Electromagnetic waves resonate on a half-wavelength antenna to create a standing wave with a peak at the middle of the antenna and a node at each end, just as when a string stretched between two points is plucked at the center. In the U.S. bed frames and box springs are made of metal, and the length of a bed is exactly half the wavelength of FM and TV transmissions that have been broadcasting since the late 1940s. In Japan most beds are not made of metal, and the TV broadcast system does not use the 87- to 108-megahertz frequency used in Western countries.
Thus, as we sleep on our coil-spring mattresses, we are in effect sleeping on an antenna that amplifies the intensity of the broadcast FM/TV radiation. Asleep on these antennas, our bodies are exposed to the amplified electromagnetic radiation for a third of our life spans. As we slumber on a metal coil-spring mattress, a wave of electromagnetic radiation envelops our bodies so that the maximum strength of the field develops 75 centimeters above the mattress in the middle of our bodies. When sleeping on the right side, the body's left side will thereby be exposed to field strength about twice as strong as what the right side absorbs.
Thankfully there is an abundance of mattresses made without metal foils and wooden bed frames, on the market today. You can see some of my top recommendations HERE.
For more on the dangers of nnEMF exposure I recommend reading the work of Robert o Becker.
Mattresses make the perfect storage site for dust and dead skin cells. The typical mattress increases in weight as the years go by, the source for this increase in weight? Dead dust mites and their excrement.
A paper published by Ohio State university found that a typical used mattress has 100,000 to 10 millions mites inside it (2).
An adult female mite lays up to 40 to 80 eggs. The life cycle from egg to adult is about one month with the adult living an extra one to three months.
Mites main food source is human skin. But they also need water and or humid conditions. Thus making a mattress with a human covered in skin and expelling a pint of water a night an excellent habit!
This build up of dust, and dust mites can cause all sorts of allergic reactions in humans. We wash and air out out clothes and sheets on a regular basis, but beds and mattresses sit in a corner of a room for decades collecting dust and feeding dust mites.
Most mattresses and bed frames on the market today contain a high amount of synthetic materials. From polyurethane foam (or polyfoam), to toxic glues, these man made chemicals contain high amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs leech enter the air, making concentrations of VOCs up to 10 times higher inside compared to outside environments (3).
Examples of these VOC's include toluene and isocyanates which have been linked to asthma, liver issues and cancer (4). New mattresses and bed frames are the worst offenders for off gassing.
A lot of manufacturers will recommend airing new mattresses out for a few hours (or days) ideally in a room you don't spend much time in. But most people ignore this recommendation and will sleep on their new chemical laden mattress the day they get it.
Thankfully the older the mattress, the less problem off gassing chemicals are, but older mattresses generally have more problems with dust and flame retardants.
When it comes to bed and mattress shopping, most people focus on two things, comfort and price.
Unfortunately, both of these factors are easy to achieve with the use of synthetic materials. Not only are these materials much cheaper to produce, but given the technology we have with foams, mattresses can be made to suit all types of bodies and desires.
From memory foam to pillow top, there is a mattress for every individual, and at a competitive price!
But there is a downside, and that is the negative impact these materials have on our health. I have covered the main concerns around flame retardant use, and off gassing chemicals above. But other problems include:
But don't despair. Thankfully today there are many 'healthy' mattress and bed manufacturers around the world.
Below I run through the questions you should ask when shopping for a healthy new bed or mattress.
Just because a mattress is labeled 'green', or 'natural', or even 'organic' doesn't mean its perfectly healthy for you.
Green-washing is widely used in the mattress industry. This is where manufacturers include one 'green' material in their product so they can say their product is 'natural'.
An example is with foam made with soy. These foams are largely made with petrochemicals but contain a small about of soy. But this is enough to justify a 'natural foam' label on the product.
Likewise with the term 'natural'. Even if the mattress was made from 100% natural materials, this does not mean it's a healthy product.
Conventional soy and cotton are both GMO crops - meaning they are exposed to enormous amounts of glyphosate, this poison makes it's way into the fabric of the mattress. For more on this read Glyphosate: The Weed Killer Found In Our Food, Water and Beds.
Finally, it is important to note that 'Green' 'Eco-friendly' and 'Sustainable' labels do not translate into a healthy product.
A bed frame sourced from wood from a sustainable forest may get the greenies tick of approval, but it could be heavily treated with formaldehyde and other VOC materials.
Now on to the questions you should ask when looking for a healthy mattress:
I touched on this above. Just because a mattress or bed frame contains 'natural' products, doesn't mean it's entirely made of natural materials, nor does it mean these natural materials are safe.
This is like labelling a doughnut that contains wheat as 'natural', despite the wheat being genetically engineered and laden in glyphosate. Then finding out the rest of the ingredients are actually synthetic artificial sweeteners and trans fats.
Sure it's better to have a mattress that is free from petrochemical based materials, but you need to investigate how these materials have been processed or treated, and if the entire mattress is made from natural materials or just a small percentage.
I was horrified when I researched flame retardants and their impact on our health. You can read my findings here - but these chemicals are everywhere in our homes, especially in our furniture and beds.
Finding a mattress free of flame retardants should be the top of your list when it comes to purchasing a healthy mattress. Though this can be challenging as most foams contain flame retardants.
There are many names used for flame retardants, so be sure to dig deep into the makeup of the foams used. I have a list of all the common flame retardant names that you can access here.
Note - Some states and countries have strict regulations around flame retardant use in furniture and bedding. You may find mattresses must have a certain amount of flame retardants in them.
If this is the case where you live, you have two options.
There are many ways to make the internal core structure of a mattress. Some safe, some extremely toxic.
I have provided a basic rundown on these structures below.
This is made from the sap from rubber trees. Though often it has other materials added to it, so check with the manufacturer that is 100% natural latex foam (or at least find out what the other materials are).
It has great anti-bacterial properties and is a natural product. But some people can react to latex, so test this before buying an expensive mattress made of natural latex!
This is made from petroleum compounds. It will contain VOCs and the compounds used to make synthetic latex have been linked to many health issues include nervous system problems and cancer (5, 6).
A commonly used synthetic foam as it's cheap to make. However it will contain a lot of VOC's and flame retardants (as it is very flammable). Avoid.
A much safer petroleum based foam, but it can still contain contaminants.
No toxicity issues. But if you are concerned about nnEMF I would avoid this.
Extremely toxic. Similar to polyurethane foam. Off-gassing is a big problem.
This is usually a blend of polyurethane and a plant oil such as soy bean oil. Obviously there is less petrochemical products in this foam, but you need to check the amount of plant material used as often it is only a few percent.
Also, soy is a GMO crop so there will be pesticide contamination in the product.
Investigate to see the if it is 100% plant based foam and whether it was made using organic crops. Avoid if not.
This has natural flame retardant properties. Some people react to wool on their skin. Also, ensure the wool hasn't been treated or processed with harmful chemicals. Organic wool naturally treated is best.
This is made from coconut husks. It's not a commonly used material in the mattress world, but it is a natural product with minimal downsides.
Remember, Ask for specifics. And ask for any certificates they may have for the materials used in making the mattress. If companies use healthy and safe materials, chances are they will promote this fact. If you have to go digging it's a bad sign. Though be wary of green-washing!
If so, avoid.
As I mentioned above, memory foam is made from polyurethane and is extremely toxic.
The team at The Mattress Underground have this to say about memory foam:
All memory foam is synthetic and made in a similar way to polyurethane foam with some "rather nasty" chemicals added to it. Most have a tendency to not smell very good when they are initially made and the worst of them can be rather bad and last for a long time. Some memory foams can also give off toxic fumes which can be quite harmful and if the foam itself breaks down into dust and these are breathed in, this can also be a source of concern over time (in other words don't wait to the last possible moment to replace them). If you are one of those who loves the feel of memory foam, you will need to give up on your hopes of having a "green" or "natural" mattress (in spite of many false claims to the contrary in the industry which are completely misleading). If you do purchase a mattress with memory foam, make sure it has been certified for any offgassing or toxicity by a reputable testing organization such as Oeko-Tex or CertiPur. For safety reasons as well as durability considerations, I would also tend to avoid memory foams made by unknown manufacturers.
Natural fibres may include hemp fibres, coconut fibres, wool or another plant or animal based fibre. Generally they are quality materials with great breathing properties.
But you need to be wary if you see 'natural fibres' on the label. Be sure to do some further digging.
Many forms of natural fibres are processed in extremely 'unnatural' ways.
Mattress layers are often held together with toxic glues. A mattress maker may use quality and safe materials, but then glue them together with cheap glues that off-gas.
Quality mattress manufacturers may avoid glues all together and instead tightly bind all the layers of the mattress with an organic cotton cover.
If there are glues in the mattress or bed frame, then ensure they are water based glues.
Polyurethane is a synthetic compound with an assortment of toxicity issues.
The Mattress Underground has this to say about polyurethane in mattresses:
Polyurethane is completely chemical in nature. Even though some of [the foams] are partially made from polyols (one of the foam ingredients) which are derived from plants. Some of these are more highly processed than others still have an environmental impact in their manufacturing in different ways (some like soy which is a GMO crop and is responsible for some of the destruction of the rainforest) more so than others (like castor oil which requires less processing). There is no such thing as a natural polyurethane foam. While they do not usually have the same issues with toxicity and outgassing as memory foam, this is still a potential in their manufacturing and I would also make sure that if your mattress has polyfoam in it that the source is North American or has been tested by a reputable testing organization such as CertiPur as well.
Cotton is a GMO crop, meaning it can be sprayed with glyphosate and not die (farmers to do this to control weeds, while the crop continues to grow).
Glyphosate is an extremely poisonous chemical, and has been linked to a number of health issues. I cover this in great detail in my article Glyphosate: Why You Need To Eat Organic. Most associate glyphosate with food, but the chemical can make it's way into the body through skin contact and inhalation.
If you intend of sleeping on your mattress for a third of your day, I would recommend using organic cotton.
Also, you may want to investigate how the cotton has been processed.
If the 'organic' label is used on the mattress, dig deeper to see what this actually means.
Organic labelling in the bedding industry is not the same as the food industry (which is tightly regulated). Mattress manufactures may simply label their mattress as organic because it contains natural plant material, or a small percent of organic cotton.
Or perhaps the mattress cover is made with organic material, but the latex in the mattress itself is not organic.
The Mattress Underground has this to say on the topic:
The word "organic" is so commonly misused in the entire industry that some retailers or manufacturers believe they need to use "organic" for competitive reasons instead of it's more technically correct meaning ... and with the current state of the market and consumer misunderstanding of what organic really means when it comes to mattresses ... to some degree they may have legitimate concerns.
There are three levels of organic certifications (see here for more specifics about certifications).
First are the raw materials and if this is an agricultural crop then it can be USDA certified as a raw material.
Second is the actual component or layer itself which is made from organic raw materials. In this case it would be GOTS certified if it was a fabric or GOLS certified if it was latex. These can be called "organic" but not USDA certified organic. There is more about organic latex and other types and blends of latex in here .
Finally there is the certification for the complete production chain from raw materials to the final mattress itself to make sure that every step meets the organic guidelines. This would technically be the only mattress that can legitimately be called an organic mattress vs a mattress that includes all organic materials but this isn't the normal "practice" in the industry.
Other than this you would have a mattress that "contained" organic components or materials but the mattress itself wouldn't be organic ... as a final product.
While of course many people look for organic certifications to make sure there are no chemicals used in the production or manufacturing of any wool or cotton in a mattress for "safety" reasons more than because of the actual farming methods that are used for the agricultural crop (cotton especially uses more pesticides in it's production than any other agricultural crop so it may be important to make sure it's organic or at least pesticide and chemical free), I would also be aware that there are some very high quality and "non chemical" wools available that aren't certified organic but use organic farming and production methods even though they don't certify their wool because of the additional costs it would add to their wool. If the wool was from this type of source (such as eco wool ), then an organic certification may not be as important but of course this is always a personal preference issue and for some people an organic certification may be important for personal or lifestyle or environmental reasons or other other reasons besides the actual quality or performance of the materials themselves in spite of the additional costs that may be involved (see post #3 here )
Again, be wary of green washing.
As I covered above, metal springs in the mattress, or even a metal bed frame can cause issues for those sensitive to nnEMF.
Even if you are not sensitive to nnEMF there is a growing amount of research showing that chronic exposure to nnEMF can cause various health problems.
Some experts even suggest that the metal wire in a bra has an 'antenna' affect and is a health hazard (7).
Given the increasing amount of nnEMF pollution in this world, I personally would avoid buying a mattress with metal springs within it.
If you insist on buying a inner-coil spring mattress, then I would recommend using a wooden bed frame to sit this mattress on, instead of a metal frame bed. The length of a bed frame is a similar length to common nnEMF waves.
If you are serious about buying a healthy bed and mattress, avoid metal. But it is important to remember that simply avoiding metal in your mattress does not protect you from nnEMF. If you have poor wiring in your bedroom wall, or a wifi router on, or your phone is not in airplane mode, you are exposed to a lot of nnEMF.
My Oura sleep score suffers when it's hot. Yet my sleep quality drastically improves in winter.
Low temperatures at night time are important for quality sleep. In fact there is evidence to show that the body temperature should be lowest during the night and this correlates with improved sleep quality.
If you are sleeping on a mattress that doesn't 'breathe' or holds a lot of body heat, you are negatively impacting your sleep. It's much easier to warm up when it's cold with extra blankets than it is to lower your body temperature when it's hot.
When it comes to mattresses, and mattress materials, there are some that are good at heat regulation and others fail miserably.
For more on this topic, I go back to the knowledgeable folk at TheMattressUnderground
The words "temperature regulation" and "sleeping cool" and many others are more loose marketing terms in today's environment where every manufacturer tends to talk about how their mattress are cool sleeping without providing the why behind the what.
There are three main "technologies" being used to encourage "cool sleeping"
The first are the gel materials which work through thermal conductivity. These conduct heat away from the body to differing degrees (like putting your hand on a marble countertop) until the temperature has evened out at which time like most memory foam they will start to insulate you and can increase temperature because they are less breathable and can allow for higher humidity levels than other materials.
Thermal conductive gels (like a marble countertop) has a cool feel to it but the cooling benefits end once temperatures have equalized and from that point onwards the foam is insulating. In other words they are one piece of the puzzle.
The second is "phase change" materials which are a form of gel which changes it's state from a semi solid to a semi liquid and will either draw heat or release it depending on the temperature difference between it and the surroundings. These too don't regulate humidity levels and the sleeping microclimate.
Finally there is ventilation or "breathability" which can wick away the moisture and store it inside the fiber and away from your skin or "wick" it to another layer to keep your sleeping environment at a lower humidity level which allows the natural cooling processes of the body to work more effectively. Evaporation is the natural cooling mechanism and it works less effectvely in higher humidity levels. Humidity levels close to the skin will affect how we perceive temperature just like high humidity levels outdoors will make us feel hotter than it really is. Temperature regulation without good ventilation is "temporary" and can still allow the buildup of humidity close to the body which increases the effective sleeping temperature.
While all of these can play a 'temporary" or "partial" role ... ventilation and sleeping microclimate is by far the most important. In other words ... just feeling the "coolness" of a material has little to do with how cool you will sleep over the course of the night unless there is good ventilation and regulation of humidity levels.
This is why you hear about so many people buying various gel foam materials and still ending up sleeping warm because the essential ventilation issue may not be well addressed even though they may have some effect.
There are many elements to the sleeping cool "equation" which includes the upper layers of the mattress, the ticking and quilting materials, the mattress protector, and any sheets and bedding on the mattress and all of these work together to regulate temperature and allow (or not) the natural processes of the body to keep itself cool. In other words ... don't be "faked out" by the temperature of a material when you put your hand on it or lie on it for a few minutes.
Hope this helps solve the "sleeping temperature" puzzle and sort out some of the marketing exaggerations from the facts behind them.
So what are suitable materials when it comes to humidity control, thermoregulation and moisture wicking?
Wool is one great choice as it can help regulate temperature, humidity and store moisture in the wool fiber without having that 'wet' feel. It allows to sleep drier and cooler in warmer (and more humid) temperatures. Wool is also naturally dust mite resistant.
Cotton also has great moisture wicking properties, but it has a wet feel when it absorbs water.
Foams generally have more insulating properties, but some can be more breathable than others. Latex is the coolest, followed by polyfoam, followed by memory foam.
Softer foams are more breathable, but it's important to remember that you sink into softer foams and increase the surface contact on the skin.
Natural fibers are generally the best for wicking and storing moisture as they store the moisture in the fiber itself.
Fibre blends or plant fibers that have been processed have these similar properties but may not be as good as a pure natural product.
Mattress manufacturers understand the unique properties of certain materials, and will often layer the materials accordingly (for instance the cotton may be against the body, but underneath moisture is stored in the wool).
TheMattressUnderground put it nicely:
Each layer in a mattress can either add to or detract from the other layers that are involved in the microclimate and their ability to ventilate (add to the dispersal of heat and water vapor) as well as wick moisture and store moisture away from the body is all part of the puzzle.
The foams in the comfort layers are a part of this. All foams are insulating materials but some are more breathable (which can allow for the dispersal of heat) than others. In addition to this ... if you add gel or other thermally conductive materials or phase change materials into the foam this can have an effect as well (on temperature until it evens out but not on ventilation which is more important in the longer term).
Next above the foam is often the quilting layer which can be either more foam or natural or synthetic fibers. Next above this is the fabric used in the mattress ticking itself.
Next is the mattress protector, next is the sheets, and then comes the person (and what they are wearing) along with the layers on the other side of them which is their blankets and bedding.
All of these play a role. If any of these layers "stop" the ventilation then you have dead air (insulating) and temperatures can go up. If moisture isn't wicked away from the body ... then you lose some ability to disperse heat.
Temperature control does not just stop at the mattress. It will depend on the mattress protector you use, the sheets on your bed, the clothes you sleep in and of course the airflow and temperature in the room.
Note: I will be taking a deep dive into healthy sheets, pillows, blankets and mattress protectors in the future, so be sure to sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear about my findings.
When it comes to buying a mattress to support airflow, the key is more natural fibres, and to ensure the foams are breathable and not insulating in nature - especially the foams close to the surface of the mattress.
Wool is often mothproofed with harmful chemicals. Also, some companies add chemicals to the wool to increase fire resistance.
Be sure to ask the manufacturer if the wool has any additives.
You may find the perfect mattress, with all the right materials and proper certificates in place, but it's important to look at where the mattress is made.
Ideally it would be manufactured in a facility that only produces organic beds. Cross contamination in manufacturing is a real concern. You don't want your organic natural materials to be processed in a machine that has just processed synthetic materials full of chemicals.
If they outsource some of their production (ie, some of the sewing), then ask about the production facilities of these external suppliers.
Likewise with transport - make sure the mattresses are well sealed for transport and aren't exposed to toxic fumes or chemicals.
If the bed or mattress is certified with an eco-friendly, or green label, make sure you find out what it actually certifies.
You need to ensure that the certificate tests for:
Certificates are broken down into 3 types:
Some third party certificates that exist in the bedding space include:
Please note that Certi-Pur certificate is a trade association standard that is operated by the 'Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam'. This standard restricts the use PDBE flame retardants (which use is banned anyway), heavy metals and formaldehyde (which aren't used in mattress foam production) and has some limits on VOCs. While better than nothing, this is an industry funded certificate and you should look beyond this simple stamp of approval.
Also, some manufacturers may have an 'environmental' stamp of approval, this may mean it's good for the world, but it doesn't necessarily imply it's a product that is good for you. Green does not always mean healthy.
For more information on these certificates please head to this page.
If you can't find answers to all these questions on the manufactures website, you may need to contact them. If they don't answer your question this is a good sign that they're using unsafe materials in their products.
Put yourself in the manufacturers shoes - if you were using safe materials and had good manufacturing processes you wouldn't keep these facts to yourself. You would want to share them with the world.
Don't be afraid to ask these hard questions. Buying a bed or a new mattress is a big investment, and if you value your health you should ask these questions.
If the manufacturer won't comply, find someone else who will. I have put together a guide that may help you find a suitable mattress manufacturer HERE.
The mattress cover acts as a support structure holding all the internal layers together (this is why some mattresses are free of glues) and provides another layer of comfort.
Some mattesses may have quality internal materials, but the exposed cover is syntehtic, or uses an inferior material.
If it is a cotton cover, make sure it's made from organic cotton. Especially as this cotton will come into contact with the skin. And check to ensure it hasn't been treated in anyway.
A wool cover is a good option, though check if it has been treated and ensure wool doesn't cause irritation on your skin.
Polyester covers should be avoided. These are made out of petroleum and contain a lot of synthetic chemicals.
You may think a mattress with anti-bacterial properties as being a positive thing, but unfortunatley most anti-bacterials used in mattresses are registered pesticides (Staph-guard and Ultra-Fresh are two examples).
Also, anti-bacterial chemicals may kill some bacteria, but not all bacteria, leading to the growth of resistance bacteria in your sleeping surface.
I know that is a lot of questions to be asking when searching for a new healthy mattress!
If you are looking for a quick reference guide on some healthy brands of mattresses, be sure to download the chart I have put together HERE.
Otherwise, what is an ideal healthy bed and mattress?
Let's look at some criteria first:
The bed and mattress should be:
Knowing all this, what would I look for in a healthy mattress and bed? The materials I would want my mattress to consist of include:
Natural latex is a healthy, natural alternative to synthetic memory foam. It doesn't need extra metal springs or coils and it is free of chemicals and toxins.
A quality natural latex won't sag and should last 20 years or longer. Ensure you go with 100% natural latex.
For more on the pros and cons of latex see this article.
Wool is naturally fire resistant, meaning there is no need for the toxic flame retardants. It has amazing temperature and moisture regulation properties while been resistant to dust mites.
Just ensure you go with a untreated, or chemical free wool.
Cotton is one of the most commonly found materials in the bedding industry, yet cotton crops are exposed to massive amounts of pesticides and other chemicals.
Pure cotton is a quality material with great properties, but if health is a priority, only go with mattresses that use organic cotton.
Hemp, coconut, bamboo and other plant based fibres are relatively new and unheard of in the conventional mattress scene. But some organic, health conscious mattress makers are turning to these fibres.
Being a natural material they generally have no or very little toxicity issues. They also breath well and are quite durable. However, be sure to look into any treatment or processing that may have been done before these fibers end up in the mattress.
Thats for the mattress, what about the bed frame itself?
For this, the solution is simple. You want to find something that is free of metal, allows good air flow and is made with non-toxic materials.
A wooden slat bed frame made made with untreated wood and free of any high VOC glues or paints.
Not only does this remove the nnEMF issue, there won't be any off gassing issues with the frame and the slat bed frame raised off the floor allows adequate air flow around and under the mattress.
Also - if the Bed Frame can be adjusted to support inclined bed therapy (learn more about this HERE) then that is an added bonus.
I will cover this topic in a future article. Be sure to sign up to my newsletter to be the first to hear about my findings.
At the time of writing, I haven't decided 100% on what bed and mattress I will purchase for our new home. (Update - I brought a mattress! See below for more)
I will admit however, I am drawn to the idea of buying a futon bed. Here in New Zealand there are many health conscious organic futon bed and mattress makers. The price of these setups is much lower than a conventional mattress with the same quality materials.
The big appeal for me is the fact that you can move and air out the mattress. Something that is rather difficult to do with a conventional mattress.
But watch this space. I will share my own buying journey in my weekly newsletter, so keep an eye out for my weekend emails.
In the mean time, be sure to download my handy healthy mattress buying chart HERE. In this chart I have listed some of the worlds healthiest mattresses, a long with the key pros and con's of these mattresses.
So it's been a good 9 months or so since I wrote this article. And after a lot of research, I finally settled on - what I think - is the best AND healthiest mattress on the market. The Samina mattress.
You can read my full review HERE - The Healthiest Bed In The World? Reviewing The Exceptional Samina Mattress System
The only issue is that it may be the most expensive mattress on the market!!
Saying that, the build, comfort, support, and of course materials used in this mattress (or 'sleep system' as they call it) are the best of the best.
I have written a comprehensive review on the the Samina mattress/system/bed which you can read here. Otherwise, you can learn more about the Samina mattress at www.saminasleep.com Ask for Claus and tell him Alex Fergus sent you, you'll be looked after well!
If you don't want to spend the many hours required to find your perfect healthy mattress, then THIS chart will save you a lot of time!
You can access this guide by clicking HERE.
Note: A lot of people have contacted me asking if I had a cheaper alternative to the Samina product. The Samina System is a premium product and it may be too expensive for some. If this is the case, then I would suggest looking at the Botanical Bliss Organic Natural Latex mattress from PlushBeds.
This blog post was written by Alex Fergus. Alex is an ISSN Sports Nutrition Specialist, Fitness Professional and certified Superhuman Coach who continues to expand his knowledge base and help people across the world with their health and wellness. Alex is recognized as the National Record Holder in Powerlifting and Indoor Rowing and has earned the title of the Australian National Natural Bodybuilding Champion. Having worked as a health coach and personal trainer for over a decade, Alex now researches all things health and wellness and shares his findings on this blog. Learn more about Alex's Credentials HERE.
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Information illiteracy can be an inequality problem when only a minority of people are active citizens.
Even in the most developed part of the world there are inequalities that can shape the minds of a whole people. The tenth development goal set by the United Nations is to reduce inequalities. My priority inequality is information; my perspective is in reaction to less developed countries and people at war. An investment in information literacy, in education on culture and foreign and international affairs, is an investment in Europe. Where we have a chance in helping people outside our borders, people that Europe often sees as an uncomfortable problem when they escape prosecution and danger and seek refuge on a protected and developed land.
Information illiteracy can be an inequality problem, not because we have unbalanced opportunities of understanding or access to education in Europe, it is when only a minority of people are active citizens. When only a small part of society takes on the burden of protecting and preserving democracy. It is our wonderful right to know information, our privileged opportunity to shape our country, our Union and our lives, and our unfortunate circumstance of having a minority of people that are informed, engaged and active in civil society.
There are targets of empowerment, where we shall not discriminate against our nature, however empowerment comes with responsibility. The responsibility comes from educational systems, which have a duty to prepare the youth for their civil roles and for their global partnership through their international institutions they are part of. The European Union is a union of member states, and states are its people.
People in European countries not only fail to receive general and neutral information (news) but correct assumptions on the current political atmosphere of Europe in facts and figures.
People watch the main news channels and blindly accept the angle in which events are presented.
People have always naturally initially been afraid of what they don’t know and of what is new to them. Xenophobia is a natural phenomenon that has been tackled through the ages through exploration, education and repetition/practice. The news has always shown the negative events and connotations of the day/week/crisis, because that is what is interesting and mostly relevant to its audience. If the people are initially cautious of new progressions, then so are the protagonists of daily news. If news shows precaution about an event or crisis, then its audience will take that away from the presentation of the event.
People want to protect themselves and their neighbourhood/territory and would rather stay with what they know and trust, instead of gaining a new understanding and taking a presumed risk. They will reflect this upon the politicians they have, and the politicians (driven by their empowerment and duty to stay in office and maintain people’s trust) will find a way to make the public happy, but also do the right thing politically. Because of their education, experience and will to do their job, to be a politician, they should know what the right thing is. They are to balance the public’s wants and wishes, with what is politically sound.
So, despite their possible disagreement, they must oblige the public. They have the option to explain and compute the analysis they’ve come up with in their intellectual and professional capacity, but they risk losing the trust and vote of their public followers. There is a pressure to stay in office, and to stay popular. Popular means they are trusted and liked by the public, who, because of a lack of education or serious interest, don’t have the same capacity to understand the political issues at hand.
Therefore, the media show their spin on events, the public make an influenced opinion with the limited information they received and/or understood from the media, the politicians, who have a more in-depth and multi-sided knowledge and understanding of the issue listen to the opinion of the public they need to make happy to stay in office, and then make a decision based on the poorly-informed and cautious public, putting forth a campaign that reflects the general sentiment of their audience.
These campaigns can then naturally have a xenophobic, uninformed, rejectionist and protectionist base. When do we distinguish populism and manipulation?
However, this first analysis assumes the politicians firstly have a more informed, multilaterally shaped and experienced opinion, which is not a certainty. Many politicians in the Czech Republic have a strictly economic background and went into politics because of their position and ambition, rather than because of their education in political science or experience in civil service. Not only can one doubt their agenda, one can easily be swept away by their peculiar background, confusing variation with ineptitude.
The tenth development goal highlights the facilitation of ‘orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration.’ In addition to that, it must be stressed that even with informed migration policies agreed by EU member states, there is no guarantee of implementation or even success. In the 2015 and 2016, there was the highest level of irregular migration since the Second World War, however Europe’s response was inept, late and incoherent. What remains is a problem, and Europe’s struggle to provide a collective response, and a responsibility to choose a reaction, there is no reversal.
This is the crux of the issue. It is Europe’s responsibility, whether chosen or left with, to respond according to international law and to inform its citizens of the facts and possible policy implementation. If this fails to happen, the public is misinformed, the media abuses the public’s misapprehension and the politician’s indulge the ignorant public and use the situation to promote a populist and reactionist program.
Generations are being born into liberal democracies and not having to fight for their civil rights and freedom, people are disconnected from the state, and their own responsibilities as the citizens of that state.
New generations are not taught that they need to nourish and protect their democracy and liberty and continuously practice their duties as the civil and main body of the state.
There are people who are disengaged and need to be reintegrated in their civic role, and there are people who want to be engaged but find themselves alienated because of misinformation, misguidance by institutions and political entities and an increasingly untrustworthy media and political body. This is enhanced by a radical change in the way mass media works; and while mainstream news is in crisis, more alternative sources are becoming more powerful, and many of them are lacking in accountability.
Those facts are leading to a political situation which leaves behind the ideals of openness, cooperation and unity that have led to the formation of the European Union, and most of the post-World War II accords and institutions.
The answer is always education and informing people of facts and possibilities. What are the opportunities in a crisis, to what extent is it really a crisis, what can be taught and learned. Inequality can be the unbalanced reality in which a misinformed public looses their right to speak out on our common right to humanity and dignity.
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The first transcription of a bird song appeared in Birds by Aristophanes and it consisted of the following stream of letters: “Epopoi poi popoi, epopoi, popoi… tio, tio, tio, tio, tio, tio, tio, tio… trioto, trioto, totobrix… Torotorotorotorotix, kikkobau, kikkobau, torotorotorotorolililix.” The first systematic set of transcriptions were noted by Johann Matthäus Bechstein in his book entitled The Natural History of Cage Birds (1795). It featured a section with a number of examples of bird songs that indicate the “dialects” for further research. They might have influenced Kurt Schwitters when he created his first sound poem: Ursonate (1922-1932). The first performance took place before an unprepared audience. At first the gathered public was baffled, then most people burst into hysterical laughter, but then as the piece progressed the atmosphere changed. At the end of performance that lasted over 30 minutes, the ambiance got more solemn and the applause at the end of the piece was as resounding as if Schwitters had put into resonance the souls of people themselves. Birds mark their territory with songs – the practice has a territorial aspect. Schwitters’s song announced the discovery and claiming of a new and unknown land, a place no bird inhabited before.
The previous list of incidents could be seen as unrelated, true or fictional anecdotes on interspecies relations. We could also treat them otherwise: as a sequence of moments in a story of constant translation and transformation. The birds that taught Aristophanes their chirps managed, thanks to that magical moment, to implant the lyrics of their song in the mind of an unsuspecting Bechstein, who in turn allowed Schwitters to become infected by this contagious warble. The same virus appears in some of the myths of the beginning of human music. The birds are the original teachers who present the gift that changes mankind forever – melody, whose magnetising power is still not fully comprehensible.
In 1976 Mark Twain wrote a short story entitled A Literary Nightmare. The narrator recounts an incident about an irresistibly catchy ditty that he encounters in the newspaper. Its simplicity conceals the real menace:
“Conductor, when you receive a fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!
A blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare,
A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare,
A pink trip slip for a three-cent fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!”
Twain (who doesn’t even hide his identity) narrates memories of the terrible days when the only thing he could focus on was the wretched rhyme. Naturally it was not the meaning of the piece that made it so hard to resist, but its sheer rhythm (as it was read in the newspaper it couldn’t have been supported by melody). The strangest thing occurs, however, when at last Twain finds a way to get rid of it: he tells it to a friend. From that moment it is gone from one person, but starts to inhabit and haunt the thoughts of another. The procedure is repeated again when the narrator decides to come to the rescue of a friend who suffers from a debilitating lack of concentration since the incident occurred. The strange disease found a way to be transferred from body to body by means of a spellbinding language.
Maybe it was an operation similar to the one described by Klee in his Pedagogical Sketchbook: the constant jump above the grey point. It functions as the undetermined centre of a set of opposing qualities, that is, the condition of dynamism and eternal movement. Its role is interestingly described: “Pathos (or tragedy) turns into ethos which encompasses energy and counter-energy within itself.” We should understand pathos here as a more general performance that offers a full array of “emotions” and ethos as a “character” that is the outcome of this practice.
Let’s try to transpose this mysterious practice into the experience of music. Theodor Reik in his book The Haunting Melody (1953) meditates on the influence of a certain composition by Mahler on his auto-analytical practice. He uses the notion of a loving couple to demonstrate how musical vocabulary can be used to understand social relations and processes: a society of two may represent society in general. The principle that everyone has his or her own rhythm that can either be in sync or out of sync with the rhythms of the surrounding is one of the most popular intellectual trends in psychology in the early twentieth century. Reik reaches a more important area when he observes that rhythm represents character as it structures diction; it gives form to ethos. A pre-inscription that sends us back to the chaos that obviously was not schematized by us so that we should appear as what we are. In this sense, perhaps, “every soul is a rhythmic knot.” We (“we”) are rhythmed.
Alessandro Bosetti’s relation with Janáček resonates with all of the stories. It reaches to the depths of the genesis of sound poetry from the chirp of the bird whose song became lethal once it became language. It restages the malady of the body being exposed to the worst examples of germs inhabiting tongues. It finally exemplifies how a self is being born and can be demolished by the act of repetition of the simplest words that enter into connections beyond understanding.
Leoš Janáček used to scribble notes and record the speech melodies that he heard everywhere around him. He did not care much about the possibilities enabled by the discovery of the mechanical recording technology of Edison or Bell, but preferred to write by hand for later use. The last element is a hypothesis because we could also assume that he used to scribble in order to get the melodies out of his head and enclose them in a sealed form that would not come back from beyond the grave to further haunt him.
Instead of trying to find melodies from notebooks in Janáček’s compositions, Bosetti set out to perform a bodily experience of re-synchronization with the sounds long gone, and took notes with the use of deficient but personal technology. The rhythm gets redoubled and the eerie effect of a personality split is re-performed. The bold decision to get himself infected with all the pain of the process of building the personality of a Czech composer brought Bosetti to a point where he, just like Schwitters, recites the meaningful (or meaningless) fragments of another reality.
Rhythm as the knot that gives the essence a form. Klee’s musical imagination enabled him to see the formation of an image as a process that is set in measured motion. A similar process is being recorded in the development of the self. Music is setting up a mechanism into motion. This is possible because the self is structurally similar to a musical piece.
Daniel Muzyczuk’s liner notes to “The Notebooks” CD release on Bolt Records.
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What are the issues around pneumonia, particular in displaced populations?
Lower-respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a leading cause of death in children under five worldwide, with increased rates in displaced populations.
We believe that a substantial proportion of these infections are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus); a common bacterium that can cause pneumonia and meningitis.
What are the symptoms of dengue and what health impacts does it have globally?
While the majority of dengue infections cause mild flu-like symptoms or are even asymptomatic, some people experience headaches, severe joint pain and even internal bleeding that can lead to death. Globally dengue causes 50-100 million cases a year across over 120 countries. Many of these are concentrated in high profile outbreaks that are difficult to control.
Imagine you share a pit latrine with three neighbours and you can see and smell the last user’s faeces through the drophole. Imagine people can peep through holes in the walls, which are made of old maize sacks and rusting pieces of corrugated iron. You’ve heard stories of people being assaulted on their way to the toilet at night.
Pakistan is one of the most epidemic-prone countries in the world, with ever-present outbreaks of dengue, malaria, and the persistence of poliomyelitis transmission. Now, unprecedented flooding due to deadly monsoon rains is burdening 33 million of the country’s 222 million population.
How to integrate mental health into outbreak response: five lessons from the COVID-19 response in Africa
Mental health is beginning to get the recognition it needs during public health emergencies, and COVID-19 resulted in more attention on its impact from policymakers, the media and the public. Now policymakers and mental health actors must capitalise on this increased attention, to prioritise mental health as much as physical health in outbreak response.
On 15 August 2021, Afghanistan was thrown into a state of shock and the nation plunged into chaos. The withdrawal of support from the United States and its Alliance led to the sudden collapse of the Afghan government after two decades of rebuilding.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all in many different ways, but some of the hardest hit were schoolchildren. Many children and families were affected in different ways, and while there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence from the pupils, parents and teachers who experienced the challenges firsthand, we may not know the full implications of this pandemic on children for many years to come.
Marked every year on 20 June, World Refugee Day is an opportunity to understand the life-threatening plight of refugees, recognise their resilience, and offer support by giving refugees a platform, raising awareness of their situations and calling for their rights – for safety, asylum, protection – to be upheld.
Last year’s National Food Strategy was a ground breaking report that called for a unified government response to the urgent issues facing the UK’s food system. It focused on tackling the obesity crisis, reducing agriculture’s impacts on the environment and shoring up our future food security, and made it very clear that these aims could only be achieved by working across multiple government departments.
1) What is it?
Monkeypox is a viral infection, caused by an orthopox DNA virus, most closely related to smallpox. It occurs naturally in central and west Africa.
2) What are the symptoms? How long does it last? Do you make a full recovery?
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Dr. Tom Colquitt identifies the four types of tonsils and their contribution to our health.
by Tom Colquitt, DDS
Here’s a fact I’ll bet, unless you are a parent of young kids, you haven’t thought much about as a dentist. Lots of kids, even after they have their adenoids removed, continue to have Recurrent Otitis Media (ROM), ineffectively treated with antibiotics and tubes inserted through the tympanic membrane, exposing the middle ear to the outside world. After draining off a pool of pus, the piercing becomes a source of more infection. Often these kids now have problems with their Tubal Tonsils, which hypertrophy and remain infected along with the middle ear.
Everything needed to sustain life comes to us through our nose and mouth. All these structures need to have the correct “Place in Space in the Face” and the airway behind it (thanks to Sandra Kahn for that term). Each has specific functions with shared plumbing, which requires exquisite cooperation between the air conditioning structures and the food processing structures. This functional symbiosis is run by the tongue.
The tongue is the conductor of the business of living and needs to construct its own Linguatorium (my term) in which to run the show, beginning at or before birth.
There is a ring of tonsillar tissue (Waldeyer’s Ring) surrounding the air-gathering pharyngeal structures at the back of the throat. These are essential bits of lymphatic tissue necessary for a properly functioning immune system. The driver is functional nasodiaphragmatic breathing (NDB) and a proper swallow after efficient mastication. All of which is led by coordinated tongue movement within the Linguatorium which it helped create and maintain.
There are bilateral sets of four tonsils surrounding the airway (Figure 1). We can see some of them. Some we can’t. They, along with the nose, are our bodies’ Maginot Line against would-be pathogenic invaders. In 1939, Germany went right around the Maginot Line to invade and occupy France. Airborne pathogens can do the same thing if we have structural, functional, and behavioral breathing problems that permit this to happen. And it happens so much as to be pandemic.
From Top to Bottom
Pharyngeal Tonsils, or Adenoids.
First lymphatic responder in nasal breathing to pathogens and particulates missed by the cilia of the nasal epithelium and the antimicrobial effects of Nitrous Oxide (NO) secreted in the paranasal sinuses. NO is secreted at 200 times the level needed for killing inhaled pathogens, according to Dr. Emet Schneiderman of Texas A&M College of Dentistry.
As such, the nose is our natural first responder, and we as homo sapiens are hardwired for naso-diaphragmatic breathing. The released NO also potentiates the activity of the cilia in the airway epithelium to expel inhaled noxious particulate matter.
In addition to killing microbes, nasal inhalation warms, moisturizes and filters incoming air before it can reach the Adenoids and other tonsils.
Nasal breathing to and from the diaphragm utilizes all the lung volume, whereas shallow mouth breathing uses the intercostal muscles and only the top third of the lungs. The diaphragm is the pump for the immune system.
You can see that the Pharyngeal Tonsils (Adenoids) are part of the back of the throat. Since they have no capsule like the Palatine Tonsils, it is virtually impossible to completely remove them surgically without damaging this part of the pharyngeal wall. Let’s continue our tonsillar tour.
Next Drainage Stop: The Tubal Tonsils
They are located at the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian Tubes (Figure 2) to keep bad stuff from crawling up the ET and causing a middle ear infection. Tongue movement and proper swallow mechanics opens the ET, equalizing pressure, unless overgrown tubal tonsils squeeze it closed.
Last Drainage Stops: The Palatine and Lingual Tonsils
The Palatine Tonsils are the big boys we can see. Can’t see the Lingual Tonsils as they are embedded in the dorsum of the tongue. Figure 3 shows something very wrong with the Palatine Tonsils. Picture of the Kissing Tonsils shows something very wrong with the airway and is the reason the Pediatric guidelines for childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea recommend Tonsillectomy as the FIRST line of defense.
This despite these lymphatic structures being essential for a lifetime of immune system function.
This despite multiple studies showing the airflow improvement is only temporary unless the child learns proper breathing behavior.
This despite multiple studies showing kids who had T&A surgery frequently grow up to be sicker adults than those who didn’t.
Ear infections are the most common reason for pediatric visits in this country, with 30 million doctor visits per year. Half of all pediatric antibiotics prescribed are for Otitis Media. The annual cost of treatment estimated at more than Two Billion Dollars. This is a pandemic plagued by ineffective symptomatic treatment that does not address the CAUSE.
The middle ear is connected to the upper respiratory tract by a tiny channel known as the Eustachian Tube (ET). Germs growing in the nose or sinus can climb up the ET and enter the middle ear to start growing (Figure 4). This is more common in children than adults because these tubes are shorter and straighter than in adults.
Why do these structures get infected so often in so many modern humans? What could contribute to this being such a hugely prevalent and expensive public health issue? The reason for overprescribed antibiotics and tissue mutilation? Could it be related to dysfunctional breathing involving problems with structure, function, and behavior, beginning at or before birth?
Could it have something to do with a cascade of events caused by improper development of the Cranio Facial Respiratory Complex?
You may be like me, having forgotten about Tubal Tonsils. We had no way to connect middle ear infections to mouth breathing, much less breastfeeding and early childhood nutrition. You may be curious what dentists can do about this problem. I’d love to tell you, but I’m out of space in this essay. Stay tuned…
Adenoids and tonsils play a role in basic facial growth and development. Read about their connection to malocclusion here: https://dentalsleeppractice.com/effects-enlarged-adenoids-developing-malocclusion/.
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Source:Ekaterina Trukhan Each child learns to read at their own pace. Finland is considered to have the best education system in the world. Here, children would only be formally taught to read at age 6. Things around the world are quite different. In India, for instance, children learn to recognize sounds and letters as young as two and a half years. I don’t think there is any right or wrong, but I definitely do believe it must be a child initiated curiosity. Forced teaching can lead to undue pressure on the child and more importantly, a dread for reading. Many schools invest in reading schemes that help children reach certain reading goals. A reading scheme is a series of books that have been written to support the process of learning to read. All reading schemes are designed to support the teaching in class and to ensure that when a child takes a book home they can read it successfully, build confidence and make progress. In most schools, the teacher and parent having a reading log that goes back and forth from school and home. Both make comments on the child's reading so the child can be assisted as needed. Schools may be following one or more of these programs. I am putting this list together as my daughter is now recognizing most sounds and is developing an excitement towards reading. Moreover, I am currently working with an English school in a small rural town in Gujarat where the children do not have any exposure to English at home. I would like to gauge if any of these programs could be beneficial to them. I have also learned is that no Indian publisher has a step-by-step reading scheme (at least in English). Many multiple factors could play a role- investment of money, the myriad of regional languages, the fact that are already good ones abroad. But it does make me wonder, what about the schools that cannot afford to invest in an international reading scheme? How do their children learn to read in a progressive and effective manner? Perhaps, they have another system that works well? I need to investigate this further! THE OXFORD READING TREE - millions of children around the world learn to read with the guidance of this program. They have more than 800 books at their disposal. RIGBY STAR program Foundation Stage up to Grade 2 (3-7 year olds), multi-layered, rich fiction and non-fiction titles, learning guides and assessment trackers are also provided Collins Big Cat- whole-school reading programme that provides complete support for primary reading. Teaching resources to support developing and assessing key reading skills at all stages from early reading through to phonics, to guided, whole-class and independent reading for more confident readers.
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Years before, the winds in Sagada gave off the sound of rustling pine needles, the wings and songs of birds, and the fresh smell of the forest. Hardly did anyone think that soon enough, the wind would bring with itself the metallic sound of the spinning turbines of a wind farm.
Hardly anyone thought that it would bring the sound of heavy machinery drilling and digging, the sound of the earth being savaged in the name of progress, the sound of trees falling, and the stench of chemicals spilling. Hardly anyone, except for PhilCarbon president Ruth Yu-Owen and her supporters. PhilCarbon and the SagadaBesao Windmill Corporation drew up plans to build windmills on a windy ridge in the boundary of Sagada and Besao in Mountain Province. The proposed wind farm would have up to 15 wind turbines along the PilaoLangsayan Ridge. Each turbine would produce 600 kilowatts, totalling 15 megawatts of electricity. Mountain Province consumes only five to six megawatts. One of the selling points is to sell the excess nine to ten megawatts produced by the wind farm to electricity grids in other places in Luzon.
One process that any development project undertakes is an Environment Impact Assessment by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In addition, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) provides that projects like the wind farm should include an assessment of how it will affect the indigenous people and natural resources in those areas. However, projects aiming towards so-called development have hardly ever taken into account the rights, livelihood, and culture of indigenous communities.
The windmill turbines were designed to be 80 feet tall, with rotor blades of 40 meters long. These turbines will be built near sources of water that will be inevitably and negatively affected by construction activities. The rotor blades will destroy the surrounding trees. The target project area also serves as a pastureland therefore will disturb the livestocks. Equally, the project will disrupt the routes of migratory birds. Imagine the mountains.
Imagine the pine trees. Imagine the monstrous metal turbines, starkly white and lifeless against the backdrop of the forest green.
PhilCarbon and its proponents promised that the affected municipalities would divide between themselves a royalty of one centavo for every kilowatt the wind farm produces. A fraction of a centavo per kilowatt, in exchange for the destruction of the land and its resources, and for the disruption of the natural course of living things that reside in the area. Obviously, the generosity of PhilCarbon knows no bounds—except for the bounds of profit.
Meanwhile, in Sabangan, the Chico River was despoiled by the construction of Hedcor’s facilities. Chico River has been the site of development and military aggression for years—it calls to mind the martyrdom of Macli-ing Dulag, who was murdered in his own home for the sake of “progress”. Hedcor is building a “mini” hydro power plant in Barangays Napua and Namatec. Testimonies from affected communities say that efforts of Hedcor to prevent damage to the river have been ineffective. They also speak about the deceptive moves of Hedcor. Instead of a mini hydro power plant that produces only 14 megawatts, Hedcor is actually building a power plant that would produces a total of 55 megawatts—far from the 14 megawatts they first claimed to build.
There are numerous renewable energy plant applications in Mountain Province alone. BIMAKA is planning on building a series of six mini hydro projects along the Balas-iyan river in Besao. All in all, there are 11 hydro-electric projects outlined in Mountain Province. The MainitSadanga geothermal project of the PRCMagma Energy Resources Corp., which is a partnership with Chevron expected to generate 80MW will be affecting a wide span of land in Bontoc and Sadanga of Mountain Province. Leaders of indigenous women’s organizations in Mountain Province say that energy projects are needed for other investments in the province especially mining and tourism.
Imagine a map of Mountain Province littered with markers for mining and renewable energy applications.
With destructive mining and renewable energy applications come militarization, harassment, and various other human rights violations. In Sagada, when the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) assembly held for the indigenous communities affected by PhilCarbon’s windpower project was conducted, the 54th IB under Colonel Martinez also had their operations. In Tocucan, indigenous leaders that opposed the mini hydro power plant project were harassed by members of the CAFGU1, a paramilitary group.
PhilCarbon also disseminated misleading information regarding the schedule and nature of the FPIC assemblies. Personnel of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) who are mandated to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples, were party to PhilCarbon’s deception and manipulation of the FPIC process.
Despite all this, the affected communities especially the women, took action to uphold their rights and to protect the natural environment of their homeland. A 100-meter tall anemometer tower that tests wind speeds was built by PhilCarbon in preparation for the wind farm project in Sagada. On June 5, 2013, the structure that costs Php 1.5 million was felled by anonymous members of the protesting communities.
All over the communities affected by energy projects, the women actively participated in study meetings on issues regarding these projects, and made sure to attend every assembly called by the NCIP in order to voice their opposition to the destructive projects. In Tocucan, the women conducted a petition signing against the hydro project, and attended consultations in order to personally voice out their protests. The necessity to act and prevent the corporate energy projects is a demonstration of how women value life and the source of life which is the land. For them, it is upholding the dignity of women and peoples to respect and uphold life of present and future generations. Young women leaders say that violence against women is addressed in their
empowering participation to these struggles. The leadership they develop earn the respect of their communities. It raises their profile as women.
Now, imagine the struggle of the communities affected by the megadam project along Chico River during the Marcos dictatorship. Imagine the women—mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters—who confronted troops of soldiers during that struggle. Peoples of the Cordillera have shown, time and again, that we will stand together in order to protect our land, life, and resources.
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In October 2014, we had a great opportunity to explore different green areas of several Chinese cities within the project “Sustainable green infrastructure in urban-rural areas of China based on eco-civilization,” which was sponsored by the Chinese Government. It was particularly interesting to see different types of greenery that reflects the development of planning structure in Chinese cities.
Classic Chinese private gardens (scholar and imperial gardens) and scenic spots (specially chosen for their scenic natural landscapes) were the dominant type of green space in Chinese cities for almost 2000 years. These gardens were based on the philosophical canons of harmony and beauty (Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism).
European public elements of green spaces, such as lawns and flowerbeds, were introduced to China by foreign missionaries during the First Opium War (1839-1842). After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, some remnants of colonial gardens were transformed into public parks for the local inhabitants. In the 1950s, as a result of the “Learning from the Soviet Union” policy, public, multifunctional parks (similar to the USSR’s concept of Parks of Recreation and Culture) became an integral feature of greenspaces in China.
Since the Chinese Economic Reform in 1978, the use of Western forms for green areas has sped up. Governmental officials had a chance to go abroad and rediscover European Renaissance-Baroque styles, followed by English as well as Modernist styles of landscape architecture. They “fell in love” with manicured lawns and colorful flowerbeds. Finally, when China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it was included in the process of globalization and globalized landscapes arrived to China.
However, this influx did not take into consideration the different climatic conditions or local cultural traditions. Well-mown lawns together with huge plazas, scattered broad leaved trees and regular flower beds became a symbol of success of the Chinese market economy model. Nobody was embarrassed by the high maintenance costs and low environmental value of such new, placeless urban landscapes.
However, increasing densification, traffic problems, and air pollution forced Chinese landscape architects to start the process of searching for local identity of place and new sustainable models for urban development.
Nowadays, design for urban green areas is done mostly by Chinese private architectural or landscape architectural firms as well as by special planning municipal institutions. In some cases, foreign landscape firms and consultants are also involved in the design and planning stages, especially in large-scale projects such as the Olympic Park in Beijing.
One of the most common types of green areas in Chinese cities is the public park. We were pleasantly surprised to see some principles of Feng shui in the overall design schemes of such parks (orientation, axis etc.). Traditional Chinese garden elements such as rocks, water bodies, classic architecture in Chinese style (pavilions, winding corridors, pagodas and bridges), and paving with stones are actively included in the latest public parks.
However, even these kinds of references to Chinese character are in some cases purely decorative and have lost the spiritual meaningfulness they would have held in Chinese classical gardens. Still, some carving stones mimic the original, very important masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy and provide historic information about the site. We were impressed by the very active use of public parks spaces by people during the weekdays and on holidays.
Green areas inside living neighborhoods (multifamily houses of 4-12 floors). The availability of green areas is varied. From a very limited amount in the living quarters of the 1970-1980s, such spaces grew to a quite reasonable size in the 1990s, and in the 2000s-2010s came to include the greenery of bigger inner yards. In such areas, there is a clear tendency to turning away from productive green areas (no lawns) to more decorative pre-designed areas with standardized lawns, hedges, topiary shrubs, and some ground covers.
However, even in the most recent neighborhoods (established in 2012-2014) people have turned some of these lawns into community gardens. Many urban communities have a specially designated urban agriculture area within their neighborhood. We connected this phenomenon to the agricultural past of people who have left their countryside farms and moved, seeking a better life in the city.
We found a limited number of tree species used for landscape design in Chinese cities. Monocultures—for example, rows of one tree species—are the rule rather than the exception. A “prefabricated” design palette with open lawns, trimmed bushes, and scattered trees landscapes reminded us of classical Western patterns. Famous English Landscape designer Capability Brown would be very pleased seeing such fruitful results of his ideas on Chinese soil. Since the 1990s, China has turned towards using more global plant material.
Suprisingly for us, we were able to identify quite a few Chinese species. These plants, including Koelreuteria paniculata, Gingko biloba, Lagerstroemia indica, Osmanthus fragrans, and Sophora japonica, were also included in the global “pool” of plants for modern urban landscapes and probably date from the late 1990s. They are used in many countries around the world.
We identified one uniquely Chinese type of urban green area—urban nursery plantations for the growing and sale of plant material. Commercial growing of this type fulfills an important ecosystem services in cities. Compared to Western European countries that principally use global nurseries (from a few particular countries specialized in producing plant material), today China has its own local plant nursery market.
Street tree design is also standardized with a tendency to monoculture. Importantly, this particular type of green area plays a very significant role in Chinese cities because of high levels of urban air pollution. The traditional grandeur of formal planning structure in cities such as Xi’an illustrates the key role of the plazas in the front of historic monuments and administrative buildings. Here lawns and annual flowerbeds cover tremendous spaces. The management of such places is the most intensive and is thus incredibly expansive. There are also some surrounding native forests that are used as public parks.
In a new multifamily neighborhood in Jinan, surrounding forest (on hills with Platycladus orientalis) is used as a neighborhood park. New pathways and traditional pavilions are arranged following canons of classic Chinese parks. Local rocks are used in the construction of the park and in inner green areas. Here, the landscape architect tried to have identity of place by using local material. Local people influenced the choice of plant material so the plant list is a bit different from the one that we have earlier described.
“Gated” community phenomenon
We found the existence of “gated,” highly secured and walled urban communities to be a real surprise considering that before the 1990s, most of the urban green spaces in residential areas (next to homes) were accessible to all people from different areas. According to Chinese colleagues, this gated community phenomenon related to the change of society towards a more individualistic market economy. Other authors argued that this phenomenon is closely related to the old tradition of people living as one family unit separated from busy street life. We observed especially strict control related to these communities in the most recently-developed, rich neighborhood-villa areas.
In recent years as a result of searching for new sustainable solutions, the green roof concept is also becoming quite fashionable. There are still not many green roofs, and the most dominant form is the intensive green roof located on high-rise buildings in dense downtowns. Such roofs no doubt provide several ecosystem services, but they are expensive to manage and maintain. According to landscape architecture practitioners, this is becoming a restrictive factor for mass use of green roofs in China.
- Established in 2009-2011
- Intensive green roof on the top of the building belonging to Real Estate Corporation
- 7000 m2, structure: roof drainage, sand 30 cm and 80 cm of soil
- Big area of lawns. Maintenance of lawns is 50% from whole green roof maintenance. 7 yuan per m2 for lawn maintenance. In summer: every 10 days need mowing. Main argument of having lawn: it’s “cooling” effect (compare to hard surfaces) and absence of appropriate ground covers.
One of the main functions of all green areas in Chinese cities is reduction of air pollution. Today, even a small green area is a very valuable contributor to the physical and spiritual health of Chinese cities.
What we can also conclude from the observation of existing Chinese green areas is that there is a necessity of exchanging good experiences dealing with green areas from Western perspective as well as successful case studies developed by Chinese landscape architects.
We call for creating more hybrid approach emerging positive western and eastern experience.
Maria Ignatieva, Na Xiu and Fengping Yang
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CC-MAIN-2025-05
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HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu
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